MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE

Best Things to Do in Manila, Philippines

Manila is a bay side city and capital of the Philippines. Main areas to visit are Intramuros (Old Manila) and Binondo (Chinatown). Philippine Peso is the currency used in Manila and the main language is Filipino; some people speak English especially in the touristic areas. July – Feb, highest 85°F to 88°F (29°C to 31℃), lowest 75°F to 78°F (24°C to 26℃). March to June, highest 92°F (33℃), lowest 79°F (26℃). July – Sept. 16 days of rain a month.

 

PLACES TO SEE IN MANILA

INTRAMUROS 

Historic Area | Old Manila 

Intramuros is located in Manila and covers over a quarter of a mile. Intramuros means ‘within the walls’—in this case, an old historic area within the city of Manila. Intramuros, back then, was the center of education, economy, and religion—no wonder there are two prominent churches in close proximity. Construction of the wall surrounding Intramuros was conducted by the Spanish government in the 16th century as a defense wall against the enemies. Highlights of Intramuros include Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago, and San Agustin Church.

San Agustin Church The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Manila, Philippines - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL

SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH

Attraction | Church

San Agustin Church—declared a world heritage site in 1993 by UNESCO—is made of stones and is the oldest of it’s kind in the whole country of the Philippines. The construction started in 1587 and was completed in 1607.

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What to See in Fort Santiago Located Inside Intramuros - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL

FORT SANTIAGO 

Attraction | Historical Fortress

Fort Santiago is the first attraction that tourists visit in the famous walled city of Manila—Intramuros. This Spanish fortress, that also claims to be the oldest in the country of the Philippines, is the product of the 16th-century construction efforts in building a defense structure. 

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Manila Cathedral in Intramuros Philippines - Christobel Travel

MANILA CATHEDRAL 

Attraction | Church

The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as Manila Cathedral, is a historic church built in 1571 in Intramuros, Old Manila. It is more historic and heavily trafficked by tourists than Binondo Church and San Agustin Church.

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casa manila museum - MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE THINGS TO DO - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL

CASA MANILA MUSEUM

Museum

Casa Manila Museum is located in Intramuros and known for exhibiting furniture and art that go back to the years the Spanish ruled the city. The museum was restored in 1850 and the architecture and design were intended to look like the houses that belonged to the upper-class residents. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm, on Monday it is closed. The museum is located opposite San Agustin Church.

BINONDO AREA 

District | Chinatown

Binondo is a district in Manila full of Chinese shops, restaurants, and other Chinese delights—it is actually the world’s oldest Chinatown dating back to 1594. Today, Binondo thrives as a center of commerce for both Chinese and Filipino Manila residents. From Escolta Street to Binondo Church, this Chinatown has so much to offer. 

Seeing Unique Architecture at Binondo Church in Manila, Philippines CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL

BINONDO CHURCH 

Attraction | Church

The Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, commonly known as Binondo Church, was built in 1596 and over the years has gradually pulled the typical ‘see it all’ tourist to the Binondo district. This beautifully crafted granite structure and the whole Binondo area, have played second fiddle to the mighty and historic Intramuros touristic area.

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Seeing Unique Architecture at Binondo Church in Manila, Philippines - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL

PLAZA LORENZO RUIZ

Public Square

Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz is a small public square that is located on Juan Luna Street, opposite Binondo Church. Surrounded by the main streets of the Binondo area and near the busiest side of Binondo, Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz is an ideal spot to sit and relax in between shopping and sightseeing. The square is dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.

MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE THINGS TO DO - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL (15)

OTHER PLACES TO SEE IN MANILA

MANILA OCEAN PARK

Located in Luneta, Manila Ocean Park is your ultimate Oceanarium to see and interact with sea-life. The massive and epic looking walkway tunnel made of glass present the different types of fish and other sea animals in a unique way—sharks, stingrays, colorful small fish, and other unique species found a home here. There are over 14,000 animals that are proudly showcased at the park. The aquarium is open every day, during the week from 10 am to 8 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm. There is an entrance fee. 

MANILA BAY 

Manila Bay serves as the port of Manila and is known for its magical stunning sunsets. The first Spanish–American War took place on the bay on May 1, 1898, and is known as the Battle of Manila Bay. It is a historical place where you can also admire beautiful views. 

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

In Metro Manila, about 11 km away from Manila center, there is a lifestyle and financial district called Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The area belonged to the Philippine Army and was used as a camp base. Nowadays, the place has been beautifully redone and compose of Bonifacio High Street, BGC Skyline, Venice Grand Canal Mall, and the Philippine Army Gate Entrance. The district is modern and beautiful—in addition to admiring the beauty of the architecture, people go shopping and eat in the restaurants serving gourmet food. 

BALUARTE DE SAN DIEGO

Baluarte de San Diego is located on Santa Lucia Street in Intramuros and opens from 8 am to 5 pm every day. Baluarte de San Diego is a Bastioned Fortification that was built in 1587. Between 1979 and 1992 the fort was renovated and gardens were added to the area in order to appeal to visitors. 

 

WHERE TO SHOP IN MANILA

HOTELS

There are many decent hotels in Manila that cater to all sorts of budgets. Below are a few our our selected recommended hotels.

-> City Garden Grand Hotel is a five star hotel that is luxurious and has views of Manila that are stunning. The rooms as well as the communal areas are spotless. 

-> Hotel Jen Manila by Shangri-La is a four star hotel in Manila that has good reviews and located just 7 minutes drive from Intramuros. Perfect for travelers who want to stay near the main attractions. 

-> Golden Phoenix Hotel – Manila proudly sits in Pasay City near the Mall of Asia Arena and Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The rooms are spacious and neat. 

-> HFN – Seibu Tower is located near the lifestyle and newly developed Bonifacio High Street and just 4 miles from Ninoy Airport.

 

RESTAURANTS & LOCAL FOOD IN MANILA

MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE THINGS TO DO - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL (19)

RESTAURANTS 

JT’s MANUKAN GRILLE

JT’s Manukan Grille is located in Manila’s upscale neighborhood. The owner is a film star who has appeared in many films in the Philippines. Their chicken dishes are gourmet, they took the simple street food recipes and transformed the food to tasty traditional dishes with different twists. The food is served on leaves. $

LIVESTOCK RESTAURANT 

Located at Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City, Livestock Restaurant is a jewel of Manila, mainly serving pork dishes. You will eat very good Crispy Pata here—actually, it was voted the best Crispy Pata restaurant. It opens from 11 am and closes after midnight. $$

THE ARISTOCRAT RESTAURANT 

The Aristocrat Restaurant, located in San Andres Street, is a Filipino restaurant in Manila that is very popular amongst locals and travelers. It is an extremely busy place, it is advised to avoid peak hours. They are known for their barbecue (chicken, and pork barbecue dishes being their most popular items on the menu). $$$

LOCAL TRADITIONAL FOOD

LECHON

Lechon is a dish made of a young pig roasted for hours until the skin is crisp but the meat is very soft. People consider Lechon as a national dish—unofficially. For the skin to be crispy, they marinate it with a reddish colorant. Inside the pig, before roasting it, they put red onions, pepper, salt, and spices. Lechon is served with white rice. 

ADOBO

Adobo has many different recipes, for example, pork, chicken, and fish can all be Adobo ingredients. Other ingredients are soya sauce, sugar cane water, garlic, oyster sauce, and vinegar. It is usually served with rice. Other people also include fried mango slices. 

CRISPY PATA 

Crispy Pata is pork leg meat that is rubbed with salt, onion, bay leaves, and pepper before being simmered in water for 4 hours, then air-dried for 24 hours before being deep-fried. It is served with garlic rice and soya vinegar dip that is mixed with hot chili pepper.

 

TRANSPORTATION IN MANILA

MANILA TRAVEL GUIDE THINGS TO DO - CHRISTOBEL TRAVEL (10)

Airport: Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the busiest and major airport in Manila.

Grab: Download the Grab App on your phone and book cars to pick you up from wherever you are. The Grab system is so efficient, reliable, and cheap—we used only this app for our transportation needs when we visited Southeast Asia.

Buses: Buses are available in Manila, but if you want to reach your destination quickly, taking a bus might be a bad idea—these get caught in traffic almost all the time. The bus system in Bonifacio Global City is more efficient and orderly than in central Manila. Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) serves all these areas. Find different schedules of P2P buses on their official website.

Tricycles & Pedicabs: Bicycles and motorcycles with sidecars are everywhere in Manila and are cheaper than taxis and Grab. These might be a suitable option for short journeys in the town or between attractions. When traffic is bad, which is usually the case in Manila, especially the busy areas like Binondo, these small vehicles are advantageous as they can maneuver the queues of cars well. 

Jeepneys: Jeepneys are the symbol and pride of the Philippines, they are also the cheapest mode of transportation. On the disadvantage side, the vehicles are usually overcrowded as drivers try to double the money earned on one trip. Also, pay attention to the front window where the final destination and all the main stops are displayed. Jeepneys are everywhere in the city and not hard to locate. 

Trains: Trains are quicker than buses but constantly overcrowded as everybody wants to take a train. The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1, 2, and 3 operate in Manila. For commuters to distant places such as Laguna, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) might be a good choice. 

Taxis: There are taxis around the city and at the airport. However, taxis are expensive and you might not have an idea of how much the ride will cost before completing the journey. 

City Breaks & Culture, Philippines / April 4, 2021
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