Macau walking tour & city guide

The historic centre

Senado Square, paved in black-and-white wave mosaic and ringed by colonial buildings, is the heart of old Macau. From here, lanes lined with almond cookie and jerky shops climb to the Ruins of St. Paul's, the stone façade of a 17th-century church that is the city's symbol, with Monte Fort on the hill beside it.

Beyond the main sights, the old town hides quieter corners: the A-Ma Temple, older than the city itself, the hillside Guia Fortress with its lighthouse, and the peaceful Lou Kau Mansion, a merchant's house that mixes Chinese and European styles.

A classic walk: Senado Square to the Ruins of St. Paul's

Start at Senado Square and visit the yellow St. Dominic's Church on its edge, then follow Rua de São Paulo uphill, tasting free samples from the cookie shops on the way, to the great staircase below the Ruins of St. Paul's. Climb up to Monte Fort for the view, then wind back down through the side streets to the Sé Cathedral and Largo do Lilau, one of the oldest Portuguese neighbourhoods.

In the evening, cross to Taipa Village, where a single street of old shophouses and Macanese restaurants leads to the colonial Taipa Houses, then walk on to the Cotai Strip to see the resorts lit up at night.

Good to know

October to December is the most pleasant time to visit, with dry, mild weather; summer is hot, humid and typhoon season. Free shuttle buses run between the ferry terminals, the border and the big resorts, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge makes Macau an easy day trip from Hong Kong. Most of the historic centre is compact enough to walk.