In Taipa Village, the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History is housed in a 1920s Portuguese colonial building and displays everything from traditional agriculture and handicrafts to religious and historical artefacts from the colonial period. Also located in the village is an homage to a business that the city once boasted: a thriving firework industry. Since closing in 1984, the Iec Long Firecracker Factory has been revamped, revitalised and reopened to the public. Its renovations include a wooden walkway which visitors can take to tour the site which spans over 25,000 square metres, as well as an exhibition hall and souvenir shop.

Another industry that made a significant mark in Macao’s history is shipbuilding. Its impact can be understood most keenly in Coloane Village, where all the city’s shipyards were moved to in the 1980s. While most are now either vacant, abandoned or awaiting demolition, curious visitors can head to the Shipyard Museum where treasured relics and historical records have been preserved. On display here are tools handcrafted by shipbuilders of Lai Chi Vun—a once-prominent shipyards village located along the Coloane shoreline—and models of fishing boats from various eras.

Travellers to Macao can further enjoy free thrills year-round at the city’s many other attractions. Cool off with a dip at Coloane’s Hac Sa black-sand beach, enjoy the dazzling choreography of water, music and light at Wynn Macau’s eight-acre Performance Lake, watch a giant diamond emerge from a water fountain in a stunning sound and light show at the Galaxy Macau Diamond Show, or simply stroll along the Cotai Strip at night and marvel at the spectacular illuminated architecture.

But if one’s time, like their budget, is also a constraint, there are eight must-see scenic spots that have been voted by popularity: Travessa da Paixāo; Rua da Delicidade; Senado Square; Two Lakes and One Tower; Penha Hill; Coloane Fishing Village; Long Chao Kok trail; and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

When it comes to arts and entertainment, you can enjoy some of Macao’s best and most vibrant experiences either for free or next to nothing. Whether you’re a music aficionado, or a family looking for a night out, Macao has something for everyone with its line-up of world-class events that draw locals and visitors alike.

January - The performing arts extravaganza in January, sponsored by the Macao SAR Government Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents cultural programmes and outreach activities in Iao Hon and other neighbourhoods in the city. From traditional theatre and puppetry to reinterpretations of avant-garde music by composer John Cage to performances by AΦE, a British dance company that uses augmented reality and virtual reality to forge new immersive audience experiences, you would never know what to expect at Fringe. Note that some performances have paid admission.

January/February - To kick the New Year off in spectacular style, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) hosts the Chinese New Year Parade every January or February, depending on the lunar calendar. During the Lunar New Year, witness a stunning procession of illuminated floats move from Sai Van Lake Square, to Avenida Dr Sun Yat Sen, on to the Macao Science Centre. Spectator stands at Sai Van Lake Square, Avenida Dr Sun Yat Sen, square in front of the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre and roundabout of the Macao Science Centre will offer fantastic views.

In addition to the floats, spectators are treated to free performances by dance, acrobatics and musical troupes from Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as a firework displays that lights up the skies above Macau Tower. If you miss the first parade, there’s a second one held a few days later, culminating at Iao Hon Market Garden.

April/May - Organised by the Macao SAR Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and held from late April to late May, this exciting month-long celebration of the arts includes everything from dance, music, and theatre, to opera and the visual arts. Its 33rd edition in 2023 featured 20 programmes by local and international performers. Highlights included a reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring by Chinese dancer Yang Liping, a performance of On the Substance of Time by the Portuguese Contemporary Dance Company, a theatrical adaptation of Higashino Keigo’s acclaimed novel The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Chinese stage director Liu Fangqi, and the Patuá-theatre play Carnavaland by the Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group. Performances are typically held in various venues around Macao—note that some have paid admission.

May - Every May, Christians in Macao celebrate visions of the Virgin Mary that three shepherd children are believed to have experienced starting from May 1917 in Fátima, Portugal. Holding candles and banners, the faithful parade a statue of Mary through the narrow streets of the historic centre of Macao, from St. Dominic’s Church to Our Lady of Penha Church. This sombre evening procession reveals Macao’s deep European and Christian roots, a side of the city that may be unfamiliar to many visitors.

September/October - For five nights in September and culminating on the evening of October 1st, China’s National Day, the skies around Macau Tower and Sai Van Lake light up with a dazzling panorama of colour and pyrotechnics during the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest organised by MGTO. International teams compete for the grand prize by mounting eye-popping choreographed firework shows set to music and laser beams.

Each display lasts 10 to 15 minutes and can be best viewed from such freely accessible locations as Macau Tower waterfront and Skywalk, the Kun Iam Statue square, and Anim’Arte Nam Van, a leisure hub on Nam Van Lake

October/November - Billed as Macao’s hottest outdoor event, the HUSH! Music Festival spotlights local talent and highlights the laid-back, leisurely vibe of the islands that make up the city. Held from late October to mid-November, the festival is a unique celebration of Macanese music and has been for more than ten years.

The festival is held at three stages, one of which is dedicated to young Macanese artists. You can enjoy bands covering Chinese and international pop songs, as well as rock and jazz groups, and noted musical artists from Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and beyond. The main stage is at Hac Sa Beach near Coloane Village and there are free shuttle buses from Central da Taipa Park. Note that some performances at the HUSH! Music Festival have paid admission.

December - In early December, the cityscape of Macao comes alive with spectacular lights and colours to create unforgettable winter nights. A joint project between the Macao Government Tourism Office and tourism and leisure companies, the illuminations take place on the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Cotai. Visitors can experience light decorations, light shows, interactive games to win souvenirs and 3D projection mapping by teams from Macao, mainland China and other countries.