Macau in Pictures: 15 Beautiful Places to Photograph

Macau’s Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a treasure trove of beautiful sights, perfect for exploring with your camera. One of the most striking features of this area is the color. The brightly painted colonial-style buildings, colorful doors and trim, and even the seasonal decorations and flowers add splashes of interest to photos.

The time of day or day of the week can be important if you want to avoid crowds. But sometimes people can add to your images and give a true sense of what Macau is really like.

If you are visiting Hong Kong, you can tour Macau on a day trip.

1. Ruins of St. Paul’s

Follow the crowds to take photos of the façade of St. Paul’s with a blue-sky background. This is Macau’s most famous sight and one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Be sure to also search out the relief ornaments along with statues of Jesuit saints for some creative shots. The gardens leading up to the ruins make a nice foreground.

2. Love Lane

Combine a trip to St. Paul’s ruins with a stop at nearby Love Lane. Shoot up the lane to show the colorful houses with the ruins at the top end. The potted plants lining the cobblestone street provide a nice contrast to the houses.

3. A-Ma Temple

This is a large complex, but one easy area to photograph is the entrance to the A-Ma Temple, where you’ll find statues, stairs, and a gate. Smoke from the incense burners can often be seen wafting through the air, which adds a nice touch to the photo. The temple also has colorful façades and ornate roof lines.

4. Fortaleza do Monte

The Fortaleza do Monte is an ideal place to photograph Macau from a high point. Great pictures of the city and its skyscrapers can be taken from this ancient fort. Historic cannons can be juxtaposed against the modern skyline for interesting pictures.

5. Senado Square

The wavy designs in the street and historical buildings in Senado Square make this one of the best places to photograph in Macau. Stop by on your way to the ruins of St. Paul’s. The flowing black and white patterns in the street create leading lines for your pictures.

This can be a busy place in Macau, and the square is often filled with people, so go early in the day.

6. Maritime Museum and Fisherman’s Wharf

Capture history at the Maritime Museum and then stroll along Macau’s waterfront at the lively Fisherman’s Wharf. Small cafés line the waterfront promenade, and the impressive recreation of the Roman Colosseum is not to be missed.

7. Macau Tower

Capture the expansive views of Macau from the top of this 338-meter-high tower or simply include the tower in your picture. For action shots, capture people doing the world’s highest bungee jump or others doing the 360-degree walk on a narrow platform outside the viewing area.

8. Giant Panda Pavilion

A visit to the Giant Panda Pavilion will allow you to get a glimpse of these magnificent animals. It’s best to visit in the morning, when the pandas are most active. The pandas are in large pens with greenery and rocks, creating a natural looking background for photos.

9. Na Tcha Temple

Photograph the colorful details at the Na Tcha Temple in the Historic Centre of Macau. The temple dates from 1888 and is located near the Ruins of St. Paul’s. It is one of the most famous sites in Macau.

10. Photograph Macau’s Famous Egg Tarts

If you’re someone who likes to photograph traditional foods, stop by one of the many bakeries throughout the city to sample an egg tart. This is one of the city’s most famous snacks. The egg tarts are often displayed on large trays, or found in window displays, which can be ideal for creative pictures.

11. Photograph Macau’s Unique Architecture

The city is a mix of old, new, and functional buildings. Interesting abstract pictures can be created by utilizing unusual angles to capture the lines of the buildings. The Science Center is an especially modern and spectacular building, but even the most mundane buildings can be used to make creative images.

12. The Guia Fortress, Lighthouse, and Chapel

This park, overflowing with greenery, makes for a pleasant escape from Macau’s concrete jungle. Here, you’ll be able to photograph the historical lighthouse and chapel and get good views out over the city. Be sure to also see the frescoes in the chapel.

13. Tin Hau Temple

The Tin Hau temple is located on Taipa Island and is not far from the Taipa House Museum. The temple is over 180 years old and is especially noted for its impressive shrine to the goddess. The traditional rooflines and manicured grounds are also noteworthy for photographers.

14. Chapel of St. Francis Xavier

The Chapel of St. Francis Xavier is located on Coloane Island, a quick trip from downtown Macau via an impressive bridge. The yellow and white trimmed entrance is nicely framed by dual archways extending outwards from the chapel through the courtyard. Wavy lines on the floor of the courtyard give it a fairy-tale appearance.

15. Street of Happiness

The Street of Happiness, also known in Portuguese as the Rua da Felicidade, has traditional Chinese buildings painted in bright shades of pink and red. This was once the “red light” district of Macau but was revitalized many years ago.

You’ll also find small eateries serving delicious foods along with shops selling trinkets.