Manila is a lively bayside capital where Spanish-era walls meet modern skylines and creative neighbourhoods. You find history, music, and a warm welcome at every turn.
Discover Manila
Discover Manila
Why visit Manila?
What to expect
Expect bustling streets, colourful jeepneys, and a mix of heritage sites, malls, and leafy pockets. Districts like Intramuros, Makati, and Bonifacio Global City each offer a distinct pace.
Plan your trip
Use Manila as your starting point to reach islands such as Palawan, Cebu, and Boracay. Plan a few days in the city before or after your wider Philippines adventure.
Top sights in Manila
Intramuros
Walk the cobbled streets of Intramuros, the historic walled city, and explore its churches, plazas, and well-preserved colonial architecture.
Rizal Park
Stroll through Rizal Park, a vast green space by Manila Bay with monuments, fountains, and open lawns ideal for late afternoon walks.
National Museum Complex
Visit the National Museum complex to see art, natural history exhibits, and cultural treasures from across the Philippine archipelago.
Binondo
Head to Binondo, known as one of the world’s oldest Chinatowns, for narrow streets lined with temples, old shops, and local eateries.
Manila Bayfront
Enjoy sunset views along the Manila Bayfront, where the sky glows over the water and the city lights slowly come on.
Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
Explore Bonifacio Global City, a modern district filled with murals, landscaped streets, galleries, and cafés.
Makati Central Business District
Discover Makati’s business district with its mix of offices, parks, galleries, and shopping and dining spots in one compact area.
Experience Manila’s everyday rhythm
Getting around
Use ride-hailing services and metered taxis for the most convenient way to move between districts, with the MRT and LRT lines for set corridors. For short hops, walk within compact areas like Makati and BGC, where pavements are shaded and pedestrian friendly.
Local life & culture
Life in Manila unfolds in plazas, churches, parks, and music-filled streets, from morning markets to late-night gathering spots. Each neighbourhood, from historic Intramuros to business-centred Makati, offers a different lens on the city’s creative, community-focused culture.
Where to unwind
Find calm in leafy city parks, bayfront promenades, and hotel pool decks, especially in the early morning or around sunset. Nearby wellness centres and day spas offer quiet escapes from the city buzz.
A taste of Manila
Street food & local specialties
Sample favourites such as grilled meats, rice dishes, and sweet snacks from casual stalls in Binondo, Malate, and around university districts, where everyday eating spills into the streets.
Casual & modern dining hubs
Head to malls and food halls in Makati, Ortigas, and BGC for Filipino comfort food, pan-Asian flavours, and international options, with portions that make it easy to share and try several dishes together.
Signature & scenic dining
Seek out restaurants with skyline or bay views in Manila Bayfront and high-rise districts, where you can pair local and international menus with sweeping city or sunset vistas.
Retail therapy in Manila
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Discover large malls and lifestyle centres in Makati, Ortigas, and BGC, where international brands, local designers, cinemas, and cafés come together as all-day hangouts.
Markets & local crafts
Browse neighbourhood markets and smaller centres in districts such as Quiapo, Binondo, and Makati for handicrafts, textiles, and everyday essentials with a local touch.
Evening retail scene
After dark, many malls stay lively and streets around them glow with lights, casual stalls, and cafés. Public transport and taxis make these evening shopping spots straightforward to reach.
Best time to visit Manila
Dry season (peak season): From December to April, Manila is generally dry and sunny, with average temperatures around 27–32°C (81–90°F). This is the most popular time to visit, with clearer skies for sightseeing and island trips. Hot dry shoulder months (shoulder season): Late April to early June can be hotter and more humid, with temperatures often between 29–34°C (84–93°F). Conditions remain mostly dry, but heat is stronger in the middle of the day, so plan activities for mornings and evenings. Rainy season (low season): From June to November, expect frequent showers and occasional storms, with temperatures around 26–31°C (79–88°F). Rain usually comes in bursts, so you can still explore between showers, with fewer crowds at major sights.