Best Instagram-worthy Spots in Macao (Part 1: Macao Peninsula)
Macao is a destination of surprises. Its east-meets-west influence has created an exciting amalgamation of two cultures, making it an especially unique and special city to visit when in Asia. When wandering around the streets of Macao, you’ll soon see that it’s kind of like Asia’s own little slice of Europe with its colourful Portuguese influenced architecture and the world’s very first fusion cuisine - Macanese food.
HOW TO PLAN A HOLIDAY IN MACAO
If you’re interested in visiting Macao, you can easily combine this with a visit to Hong Kong, Shenzhen and/or Guangzhou. I would recommend 3 full days as there is so much more to do in Macao than visiting the casinos. The city’s historic centre is UNESCO world heritage listed and offers numerous stunning sights to see and wandering down the streets trying out Macanese food is definitely something you must do.
And if you’re after the most gorgeous sights in the city (or shall I say best Instagram-worthy spots to see), then be sure to check out my top spots below. This post will cover places found on the Macao Peninsula (the part connected to the mainland) in this post and in Part #2 I will cover Cotai Strip & surrounding areas.
WHERE TO STAY ON MACAO PENINSULA
If you’re looking for a convenient place to stay on the Macao Peninsula, then I recommend Sofitel Macau at Ponte 15 - this hotel is walking distance to many of Macao’s historic centre attractions and also has a gorgeous rooftop terrace you’ve got to check out.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
THE RUINS OF ST PAUL’S
Quite possibly Macao’s most famous landmark is The Ruins of St Paul’s, the remains of a church that once burned down after a typhoon hit the city, leaving only its beautiful granite facade and a grand stone staircase leading up to it. This sightseeing spot is really quite unique - a lot of people often ask me what’s going on when they see a picture of this - ‘did they just build the front of the building?!’
If you’re visiting, I recommend choosing a weekday to visit as Macao often gets really busy during the weekends.
TRAVESSA DA PAIXIAO
Just around the corner from The Ruins of St Paul’s is this colourful street known as Travessa Da Paixiao which is known as ‘The Romantic Lane’. It’s a narrow alleyway spanning only 50 metres long but offers plenty of photo opportunities with its pastel coloured buildings and backdrop of The Ruins of St Paul’s peeping from behind.
MONTE FORT
Also next to The Ruins of St Paul’s is Monte Fort, a historical fortress that offers a beautiful view of the city below. The scenic walk takes maybe 10-15 minutes from memory to walk up to the top. From here, you can see all around the city and there are also sightseeing binocular things (what are they called?) that offer a closer look!
RUA Da FELICIDADE
Also known as ‘Happiness Street’, Rua da Felicidade used to be the Red Light District in Macao. These days, it’s a street filled with little eateries and we had one of our favourite Macanese meals here on this street - Minchi rice at Belos Tempos. Be sure to check the restaurant out whilst you wander down this picturesque street.
SENADO SQUARE
If you love the colourful architecture here, you’ll love Senado Square which is tiled with stunning mosaic stones and surrounded by pastel coloured Portuguese inspired buildings. A wander through this area will transport your imagination straight into a public square in Europe. The only difference being that everyone around you is speaking Cantonese!
PENHA HILL
Gorgeous Penha Hill was a place recommended to us by locals and we were so glad we checked it out, even if it was only for a few minutes (we were rushing to get to a restaurant before it closed). Penha Hill offers one of the most gorgeous views in Macao that I’ve ever seen, with the nearby gardens so beautifully framing Macao Tower in the background.
FISHERMAN’S WHARF
If you’ve always wanted to visit the Colosseum in Rome but haven’t had the chance to, then Fisherman’s Wharf offers a fabulous replica to quench your wanderlust! This little replica of the Roman Amphitheatre is gorgeous and is used for concerts and performances with 2000 seats built in.
CITY VIEWS
The streetscape in Macao is so unique. With so many interesting new buildings popping up, you’ll often see views where the old and new collide. Here’s one of my favourite examples of this below. If you love this view - I’ll be sharing more about where you can locate it in a separate post soon!
MOORISH BARRACKS
These historical barracks in Macao has a colourful exterior worth checking out. Do note however that entry inside is prohibited (or at least on the day we visited).
Mandarin House
Also on Macao Peninsula is Mandarin’s House, a historical complex you can also visit however unfortunately it was closed on the day we were scheduled to check it out!
Photos by Jess Cheung @ jyslakay.com + edited by me