Shopping in Macau

Shopping in Macau, like the city itself, has changed completely over the past decade and while the city can offer little against the might of sister SARHong Kong;s shopping, the arrival of dozens of Las Vegas name hotels has also seen the opening of hundreds of luxury stores and boutiques, including the only Asian outposts of several major brands. ' Macau has also been an attractive place to pick up gold at decent prices. Usually picked up and placed in the bank, rather than used as a the centre piece of a dining table, the actual price will depend on the investment climate around the world but the competitive nature of the dealing here means prices are usually a decent cut cheaper than in Europe or the US.
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New Yaohan Department Store

This concrete monstrosity spreads over nine stories and the tinted glass frontage give it the retro look of a department store in 1980s Detroit – you almost expect to run into Eddie Murphy. It’s not hugely better indoors with a dingy lack of natural life and window dressing dummies that look like they should have retired years ago. Several concessions have been refitted since the department store was bought by the city’s casino consortium and what you will find is an impressive line-up of luxury brand names, including Burberry, Coach, Hugo Boss, Chanel and many, many more. You’ll find New Yaohan on South Bay Commercial Road.

Grand Canal Shoppes

Macau’s biggest mall and home to the swankiest shops, the Grand Canal Shoppes have become somewhat of a destination for shoppers from China and all over Asia. Set on the third floor of the Venetian Macau casino– the biggest casino in the world – the shops are lined up along the casinos fantastical Venetian inspired canals. With the canals plied by crooning gondala captains and the whole place decked out in faux Renaissance design this is a shopping experience worth the experience even if you can’t afford the shopping. And most of us can’t. The shop line up reads like the address book of Beverley Hills and you’ll need a deep wallet for most of the purchases. Here’s just a taste of the diamond class 330 shops inside that include the likes of Pull and Bear and Zara but also Vivienne Westwood and Louis Vuitton as well as the only official Manchester United store in Asia. In the 30 + outlets in the food court you’ll find more Asia one offs, such as Fatburger, and if you’re staying out on the Cotai Strip it’s a good place to pick upm a cheap meal.
You’ll find the Grand Canal Shoppes inside the Venetian Macau over on the Cotai Strip.

Red Market Macau

Less glitz and glamour than the swanky addresses above, the Red Market is a bustling wet market crammed with fruit and veg stalls, sellers with stacks of live chickens and butchers slicing into hunks of meat. As a tourist it’s unlikely you’ll be in the market for a bag of rump steak but the Red Market is all about character and an opportunity to soak up the relentless bargaining, barging and bartering that takes place. The distinctive red brick building dates from 1936 and is a fine example of Macau’s Portuguese heritage. The Red Market can be found on Avenida Almirante Lacerda.

Fisherman’s Wharf

We only include this because someone is almost certainly sure to shove a leaflet into your hand singing the praises of Fisherman's Wharf as soon as you step off the ferry. Don’t believe it. There are two dozen underwhelming shops, some overpriced rides and very little else. Ignore.

Top 10 must-see attractions in Macao

Macao, located on the southeast coast of China at the mouth of the Pearl River downstream from Guangzhou, is a perfect crossroad for the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures. It is also best known as Asia's largest destination for gambling.

During ancient times, Macao, a port city, was part of the Silk Road with ships loading here with silk bound for Rome. Today, Macao is a major intermediate port for trade between China, Japan, India and Europe.

Macao's charm rests in the contrast between old and new, antiques and fashion, traditional and modern .

Let's explore Macao through our list of top 10 must-see attractions in the city.

NO.1 Ruins of St. Paul's (大三巴牌坊)

The Ruins of St. Paul's refers to remains of the greatest church in Macao, one of most famous landmarks of the city - St. Paul's Church.

Initially established in 1580, St. Paul's Church was set on fire in 1595 and 1601. The reconstruction of the church started in 1602 and it was rebuilt into the biggest Catholic Church in East Asia at that time when completed in 1637.

Unfortunately, the church caught fire for a third time and what survived were the front façade, the grand stone stairs as well as the glorious history. According to records, the church was white stones and magnificently decorated.

In 2005, the ruins were officially inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as it forms part of the 'Historic Centre of Macao.'

Ruins of St. Paul's [China.org.cn]

Travel tips:

How to get there: Take Bus No. 10, 10A, 11, 21A, 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, 26A, 33

Hours: 9:00 – 18:00

NO.2 A-Ma Temple (妈祖阁)

Constructed in the year of 1488 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the A-Ma Temple is the oldest temple in Macao to commemorate Mazu, the sacred sea goddess who blesses the fishermen and seafarers of the city.

The temple was built by the cliffs. With winding paths around and up the hill, it offers silence and spectacular views.

Containing a series of classical Chinese architectural treasures, the temple became one of the designated sites of the 'Historic Centre of Macao' inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, in 2005.

A-Ma Temple [China.org.cn]

Travel tips:

How to get there: Take Bus No. 6, 8, 9, 28B

NO.3 Casino (赌场)

Apart from its extremely rich attractions and numerous historical and cultural heritages, Macao is also known as 'Oriental Las Vegas' for its booming and flourishing gambling industry.

Apart from imported casinos like the Venetian Macao, the most renowned and long-standing local casino is the Grand Lisboa started by Gambling King Stanley Ho.

The Casino Grand Lisboa offers an extensive array of exciting casino games with 240 gaming tables and 1000 slot machines. The casino is the first in Macao to offer Texas hold 'em poker and craps.

According to the Macao Laws, youths under 18 years of age are prohibited from entering the casino area.

Grand Lisboa [gootrip.com] NO.4 Macao Fisherman's Wharf (渔人码头) Taking just a 5-minute walk from the Macao-HK Ferry Terminal and Heliport, Macao Fisherman's Wharf is the first cultural and themed attraction in Macao. In addition, it also has dining, shopping, entertainment, accommodation, convention and exhibition facilities in one single location. Macao Fisherman's Wharf is made up three main sections, including Dynasty Wharf, East Meets West and Legend Wharf. The Dynasty Wharf is home to many traditional Chinese towers in the imitation of the Tang-style. The East Meets West encapsulates oriental traditions and features of western design. The Legend Wharf features a recreational complex, combining shops, hotels, restaurants and a casino. Macao Fisherman's Wharf [China.org.cn] Travel tips: How to get there: Take bus no. 1A,3,3A,8,10,10A,10B,17,28A,28B,28BX,28C,32 and get off at Macao Fisherman's Wharf Admission: Free Hours: opens 24 hours Website: http://www.fishermanswharf.com.mo/eng/ NO.5 Fortaleza do Monte (大炮台) As a historical military center in Macao, Fortaleza do Monte is part of the "Historic Centre of Macao", inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Located immediately to the east of the Ruins of St Paul's, the fort was initially built in the 16th century for protecting the church from the pirates. Later it became solely a military fort. The fort blends well with the surrounding landscape. From the fortress, visitors get a excellent panoramic view of Macao. Fortaleza do Monte [China.org.cn] Travel tips: How to get there: Take Bus No.8A, 17, 18, 19, 26 Hours: 06:00-19:00 (May - Sep.); 07:00-18:00 (Oct. - the next Apr.) NO.6 Macao Jockey Club (赛马会) Macao is well-known for gambling. For betting on horses, head to the Macao Jockey Club on Taipa Island, where Horse-racing meetings mainly takes place most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the race-course. Providing horse racing and gambling entertainment, Macao Jockey Club attracts numerous gamblers from nearby areas. The club began in 1979. Its stables are home to about 1,000 horses. With a race-course area of 450,000 square meters, 18,000 seats are available for gamblers, and the club is open only for people over 18 years of age. Macao Jockey Club [gootrip.com] Travel tips: Website: http://www.mjc.mo/mjc_en/ NO.7 Macao Tower (澳门塔) Macao Tower, as an important landmark of Macao, is a must-go place when you're traveling the city. As the eighth highest tower in Asia and the tenth in the world by the year of its completion, Macao Tower is one of the members of the World Federation of Great Towers. Macao Tower offers a breathtaking birds-eye view of the city, especially the spectacular night-view. In NO.8 Senado Square (议事亭前地) Senado Square (Largo do Senado) is a lively public plaza in Macao, where many celebrations are held. The square, paved with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stones, was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as it forms part of the 'Historic Centre of Macao.' Located close to the former Senate building, it provides an example of rich architectural tradition – St. Dominic's Church, and the Leal Senado Building, reflect multicultural dimension of the Macao community. Shopping centers and traditional Chinese restaurants around the square also make it one of the most popular venues in Macao. Senado Square [China.org.cn] Travel tips: How to get there: Take the No. 3, 3A, 4, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 19, 21A, 26A, 33 buses to the Av. De Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo). NO.9 The Venetian Macao (威尼斯人度假村) Located on the Cotai Strip, the Venetian Macao, the largest single structure hotel building in Asia and the second largest building in the world, is a 6-star hotel and casino resort in Macao owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. It combines romance of Venice with the excitement of Las Vegas. Containing 3,000 suites from comfortably large to lavishly humongous, the property is a rare combination of attractions and amenities. To some extent, it makes Macao one of the most exciting entertainment destinations in Asia. It has the features of dining, performance, entertainment, shopping, exhibition, hotel and large scale gaming, with more than 35 stylish restaurants, 300 premiere boutiques, and a myriad of sporting, leisure and conference facilities. The Venetian Macao [China.org.cn] Travel tips: How to get there: There are free shuttle buses between the Venetian Macao and other areas, including Macao Airport. Hours: 10:00-23:00 (Sunday-Thursday); 10:00-24:00 (Friday-Saturday) Website: http://www.venetianmacao.com/en/ NO.10 Museum of Macao (澳门博物馆) Located in the famous St. Paul Monte Fortress, the Museum of Macao is the biggest museum in the special region. This superb museum displays Macao's culture and history, from Neolithic period until today, in quite a fascinating way. It will make a perfect choice for your first stop in Macao to get a general idea of what the city is like before you make further explorations. Museum of Macao [Macaoheritage.net] Travel tips: How to get there: Take bus 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 18, 19, 21A, 26A, 33 and get off at Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. The museum is just next to the Ruins of St. Paul's. Admission: 15 patacas (for adults); 8 patacas (for children between 5-10 years old, students and adults over 60 years old) Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (closed every Monday)