Macau, Recommended Tours

Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau Essential Macau – The City Centre The city centre forms the vibrant heart of Macau and is easy to explore by foot in a day. The stately Leal Senado is a natural starting point, and is well worth a visit. A quick stride across to the other side of the Avenida Almeida Ribeiro leads to the picturesque Largo do Senado, Macau's town square. Colonnades shield shops and cafes from the sun, and the central fountain cools the air. Near the far end of the square is Sao Domingos, with its ornate stucco walls and green shutters. Inside the church there is a museum detailing the history of Catholicism in Asia. For fortification, a walk along the Travessa de Sao Domingos should yield a few likely cafes and restaurants. Early birds should head for Bolo de Arroz with its sandwiches, cakes and cappuccinos. If lunch is on the cards, then Restaurante Platao with outside seating, is worth exploring. At the far end of the Largo de Senado, a left-hand turn leads you up to a narrow street lined with furniture shops, a trade for which Macau is famous. After fending off those traders offering bargain-priced Chinese antiques, it is time to head up the wide stone steps to the very imposing Ruinas de Sao Paulo. Beyond the ruins, there is a crypt containing relics of martyrs from Japan and Vietnam, and the Museum of Sacred Art, which exhibits artworks from Macau's defunct churches and monasteries. Following all that religious edification, time to head off to the neighbouring Monte Fort, which is reached by a small path just next to the church ruins. Apart from the fantastic views from the old fort ramparts across the city over to China, there is also the Museum of Macau to wander around. Well worth a look, especially since it is air-conditioned! Once sufficiently cooled off, the next stop is the St. Michael Cemetery--best reached by exiting the fort from its southern entrance and heading along the Rua de Sanches de Miranda to the Estrada do Cemiterio. This route leads you past the entrance to the cemetery. Further on, the Estrada do Cemiterio crosses over the Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida--short road names are hard to come by in Macau! Heading north along this busy Avenida will lead you past some more wonderful relics of Macau's colonial beginnings and on to the Lou Lim Ioc Garden for a relaxing stroll and welcome rest. Refreshed, it is on to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial House for some revolutionary history and splendid architecture. You can reach The Memorial House by crossing the Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida and heading a little further north before turning into the Rua de António Basto. The Memorial House is located along the Rua de Silva Mendes. If at this stage a cup of tea and some nibbles is called for, then the restaurants and lounge at the Mondial Hotel might be the place. Next, it is off to the Flora Gardens and up to the top of Guia Hill via Macau's one and only cable car. Located up on the hill are the Guia Fort, Lighthouse and Chapel. With all of Macau at its feet, Guia Hill is a must for stunning city and harbour views, especially at sunset. Other tour ideas Anyone looking for more than just a walk around the city centre should head south along the peninsula. Here the once sinful Rua da Felicidade leads up to hills topped with religious landmarks. Santo Agostinho and St. Joseph's stand side by side, next to the Dom Pedro V Theatre, while Sao Lorenco and Penha Chapel are a little further along. Elegant Portuguese mansions, in the form of the Former Government House, the Portuguese Consul's Residence and Santa Sancha, dot the hillsides. At the tip of the peninsula, the bustling A-Ma Temple provides a cultural contrast, while the Maritime Museum explores the territory's seafaring history. Not far away, the remnants of the historic Barra Fort provide a contrast to the ultra-modern Gate of Understanding, which stands amid new developments, linking old and new. Anyone spending more than a day in Macau should venture out to the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Taipa village has a wealth of historic treasures, while not far away the Macau Jockey Club and Racetrack comes alive during race meetings. For a little peace and quiet you cannot surpass Coloane. The island's village is great for a stroll and provides an ideal starting point for a tour of the island, maybe by hired mini-moke or even by bicycle. Following the southern shoreline leads to Cheoc Van Beach and then on to the much larger Hac Sa Beach. If a hike is the order of the day, then it is best to head for the Seac Pai Van Park, which is the gateway to one of Macau's least well-known treasures--lush countryside. Text and Photo by Emma Twite Davies.