Many people lamented that there is nothing much to see in Macau, but I beg to differ. It has its beauty to be appreciated.
We were at Macau for 2 days, we did not manage to cover all the Macau Attractions that we wanted to visit.
List of Macau Attractions
Senado Square
Address: Senado Square
Opening Hours: Daily
Getting There: 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, N1A
The square has a feature floor of mosaic in wavy black and white formation. It is surrounded by neo-classic building. It has been the urban centre for Macau since centuries ago. Today, it is one of the must visit attraction in Macau with lots of eateries and shops.
‘Leal Seando’ Building
Address: No. 163 Av. Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo)
Opening hours:
Gallery: Tuesday to Sunday 0900 to 2100; Closed on Mondays
Garden: Daily 0900 to 2100
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, N1A
This is Macau’s first municipal chamber built in 1784.
Ruin Of St Paul
Address: Calçada de S.Paulo
Opening Hours: Daily
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, N1A
The church was built originally as Church of Mater Dei in 1602-1640. Interestingly after the ruin by fire, the facade remains standing. And it has become an iconic structure cum attractions in Macau. It has been classified as the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Historic Centre of Macau since 2005.
Macau Museum
Address: No. 112 Praceta do Museu de Macau
Tel:+853 2835 7911
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 1000 to 1800; Closed on Mondays
Admission:
MOP 15 – Adult;
MOP 8 – Children aged 5-10; – Students with valid ID; – Seniors aged 60 or above;
Free for public on the 15th of every month
Website: http://www.macaumuseum.gov.mo/w3ENG/w3MMabout/MuseumC.aspx
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3A, 3X, 4, 5, 10, 10A, 11, 17, 18, 18A, 19, 21A, 33
The Macau Museum is the best place to start understanding and learning the culture and way of life of different communities from centuries ago till today.
Mount Fortress
Address: Monte Fort, Macau
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3A, 3X, 4, 5, 10, 10A, 11, 17, 18, 18A, 19, 21A, 33
The fortress was originally built by the Jesuits in 1617. You can see signs of Catholicism with the most prominent being the statue of Mary.
A total of 32 cannon were installed at the fortress.
Camoes Garden
Address: Praça de Luís de Camões, Macau
Opening hours: Daily 0600 to 2200
Getting There: By Bus 17
This garden was known as Casa Garden while it was part of the home of the former East India Chairman back in the 18th century. It was later occupied by a Portuguese who built a grotto around the Portugal’s national poet, Luís de Camões. Today is a public garden for all to visit. The statue of Saint (Reverend Father) Andrew Kim Taegon was erected in the garden too.
Dom Pedro V Theatre
Address: Santo Agostinho Square
Opening hours: Daily 1000 to 1800; Closed on Tuesdays
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, N1A
As a first western styled theatre with a capacity of 300 seats built in the 17th Century is a significant cultural landmark in Macau.
Churches
Cathedral
Address: No.1 Cathedral Square
Opening hours: Daily 0730 to 1830
Getting There: By Bus 2, 5, 6A, 7, 16, 28B
St Dominic Church
Address: St. Dominic’s Square
Opening hours: Daily 1000 to 1800
Getting There: By Bus 3, 3X, 4, 6A, 8A, 18A, 19, 26A, 33, N1A
On the Senado Square is a prominent yellow building, the St Dominic Church. It was founded by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico in 1587.
A historical event that happened in this church was the first Portuguese newspaper was published in this building, on the Chinese soil.
For the Macau Catholic Church Mass Schedule, click here.
Temples
Hong Kung Temple
Address: Rua de Cinco de Outubro, Macau
Opening Hours: Daily 0800 to 1800
Getting There: By Bus 3, 6, 26A
A 200 year old temple, it has the Immortal Chief General Hong Kung, the Great King Hung Shing, the Money King Wukong, the Sixth and Last Patriarch of Chan Buddhism and Hua Tuo (the eminent physician in Hang Dynasty) are found for worshiping.
A few other famous and popular ones which I did not visit this round as we do not have sufficient time are A-Ma Temple and Kun Iam Tong.
Kum Iam Ecumenial Centre
Address: Avenida de Sun Yat-sen
Tel:+853 2875 1516
Opening Hours: Saturday – Thursday 1000 to 1800; Closed on Fridays
Website: http://www.macaumuseum.gov.mo/w3ENG/w3MMabout/KuniamC.aspx
Getting There: By Bus 10A, 17
The statue is the image of Goddess Kum Iam (God of Mercy) made of bronze, staning for the dome which signify the lotus. The centre offers information on Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Casinos Hopping
Macau main industry is in gambling. Naturally, you could find casinos everywhere. Casinos-hopping is one not to be missed when in Macau.
Hotel MGM
Address: Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen NAPE, Macau Center 外港新填海區孫逸仙大馬路
Tel: +853 8802 8888
Getting There: By Bus MT1, MT2, N1A, N2, 3A, 8, 12, 23
Hotel Wynn
Address: Rua Cidade de Sintra, Macau
Tel: +853 2888 9966
Getting There: By Bus 3, 8, 10A, 12, 23, N1A, N2
Grand Lisboa
Address: Avenida de Lisboa, Macau
Tel: +853 2828 3838
Getting There: By Bus 9, 9A
There are many more over at Taipa and Coloane which are jointed together by bridges. Just to name a few, you can find Galaxy Hotel, Venetian, City of Dreams over there. If you are feeling lukcy while Casinos-hopping, try your luck on a game of jackpot or a table game.
Shopping
One of my favourite activities while on holiday is Shopping. One of the place which you can easily find as many international brand is at Hotel Venetian.
Hotel Venetian
Address: Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macau
Tel: +853 2882 8888
Getting There: By Bus 15, 21A, 25, 25X, 26, 26A, 35, MT1, MT2, MT3, MT4
Hotel Venetian besides being a shopping heaven where famous international brands are gathered, it is also famous for its Venice modeled looks. Of course, it is one of the major casinos in Macau too.
Food Street
There are a few famous and may be worthy of visit food street. We visited three of them, below.
Rua Do Cunha, Taipa
Getting There: By Bus 11, 15, 22, 28A, 30, 33, 34
Rua de Sao Paulo
Getting There: By Bus 18
Most would pass by Rua de Sao Paulo while on the way to the Ruin of St Paul. You could savour all the almond biscuits, meat jerky and many more offered by the shops along this stretch.
Rua da Felicidade
Getting There: By Bus 2, 3, 3A, 3X, 5, 7, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 21A, 26A, 33, N1B, N3
Along the street of Rua de Felicidade, it has buildings painted in red. This street has lots of good, famous and must eat restaurants. Some example of restaurant is the famous Har Zi Meen of Oja Sopa De Fita Cheung Kei (祥記麵家), almond biscuits and roasted pigeon from Fat Siu Lau.
Read more of the Macau Must Eat from my another post, click here
Guia Fortress 東望洋炮台
Opening Hours:
Fortress: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Chapel: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (no photographs allowed)
Lighthouse: not open to the public
Getting There: By Bus 2, 2A, 6A, 12, 17, 18, 18A, 19, 22, 23, 25, 25X, 32
Guia Fortress was established by the Clarist nuns. It was builted in the 15th century. Subsequently, the Guia Lighthouse was built in the 17th century. This is one of the attractions that I missed in previous trips. It is one that I really wanted to go. Hope I can make it on my next trip.
How to get there?
By Air – International Flight
By Ferry – From China or Hong Kong
When to go?
Any Time of the Year
Link to check out before you go:
TurboJET Ferry – I have done a review on TurboJET Premium Grand Class, click here to find out more.