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 Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands in South East Asia, known for its beaches, coral reefs, volcanoes and rice terraces as much as for its cities. Manila, the capital, is the usual gateway, with Spanish-era Intramuros, national museums and a fast-rising restaurant scene. From there, travellers head to Palawan for El Nido and Coron, to Boracay for its white sand, to Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas, to Siargao for surfing and to the Banaue rice terraces in northern Luzon. The country's mix of Malay, Spanish, American and Chinese influences shows in its churches, its food and its warm, English-speaking hospitality.
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.
Domestic flights are the quickest way to cover long distances between islands, with ferries useful for shorter hops and buses and vans on the larger islands.
The dry season from December to May is the most popular time, with cooler weather from December to February. The wet season brings typhoons, mainly from June to November.
Popular choices include Palawan for El Nido and Coron, Boracay, Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas, Siargao for surfing and the rice terraces of Banaue.