Manila Holidays — Intramuros, Street Food & Gateway to the Philippines
Manila
Holidays
The chaotic, vibrant gateway to the Philippines — Intramuros, the world's oldest Chinatown, world-class street food and 14 million stories
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Flight Time
13–14h from London (via Dubai, Doha, Singapore or Hong Kong)
Best Time
November to April (dry season); avoid June–October (typhoon season)
Country
Philippines
Suppliers
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Manila Holiday Guide
Manila is one of the most chaotic, vibrant and fascinating cities in Asia — a megacity of 14 million people (Metro Manila has 24 million) that rewards those willing to look beyond the traffic, the sprawl and the contradictions. The Philippine capital is a city of extraordinary contrasts — colonial Spanish architecture beside gleaming skyscrapers, world-class restaurants beside street food stalls, luxury malls beside historic markets.
Intramuros, the 16th-century Spanish walled city at the heart of Manila, is the most atmospheric and historically significant neighbourhood — Fort Santiago (where national hero José Rizal was imprisoned before his execution by the Spanish in 1896), the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustín Church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest stone church in the Philippines) and the Casa Manila museum are all within the walls. Binondo, just north of Intramuros, is the world's oldest Chinatown (established 1594) and has the best street food in Manila.
Most visitors to the Philippines pass through Manila — it is the main international gateway and the hub for domestic flights to Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, Siargao and other destinations. Allow 1–2 nights to explore the city before heading to the islands.
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Average Temperatures
Jan
26°C
Feb
27°C
Mar
29°C
Apr
31°C
May
31°C
Jun
30°C
Jul
28°C
Aug
28°C
Sep
28°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
26°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Manila
The Spanish walled city, the world's oldest Chinatown, the National Museum, Rizal Park and the extraordinary street food that make Manila one of Asia's most fascinating cities.
Intramuros — The Spanish Walled City
Intramuros ('within the walls') is the historic core of Manila — a 16th-century Spanish walled city of 4.5km of walls, 7 gates and dozens of historic buildings, established by the Spanish in 1571. Fort Santiago, at the northern tip of Intramuros, is the most important historical site in the Philippines — the fort where national hero José Rizal was imprisoned before his execution by the Spanish in 1896. The Rizal Shrine within the fort preserves his cell and personal effects. The Manila Cathedral and the San Agustín Church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are both within Intramuros.
Binondo — The World's Oldest Chinatown
Binondo, just north of Intramuros across the Pasig River, is the world's oldest Chinatown — established by the Spanish in 1594 to house the Chinese merchants (Sangleys) who were essential to Manila's trade. The neighbourhood is a labyrinth of narrow streets, Chinese temples, traditional apothecaries, gold shops and extraordinary street food stalls. The Binondo food walk is the best culinary experience in Manila — pancit (noodles), siopao (steamed buns), hopia (bean paste pastries), tikoy (sticky rice cake) and the extraordinary fried siopao are all essential.
National Museum of the Philippines — Free & Extraordinary
The National Museum of the Philippines, on Rizal Park, is one of the finest free museums in Asia — a complex of three buildings (the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of Natural History) housing the most important collections of Filipino art, history and natural history. The Spoliarium by Juan Luna (1884, the most famous painting in the Philippines), the San Diego galleon (a Spanish ship sunk in 1600, recovered from Manila Bay), the Tabon Man skull (22,000 years old) and the Tree of Life (a 27-metre atrium installation) are among the highlights.
Rizal Park — The Heart of Manila
Rizal Park (Luneta Park), on the Manila Bay waterfront, is the most important public space in the Philippines — a 58-hectare park where the national hero José Rizal was executed by the Spanish on 30 December 1896. The Rizal Monument (a bronze statue of Rizal with his remains buried beneath) is the focal point of Philippine national identity. The park has a Chinese Garden, a Japanese Garden, a planetarium, an open-air concert stage and extraordinary views of Manila Bay at sunset. The Manila Bay sunset is one of the most beautiful in Asia.
BGC — Modern Manila at Its Best
Bonifacio Global City (BGC), in the Taguig municipality south of Makati, is the most modern and liveable neighbourhood in Metro Manila — a planned urban district of wide streets, public art, excellent restaurants, craft beer bars, independent coffee shops and the best nightlife in the city. The Mind Museum (the best science museum in the Philippines), the Ayala Triangle Gardens and the BGC Arts Center are all in BGC. The neighbourhood is a complete contrast to the chaos of the rest of Manila — clean, walkable and very safe.
Manila Street Food — The Best in the Philippines
Manila has the best street food in the Philippines — a reflection of the city's extraordinary cultural diversity (Spanish, Chinese, American, Malay and indigenous Filipino influences). Sisig (chopped pork face and ears, sizzled on a hot plate), balut (fertilised duck egg, a Filipino delicacy), kwek-kwek (quail eggs in orange batter), fish balls, isaw (grilled chicken intestines), halo-halo (shaved ice dessert) and the extraordinary lechon (whole roast pig) are all essential. The Binondo food walk and the Mercato Centrale in BGC are the best street food destinations.
Makati — The Financial Heart of Manila
Makati is the financial and commercial heart of Metro Manila — a district of gleaming skyscrapers, luxury hotels, world-class restaurants and the most upmarket shopping in the Philippines (Greenbelt, Glorietta, Power Plant Mall). The Ayala Museum (excellent collection of Philippine history and art, including 60 dioramas depicting Philippine history) and the Salcedo Saturday Market (the best farmers' market in Manila) are both in Makati. The Poblacion neighbourhood in Makati is the most vibrant nightlife area in the city.
Day Trips from Manila — Corregidor & Tagaytay
Manila is an excellent base for day trips. Corregidor Island (1.5 hours by ferry from Manila) is a WWII battlefield island in Manila Bay — the site of the last American and Filipino resistance to the Japanese invasion in 1942, with extraordinary war ruins, tunnels and memorials. Tagaytay (1.5 hours south by car) offers extraordinary views over Taal Volcano (a volcano on an island in a lake on an island) and has excellent restaurants serving bulalo (beef bone marrow soup). Pagsanjan Falls (2 hours southeast) is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Luzon.
Explore Manila on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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