Attraction
Fort Santiago
The stone citadel at the mouth of the Pasig River, begun by the Spanish in the 1590s, where José Rizal was held before his execution in…
The best things to do in Manila start in Intramuros, the walled city founded by the Spanish in 1571, where Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral sit within a few minutes' walk of each other. Next door, Rizal Park and the free National Museums tell the story of the Philippines, while Binondo, often described as the world's oldest Chinatown, is the place to eat your way through dim sum, hopia and street snacks.
Metro Manila is a collection of cities rather than a single centre. Makati and Bonifacio Global City hold the business districts, the leading hotels and a fast-growing food scene, with Michelin-starred restaurants such as Helm, Toyo Eatery and Hapag alongside good-value Bib Gourmand favourites. Poblacion and Legazpi Village are the places for cocktail bars. Traffic is heavy, so plan each day around one or two neighbouring areas. Three days is enough for the old city, the museums, Binondo and a taste of Makati's restaurants and bars, with a fourth day for the Ayala Museum and the American Cemetery.
Attraction
The stone citadel at the mouth of the Pasig River, begun by the Spanish in the 1590s, where José Rizal was held before his execution in…
Attraction
Completed in 1607 and survivor of eight major earthquakes, this Intramuros church is part of the UNESCO-listed Baroque Churches of the Philippines and has a museum…
Attraction
Manila's neo-Romanesque cathedral and minor basilica, completed in 1958 on a site that has held the city's principal church since 1571.
Attraction
Manila's 58-hectare bayside park, also known as Luneta, where José Rizal was executed in 1896 and where his monument stands under a ceremonial guard.
Attraction
The national collection of Filipino art, from 19th-century masters to National Artists, displayed free of charge in the former Legislative Building beside Rizal Park.
Attraction
A free natural history museum opened in 2018 in a rebuilt 1940s government building, known for its Tree of Life atrium and the giant crocodile Lolong.
Café
A Manila specialty roaster since 2013, ranked 18th in the first World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list in 2025, with its home café in Legazpi Village.
Café
A Poblacion café, bar and roaster devoted to Philippine-grown coffee, with all-day breakfast, coffee classes and late opening at weekends.
Café
A Binondo bakery founded on Ongpin Street in 1912, famous for its ube hopia and a long line of Chinese pastries, tikoy and mooncakes.
Café
The Salcedo Village branch of Wildflour, a Manila brunch and bistro name since 2012, with an in-house bakery and early opening every day.
Café
A Malate institution opened by Larry Cruz in 1979 on Remedios Circle, known for its antique-filled room, deli fare and thick Chocolate Eh.
Café
A coffee shop and art space on the ground floor of Escolta's 1928 First United Building, known for The Berg's, a coffee with muscovado and coconut…
Hotel
A heritage grand hotel opened in 1912 at the edge of Rizal Park, with a MacArthur Suite, a heritage museum and classic restaurants.
Hotel
A Makati landmark since 1976, with twin wings on Ayala and Makati Avenues, a grand colonial-style lobby, two pools and the French restaurant Old Manila.
Hotel
An all-suite Raffles hotel in central Makati, opened in 2012 and awarded One Michelin Key, with a Writers Bar, Long Bar and rooftop Mistral.
Hotel
A modern hotel inside the walls of Intramuros, on Muralla Street, with a rooftop Sky Deck and easy walking access to the old city's churches and…
Hotel
A design-led boutique hotel in a heritage house on F.B. Harrison Street in Pasay, with mid-century and vintage interiors and its own restaurant.
Hotel
A 93-room Megaworld hotel in Binondo, linked by footbridge to Lucky Chinatown mall, with a spa, fitness centre and all-day dining.
Bar
A Makati cocktail bar opened in September 2025 that reinvents its menu, look and uniforms every three months, ranked 44th in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026.
Bar
Tatler's Bar of the Year 2026, a rock 'n' roll cocktail lounge in Makati's Little Tokyo area with vinyl records, sofas and technically precise drinks.
Bar
A Legazpi Village coffee shop that turns into a speakeasy at night, behind a hidden door, and a ten-year fixture of the Asia's 50 Best Bars…
Bar
A hidden dark deco speakeasy and supper club in a former loading dock in BGC, with live jazz on select nights and Tatler's 2026 Best Design…
Bar
A seven-seat counter bar in Legazpi Village with a produce-first menu strong on low and zero-alcohol drinks, winner of Tatler's 2026 Best Service award.
Bar
The rooftop bar of The Bayleaf in Intramuros, with 360-degree views over the walled city and skyline, weekend acoustic bands and a daily happy hour.
Restaurant
Josh Boutwood's counter restaurant at Ayala Triangle Gardens, the first in the Philippines to hold two Michelin stars, serving themed seasonal tasting menus.
Restaurant
A Michelin-starred Makati restaurant named after the Tagalog word for soy sauce, cooking only Philippine ingredients with fermenting and preserving done in house.
Restaurant
A Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant in Rockwell whose name means family table, reworking regional recipes with produce from the country's mountains, jungles and seas.
Restaurant
A Michelin-starred tasting-menu restaurant in BGC led by Chele Gonzalez and Carlos Villaflor, sourcing about 90 per cent of its ingredients in the Philippines.
Restaurant
Chef Stephan Duhesme's Michelin-listed restaurant in Karrivin Plaza, reinterpreting Filipino recipes with local produce and house fermentation.
Restaurant
A Bib Gourmand bistro on a quiet Poblacion side street, applying classic French technique to Filipino ingredients, with well-regarded desserts.
Thing to do
Eat your way along Ongpin Street in Binondo, founded in 1594 and often described as the world's oldest Chinatown, with dim sum, tea houses and a…
Thing to do
Follow the Spanish-era walls around Manila's 64-hectare walled city, passing restored gates, bastions and the ace-of-spades Baluarte de San Diego.
Thing to do
Home of the revered Jesus Nazareno image, Quiapo Church and the busy square in front of it offer an intense look at Manila's popular faith and…
Thing to do
A Saturday morning market in a leafy Makati park, with regional Filipino dishes, international food, produce, plants and crafts around a communal dining area.
Thing to do
A short walk along Escolta, laid out in 1594 and once Manila's leading business street, past Art Deco and Beaux-Arts buildings from the early 20th century.
Tour operator
Heritage walks run since 2005 by guide Ivan Man Dy, best known for the Big Binondo Food Wok through Manila's Chinatown.
Tour operator
Guided bicycle tours of Intramuros on handmade bamboo bikes, run by a social enterprise based in the walled city's Plaza San Luis Complex.
Tour operator
Private walking tours of Intramuros and Chinatown led by costumed, accredited guides, including the evening One Night in Intramuros tour.
Tour operator
A Manila cultural organisation running heritage walks since 2021, including a heritage transit tour on the LRT-1 that starts from Escolta.
Tour operator
Community tours of Tondo and Baseco run with the Bless the Children Foundation, giving visitors a guided look at life in some of Manila's poorest areas.
Three days covers Intramuros, Rizal Park and the National Museums, Binondo and an evening in Makati. Add a day for the Ayala Museum, BGC and the Manila American Cemetery.
Makati is the most convenient base for restaurants, bars and hotels, Intramuros and Ermita suit history-focused trips, and BGC is modern and walkable.
Most visitors use an airport taxi or a ride-hailing car. Journey times depend heavily on traffic, so allow extra time at peak hours.
Manila can be done on a modest budget, with free national museums and inexpensive local food, though top hotels and tasting-menu restaurants are priced in line with other Asian capitals.
Most visits are trouble-free. Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas such as Quiapo and on trains, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps at night and keep valuables out of sight.