Top Things to Do in the Macau | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Macau

Section of the Old City Walls

Between the ruins of the St. Paul's and Na Tcha Temple, one can locate the remnants of the wall that once surrounded the colonial city of Macau. It was constructed as a protective barrier against attacks by the Chinese and other adversaries. This piece of Macau's antiquity is open 24/7. The architecture of the walls is unique due to the mixture of clay, sand, rocks and oyster shells used for the construction. Over time, however, the walls collapsed due to lack of maintenance and what remains now is only a small section. It lies close to other monuments such as The Na Tcha Temple, The Ruins of St. Paul's and Mount Fortress. Read More

Senado Square in Macau, China is a paved public square connecting Largo do Sao Domingos at one end and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro on the other. Also known as the Senate Square, the triangular-shaped square is part of the Historic Center of Macau in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the four largest squares in Macau, Senado Square is lined with shopping centres and traditional Chinese restaurants. The colourful pastel buildings and the surrounding structures like Leal Senado Building and the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral add to the quintessential Macanese experience. On special occasions like Chinese New Year and Christmas, the Senate Square comes alive with lion and dragon dance, fireworks and many activities. It is generally crowded with domestic Chinese travellers, especially on weekends. However, its numerous alleys and off-shoots are great to explore. Read More

Sir Robert Ho Tung Library is a public library located in St. Augustine’s square. It is home to several rare books and other important works of literature. The library has a capacity of encompassing 500 people and contains almost 100, 000 volumes of books. The 3-floor mansion is of common Macanese style, with traditional Chinese influenced interiors and a beautiful western style garden landscape with lots of rare botanical specimens, also used as an outdoor reading space. The vibrant open courtyard with the fountain and the rockeries and the inner sanctum of absolute silence radiates a sense of peaceful tranquillity.The second floor encases about 5000 volumes of rare Chinese books and 16 very Sir Robert Ho Tung Library is also used for cultural and leisure activities. The library is housed in a mansion which was used as a retreat by Hong Kong businessman, Sir Robert Ho Tun and hence the name. Read More

St. Anthony's Church

The relatively quiet and bustle free St. Anthony's church is located in Santo António Square. It is one among the three oldest churches in Macau. It is dedicated to St. Anthony, who according to the Portuguese custom, is the patron saint of Marriages. For this reason, it is a trendy spot for holding wedding ceremonies. Compared to the other important monuments, this church doesn't get much attention from travellers. So, it's very peaceful and quiet. It lies in the vicinity of Casa Garden and the Protestant cemetery. The church also has the Chinese name Fa Vong Tong (Church of flowers) because of the customary practice of throwing of bouquets by the brides. Read More

St. Augustine's Church Macau

Deemed as one of the oldest churches in Macau, St Augustine’s is located in the square it was named after i.e., St. Augustine’s square. It is also Macau’s first church for English mass. This church is a superb example of the blending of the western and the oriental culture. Macau's St. Augustine's Church is also the starting point of the event “Procession of Passion of our Lord”, which happens every year during Easter, on the first weekend of Lent. This 16th-century practice of procession bearing the cross attracts a large number of people to Macau and subsequently to the church every year.Originally built by the Spanish Augustine priests, it was later taken over by the Portuguese. The church sits in the vicinity of other attractions such as Don Pedro V Theatre, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church. Read More

St. Augustine's Square

St. Augustine's square boasts of being culturally, historically and artistically rich due to the monuments that surround the square. The Dom Pedro V Theatre, the St. Augustine Church, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the St. Joseph's Seminary all lie right beside each other in this beautiful square. The square with its cobblestone pavement and neoclassical buildings takes the visitor back to the rustic and quaint times of the past. It will also be true to say that no other square in Macau comes close to being as rich in culture and heritage as the St. Augustine square. Read More

St Dominic's Church Macau

St Dominic's Church in Macau is a traditional 16th-century Baroque style Catholic church located near the Leal Senado Building. A part of Historic Centre of Macau, it serves the Cathedral Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau. The Treasure of Sacred Art Museum here features around 300 stunning collections of Catholic art and sculptures. Constructed by three Spanish Dominican priests in the late 16th century, St Dominic's Church in Macau is a confluence of Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese style of architecture with catholic culture. The huge doors separate the cacophony of the square outside from the serene silence that fills the church. St Dominic's Church is best visited on a pleasant walk from Senado Square or Ruins of St Paul's. Read More

St. Joseph's Seminary and Church Macau

The St. Joseph's Seminary and Church is a brilliant exhibit of the religious past of Macau. Once known for its missionary work, this structure located in São Lourenço is now considered to be one of the most important historic monuments in Macau. It is the only example of Baroque style architecture in China. The church houses a religious relic of utmost importance – a piece of bone from the arm of St. Francis. The church with its broken arch, curved pediments, ornamental altars and solomonic columns stands as a sharp contrast to the seminary which is a simple, neo-classical compound with an interior cloister garden. St. Joseph's Church is open to the visitors, while the seminary is not open to the public. Read More

St Lawrence's Church Macau

Located in the Southwest of Macau Peninsula, the St. Lawrence's Church is one of the three main oldest and most beautiful churches in Macau. It is also commonly known as Feng Shun Tang, which translates to the church of smooth-sailing wind. Newly renovated and restored, the St Lawrence's Church of Macau is a low-key architectural marvel featuring elaborate work on the doors, solemn yellow walls and delicate columns and droplights. It is inspired from the baroque designs and there are 2 entryways to it - the main front grand staircase or the rear end door - both of which are open to visitors. Beyond the St Lawrence Church is a lush green garden lined with palm trees which is a frequented picnic spot.The towering church was made for paying homage to, and in memory of a Portuguese saint, regarded as the saint of navigation through winds and water named St. Lawrence. A visit to the church is best combined with a tour of the other historic buildings nearby. Read More

St Paul's Ruins

Standing adjacent to the famous Mount Fortress and Macao Museum, St Paul's Ruins are the ruins of a 17th-century Catholic church complex, in the form of a front granite facade and grand stone staircase of 68 steps. One of Macao’s most renowned landmarks, it is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. Listed in 2005 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, St Paul's Ruins are rich in their history and symbolic features. The greatest church in Macau, it was burned down by a fire in 1835 leaving only the humongous front facade and stairway. A steel stairway leads to the top of the ruins, allowing tourists to have a close look at the intricate carvings and revel in the panoramic view. People traditionally throw coins into the top window of ruins for good luck. Read More