Ruins of St. Paul's Renovation

Question

Anyone visited Ruins of St. Paul this week or recently? Will Ruins of St. Paul still under renovation in the week of November 12? I will visit Hong Kong on November 12 and I am thinking if I can do a day trip to Macau. If Ruins of St. Paul is under renovation by then, I won't see a complete structure of Ruins of St. Paul , then no reason to visit Macau. Please advise!

Answer

Good news — you can still visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau around the week of November 12, but with a few caveats regarding restoration works. Here’s the latest status and what to expect.

Current Restoration Status:

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (Macau) (IC) announced that from 14 October to 30 November 2025, restoration works are being carried out on the bronze statues on the façade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s.
During this period, scaffolding will be installed on the front façade, and barricades may appear on the forecourt and staircase, for safety and operational reasons. The notice indicates certain times when access may be restricted.
Some news reports mention that the second phase of the restoration project (for other structural elements) has been postponed until 2026, in part to avoid disrupting the year-end tourist season.

What this means for your visit (week of Nov 12):

Between 14 October and late November there are works underway, but according to the official notice, *the site remains open to the public as usual during many of those intervals*. For example, for dates other than major scaffolding installation days, there will still be visitor access.
Specifically, the notice lists 22-24 November as days when “installation of barricades … and open to the public as usual” applies. For *earlier* dates such as Nov 12 this suggests access should be available.
However, you may encounter scaffolding or barriers in front of the façade, and possibly restrictions on climbing or accessing certain adjacent museum/exhibit areas. The iconic façade itself remains standing and visible, so you will still “see” the landmark. But the experience may be slightly impacted (less unobstructed photo-angles, some path detours).

Advice:

If your main goal is simply to visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s façade, enjoy the atmosphere, take photos, and stroll the surrounding historic centre of Macau — then yes, the day trip is worthwhile.

It would be wise to check closer to your travel date with the official Macau tourism website or the Cultural Affairs Bureau to verify if there are any planned full closures on your exact visit date.

In summary: You can plan for a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong on November 12 and expect to visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s. While restoration works are in progress, the landmark is still accessible and visible. So you still have a good reason to visit Macau, especially if you enjoy the broader historic centre, rather than abandoning the visit due solely to renovation concerns.

Ruins of St. Paul's Renovation

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