Ruins of Saint Paul's
Macau UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Ruins of Saint Paul's is a cultural heritage site and former church building in Macau, established in 1835. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site and is the second most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia. Designed by architect Charles Spinola, the site is dedicated to the Theotokos and named after Paul the Apostle.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit is during the cooler, drier months of November, December, January, and February. During this period, rainfall is minimal, ranging from 27 mm to 59 mm per month, and temperatures are more moderate. It is advisable to avoid the period from May through September, when the region experiences its highest temperatures of 30 °C and heavy rainfall, with some months recording over 300 mm of rain across more than 20 days.
Macau International Airport is the nearest arrival point, located 7 km away. The site is located in a dense area, allowing for easy travel to several other nearby points of interest. Visitors can combine a visit here with Fortaleza do Monte, which is 0.2 km away, or St. Dominic's Church, located 0.3 km from the ruins. Senado Square is 0.4 km away, while the Macau Peninsula and the broader Historic Centre of Macau are 0.7 km and 0.9 km away, respectively.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is June, with about 368 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 18 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 23 | 19 |
| Average low, °C | 14 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| Rainfall, mm | 27 | 59 | 93 | 207 | 316 | 368 | 302 | 360 | 249 | 86 | 50 | 32 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
