Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart
Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart. Macau is a little slice of Portugal deep in the heart of the Far East.
It seems hard to fathom that only 60 km from the urban jungle of Hong Kong, colonial architecture and cobbled streets exist and wait to be explored.
Take a stroll through the streets up to the cathedral, and you’ll see the city’s rich past everywhere. It’s no surprise that the center of Macau has been on the list of China’s World Heritage Sites.
The main attractions and tourist-focused things to do are primarily located on the mainland and relatively close to one another. Getting around here is easy, and you can explore many of the sites on foot, walking through the twisty streets.
The entertainment areas and massive hotels are clustered along the waterfront and also on the island of Cotai.
Be sure to pick up a tourist map of Macau to orient yourself, as the streets rarely run on a grid pattern, and it’s easy to get turned around.
With the recent opening of the new 55-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the world’s longest, you now have the choice to drive or take a high-speed ferry to Macau from Hong Kong.
You can visit Macau from Hong Kong on a day trip, but it’s best to plan a night or two to fully explore the region. Find the best places to visit with our list of top attractions in Macau.
1. Visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s Cathedral, once considered the finest Christian building in the Far East, is its imposing Renaissance façade, a Macau landmark.
After the destruction of the first church by fire in 1601, a new one was completed in 1637, modeled on the church of the Gesù in Rome and constructed by Christians driven out of Japan.
The church was destroyed by a typhoon and fire in 1835, but the remaining façade is still displayed.
Notable features include an inscription above the doorway dedicating the church to the Mother of God, figures of Jesuit saints, and a profusion of relief ornaments.
If you only have a day to explore, you may want to consider a guided tour. You can see the Ruins of St. Paul’s, A-Ma Temple, and many of Macau’s other popular sites on a Macau City Sightseeing Tour.
Just around the corner is the beautiful Travessa da Paixao, also known locally as Love Lane. This is a narrow street, with beautifully restored pink-colored buildings, and a favorite of photographers.
2. Stroll through Senado Square
In the historic heart of Macau, Senado Square is a delightful pedestrian area and where you will likely start your visit to Macau.
Highlights include the old Senate building, now occupied by the Municipal Council and regarded as the finest example of Portuguese colonial architecture.
Built-in 1784, the building’s exquisite façade was added in 1870, and the whole building was completely restored in 1940.
Interior highlights are the Council Chamber with its rich wood paneling and the Senate Library with its more than 50,000 manuscripts.
The square is also a great spot for shopping and dining in restaurants featuring both European and Chinese cuisine. It’s also home to a number of other tourist attractions, including the 17th-century St. Dominic’s Church.
3. A-Ma Temple
The splendid A-Ma Temple was built on the Macau Peninsula and was the inspiration for the renaming of the city.
Part of Macau’s UNESCO Historic Center, this Buddhist temple is one of the city’s most important religious sites.
Divided into six easily accessible sections – the Gate Pavilion, Prayer Hall, Memorial Arch, Hall of Benevolence, Zhengjiao Chanlin, and Hall of Guanyin.
This temple features numerous interesting things to see from its many stone lions and statues of the goddess Matsu to shady spots.
As well as spectacular views over the bay.
The Foraleza do Monte is located right next to the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
4. Fortaleza do Monte: Home of the Macau Museum
Built-in 1626, Fortaleza do Monte was for many years the hub of Portugal’s military presence in this part of China, eventually serving as the governor’s residence, a role it performed until 1749.
Today, this former fortress houses the three-story Macau Museum, dedicated to the archaeology and anthropology of Macau with an emphasis on how the Chinese, Portuguese, and Macanese have come to live and work together.
Also worth visiting is the Mount Fortress Garden.
A welcome respite with its pleasant moat-like pond and flower beds, and the Moorish-style Mansão Evocativa de Sun Yat-Sen, a mansion built-in memory of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the first Chinese Republic.
Another related site is Sun Yat Sen Park with its beautiful gardens, a Victorian greenhouse, and an aviary.
A-Ma temple is a short cab ride or about a 20-minute walk from Senado Square. A visit here can be combined with a stop at the Maritime Museum.
Address: 112 Praceta do Museu de Macau, Macau
5. The Maritime Museum and Fisherman’s Wharf
Occupying a modern building opposite the A-Ma Temple, the excellent Maritime Museum hosts numerous displays, including a comprehensive collection of material on Macau’s maritime history, model ships, and fishing equipment.
Also of interest are exhibits illustrating the development of nautical and meteorological instruments, including a number of dioramas portraying important events in the city’s seafaring past.
In front of the museum is the Inner Harbour (Porto Interior) through which runs the frontier between Macau and China, where you’ll see a restored Chinese dragon boat, a sampan, flower boat, and fishing smack used by people fleeing from Vietnam.
Also worth a visit is the nearby Macau Fisherman’s Wharf (Doca dos Pescadores), a fun theme park encompassing numerous shops, restaurants, and rides built to resemble such famous coastal cities as Amsterdam and Venice.
Address: 1 Largo do Pagode da Barra, Macau
6. Jump off the AJ Hackett Macau Tower
Part of the massive Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
The Macau Tower is easily one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, as well as a popular tourist attraction.
Standing 338 meters tall and built for telecommunications and broadcasting.
The tower’s fun side includes an observation deck boasting phenomenal views over the city, as well as a number of restaurants, theaters, and shopping opportunities.
For thrill-seekers, there’s the Macau Tower Skywalk, a breathtaking walk along the outer rim of the observation level, or you can experience the world’s highest bungee jump at the 233-meter mark.
7. Take the Family to the Giant Panda Pavilion
The Giant Panda Pavilion is located on Cotai and is a bit out of the way, but this means crowds are often sparse.
It’s also one of the best things to do in Macau for families. Step inside the architecturally unique building and marvel at the translucent roof in the shape of a giant seashell. In the wildlife pavilion are several giant pandas, cute red pandas, and an assortment of monkeys.
The animals are most active and easiest to see in the morning, but they also come around about 2 pm, which is feeding time.
The facility has beautiful koi ponds, gardens, and a children’s playground. Entry to the parking area is free, but a nominal fee is charged to view the pandas.
8. Explore the Guia Fortress
Guia Fortress is an oasis of green in Macao and only a short distance from the ferry terminal.
Access is via hiking paths or a short cable car ride. Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart.
At the top, you’ll find impressive views out over Macau, along with old cannons, a small chapel with nicely preserved frescoes dating from the 1600s, and a 91-meter-high lighthouse (closed to the entry).
Go underground and explore the series of tunnels in the fortress open to the public; some are near the lighthouse, and some are near the cable car entrance. Located throughout the fortress are exhibits and photos detailing the military history of the area.
9. Coloane Island and Hac Sa Beach
Joined to the mainland by a bridge and causeway, the island of Coloane lies to the south of the Macau Peninsula, beyond the island of Taipa, and should be includes in your Macau itinerary.
Visitors are often pleasantly surprise to learn Coloane is an island of pine forests, eucalyptus groves, tropical vegetation, and farmland, as well as boasting a number of beautiful beaches of fine white sand.
Of these beaches, the best known is Hac Sa Beach on the east side of the island.
Another beach of note is Cheoc Van Beach at the south end of the island. Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart.
Also of interest is the Tam Chin Temple, noted for its whalebone model of a ship with a wooden dragon’s head, and Coloane Village, a mix of old Chinese and colonial buildings with a charming little chapel.
Dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, in front of which is a monument commemorating a successful Portuguese action against pirates in 1910.
10. Take a Day Trip to Taipa Island and Taipa House
The island of Taipa, to the south of Macau and linked to it by an imposing high-arched bridge.
Makes for a great day trip. Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart.
Buddhist Shrine of the Four Faces and Pak Tai Temple, are notable for their rich decoration.
11. Kun Iam: The Temple of the Goddess of Mercy
Dedicated to the goddess of mercy, the current Kun Iam Temple, Although references to a temple on the site can be trace back to the Yuan dynasty.
In the entrance hall are three figures of Buddha representing the Past, Present, and Future, while another hall contains a figure of the goddess of mercy. Enchanting Attractions in Macau that will steal your heart.
Also of note is the temple’s beautiful courtyard garden, the first-ever treaty between the US and China is sign.
Other interesting features include porcelain reliefs and roof turrets with figures dating from the Ming period.
The Tree of the Loving Couples, where young lovers offer prayers for good fortune in their future lives.
Also worth a visit is Lin Fong Miu Temple, a Taoist site built in 1592.
12. Ride the Free SkyCab at Wynn Palace Resort
One of the fun and free things to do in Macau is a cable car ride at the Wynn Palace.
The Skycap ascends over Performance Lake, and if you time it right, you’ll be able to see the fountains in their full majesty.
A narration, complete with music, explains the sights as you glide along.
The most dramatic time to ride the Skycab is in the evening, as the neon lights of the Coati Strip.
Be sure to watch out for the giant dragon and his glowing eyes when the ride takes a sudden turn.
The trip takes about five minutes and ends inside the hotel. You can ride as many times as you want but will need to queue in line each time. The ultra-modern Skycabs seat six people and are fully air-conditioned.
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