Metro Manila, Luzon · Philippines
A sprawling, energetic capital with a walled Spanish citadel, Chinatown food crawls, jeepney chaos and Manila Bay sunsets.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and the heart of Metro Manila, a huge urban area of about 14 million people made up of 16 cities. It is loud, hot, congested and endlessly busy, and most visitors treat it as a gateway. But with a little planning, it offers real rewards: colonial history, superb food, museums and an infectious energy.
The city was founded by the Spanish in 1571, and Intramuros, the walled city, was the centre of Spanish power in Asia. Its walls, gates, churches and Fort Santiago survive, although much was destroyed in the Second World War, including much of the rest of the old city. San Agustin Church, completed in 1607, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest stone church in the country. Rizal Park, nearby, honours the national hero José Rizal, who was executed in 1896.
Elsewhere, Binondo is the world's oldest Chinatown, and a great place for a food crawl, and Manila Bay is famed for its sunsets. Modern Makati and Bonifacio Global City have malls, restaurants and nightlife. Manila has traffic and pollution, and street crime can occur, so travel with care and use Grab. Two days covers the highlights.
Why visit
Manila is the country's cultural and historical capital, and a fine introduction to the Philippines.
The Spanish walled city.
A UNESCO baroque church.
The oldest in the world.
From street stalls to fine dining.
Famous orange skies.
Main attractions
Sights cluster around Intramuros and Rizal Park.
A citadel on the Pasig River, where José Rizal was imprisoned before his execution, now a park and museum.
Tip Go in the morning.
The Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard is a classic sunset spot, glowing orange over the water.
Tip Arrive by 5:30 pm.
The world's oldest Chinatown, founded in 1594, packed with dumpling houses, bakeries and temples.
Tip Join a food tour.
The iconic public transport of the Philippines, a decorated and crowded jeepney.
Tip Ask locals for the route.
The oldest stone church in the country, a UNESCO site with a painted ceiling and a museum.
Tip Visit the museum.
Free museums of art, natural history and anthropology.
Tip Check opening hours.
Things to do
Manila rewards history and appetite.
Or ride a kalesa.
Tip Go early.
Dumplings and hopia.
Tip Join a tour.
At Manila Bay.
Tip Beware of crowds.
The National Museum.
Tip Free entry.
Bars in Makati.
Tip Go with friends.
Isaw and balut.
Tip Only at busy stalls.
Local food
Manila's food is the country's best sampler.
Classics.
Where to try it Filipino restaurants.
In Binondo.
Where to try it Chinatown.
Shaved ice dessert.
Where to try it Cafés.
Fertilised duck egg.
Where to try it Street stalls.
Oxtail peanut stew.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Accommodation
Choose Makati or Intramuros.
Transport
Manila is the country's main hub.
Traffic is heavy.
When to go
Manila is hot year-round, with a wet season.
Cooler and dry.
Very hot.
Rain, flooding and typhoons.
Drying out.
Worth planning around: The typhoon and flood season.
Itinerary
History and food.
The walled city.
Food.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Two.
With precautions, yes.
The walled Spanish city.
Yes.
Binondo dumplings and Filipino classics.
December to February.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Manila, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Ilocos Sur, northern Luzon, Philippines
A UNESCO-listed Spanish colonial town with Calle Crisologo, ancestral houses, calesa rides, the cathedral, pottery, and Ilocano food including empanada and longganisa.
Don't miss Riding a calesa along the cobbled Calle Crisologo lit by old-fashioned lamps at dusk.
Explore Destination — ViganIfugao, northern Luzon, Philippines
The Ifugao rice terraces, a UNESCO cultural landscape, with the Banaue viewpoint, the amphitheatre of Batad, Tappiya Falls, village trekking and Ifugao culture.
Don't miss The amphitheatre of Batad's terraces, seen from the viewpoint after a walk through the mountain.
Explore Destination — Banaue and BatadCentral Visayas, Philippines
A long island and a city with Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño, plus Moalboal's sardine run, Kawasan Falls canyoneering, Oslob and Malapascua.
Don't miss Snorkelling in the middle of a swirling ball of millions of sardines at Moalboal.
Explore Destination — CebuRead next
Food
Eating well abroad is mostly a matter of knowing when meals happen, how the menu is structured and which dish belongs to the place you are standing in. This covers all three for the five countries in this guide, plus the signals that separate a restaurant that feeds locals from one that feeds coaches.
Heritage
A UNESCO listing tells you a place matters; it does not tell you whether it is worth two days and a detour. This is how to read the list usefully — and which sites reward building a trip around them.
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