Macau/Peninsula

Unless you fly, Macau Peninsula will most likely be the first area you set foot on when you arrive in the territory. Macau's main ferry terminal, the Macau International Ferry Terminal (Terminal Maritimo) and the main land crossing with mainland China, the Portas do Cerco Frontier Checkpoint as well as the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal are all located on the peninsula. See the main Macau page for information on how to get to Macau.
Macau Peninsula is linked with Taipa Island to the south by three bridges - Sai Van Bridge, Governador Nobre de Carvalho (or Macau-Taipa) Bridge, and the Friendship Bridge (Ponte de Amizade). Taipa is linked to Coloane by the Taipa-Coloane Causeway, the main artery of the newly reclaimed Cotai area.
Please see the Taipa, Coloane and Cotai page for bus routes linking the Peninsula with those districts.

The Old City is very walkable, but most visitors will want to skip the rather dreary 3 km slog there from the ferry terminal.

By bus

To travel from the Outer Harbour (Porte Exterior) ferry terminal to the old city, just hop on one of the free green Hotel Lisboa shuttles. These depart from the bus center across the underpass and there are plenty of uniformed staff to show you the way.
To use the same shuttles to get back, though, you will need to sign up for a Hotel Lisboa membership: free, but a hassle. Alternatively, there is a large public bus interchange right next to Hotel Lisboa, from where you can reach most points in Macau. Most buses to the ferry terminal (3, 10A, 12) leave from Pier E and cost a flat 6 patacas.
Some useful bus routes:

• 3 - Barrier Gate (Portas do Cerco) to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal via Hotel Lisboa, Avenida Almeida Ribeiro (City Center)
• 5 - Barrier Gate to A-Ma Temple (Barra) via Hotel Lisboa, Avenida Almeida Ribeiro
• 9A - Barrier Gate to Macau Tower
• 32 - Ferry Terminal to Macau Tower

By scooter

Scooters are a very economical and fun way to see the sites of Macau, they are also the primary mode of transport for locals due to Macau's narrow streets and lack of car parking space. Scooters are available for rental from a few dollars. Licenses from most countries covering mopeds or motorcycles are accepted.

Heritage

Macau Peninsula is packed with old buildings left over from the colonial period. A large section has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site contains 25 locations or buildings of cultural and historic significance, and the best way to cover them is to do the Macau Heritage Walk circuit. The 25 locations are:

• A-Ma Temple

  address: Barra Square
  Perhaps the most famous Chinese temple in Macau. This is a Taoist temple which predates the Portuguese era.

• Moorish Barracks

  address: Calcada da Barra
  Built in 1874 to accommodate an Indian regiment from Goa, it now serves as the headquarters of the Macau Maritime Authority.

• Lilau Square

  address: Largo do Lilau
  Pretty little square surrounded by the old Mediterranean-style houses of one of Macau's oldest residential areas. The square has a spring where it is said that "One who drinks from Lilau never forgets Macau".

• Mandarin House

  address: 10, Antonio da Silva Ln
  The Macau Mandarin House is the former residence owned by eminent modern Chinese thinker Zheng Guanying and his father Zheng Wenrui. The house was built in around 1881 and over time, many families occupied the complex. It covers an area of about 4,000 sq metres and is a traditional Chinese-style compound containing a number of buildings

• St. Lawrence's Church

  address: Rua de Sao Lourenco
  Built in the mid 16th century, this is one of the oldest churches in Macau. Families of Portuguese sailors used to gather on its front steps and pray and wait for the safe return of their loved ones.

• St. Augustine's SquareThis square is fronted by various pretty buildings of Macau's past era, namely the St Augustine's Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre, St Joseph's Seminary and Church and the Robert Ho Tung Library.

• St. Augustine's Church

  address: Largo de Santo Agostinho
  Established by the Spanish Augustinians in 1591, this church maintains the tradition of organising the Easter Procession around the city.

• Dom Pedro V Theatre

  address: Largo de Santo Agostinho
  Built in 1860 as the first Western-style theatre on the Chinese coast, it remains a significant cultural landmark of the Macanese community and remains a venue for many public functions and events.

• Sir Robert Ho Tung Library

  address: Largo de Santo Agostinho
  Originally the residence of a Portuguese Dona, the building was purchased by Hong Kong businessman Sir Robert Ho Tung as a retreat. When he passed away, he willed the building to be passed over to the Macau government to be turned into a public library.

• St. Joseph's Seminary and Church

  address: Rua do Seminario
  Established in 1728, the old Seminary, together with St Paul's College, was the base of missionary work in China, Japan and other parts of the region. The adjacent church was built in 1758 and is noted for its Baroque architecture.

• Senate SquareA colorful typical Iberian town square, this is the traditional heart of Macau city. It is surrounded by pastel-coloured neo-classical buildings, most of them having an administrative function during the Portuguese era. The place is a popular venue for public events and crowds gather here just to soak in the atmosphere and socialise.

• Loyal Senate

  address: Building, 165, Av de Almeida Ribeiro
  Built to house Macau's municipal government, the Leal Senado has a neo-classical design and much of the original layout and structure has been retained through the years. The first floor has a ceremonial meeting room that adjoins an elaborate library. The name "Loyal Senate" is derived from the name bestowed upon Macau - "City of Our Name of God Macau, There is None More Loyal" - by King Dom Joao IV in 1654 because the colony's senate refused to recognise Spain's occupation of Portugal in the early 1600s.

• Holy House of Mercy

  address: Largo do Senado
  This building, established by the firsty Bishop of Macau in 1569, provides an imposing facade for the Senate Square. The building houses a charitable organisation which looked after the medical, social and welfare needs of the citizens of Macau, and was the home of many orphans and prostitutes. Today, it houses a two-room museum with displays of items related to the organisation.

• Se Cathedral

  address: Largo da Se
  No records of the exact date of construction exist but a solid brick structure was built on this site in 1622 and repaied in 1743. The cathedral has some impressive stained glass murals and the facade is characterised by its twin belfries. The exterior is clad in Shanghai plaster which gives the church a subdued appearance.

• Lou Kau Mansion

  address: 7, Travessa da Se
  Built in 1889, this was the home of Lou Kau, a prominent Chinese merchant who owned several properties in the city. The architecture is that of a typical Chinese residential building.

• St. Dominic's Church

  address: Largo de Sao Domingos
  The pastel-coloured church was founded in 1587 by Spanish Dominican priests. The bell tower at the back of the building has been converted into the small Museum of Sacred Art with around 300 artifacts.

• Sam Kai Vui Kun Temple

  address: Rua Sul do Mercado de Sao Domingos
  Located close to the Chinese Bazaar area, this temple has some Western styles to its architecture, illustrating the harmonious coexistence of the two cultures in this city. The temple has a long association with Chinese business associations and guilds.

• Ruins of St. Paul's CathedralThe city's most famous landmark and is regarded as the greatest monument to Christianity in the East. The only thing left of the Churh of Mater Dei, built in the 1600s but burnt down in 1835, is the imposing facade, with its Biblical statues and relief, being described as a "sermon in stone" and a "Bible for the poor". Nearby are the remains of the St Paul's College. Behind the facade is the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, which occupies the chancel of the church, contains archaeological excavations of the site and also exhibits and paintings on early Christian life in the East. The crypt contains the remains of martyrs of Christians killed in the 17th century.

• Na Tcha TempleTucked in the corner of a cobblestone square to the left of (as you face) the ruins of St. Paul's is this tiny temple dedicated to the Chinese deity Prince Nata. The juxtaposition of Catholic church and traditional Chinese temple is a perfect example of Macau's contrasts and multicultural history.

• Section of the Old City WallsThis is a segment of the city's defence structures built in 1569 which has survived. It is built with a compound material called chunambo, a mixture of clay, soil, sand, rice straw, crushed rocks and oyster shells which were placed in layers.

• Mount Fortress

  address: Monte Hill
  Built between 1617 and 1626 by the Jesuits, the fortress one of the main defence structures of the city. It housed barracks, arsenal and storehouses to allow it to withstand a siege lasting two years. You can get good views of the central part of Macau Peninsula from here. The fortress can be accessed by escalator just east of St Paul's. The Macau Museum is located within the fortress (see "Museums" section below).

• St. Anthony's Church

  address: Largo do Santo Antonio
  One of Macau's oldest churches, St Anthony's was originally built of wood and bamboo. The current structure was constructed in 1930.

• Casa Garden

  address: Praca De Luis de Camoes
  This house, built in 1770, was the residence of a wealthy Portuguese merchant Manuel Pereira and was later rented out to the English East India Company. Today, it is the headquarters of the Oriental Foundation.

• Old Protestant Cemetery

  address: Praca de Luis de Camoes
  Lovely little piece of England in Macau. Look out for the grave of the Right Honourable Lord H.I. Spencer Churchill, ancestor of Winston Churchill, and also for the graves of the painter George Chinnery (far left in the upper row) and the missionary Robert Morrison (far right near the back; his accomplishments include writing the first Chinese-English, English-Chinese dictionary).

• Guia FortressBuilt in the 1600s on top of Guia Hill on the eastern part of the peninsula, the fortress's main function was to ward off any attack by China. Within the fortress is the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia and the 15m tall Guia Lighthouse, said to be the first modern lighthouse on the Chinese coast. Guia Fortress can be reached by the Guia Cable Car (Teleferico da Guia) just outside the entrance of the Flora Garden on Rua do Tunel, off Av Sidonio Pais.

Other churches, temples, places of religious significance

• Cemeterio de São Miguel Arcanjo

  address: 2A, Estrada do Cemiterio
  A classic example of Sino-Portuguese Culture. A great place for lovers of angel statues.

• Chapel of Our Lady of Penha and Penha Hill

  address: Colina da Penha
  The chapel sits atop a steep hill which towers above the southernmost tip of Macau Peninsula. From the various lookouts from the hill, you'll get excellent views of the central area of Macau, Nam Van and Sai Van lakes, Macau Tower, the three Macau-Taipa bridges and across the Pearl River into China.

• Kun Iam Temple

  address: Avenida do Coronel Mesquita
  A large, old Buddhist temple to the north of downtown. It's a little out of the way, but is definitely worth a visit if you're into temples.

• Kun Iam Statue

  address: Avenida Doutor Sun Yat Sen
  Twenty metre high bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy emerging from a lotus floating in the Outer Harbour. The statue is connected to land by a 60m footbridge.

Museums

Macau Peninsula has several museums.

• Macau Museum

• Maritime MuseumWith exhibits on Macau's seafaring history.

• Wine Museum and Grand Prix MuseumThe Wine Museum and the Grand Prix Museum are both in the same building, north of the center of town.

Gardens

• Lou Lim Ioc

  address: 10 Estrada de Adolfo de Loureiro
  Beautiful garden sanctuary on the peninsula of Macau. It was part of an old Chinese mansion reconverted to museum and art gallery.

• Luis de Camoes Garden and Grotto

  address: Praca de Luis de Camoes
  One of the largest gardens in Macau, the land was originally owned by the British East India Company and was bought over by a Portuguese merchant who then willed it to the Macau government to be turned into a public garden when he died. The garden was dedicated to the Portuguese laureate Luis de Camoes. The gardens are popular with tai chi and aerobics groups and also people who bring their birds in cages to be shown off. The main attraction of the park is the Camoes Grotto, where Camoes once lived with his Chinese bride in the late 16th century. Inside is a bronze bust of the one-eyed poet.

Other sights

• Macau TowerYou'll get a great view over Macau and Taipa. Catch the 9A bus or around 20 minutes walk from the town centre. There is an viewing platform outside and an inside platform with glass floor panels, and a cafe. AJ Hackett also runs "adventure" activities on the tower (see "Do" below).

• Rua da FelicidadeThe old red light district. Today it is a fairly interesting shopping street with various antiques and handicrafts. South and East of Largo Senado. This area is also popular with movie makers and several movies including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The Shanghai Nightclub car chase scene was filmed around this area including parts of the main street, Avenida de Aleimeda Ribero.

• Avenida da RepublicaOne of the most beautiful avenues in Macau, this tree-lined road arcs around the southernmost tip of the peninsula and is the address of some of the most pretty Portuguese residential buildings in the territory, all of them enjoying an unobstructed view of the Nam Van and Sai Van lakes. The world-acclaimed 'Pousada de Sao Tiago, with its access staircase through the walls of the ruined Barra Fortress, is located at the southern end of this road.

• Portas do CercoCalled the Barrier Gate in Chinese, the Portuguese name "Gate of Siege" says a lot more to the hundreds of years of relations between the Portuguese and Chinese. The old archway, built in 1870, marked the border between Portuguese and Chinese territory and was the actual border crossing between Macau and China until 1994 when a new crossing by the side was created. The archway and surroundings were turned into a pretty plaza. In 2004, the entire area was again renovated with the new Barrier Gate Frontier Post being constructed north on the archway. The archway bears the dates of significant events and the motto by Luis de Camoes, "Honour your country, it cares for you".

Gambling

Most of Macau's casinos are located along the waterfront on the southern and southeastern side of Macau Peninsula. North of the Hotel Lisboa is a strip, called ZAPE, with many smaller casinos, a number of hotels and bars, and quite a few restaurants. This can be one of the more interesting areas of Macau; among other things it has quite a good Indian restaurant and several Portuguese ones. However, parts of it are also fairly sleazy, with lots of hookers and touts, so some caution is in order. In general the vast majority of the gaming tables are for baccarat. There are some slot machines but very few roulette wheels.
New casinos have also been established in the NAPE (Novos Aterros do Porto Exterior) area to the south of Avenida de Amizade, including Wynn Macau and Sands Macau.
The following casinos are on Macau Peninsula. For those in Cotai and on Taipa, please see the relevant pages.

• Wynn Macau

  phone: +853 28 88 99 66
  address: Avenida Da Amizade
  On 6 September 2006 Wynn's huge casino/hotel/resort complex opened, and many expect it to soon surpass all of its rivals in gambling income. Every 15 minutes there are short fountain shows in front of the hotel with music, spraying fountains and the occasional bursts of flame—go after dark for the spectacular lights that are part of the show. The casino is beautiful with mostly slot machines and baccarat tables. The Wynn offers lots of very upscale shopping and several fine restaurants.

• Rio Hotel & Casino

  phone: +(853) 28 718 718
  address: Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes

• Sands Macau

  phone: +853 2888 3388
  address: Avenida de Amizade
  The Sands offers a more open Las Vegas feel along with a smoke-free gaming room, the Pearl Room. Tables at the Sands play almost exclusivly in HKD.

• Casino LisboaThe Lisboa offers an older world Macau feel on its gaming floors, structured in a labyrinth of different clubs and rooms for various levels of play. Tables play in both MOP and HKD.

• MGM Macau

Adventure Activities

At the Macau Tower, a 338.8m tall structure (3 and 8 are Cantonese lucky numbers!) with a revolving restaurant at its top and a convention and shopping center at its base, the visitor to Macau can savor a different kind of excitement: New Zealander AJ Hackett's company offers a set of adventure activities. There is a mast climb that takes you to the very top of the tower; a bungee jump off the side of the tower from 233m above ground (billed as the world's tallest bungee jump); a walk around the rim of the tower; as well as bouldering and sport climbing at the tower's base.

For souvenirs, try Rua de S. Paulo (大三巴街), the main crowded walking street between Largo do Senado and the Ruins of St. Paul's, which is lined with shops selling the classic jerky and handmade almond cookies as well as lots of other products. Rua da Felicidade sells similar products but is a lot less hectic.

• Red Market

  address: 125 Av. do Alm. Lacerda
  The Red Market is located on the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa. This is a bustling market in a big red brick building, where vendors sell food of every conceivable kind. The ground floor is mostly produce, the first floor is fish, and the second floor is meat.

• Three Lamps

  address: Rotunda Carlos da Maia
  Three Lamps and surrounding narrow streets are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain prices.

Macau Peninsula has the greatest concentration of restaurants in the territory, ranging from street stalls to world class hotel restaurants.

Chinese

• Wong Chi Kei

  address: 17 Largo do Senado
  A good place to go to fill up with rice and noodles. Open till late.

• Noodle and Congee CornerIt's more like a restaurant than a "corner" and they prepare various style noodles while you (can) watch. Excellent quality and quite reasonable for such a special treat.

• Sing Hoi

  address: Avenida Xian Xing Hai, 冼星海大马路
  Serves mostly Chinese food but has a handful of Portuguese dishes on offer. The Portuguese baked chicken (MOP40) is delicious.

• Su You Pin Wei

  address: 5 R. dos Cavaleiros
  A tiny, very casual vegetarian restaurant. The atmosphere is of a low-key social event at a neighbor's house—if you speak Cantonese you can join in whatever conversation is going on.

Portuguese

• Clube Militar

  phone: +853 2871 4000
  address: 975 Avenida de Praia Grande
  Originally a club for Portuguese military officers, this is now a classy restaurant. Turn left on the main street as you leave Largo do Sendao and left again at the first major street. After the park a block along, look for strange pink building a bit off to your right.

• A Lorcha

  phone: +853 2831 3193
  address: 289 Rua Do Almirante Serigo
  Many say this is one of the best restaurants in Macau. Book in advance if you come on a weekend or Hong Kong holiday. Famous for their clams, African chicken and charcoal grilled items.

• Porto Exterior

  phone: +853-28703898
  address: Alameda Dr. Carlos D'Assumpcao
  Bustling, unpretentious restaurant with reasonably authentic and tasty Portuguese and Macanese fare. Try the arroz de cabidela (MOP 78) and wash it down with a glass of the house wine (MOP 35).

Others

• Cafe Toscana

  address: 11 Travessa de S. Domingos
  Great little pizzas, pasta and decent red wine. Just perfect when you are ready for a change from Chinese and Portuguese. Nearby are two great gelato places, Lemoncello and ?? - a nice way to finish your meal.

• Robuchon au DômeThis French restaurant, newly relocated at the Grand Lisboa and operated by the famed Joël Robuchon, is the only three Michelin star rated restaurant in Macau for the 2012 guide.

• 888 Gourmet Place

  phone: +85328883388
  address: 203 Largo de Monte Carlo
  a food court on the second floor offering a variety of meals and buffets with variations of Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Sushi options. It's one of Macau's popular dining outlets. With a casual setting, it's a great eatery with loads of variety for a delicious quick meal.

Snacks and desserts

• Margaret's Cafe e Nata

  address: Gum Loi Building
  While Macau's second most famous egg tart spot (the owner used to be married to the famous Lord Stowe of Coloane), this has a much lower profile and is frequented more by locals than tourists. Finding it half the fun: from Av. do Infante D. Henrique, turn north onto Av. de Joao IV and look for the small sign pointing the way to your left into a dingy-looking alley. In addition to platefuls of piping-hot egg tarts (10 patacas), they also have a good range of pastries and sandwiches made to order. Take a cup of espresso and sit on the terrace outside.

There are surprisingly few bars. Around the central area the only place devoted to drinking is a small stand with a couple of tables in the main square which closes around 9PM. There's also a small strip of bars (~11PM onwards) along the Av. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and DD3 club (~2AM onwards) on the Fisherman's Wharf. Aside from this you can get a drink in a restaurant or a casino complex.

Budget

Much of the low-end lodging in central Macau is aimed at the red-light industry and their clients (prostitution is legal in Macau).

• Best Western Sun Sun

  phone: +853-28939393
  address: Praça de Ponte e Horta, no. 14-16
  Old, beaten up, and overpriced for what you get.

• Hotel Holiday

  phone: +853-28350161
  address: Estrada do Repouso, no. 36-38

• Hotel Jai Alai

  phone: +853-28725599
  address: Av. da Amizade Palácio da Pelota Basca

• Hotel Kou Va

  phone: +853-28375599
  address: Rua da Felicidade, no. 71

• Ole London Hotel

  phone: +853-28937761
  address: Praça de Ponte e Horta, no. 4-6

• Hotel Nam Tin

  phone: +853-28711212
  address: Travessa da Praia Grande, no. 4

• Sanva Hotel

  phone: +852 8210 0193 (Reservation), +852 8210 0193 (Hong Kong Office), +853 2857 3701 (Macau Office)
  address: Rua da Felicidade 65-67
  Macau's oldest guesthouse is relatively cheap and near the historic sites. It's been used as the set of a few movies, including Wong Kar Wai's 2046. Rooms have fan only and shared bathrooms. Sound isolation is poor because walls do not go all the way up to the ceilings. Rooms have only one AC power socket near the door.

• Hou Kong Hotel

  phone: +853-28937555
  address: Travessa das Virtudes, no. 1

• Man Va

  phone: +853-28388655
  address: Rua da Caldeira, no. 32-34

Mid-range

• Emperor Hotel

  phone: +853-28781888
  address: 51 Rua de Xangai

• Fu Hua Guangdong Hotel Macau

  phone: +853-28553838
  address: 98-102, Rua Francisco Xavier Pereira

• Grand Emperor Hotel

  phone: +853-28889988
  address: Avenida Comercial de Macau, no. 251-292D

• Hotel Fortuna

  phone: +853-28786333
  address: 63, Rua de Cantao

• Hotel Guia

  phone: +853-28513888
  address: 1-5, Estrada do Eng. Trigo

• Hotel Sintra

  phone: +853-28710111
  address: Av. D. Joao IV

• Kingsway Hotel

  phone: +853-28702888
  address: 230, Rua de Luis Gonzaga Gomes

• Metropole Hotel

  phone: +853-28388166
  address: 493-501, Av. da Praia Grande
  Situated in the commercial district of Macau. It is close to many popular destinations: banks, post office, cinema and shopping arcade, convenient to both business and relaxation.

• Sands

  phone: +853-28883388
  address: Avenida da Amizade, Edf. Casino Sands

• Victoria Hotel

  phone: +853-28556688
  address: Estrada do Arco, no. 118

• Waldo Hotel

  phone: +853-28886688
  address: Quarteirão 6, Lote J - Zape

Splurge

• Ascott Macau

  phone: +853 2822 0688
  address: No 339 R. Cidade De Braga,Nape
  Equipped with 3 in-house restaurants, a bar and a lobby lounge, the property offers three types of suites and two types of bedrooms.

• Casa Real Hotel

  phone: +853-28726288
  address: International Centre, Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues, no. 1118

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +853-28783333
  address: 82-86, Rua de Pequim
  An older hotel with some renovated rooms and some dingy throwbacks into the 1980s. Easy walking distance to Casino Lisboa, free shuttle bus to ferry terminal.

• Hotel Beverly Plaza

  phone: +853-28782288
  address: 70, Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues

• Hotel Golden Dragon

  phone: +853-28361999
  address: Quarteirão 3, Zape

• Hotel Presidente

  phone: +853-28553888
  address: Avenida da Amizade

• Metropark Hotel Macau

  phone: +853-28781233
  address: 199, Rua de Pequim, Outer Harbour

• Rio Hotel

  phone: +853-28718718
  address: Quarteirão 9, ZAPE

• Macau Masters Hotel

  phone: +853-28937572
  address: Rua das Lorchas, no. 162-178

• Wynn

  phone: +853-2888 9966
  address: Rua cidade de sintra, NAPE
  Luxury hotel. Gaming, entertainment, dining and spa.

• Hotel Lisboa

  phone: +853-28377666
  address: 2-4, Avenida de Lisboa

• Hotel Royal

  phone: +853-28552222
  address: 2-4, Estrada da Vitoria
  Located at the foot of the historic Guia Light House and facing the Vasco da Gama Park. Nearby business district and tourist attractions are within walking distance.

• Mandarin Oriental

  phone: +853-28567888
  address: 956-1110, Avenida Amizade
  This unique hotel is the only resort hotel set in the city centre.

• Pousada de São Tiago

  phone: +853-28378111
  address: Avenida da Republica, Fortaleza de Sao Tiago da Barra
  This is the hotel with the most character in Macau. Still fairly small (although there are plans to expand) and very good personal service. Great for a special, romantic stay.

• The Landmark

  phone: +853-28781781
  address: 555 Avenida da Amizade

• Taipa is just south of the peninsula, and beyond it are Cotai, home to more huge casinos, and mostly rural Coloane.
• Hong Kong
• Zhuhai