18 Macau Landmarks For Your Bucket List

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With eye-catching contemporary architecture and famous historic landmarks, Macau is a place that is attracting lots of attention. The Historic Centre of Macao is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with Baroque churches and ancient Chinese temples while dazzling 21st-century landmarks in Macau are redefining the skyline. 

With this melding of its rich past and exciting future, it should come as no surprise that the city punches way above its weight in the monument and landmark department. On track to becoming the wealthiest place in the world by 2020, new landmarks in Macau keep on popping up each year.

Macau’s monuments and buildings are up there with some of the best landmarks in China. So go ahead and see tick these fantastic places off your bucket list. With so many new and impressive monuments, now is the best time to visit Macau

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18 Macau Landmarks For Your Bucket List

Hotel Landmarks in Macau

1- Morpheus

macao landmark morpheus
Morpheus is an eye-popping Macau landmark.

A futuristic architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid is one of the most impressive landmarks in Macau.  

The building is a 40-storey skyscraper housing one of the most impressive hotels in Macau, Morpheus Hotel in the City of Dreams. 

Morpheus is the first free-form exoskeleton-bound high-rise building and if you’re wondering where to stay in Macau, you can’t go wrong here.

It cost US$1.1 billion to build and opened on 15 June 2018.

Also read: 50 free things to do in Macau if you’re on a budget

2- Eiffel Tower

unique macau landmarks
The Eiffel Tower in The Parisian is a Macau landmark that lights up the night skyline of the Cotai Strip.

Although the Eiffel Tower in the Parisian Macao is a landmark that is half the height of the original Eiffel Tower in Paris, it was a challenge to build. 

Macau’s Eiffel Tower was built from steel instead of wrought iron and constructed to withstand a typhoon.

It has observation decks, a restaurant and there’s a nightly light show. 

The Macao Eiffel Tower cost US$2.7 billion to build and was completed on 15 October 2015. 

3- Golden Reel

famous landmarks in macau
The Golden Reel at Studio City is a spectacular landmark in Macau.

What happens when two asteroids crash into a Gotham City tower? In Macau, you get a Ferris Wheel in the sky. 

Studio Cityā€™s Golden Reel is not only the worldā€™s first figure-8 Ferris wheel, but itā€™s also Asiaā€™s highest. 

One of the unique things about this Macau landmark is it sits 130 m (427 ft) above the ground.

The experience starts at the Industrial Revolution-themed loading platform and travels around a figure-8 track high in the sky.

The integrated leisure destination resort brings more than a dash of Hollywood glam to Macau. 

If you’re visiting Macau with kids, head for the Batman Dark Flight motion ride, a family entertainment centre and Fun Zone packed with characters from Warner Bros, DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera Productions and Looney-Tunes.

Other attractions include magic shows at The House of Magic, a cool Ibiza-style nightclub called Pacha Macau, a 5,000-seat entertainment centre for live concerts and a host of events.

Studio City’s Golden Reel is part of the US$3.2billion Studio City complex that opened in June 2015. 

4- Grand Lisboa Hotel

macau landmarks casino
Grand Lisboa Hotel is a Macau landmark that stands out on the skyline.

Until the Cotai Strip was conceived, the 260m (856 ft) Grand Lisboa Hotel tower dominated the Macau skyline. 

Designed by Hong Kong-based architects Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man, the iconic Macau landmark houses a 58-floor hotel, casino, restaurants and shops.

The Grand Lisboa Hotel opened on 11 February 2007. 

5- MGM Cotai

modern landmarks in macau MGM
MGM is a futuristic and eye-catching landmark in Macau.

MGM Cotaii’s design of sparkling blocks makes it a striking landmark in Macau and it’s as impressive inside as it is outside. 

Tables in the shape of gold ingots grace the main lobby and there’s an impressive four-storey atrium the size of a football field.

Around the atrium are restaurants, vertical gardens and 25 LED screens with a rolling display of the best places to visit in China.

This incredible Macau landmark houses over 1,000 rooms, Skylofts and Villas in The Mansion, which is an exclusive invitation-only luxury escape.  

MGM Cotai cost $3.4 billion to build and opened on 13 February 2018.

Landmarks in Asia

Classic Macau Landmarks

6- Macau Tower

macau landmarks macau tower
From a distance, Macau Tower is a Macau landmark that defines the city skyline.

Inspired by Auckland’s Sky Tower, Macau Tower is a 338m high landmark of Macau that is instantly recognisable. 

This multi-award-winning attraction has six restaurants and cafes, shops, Macau’s largest 3D movie theatre and breathtaking views from the Observation Lounge on the 58th floor. 

The Adventure Deck offers a list of activities that will get the adrenalin pumping, including the Macau Tower Bungy Jump, which is listed in the Guinness World Record as the Highest Commercial Bungy Jump in the world.

Macau Tower was completed on 19 December 2001.

10- Kun Ian Statue

macau statue
Kun Ian Statue is a beautiful landmark in Macau on the harbour.

The beautiful Goddess of Mercy, Kun Iam, is a 20m bronze statue with a base that resembles a lotus flower. 

Inside the domed base is a centre where you can obtain information about the region’s main ideologies: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

Kun Ian centre is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Friday. 

11- The Bridge

macau bridge
The Hong Kong Macau Bridge is one of the most impressive Macau landmarks to be built in recent times.

The 55km (34 miles) bridge is an engineering feat and the longest sea bridge in the world. 

The bridge is an engineering landmark that connects three Pearl River Delta cities – Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau – reducing travel time between the cities from three hours to 30 minutes.

Constructed with 4.5 times the amount of steel used to build the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, this bridge can withstand a super typhoon or a magnitude 8 earthquake. 

A unique feature is the 6.7km (4-mile) submerged tunnel connecting two artificial islands.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cost $20 billion to build and opened, finally after nine years, on 24 October 2018.

12- Macao Science Centre

landmark macau new
Macao Science Centre is a space-age landmark that Macau can be proud of.

The Macao Science Centre is a space-age landmark of Macau, with a conical-shaped Exhibition Centre, Convention Centre and Planetarium (it holds the Guinness World Record as the highest resolution 3D planetarium). 

There are interactive displays, galleries, workshops and shows. 

Macao Science Centre is open daily from 10 am to 6om but closed every Thursday.

13- Ruins of St Paul’s

macau landmarks ruins
The Ruins of St Paul’s is not only the most famous landmark in Macau but also in China.

The College of St Paul was created by Jesuit priests and was the first Western university in Asia, making Macau an important centre for foreign missionaries.

A legacy of Macau’s Portuguese history is the beautiful churches that remain.

Famous churches in Macau include St Lawrence’s, St Augustines and the Chapel of St Francis Xavier but none are as instantly recognisable as the Ruins of St Paul’s.  

The Ruins of St Paul’s are the ruins of a seminary complex consisting of the College of St Paul and facade of the former Church of Mater Dei built in 1640. 

For more amazing European Landmarks, read:

14- Guia Lighthouse

macau landmarks guia
Guia Lighthouse is a recognisable Macau landmark for your bucket list.

Guia Lighthouse is a historic Macau landmark in the 17th-century Guia Fortress, which also houses Guia Chapel.

Guia Lighthouse was the first modern lighthouse to be built along the coast of China.

The fortress, lighthouse and chapel are icons of Macau’s missionary, military and maritime past.

Guia Lighthouse was built in 1865.

15- A-Ma Temple

macau landmarks a ma temple
A-Ma Temple is a classic Macau landmark to explore.

A unique historic landmark in Macau, A-Ma Temple was here long before the city existed and was a landmark for fishermen.

Halls and pavilions are inspired by Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and other traditional Chinese beliefs, making A-Ma Temple a pleasure to explore.

When the Portuguese arrived in Macau and asked the name of the land, the locals misunderstood and told them the name of the temple, which later morphed into the name Macau. 

A-Ma Temple is in Barra Square. 

16- Mount Fortress

macau landmarks fortress
Mount Fortress is a historic landmark in Macau you will love exploring.

Built in the 17th Century, Mount Fortress was originally the city’s main military defence structure. 

As it sits on Mount Hill, there are fabulous views of the city from the fortress.

The Macao Museum is built into the Fortress and has impressive displays of the city’s fascinating past. 

Mount Fortress along with the Ruins of St Paul’s are significant historical landmarks of Macau’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

17- Our Lady of Penha Chapel

macau
Church: Our Lady of Penha Chapel is a landmark in Macau that gives the region a European feel.

While there are many chapels and churches, one that is a beautiful landmark of Macau is Our Lady of Penha Chapel.

The chapel was a pilgrimage place for sailors to pray before embarking on a hazardous voyage.

Our Lady of Penha Chapel was built in 1622 by the crew and passengers of a ship that escaped being captured by the Dutch. 

18- Border Gate

 

The Border Gate was put in place in 1870 at the border of Macau and Zhuhai in China. 

Border Gate Square has fountains, blue tiles on the walls along with a poem by poet, Camoes, describing the history of Macao.

Macau Landmarks pin

landmarks in macau

Where is Macao?

Macau is 60 km to the west of Hong Kong and is bordered by the South China Sea, Guangdong and Zhuhai in China.

Is Macao a country?

Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China (SAR) with its own currency and legal system. Residents of Macao have their own passports

How far is China from Macao?

The distance between Macao and China is 1648 km

Do visitors need a visa to visit Macao?

It depends on what country you’re from and what passport you’re travelling on. AustralianĀ passport holdersĀ travelling to Macao for up to 30 days do not require a visa.

Plan Your Trip

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Christina Pfeiffer
Christina Pfeiffer is a writer, photographer and video blogger based in Queensland, Australia. She has lived in three continents and her career as a travel journalist has taken her to all seven continents. Since 2003, she has contributed travel stories and photographs to mainstream media in Australia and around the world such as the Sydney Morning Herald, CNN Traveller, The Australian and the South China Morning Post. She has won many travel writing awards and is a full member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers.