Traditionally an island of duck farms and boat yards, Taipa is rapidly becoming urbanised and now houses hotels, a university, a racecourse, a stadium and an airport. But a parade of baroque churches, temples, overgrown esplanades and lethargic settlements mean it's still possible to experience the traditional charms of the island.
Taipa Village, in the north-central part of the island, is a window to the island's past. Here you'll find the stately Taipa-Houses Museum , housed in five waterfront villas that give a sense of how the Macanese middle-class lived in the early 20th century. Also in the village is the Church of Our Lady of Carmel and temples including Pak Tai Temple .
The small Taipa Flea Market , organised for most parts of the year, is a good place to shop for souvenirs.
You can rent bicycles in Taipa Village from Aluguer de Bicicletas ; there's no English sign but it's next to the Don Quixote restaurant.
