Museums and galleries in Macau

Museums and galleries in Macau

1. SeePeninsula

   Holy House of Mercy

   Santa Casa de Misericórdia

   This building, established by the firsty Bishop of Macau in 1569, provides an imposing façade for the Senate Square. The building houses a charitable organisation which looked after the medical, social and welfare needs of the citizens of Macau, and was the home of many orphans and prostitutes. Today, it houses a two-room museum with displays of items related to the organisation.

2. SeePeninsula

   Lou Lim Ioc

   Jardim de Lou Lim Ioc

   Beautiful garden sanctuary on the peninsula of Macau. It was part of an old Chinese mansion reconverted to museum and art gallery.

3. SeePeninsula

   Mount Fortress

   Fortaleza do Monte

   Built between 1617 and 1626 by the Jesuits, the fortress one of the main defence structures of the city. It housed barracks, arsenal and storehouses to allow it to withstand a siege lasting two years. You can get good views of the central part of Macau Peninsula from here. The fortress can be accessed by escalator just east of St Paul's. The Macau Museum is located within the fortress (see "Museums" section below).

4. SeeTaipa

   Museum of Taipa and Coloane History

   Contains detailed and informative displays of the two islands.

   Entry is M$5 and is open 10am to 6pm every day except Monday

5. SeePeninsula

   Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral

   Portuguese: Ruinas de São Paulo; Cantonese: 大三巴 daai saam ba

   The city's most famous landmark and is regarded as the greatest monument to Christianity in the East. The only thing left of the Church of Mater Dei, built in the 1600s but burnt down in 1835, is the imposing façade, with its Biblical statues and relief, being described as a "sermon in stone" and a "Bible for the poor". Nearby are the remains of the St Paul's College. Behind the façade is the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, which occupies the chancel of the church, contains archaeological excavations of the site and also exhibits and paintings on early Christian life in the East. The crypt contains the remains of martyrs of Christians killed in the 17th century.

6. SeeColoane

   Seac Pai Van Park

   This 20 hectare park along Estrada Seac Pai Van just south of the Taipa-Coloane Isthmus Causeway, has a medicinal garden as well as other green areas, a mini zoo and a lake. The Museum of Nature and Agriculture is located within the park, as is the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion (MOP10, free for seniors 65 and older and for children 12 and under).

7. SeePeninsula

   St. Dominic's Church

   The pastel-coloured church was founded in 1587 by Spanish Dominican priests. The bell tower at the back of the building has been converted into the small Museum of Sacred Art with around 300 artifacts.

8. SeeTaipa

   Taipa Houses Museum

   Made up of a row of colonial houses from the early 20th century. They have been restored and preserved inside showing the style of living of the original owners.

   Free

9. SeePeninsula

   Wine Museum and Grand Prix Museum

   The Wine Museum and the Grand Prix Museum are both in the same building, north of the center of town.

10. SeePeninsula Not mapped

    Fire Services Museum

    消防博物館

    Built as the headquarters of the Fire Services Bureau, the historical building is now a museum dedicated to the history of the fire brigade and hosts a variety of antique fire engines and firefighting apparatus. Closed from public admittance as of October 2024. The rebuilt Central Fire Station is in use and next to the museum.

    10AM–6PM·Free

11. SeePeninsula Not mapped

    Quartel de São Francisco/Museum of the Macao Security Forces

    加思欄兵營/澳門保安部隊博物館

    A museum showing the history of Macau's first responders, which was built as a Portuguese barracks and later the headquarters of the security forces. Exhibition includes firearms, uniforms and various policing and firefighting equipment. Entry requires ID registration and X-ray scanning.

    9AM–5:45PM (weekdays), 9AM–5PM (weekends)·Free

12. SeePeninsula Not mapped

    Sun Yat Sen Memorial House

    澳門國父紀念館

    Dr. Sun Yat Sen's residence when he was practicing medicine in Macau, and later the place where his family lived. While called a museum, the Moorish-style building hosts very little exhibition apart from furniture at that time and personal correspondence.

    10AM–17PM, closed on Tue·Free

13. SeePeninsula

    Macau Museum

    closed on Mondays·MOP15; free for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and older

14. SeePeninsula

    Maritime Museum

    With exhibits on Macau's seafaring history.

    10AM–6PM (no admittance after 5:30PM), closed Tue·Admission: MOP10; half-price on Sundays

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Macau (CC BY-SA 4.0).