Historic Centre of Macau 澳门历史城区Àomén Lìshǐ Chéngqū

Why go to Historic Centre of Macau

Macau's historic centre is a walkable patchwork of Portuguese and Chinese heritage: the wave-patterned paving of Senado Square, the carved stone facade of the Ruins of St. Paul's and the incense-filled A-Ma Temple. Between sights, stop for Portuguese egg tarts, pork chop buns and Macanese cooking, a fusion cuisine found nowhere else.

The story

Portuguese traders settled here in the mid-1500s, and Macau stayed under Portuguese administration until 1999, more than four centuries in all. The Ruins of St. Paul's are the surviving facade of a 17th-century church that burned down in 1835.

What to see at Historic Centre of Macau

• Senado Square 议事亭前地: The wave-patterned Portuguese pavement square at the heart of the old town, closed to traffic since the early 1990s and lined with protected buildings such as the Leal Senado, the Holy House of Mercy and the General Post Office.
• St. Dominic's Church 圣多明各教堂: A Baroque church founded in 1587 by Spanish Dominican priests, with a present building dating from the early 17th century, Chinese-style roof tiles and teak doors that mix European and local Macanese touches.
• Ruins of St. Paul's 大三巴牌坊: The carved stone facade of a Jesuit church built between 1602 and 1640, reached by 68 steps. Its carvings mix Christian and Asian images, including Mary treading a seven-headed hydra.
• Mount Fortress 大炮台: A Jesuit-era fort built in 1617–1626 above St. Paul's, which helped repel a Dutch attack in 1622. It now has cannon-lined walls, a panoramic view and the Museum of Macau.
• A-Ma Temple 妈阁庙: Built in 1488 and dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, it is one of Macau's oldest temples and is thought to have given the city its name.
• Moorish Barracks 港务局大楼: A yellow-and-white barracks with Mughal-influenced arches on Barra Hill, built in 1874 for a regiment from Goa, a reminder of Portugal's Asian empire. It is now the Marine and Water Bureau's headquarters, so most visitors admire it from outside.

How to visit Historic Centre of Macau

Start at Senado Square, then walk up the lanes past St. Dominic's Church to the Ruins of St. Paul's and Mount Fortress. In the afternoon descend towards the Barra waterfront for the Moorish Barracks and A-Ma Temple. This takes a full day on foot with food breaks; a half day can cover Senado Square, St. Paul's and the fort.

How to get to Historic Centre of Macau

Ferries from Hong Kong take about an hour, buses cross the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, and from Zhuhai you can walk across the Gongbei border. Macau has its own entry rules and currency (the pataca; Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted), separate from the mainland.

Where to stay

The peninsula near Senado Square keeps the sights within walking distance. Taipa and Coloane are quieter bases with Portuguese restaurants.

What to eat

• Portuguese egg tart 葡式蛋挞: A custard tart with a caramelised top, Macau's best-known snack, sold by bakeries on the streets around Senado Square and in Taipa and Coloane.
• Pork chop bun 猪扒包: A bone-in fried pork chop in a crusty bread roll, a classic Macau street snack found around Senado Square and on Rua do Cunha in Taipa.
• Almond cookies 杏仁饼: Crisp, crumbly almond biscuits sold fresh in the snack shops around Senado Square.

Tips for visiting Historic Centre of Macau

• Start at Senado Square early in the morning and walk uphill to St. Paul's before the crowds arrive.
• Entering Macau counts as leaving the mainland, so check your visa or visa-free eligibility allows re-entry if you're heading back.
• Escape to Taipa Village or Coloane for quieter streets and Portuguese restaurants.

Nearby

• Tian Tan Buddha & Ngong Ping 天坛大佛与昂坪 40 km
  A giant bronze Buddha on Lantau, reached by a 25-minute cable car ride
• Victoria Peak 太平山顶 60 km
  Ride the 1888 funicular to the skyline view, then walk the Lugard Road loop
• Victoria Harbour 维多利亚港 60 km
  Glass towers and green hills around a harbour you can cross in ten minutes
• Kaiping Diaolou and Villages 开平碉楼 100 km
  Fortified tower houses rising above rice paddies, built with emigrants' money
• Canton Tower & Pearl River 广州塔 100 km
  A slim-waisted tower glowing over the Pearl River in China's Cantonese food capital

Also within 30 km: Macau Fisherman's Wharf 澳门渔人码头 (under 10 km), Lotus Square 金莲花广场 (under 10 km), Macau Grand Prix Museum 澳门大赛车博物馆 (under 10 km), Commemorative Gallery of the Macau Basic Law 澳门基本法纪念馆 (under 10 km), Guia Hill 东望洋山 (under 10 km), Macau Mosque and Cemetery 澳门清真寺及坟场 (under 10 km).

Trips with Historic Centre of Macau

• Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou in five days 5 days · Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou

On the map

Open Historic Centre of Macau on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Wikipedia (Chinese)