Fortaleza do Monte

Fortaleza do Monte is a 17th-century fort in Macau, built on a 52-metre hill east of the Ruins of Saint Paul's. It was the historical military centre of Macau and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Centre of Macau'. Today, the fort houses the Museum of Macau and its tree-covered park offers panoramic views of mainland Macau.

Don't miss

• Thirty-two muzzle-loading cannon placed along the fort's walls
• Small watchtowers at two corners of the southeastern fort wall
• The Museum of Macau, opened in 1998
• Tree-covered park at the top with panoramic views of mainland Macau
• The fort's location directly east of the Ruins of Saint Paul's

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Fortaleza do Monte

Cheapest way inCumbuco-Leaving Fortaleza by Girafatur4.9★ · 479 travelers6-7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$8 per personSee dates →Best full day3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza4.8★ · 2,050 travelers11-12 hoursFree cancellationFrom$13 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleFortaleza AirPort Executive Transfer with Meet & Greet Service5★ · 10 travelersFree cancellationFrom$20 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The fort is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Centre of Macau'.
• The top of the fort has a tree-covered park with panoramic views of mainland Macau.

A bit of history

The fort was built between 1617 and 1626 by Portuguese Jesuits to protect their properties from pirates. It was later taken over by the first governor of Macau, Francisco Mascarenhas, as his residence. The fort played a key role in repelling the Dutch invasion of Macau in 1622. It remained a restricted military area until 1965, when it opened to the public and the barracks became a weather observatory. The observatory moved in 1996, and the Museum of Macau opened on the site in 1998.