Where to Go
#1 Senado Square – Ruins of St. Paul
Ruins of St. Paul
If it’s your first time to Macau, journeying the branching roads from Senado Square to Ruins of St. Paul is an absolute must. This stretch is Macau’s historical centerpiece. DO NOT ride Bus 26A lest you wish to be angrily shouted at by a Cantonese speaking driver who cannot understand a single English word you say. Instead, from Galaxy Macau, look for the shuttle to San Ma Lo. It will drop you off along Rua do Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo; walk towards Avenida do Infante Dom Henrique. Turn left and continue walking until you pass Avenida da Praia Grande and then Rua Central. Senado Square is towards your right while to your left is the Leal Senado.
Senado Square Fountain
The Leal Senado Building was the seat of Macau’s government as a Portuguese colony. Take a quick tour through the halls until you reach the elegant courtyard garden at the back.
Leal Senado Hallway
Across the building are the cobbled streets of Senado Square. As a nerd for historic architecture, the town square took the incident from Bus 26A out of my mind and I actually started enjoying myself, taking in the scenery. I did have mixed feelings over the amalgamation of the old and the new as I stared at the HUGE Swarovski sign among the slew of buildings that make up Senado Square.
 Walking up towards the Ruins of St. Paul you’d find the busiest street selling all sorts of beef jerky and other pasalubong. The endpoint of this walkabout is the iconic Ruins of St. Paul. While all that remains of St. Paul’s Cathedral is its facade after its destruction in 1835, the museum under the ruins contain religious artifacts salvaged from the old church.
One of the relics I liked in the St. Paul Museum
#2 Taipa Village
We stumbled upon Taipa Village by accident as we were looking for Tai Lei Loi Kei‘s flagship store (more on this later). This traditional village transports the tourist back to old Macau. One to two storey buildings line the streets, the Chinese and Portuguese influences melding in the architecture of this community.
Visit Rua do Cunha within the village to try some of the more authentic Portuguese and Macanese restaurants. The highlight of our stroll was visiting the Civil Registry Office where we pretended to give our wedding vows for the second time (the office staff were really accommodating!).
Rua do Cunha is also known as the “Food Street” of Macau
How to get there: Ride the “Old Taipa Village” shuttle at the Galaxy Macau. The shuttle will drop you off Rua do Cunha. Alternatively, walk across Galaxy Macau and enter the village via Rua do Regedor.
#3 Venetian Macau – The House of Dancing Water @ City of Dreams
If History is not your cup of tea, The Venetian’s artificial sky ceiling is a modern masterpiece worth visiting. Take a romantic boat ride by the man-made canal, where Filipino ferrymen serenade you at a price.
 Be warned that the Venetian is a labyrinth, with the massive Cotai Arena – where Pacquiao’s comback fights were held – contained within the complex. Rest assured, there are many Filipinos employed by The Venetian, so asking a kababayan for directions is your best bet in getting to all the right places.
Across the Venetian is the City of Dreams, and the spectacular, extravagant show “The House of Dancing Water” is drawing throngs of visitors every night. Tickets can be a bit pricey, but save up and the show will not disappoint.
How to get there:Â Take any of the complimentary shuttle rides to The Venetian or City of Dreams.
Other destinations worth checking out are the Macau Grand Prix Museum for the F1 nerd, the Macau Tower for thrill seekers (personally afraid of heights, so PASS!), and Fisherman’s Wharf (which in recent times has lost popularity as people flock to the attractions available at The Strip instead).
Fisherman’s Wharf
