12 Architectural Marvels You Have To See In Macao

Today it’s known as “the Las Vegas of Asia.” But for 400-some years—all the way up until 1999, in fact—Macau was a Portuguese colony. Its port was a major stop on international silk and spice routes (and a destination for people from other Portuguese colonies and those fleeing persecution), which brought travelers from around the globe to its shores. The centuries-long influx influenced every aspect of Macanese culture, diversifying the language, food, and architecture.

Visit Macau to see the captivating range of architectural eras and styles firsthand. There are 22 UNESCO heritage sites, including a colonial-era Portuguese lighthouse, the ruins of a Catholic cathedral perched next to a Chinese temple, and colonial-era neoclassical buildings in pastel yellows, pinks, blues and greens. On the contemporary end of the spectrum, there’s the glittering skyline of garish mega-casinos, a new bridge to Hong Kong that’s the longest sea bridge in the world, and a jaw-dropping luxury hotel that’s held up by an avant-garde exoskeleton.

Macau’s diverse cityscape of architectural marvels showcases a confluence of cultures that could only exist here.

1. Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Macau’s most beloved and iconic landmark is an example of its unique history. It’s believed that the church was designed by an Italian Jesuit, and was constructed from 1602-1640 with the help of Chinese artisans, and Japanese Christians who’d come to Macau to escape religious persecution. At the time it was built, it was the largest church in Asia, earning it the nickname “The Vatican of the Far East.” In 1835, fire destroyed the wooden base of the church, leaving only the granite façade and 68 stone steps.

Spend some time admiring the masterful and multicultural carvings, including Chinese characters, a Portuguese ship, Jesuit saints, mythological creatures, and peonies and chrysanthemums representing China and Japan, respectively. The grand ruins are next to the Na Tcha Temple and Macau's old city wall, all of which are included in the 22 sites that UNESCO collectively designated as a World Heritage Site.

Insider Tip

Stand in front of the Na Tcha Temple to take in the view of three famous landmarks from very different eras: the humble 19th-century Temple, ornate 17th-century Ruins of St. Paul’s, and the 856-foot tall, gilded Grand Lisboa hotel towering in the distance.

2. Morpheus Hotel

This awe-inspiring masterpiece that looks like it came straight out of a sci-fi film was one of the late legendary architect Zaha Hadid’s final projects. Two distinct features make the exterior of the Morpheus so striking and spectacular: the free-form geometric exoskeleton (the world’s first) that helps support the 40-story high-rise, and three holes piercing the center that make the solid structure appear as if it’s made of liquefied metal. The geometric drama continues inside with a reception area constructed of faceted white marble, and a soaring, cathedral-like atrium surrounded by light-reflecting prisms. Take one of a dozen interior-facing, high-speed glass elevators to leave the glitzy ground floor in a dizzying whoosh.

3. Guia Fortress, Chapel & Lighthouse

It’s a hike up to the top of Guia Hill, the highest point in Macau. But it’s well worth it to take in the history and panoramic views of this 17th-century fortress built to fend off foreign military aggressions and pirates. Construction of the main fort began in 1622 to protect Macau from the Dutch invasion, and the cannons still defend it today. In the same year, a chapel was founded by missionary Clarist nuns who lived on the site. Thanks to routine construction in 1998, its beautiful European- and Asian-themed frescoes were rediscovered and restored.

The 300-foot tall lighthouse was added in 1865, and was the first western-style structure of its kind on the Chinese coast. The iconic landmark is still operational, and its precise coordinates are used as the official geographic location of Macau.

Insider Tip

Make the steep, 20-minute trek from the Jardim da Flora up to the fort on foot, or hop on the Guia Cable Car to reach the top of Guia Hill in just a couple minutes.

4. The Macau Tower

Adrenaline junkies looking to test their mettle and nervous, nail-biting spectators converge at the top of the Macau Tower, one of the highest bungee jumping spot on the planet. Observation decks boast 360-degree views of the Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane Islands, and the Pearl River Delta. If bungee jumping off a 764-foot platform and waiting to see how far you’re jerked back up feels a bit outside your comfort zone, there are other slightly less heart-pumping options. The Skyjump is a more controlled version where you stay standing during a one-way vertical drop (no bouncing back up), and the Skywalk is a stroll around the outside perimeter of the tower. Then there’s the Tower Climb, in which brave adventurers summit the tallest point in Macau by climbing a series of ladders up to a staggering height of 1109 feet.

5. A-Ma Temple

Macau’s oldest and most popular temple served as a sanctuary for local villagers decades before the Portuguese arrived. The traditional Ming dynasty temple was built in 1488, when the surrounding area was a humble fishing village. It honors Mazu, the goddess of the sea who is said to protect sailors, fisherman, and those taking a sea voyage. Today it’s a mix of tourists and worshippers praying and lighting incense. Enter through a magnificent gate protected by two fierce foo dog statues, and wend your way up the hillside. It’s an extensive complex with several colorful and ornate halls and pavilions, and beautiful gardens. The world around the temple may have changed drastically in its 500-some years, but the sacred ground is still a tranquil place for prayer, quiet reflection, and appreciation for the enduring craftsmanship with which it was built.

6. Grand Lisboa

The feather in a Brazilian showgirl’s Carnival costume was the design inspiration for the Grand Lisboa. It’s a nod to the Portuguese heritage shared by both South America and Macau. The 853-foot sculpted hotel is impossible to miss since it’s covered in 24K gold-coated glass, and soars above everything else in Macau. At its base sits a domed casino meant to resemble a Fabergé egg. And it does…if that egg were a modern mosaic of thousands of LED-programmable colored glass triangles with the power to transform itself from an oversized objet d'art into a gigantic, flashing video screen. Understated, it’s not. But it’s a perfect example of modern Macau.

Inside tip

Step inside the hotel to gawk at "The Star of Stanley Ho," on permanent in the lobby. The 218-carat stone is the largest cushion-shaped diamond in the world.

7. The Eiffel Tower at the Parisian Macao

This half-scale replica of Paris’ iconic landmark puts on a spectacular nightly show with 6,600 hyper-color LED lights. The Eiffel Tower at the Parisian Macao hotel designed the structure with the same balustrades, latticework, cornice scrolls as the 1889 original. Admission is free for hotel guests and 110 Macanese pataca (about $12.50) for adults, and during evenings there’s a light show every 15 minutes from 6:15 to midnight. Ride the elevator up to the 7th and 37th levels for panoramic views of the flashy Cotai Strip.

8. Taipa Houses-Museum

Five charming pastel green villas built along the Avenida da Praia in 1921 give a glimpse into Macanese life in this prosperous era. The Taipa Houses are authentic examples of the style of Portuguese architecture constructed during colonial times. Visit the Macanese Living Museum for a look into everyday domestic life, the Creative Casa for cultural exhibits from Macau and other Portuguese-speaking countries, and look for temporary shows and events at the other three buildings. Soak up the views of wetlands directly in front of the houses, and of the Cotai Strip casinos in the distance.

9. MGM Cotai

Eight cantilevered boxes in mirrored silver, gold, black, and bronze comprise this luxury resort and casino. But the most impressive component of the $3.4 billion MGM Cotai project has got to be the Spectacle, a 4-story atrium that’s as big as 30 tennis courts. The high-tech space represents nature, art, music, and culture from around the globe through immersive, multisensory indoor gardens and digital art collections.

10. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge

The $20 billion (yes, with a “b”) bridge opened in 2018 after nine years of construction, becoming the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world. The 34-mile structure now connects Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai. As if that weren’t a big enough feat of engineering, two long segments of the bridge are interrupted by a 4-mile tunnel that dips under the sea. Cars enter and exit the submerged tunnel from two artificial islands.

11. Moorish Barracks

When strolling the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, you might be surprised to see this fine example of Arabian and Gothic architecture amid all the European-style buildings. But the unique Moorish structure was built in 1874 for soldiers from Goa, India assigned to help protect Macau. Arched columns and latticework railings enclose the long verandas that comprise three sides of the building, which has served as headquarters for the Macau Port Authority since 1905. The building is a designated part of Historic Centre of Macau, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005.

12. Macao Science Center

Drive along Macau’s Amizade Bridge, and a trio of simple silver shapes across the water is bound to catch your eye. The 215,000 square-foot complex is the Macao Science Center, designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei (who died in 2019 at the age of 102) in partnership with the architectural firm founded by his two sons. The tallest of the three playful structures, an angled cone, is the Exhibition Center. It has a spiral walkway reminiscent of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and houses 14 galleries showcasing topics from robotics to electromagnetics, environmental conservation to space science. The rhomboid shape is the Convention Center, and the dome is the 135-seat Planetarium, which has shows narrated in Cantonese, Mandarin/Putonghua, Portuguese, and English, and is the highest resolution 3D planetarium on the planet according to Guinness World Records.