There’s quite a bit to like about Macau, but when I may choose only one, it’s most likely the truth that most of its sights will be loved for FREE! In this text, we’ll listing down the locations to go to and issues to do in Macau that cost no entrance charges!
Macau could also be house to a number of the most flamboyant and most luxurious resorts on this facet of Asia, however finances vacationers can simply construct an itinerary with out a lot harm to their pockets. It is among the most walkable cities, with its streets punctuated by multi-lingual indicators. Many of the lodge firms supply free shuttle bus companies, too.
But it doesn’t cease there. Macau’s map is dotted with a number of attention-grabbing sights that may be loved at no cost. Here are 13 of them.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
1. Senado Square
If it’s your first time in Macau, you’ll discover that it’s virtually unattainable to do brisk strolling right here at Senado Square. Why? Because there’s simply a lot to see right here!
A large outside museum, the Senado Square is part of the intensive Historic Center of Macau, inscribed on the listing of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you go searching, you’ll see an architectural ensemble that completely exemplifies East-meets-West, a product of over 400 years of the Portuguese rule over town. One of the edifices that can catch your consideration is the two-story neo-classical Leal Senado Building.
Today, whereas the Portuguese-style monument nonetheless stands proudly across the sq., it’s now usually adorned with festive Chinese lanterns and different installations that match the season. When you stroll deeper into the world, you’ll move by lanes of retailers, damaged by different smaller praca just like the St. Dominic’s Square with St. Dominic’s Church overlooking the world.
Follow the wave-patterned mosaic flooring and it’ll lead you to a different common vacationer spot – the Ruins of St. Paul’s!
2. Ruins of St. Paul’s
Probably probably the most iconic landmark in Macau, the Ruins of St. Paul’s (Ruinas de Sao Paulo) attracts droves of vacationers all yr spherical. This is maybe probably the most crowded website within the metropolis.
Like the Senado Square, it’s also a part of town’s Historic Center. Built within the sixteenth century, this was a posh with a cathedral and an educational establishment. The church itself was added later within the seventeenth century. But right now, solely the facade stays standing after being battered by a hurricane and three fires. The ruins stand atop a steep 68-step staircase that additionally provides an excellent view of the encircling areas.
A guard is normally stationed by the primary door of the façade, however there isn’t any entrance charge right here. Just stroll proper in. Beyond it’s an space the place you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the church’s unique buildings.
Also value your time is the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt on the backside of the ruins. It presents spiritual artifacts together with Sino-Portuguese crucifixes.
3. Na Tcha Temple
Just beside the Ruins of St. Paul’s stands a small single-chambered Chinese temple. Often overshadowed by the neighboring church ruins, Na Tcha Temple is commonly not crowded in any respect. But it’s nonetheless a part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Center of Macau.
Dedicated to guardian deity Na Tcha, it’s mentioned that it was constructed in order that the protector would lastly put an finish to a plague that was spreading within the space on the time.
And sure, it’s also possible to go to it with out paying an entrance charge.
Na Tcha Temple is open from: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Na Tcha Exhibition Room: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Last entry at 5:30 PM (Closed on Wednesdays)
4. Ama Temple
If you can go to just one temple within the metropolis, make it Ama Temple. Not solely is that this the oldest in Macau – inbuilt 1488 — it’s also believed that town obtained its identify from this temple.
According to accounts, when the Portuguese first set foot on this a part of the world, they really arrived right here, the place they noticed folks worshipping on the temple. When they requested them for the identify of the entire space, the worshippers thought they have been asking in regards to the particular website so that they answered “A-Ma-Gau” which means “Bay of A-Ma”. A-Ma-Gau finally turned Macau.
Ama, after all, refers to Chinese sea-goddess Mazu or Ama. Legend has it that the goddess helps seafarers and guides them throughout their journey, particularly throughout a storm.
Located at Largo do Pagode da Barra within the southeastern tip of the peninsula, it’s a bit remoted, making it a tiny isle of silence within the bustling ocean that’s the metropolis heart.
Hours Open: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
5. Guia Fortress
Standing proud on the tallest peak of the Macau Peninsula, Guia Fortress supplies attractive panoramic views of town, close by islands, and even mainland China.
The centerpiece is the 15-meter-tall lighthouse, seen even from an excellent distance. Beside it’s the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia that homes priceless work and different worthwhile artifacts. The lighthouse and the chapel have been accomplished in 1865 and 1622 respectively.
Guia Fortress will be reached on foot, an excellent choice for the bodily match and budget-conscious. But most vacationers favor taking the Guia Cable Car, which fees a minimal fare: MOP 2 one-way or MOP 3 spherical journey.
Hours open: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Closed: Mondays. If a public vacation falls on Monday, it closes on the subsequent day.
Let’s step away from the historic heart for a bit and head over to Cotai Strip and try town’s extra trendy sights.
Macau is greatest identified for its luxurious resorts that present not simply five-star lodging but additionally a variety of sights. Many of those sights can be loved freed from cost.
6. SkyCab at Wynn Palace
As you method Wynn Palace Resort, I’m certain the very very first thing you’ll discover is the road of cable vehicles that grasp above it. This known as SkyCab. Yes, you’ll be able to journey it for FREE.
Each cable automotive is air-conditioned and might accommodate 6 individuals. Each journey lasts 10 minutes, hovering above the the huge fountain known as Performance Lake as a result of it shoots mesmerizing plumes. At evening, they dance in sync with the lighting and music, which has turn out to be an attraction in its personal proper.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the water present at evening. But years in the past, I used to be capable of witness the dancing fountain at its sister Wynn Hotel within the Macau Peninsula. But I wager this one on the Wynn Palace is far grander and greater.
SKYCAB
Location: Wynn Palace Cotai (to not be confused with Wynn Macau)
Hours open: 10:00 AM-11:40 PM
7. Eiffel Tower at The Parisian
If visiting the Monsieur Eiffel in Paris isn’t possible for now, effectively, there’s one other Eiffel Tower in Macau. At roughly 160 meters tall, it’s simply half the peak of the actual factor, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly fascinating nonetheless, particularly at evening.
Every quarter-hour from 6:15 PM to midnight, each single evening, the enduring landmark is roofed in dazzling lights, creating an superior present that bathes the encircling space in numerous colours.
The tower has 2 statement decks: one on Level 37, which fees MOP 75 per particular person; and the opposite on Level 7, which is open to everybody FREE OF CHARGE.
As for us, we determined to only keep on the bottom, admire it from afar, and snap numerous images with the colourful construction as backdrop!
Eiffel Tower Light Show
Every quarter-hour
from 6:15PM – 12:00AM
8. The Londoner Macao
The very first thing you’ll discover is its gorgeous façade, a lookalike of the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament, and a duplicate of The Big Ben, attempting to compete for consideration with The Parisian’s Eiffel Tower simply throughout the road. It chimes each hour, but it surely’s most spectacular at evening!
At the primary foyer, you’ll discover a reproduction of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain aka Eros Fountain. From right here, you can get misplaced in mini-London and take unli-selfies on the many UK icons scattered round together with this double-decker bus and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill greeting everybody at 10 Downing Street.
You can even hop into this taxi for what they name Black Cab Escape, the place you’ll get to get pleasure from a digital drive with David Beckham. All these will be accessed for FREE by the way in which.
Let’s head again to the peninsula to discover the quieter and less-visited spots of Macau!
9. Camoes Square
The oldest park in Macau, the Camoes Square was named after legendary Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes. It can be the biggest, overlaying an space of 20,000 sq. meters.
Three separate areas comprise the sq.:
- Camoes Garden, the place the poet composed a lot of his sonnets
- Casa Garden, a parkette inbuilt 1770 in entrance of the residence of Portuguese service provider Manuel Pereira and is now an artwork gallery
- Protestant Cemetery, the ultimate resting place of some outstanding figures together with Robert Morrison, the primary Protestant missionary in China; and Anders Ljungstedt, Sweden’s first consul common in China.
I bear in mind how peaceable and quiet this park was. And I can completely think about how this park impressed poets to put in writing their greatest works.
10. Jardim Lou Lim Ioc
Another quiet spot within the metropolis is the Jardim Lou Lim Ioc. We stumbled upon it by chance as a result of it was near our lodge on the time.
Completed in 1906, Jardim de Lou Lim Ioc was a residential backyard of Lou Kan, a neighborhood service provider, till it was donated to the Macau authorities. Today, it’s a public park that has turn out to be a sanctuary for locals on the lookout for some peace of thoughts. Victorian and conventional Chinese buildings stand in between ponds which might be carpeted by lotuses throughout.
One factor I observed that point – once more, this was years in the past – there have been no different vacationers however us. Most folks right here have been locals simply passing the time or assembly buddies or spending time with household. It was completely pretty. I hope it’s nonetheless this fashion.
11. Macau’s Free Museums
Macau harbors dozens of museums and most of them will be accessed for FREE! No entrance charge in any respect. For a whole listing of those historic homes, try this compilation and simply search for these tagged with FREE ADMISSION.
Some of those museums embody:
- St. Dominic’s Church Museum – Treasure of Sacred Art
- Maritime Museum
- Fire Services Museum
- Macao Museum of Art
- General Ye Ting’s Former Residence
- Jao Tsung-I Academy
- Xian Xinghai Memorial Museum
- The House of Macao Literature
Even the Macau Museum will be visited for FREE in case your timing is true. Normally, it fees MOP 15, however on Tuesdays and each fifteenth of the month, entrance charge is waived. If your go to falls on both, fortunate you!
The Macau Museum lodges vital artifacts narrating the historical past of Macau as a small settlement, as a Portuguese colony, and now as considered one of two Administrative Regions of China.
Its content material isn’t the one factor value admiring right here. The location itself is of historic significance. The museum is ready inside Mount Fortress (Fortaleza do Monte), Macau’s most necessary protection. Seated regally atop Mount Hill, the fortress affords attractive panoramic vistas of town in all instructions.
MACAU MUSEUM
FREE on Tuesdays and each fifteenth of the month
MOP 15 on different days
12. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf
A primary of its form, the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf is the one cultural-oriented theme park within the metropolis. Covering an space of 111,500 sq. meters, it’s divided into three sections: Dynasty Wharf, East Meets West, and Legend Wharf. It is a theme park, sure, however it’s also a buying and eating vacation spot, excellent for households and barkadas.
13. Coloane Hiking Trails
While the Macau City and Taipa have gotten increasingly urbanized, a lot of Coloane Island stays undeveloped. Thus, many publications name it the “lungs of Macau”, referring to its thick blanket of forests. This inexperienced oasis’s map is scribbled with various mountaineering trails, the most well-liked of which is understood merely as Coloane Trail. It can be the longest path, stretching for over 8 km at 100 meters above sea degree on common, providing improbable vistas of the encircling areas.
Top Hotels in Macau
Here are a number of the prime resorts in Macau which might be near the sights talked about above.
Search for extra Macau Hotels!
Flights to Macau
Philippine Airlines provides direct flights from Manila to Macau! So if you happen to haven’t booked a ticket but, take into account flying with PAL! One factor I really like about PAL is the beneficiant baggage allowance that mechanically comes with every reserving. For Macau flights, financial system passengers can benefit from:
- 25-kg check-in baggage
- 7-kg carry-on baggage
Another motive we favor PAL is its four-star service and scrumptious inflight meals and limitless drinks on board, that are already included within the reserving.
Visit philippineairlines.com to seek for flights to Macau!
Updates Log & Acknowledgment
Original posting: 2024•02•19
Our most up-to-date journey to Macau was made potential by the Macau Government Tourism Office.