Macau Photo: Nattee Chalermtiragool/Shutterstock.com Macau has a colorful palette and a plethora of sites despite occupying just 30.8sq km of the Chinese mainland. From neon-lit casinos to dusky markets, cobbled streets to modern cafés and Baroque churches to Art Deco buildings - there’s a wonderful mix of East and West. Thirty buildings and squares are UNESCO listed and many reflect Macau’s colonial Portuguese legacy, as does the food, laid-back lifestyle and the blue azulejo-tiled street names. Yet Macau has a modern Asian look, rivalling Singapore and Hong Kong. Stockforlife/Shutterstock.com Top 5 Senado Square From the central fountain and swirling floor tiles, this square is a real ta... Leal Senado This neo-classical building is one of the finest buildings in Largo do Senad... St. Dominic's Church Korkusung/Shutterstock.com At the northern end of Largo do Senado is this superb 16th century Baroque c... Basilica of St Paul (são P... A short walk from Largo do Senado along cobbled lanes is the broad stone sta... Monte Fort (Fortaleza do M... The 17th century Vauban style fortress features old ramparts with huge canon... Efired/Shutterstock.com Updated 18 February 2019 Destination: Macau Publishing date: 2019-02-18 THE CITY DO & SEE Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com Sean Hsu/Shutterstock.com It was the Portuguese who settled Macau in Macau is based on a peninsula with a couple of 1557, persuading the Chinese to rent them the islands including Taipa and Colôane. Most of the peninsula and establishing trade links in the sights including St. Dominic's Church and region that made them very wealthy. It was this Basilica of St Paul are packed around a few period of prosperity that created the colonial blocks in the old core around Largo do Senado, a Macau we see today – the Basilica of St Paul, the good starting point of your tour. Mediterranean courtyards, luxurious villas, the hill-top lighthouse and UNESCO World Heritage Senado Square old city. From the central fountain and swirling oor tiles, By the 17th century Macau was already in this square is a real taste decline and became a backwater for licensed of what else lies within gambling, prostitution and organized crime well the UNESCO-protected into the 20th Century. In fact the Chinese city. Around the edges, refused to take it back until 1999, by which time the square is laced with European buildings it was in better shape anyway. By then the Triad featuring shuttered windows, Portuguese tiles gangs had been dealt with, the monopoly on and colonnades. casino licenses revoked and Macau’s economy had kick started as foreign tourism increased. Photo: smshoot/Shutterstock.com Address: Avenida de Almeida Ribiero, Macau Today Macau is seen as having something of two Leal Senado faces with people coming to appreciate the This neo-classical fortresses, churches and food of the colonial era building is one of the and dining in the modern Las Vegas of the East nest buildings in Largo amidst 14 casinos and ritzy hotels. There are also do Senado. It used to be other sights such as Buddhist temples, war the seat of the bunkers, the excellent Museu de Macau, Macau Portuguese government Tower and the Fisherman’s Wharf theme park. during colonial times, but occupied by the Civic and Municipal Aairs Bureau today. Destination: Macau Publishing date: 2019-02-18 Photo: Richie Chan/Shutterstock.com Portuguese colony. Address: Avenida de Almeida Ribiero, Macau Photo: AsiaTravel/Shutterstock.com St. Dominic's Church Address: 2-4 Estrada da Vitoria, Macau At the northern end of Opening hours: Sun-Sat 10.00am-6.00pm Largo do Senado is this Macao Museum superb 16th century Museu de Macau houses Baroque church said to an excellent collection be the most beautiful in that outlines the Macau. Make sure not to traditions, culture and miss the small museum in the back that collects habits of the Macanese. around 300 artefacts dated from 17th to 19th Here you will nd 2,100 century. m² of exhibition space with a vast number of Photo: Weerawayfarer/Shutterstock.com objects of great historical value, so make sure Address: St. Domingo Road, Macau not to be in a rush when you visit. Phone: +853 2836 7706 Photo: Brenden Brain/Wikimedia Commons (image cropped) Basilica of St Paul (são Paulo) Address: 112 Monte Fortress, Macau A short walk from Largo Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10.00am-5.30pm Phone: +853 2835 7911 do Senado along cobbled Internet: www.macaumuseum.gov.mo/w3ENG lanes is the broad stone More Info: The public entrance locates at Praceta do Museu staircase leading to the de Macau (Mount Fortress). beautiful ruins of St Paul. The original 1602 church Guia Fortress was destroyed by a re in 1835 but is still The Guia Fortress lies on considered a symbol of Macau. The crypt and the highest, steepest nave house a religious museum. hilltop in Macao, so use the cable car if you want Photo: Richie Chan/Shutterstock.com to save your legs. There Address: Travessa de São Paulo, Macau are great views of Macao Opening hours: Sun-Sat 10.00am-6.00pm Phone: +853 2857 3760 from here and the excellent 17th century Guia Fortress complex to explore containing Monte Fort (Fortaleza do Monte) underground bunkers, a 91-metre tall lighthouse The 17th century Vauban and chapel with elaborate frescoes. style fortress features old Photo: coloursinmylife/Shutterstock.com ramparts with huge Address: Dongwangyang Mountain, Wangdetang District, canons looking out over Macau the city so you enjoy the Opening hours: Sun-Sat 9.00am-5.30pm wonderful 360 degree views of Central Macau. It is a historical military establishment from when Macau was a Destination: Macau Publishing date: 2019-02-18 Macau Tower Limited Macau)/Flickr (image cropped) This 338m edice is Address: City of Dreams, Macau among the highest in the Phone: +853 8868 6688 Internet: www.thehouseofdancingwater.com world and the place for a 360° view of Macau and Coloane neighbouring cities. You Pirates took Coloane as can enjoy shopping and their island after the dining, as well as the mind-blowing sky walk. Portuguese had arrived. Would you dare bungee jump? These days, however, visitors come for a nice Photo: vichie81/Shutterstock.com Address: South Bay New Reclamation Area, Macau break from the city Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.00am-9.00pm Sat-Sun bustle. You can discover the old Macau here by 9.00am-9.00pm walking through the old ship building sheds Phone: +853 8988 8895 while trying the Portuguese egg tart. Internet: www.macautower.com.mo Photo: AsiaTravel/Shutterstock.com Taipa Island Address: Coloane, Macau Take a bus to Taipa Island to appreciate some Macau Giant Panda Pavilion real Old World charm The Panda Pavilion is including a colonial located on the island of promenade, interesting Coloane, and is one of its temples, stately churches top attractions. They have and picturesque markets. You can also savor the both and indoor and genuine taste of Macau on the food street, Rua outdoor area where the do Cunha. giant pandas live, along with an exciting exhibition area. And it isn't just pandas alone, Photo: smshoot/Shutterstock.com other animals inhabit these quarters likewise. Address: Taipa Island, Macau Photo: eXoxideZ/Shutterstock.com The House of Dancing Water Address: Seac Pai Van Park, Coloane, Macau This is one of the most Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10.00am-1.00pm 2.00pm-5.00pm spectacular shows you Internet: www.macaupanda.org.mo/e/info/default.aspx will ever watch.The small City of Dreams and circular theatre provides you with an Welcome to one of many engaging show. Two entertainment complexes Macau is world-renowned shows are available a day and it is guaranteed for. You can enjoy an that you will walk out feeling thrilled and innovative collection of impressed. experiences from Photo: Roderick Eime (2012 Melco Crown Entertainment electrifying entertainment to Michelin-starred Destination: Macau Publishing date: 2019-02-18 dining. Among all, one of the highlights is the Address: 10 Luolilao Street, Macau breathtaking show, the House of Dancing Water. Opening hours: Sun-Sat 6.00am-9.00pm Photo: Roman Babakin/Shutterstock.com DINING Address: Estrada do Istmo, Macau Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10.00am-11.00pm Fri-Sat 10.00am-12.00pm Phone: +853 8868 6688 Internet: www.cityofdreamsmacau.com More Info: The free shuttle runs between City of Dreams and ferry terminals and airport. Macao Science Center If you are interested in Kzenon/Shutterstock.com space science, robotics, genetics, physics Macau restaurants serve a spicy blend of mechanic, just about Portuguese, Chinese, Malay, Indian and African anything, this is the place dishes. The choice should keep all palettes happy for you. At Macao Science because not only can you nd delicious dim sum Center you can easily spend a couple of hours and pork chop bun, but there are also excellent exploring 12 permanent galleries and the highest Portuguese coee (bica) and wine, Goanese resolution 3D planetarium by the Guinness chicken and fresh Chinese vegetables. World Records which takes you onto a journey Traditional Portuguese dishes to look out for travelling freely in space and time. including bacalhau (dry cod) and rich soups like caldo verdo or sopa a alentejena. Famed Photo: Diego Delso/Wikimedia Commons (image cropped) Macanese (Chinese/Portuguese) dishes include Address: Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Macau Opening hours: Fri-Wed 10.00am-6.00pm stir-fried curry crab and jagra de ovos (sweet egg Phone: +853 2888 0822 tart). Internet: www.msc.org.mo/index.php?lg=en A Lorcha Lou Lim Lok Garden Don't miss the best Lou Lim Lok Garden is Portuguese food in Macau located just ve minutes at this restaurant beneath from Coronel Lacerda yellow arches and square and oers a whitewashed walls.