Maritime Museum
1 Largo do Pagode da Barra, Macau, China
Macau’s heritage has long been linked with the sea, and the Maritime Museum celebrates the connection while tracing the nautical histories of Portugal, China, and Macau. Fittingly enough, Macau’s oldest museum opened in 1987 near the spot believed to be where the first Portuguese traders came ashore.
The Basics
Visitors to the Maritime Museum’s exhibits begin with an introduction to A-Ma, the goddess of the sea and protector of seafarers, who gave Macau its name. Other exhibits delve into fishing techniques, model boats, navigational instruments, and maps, and a model of the Guia Lighthouse, the oldest on the South China coast, is on display.
Visitors will also find four aquariums, each representing a different aquatic environment: riverbed, deep water, harbor, and coral reef. A few outdoor exhibits include a real dragon boat similar to the ones raced during the annual Dragon Boat Festival.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Maritime Museum is a must for history buffs and families traveling with kids.
Admission to the museum is free to children under 10 years of age.
The museum complex houses a bar adjacent to a riverfront esplanade, as well as a gift shop.
Free Wi-Fi is available along the esplanade.
How to Get There
The Maritime Museum is located near A-Ma Temple on the Macau Peninsula. Several public buses stop nearby at A-Ma Temple and A-Ma Temple General Stations.
When to Get There
The Maritime Museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 6pm. It’s not often crowded and is a good option for a particularly hot afternoon or rainy day.
Architecture of the Maritime Museum
The original Maritime Museum occupied an old house in Largo do Pagode da Barra. In 1990, the collection was moved into a new, more spacious building with a facade inspired by the sails of a maritime vessel.
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