A "shopping safari" in the city center is a great experience as it gives you a chance to see both traditional shops, modern shops and markets, and to combine the shopping experience with a visit to many of Macau's points of interest.
A good place to start the journey would be at the bus stop, next to Hotel Macau Masters, on Rua das Lorchas. You can get here with any of the following bus routes: 1, 1A, 2, 3A, 5, 6, 7, 16, 26 and 34.
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From the hotel, walk a few steps up Rua das Lorchas (northward - the harbour should be on your left side) and turn right into Rua de Cinco de Outubro, near Hotel Hou Kong. Walk along Rua de Cinco de Outubro up to the corner of Rua das Estalagens. Near the corner, on your left hand side, you will see the famous Hong Kung temple and next to it, in the old Chinese bazaar located between Rua de Cinco de Outubro and Rua do Guimaraes, there is a small flea market where you can fetch some knick knacks and other bargains.
You have now entered Macau's old city, a labyrinth of small streets and alleyways, packed with traditional shops that sell a wide range of antiques, reproductions and other authentic products... from old Portuguese stamps and coins to Chinese furniture, traditional paintings and arts, porcelain, herbal medicines and what not...
Turn right to Rua das Estalagens (near the temple) and walk along it for a minute or so, then turn left to Travessa do Armazem Velho (it's the first left turn) and walk up to its end, where you can turn right, to Rua da Tercena: Here there is a small but popular flea-market, well known for its variety of antiques, and old coins in particular. The flea market operates every afternoon. From Rua da Tercena you can cross to Rua de S. Paulo through one of the small alleys that connect the two streets. Turn left to Rua de S. Paulo and walk along it. The street's name changes to Rua de Santo António and you will see some nice arts and crafts galleries around this area, as well as some traditional shops that specialize in Chinese tea and herbal medicines. Walk to the end of Rua de Santo António and you will arrive at some interesting spots, like St. Anthony church (Santo Antonio), Luis de Camoes Garden, Casa garden and the old protestant cemetery.
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Wide choice of books and maps about Hong Kong, Macau and China
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Walk back through Rua de Santo António and Rua de S. Paulo to the bottom of the stairs that climb to the ruins of St. Paul's, and continue walking down the street until you reach Rua da Palha. Here, you can visit the shops at the modern Sportstar arcade, specializing in fashion ware, accessories, watches and the likes...
From Rua da Palha, turn left to Rua de S. Domingos and proceed with it. Soon after the street connects with Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva you will see the popular Sun Star City on your right hand side. This is another modern shopping arcade, specializing in sportswear. The adjacent Daiso is a Japanese mega-shop that sells all sorts of MOP$ 10 items. Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva also houses some interesting shops that specialize in traditional herbal medicines and Chinese tea. At the end of the street, you will reach Rua do Campo, where you can find some arts and crafts shops that specialize in rice paper products and Chinese calligraphy.
Walk back via Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva and Rua de S. Domingos and you will arrive at the famous Santo Domingo church, located at the back end of Senado Square (Largo do Senado). Pass the church and you will see the new city market complex on your left side (Complexo Municipal do Mercado de S. Domingos), just next to the church. The market, as well as the small streets around it, are bustling with many small shops that sell inexpensive surpluses... garments, lingerie, fashion ware, kids clothes, accessories, sportswear, shoes... you name it. Good variety and good prices.
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At the end of Rua de S. Domingos (one block after the market), turn left to Rua dos Mercadores, another great shopping street, and walk along it to Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau's main and most popular shopping street. This section of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (near Senado Square) is where you will find the city's major gold and jewelry shops, as well as art galleries, arts and crafts shops and inexpensive fashion boutiques that specialize in surpluses and seconds.
After hanging about Senado Square and the small streets around it, you can cross Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro to the other side and visit the famous Leal Senado building (Portuguese for Loyal Senate), which was the seat of Macau's government during its colonial past. Enter Rua do Dr. Soares, on the right side of Leal Senado building, follow it to Rua dos Cules and turn right to Rua da Felicidade. This street was once the heart of Macau's red lights district and that is how it got its rather peculiar name ("Happiness Street" in English)... Today, Rua da Felicidade is a cute, authentic shopping street where you can see and buy plenty of "exotic" products...
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Walk along Rua da Felicidade and visit the small streets that branch off it. At the end of the street, near hotel Kou Va, you can turn right again and walk along Travessa do Mastro or Travessa do Matadouro, back to Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. Cross it to the other side and you can visit the Cultural Club and museum. Housed in Tak Seng On, a beautiful old building with mixed Chinese and western motifs that used to accommodate a prosperous pawnshop, the cultural club gives the visitor an opportunity to see lots of lovely art pieces, related to Macau's culture and heritage. There is also an excellent gallery and arts shop here.
From here you can walk back to Senado Square (a couple of minutes along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro) and continue your sightseeing and shopping or you can walk along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro to the other side and get back to Hotel Macau Masters, where you started your journey from.
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You may also want to read about shopping in...
Macau North, "Three Lamps Square" and the "Red Market"
Southeast Macau, the "casinos belt" and Macau Tower
The "islands" of Taipa and Coloane
