Manila Travelers Recommend

With three days in Manila, you can start to get a real taste of the pulsating Philippine capital plus the natural and cultural highlights of Luzon island. Discover and dine your way through Manila, then day trip to historic Corregidor Island, active volcanoes, tumbling waterfalls, coconut plantations, or tropical islands.

Day 1: Metro Manila

Spend your first day in Manila orienting yourself in the city, getting a handle on the nation’s history, and savoring some deliciously hearty dishes. There are a wealth of city tours available on foot, by bamboo bicycle, or by the Philippines’ signature jeepney. Look for one that includes Manila’s oldest quarter, Intramuros, historic Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and Rizal Park. You might also want to head farther afield, to the mansion-tombs of the Manila Chinese Cemetery, the somber fields of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, or the vast SM Mall of Asia. 

Another essential experience for today is Filipino food, a fascinating blend of indigenous and international influences. Discover it on a market tour, a food tour, or even at a cooking class in a local home. Wrap up the day with a sunset harbor cruise.

Day 2: The Rock and the Volcanoes

For your second day in Manila, journey to one of the area’s signature attractions. Corregidor Island, a rocky fortress that played a key role in two World War II battles, lies a 1- to 2-hour drive from the city. History and walking tours of the fortress enable you to explore its fortifications, tunnels, and munitions.

Alternatively, discover one of the Philippines’ many active volcanoes. Mt. Pinatubo, whose 1991 eruption was one of the largest of the 20th century, makes for an impressive day trip. Or, for a gentler volcano experience, discover Mt. Taal, an active volcano that sits in the middle of a lake, with its own crater lake at the top; trekking and horseback trekking are just two of the options here. For the evening, try a cultural dinner, where local delicacies meet Filipino dance and folkloric traditions. 

Day 3: Spreading Your Wings

With three days in Manila, you can add another day trip—or opt for both Corregidor Island and a volcano. But you might want to branch out into less-visited parts of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. Ride a boat up a jungled gorge to Pagsanjan Falls, then board a bamboo raft through the cascade itself. Discover some of the Philippines’ celebrated beaches with an island-hopping trip along the Luzon coast, or bask in the relaxing waters of volcanic hot springs. Alternatively, enjoy lunch at a restaurant in a waterfall at the historic hillside plantation of Escudero Villa, or spend the day discovering the attractions of the Subic Bay resort area. Top off your stay by embracing Manila’s hypermodern side: splurge on the fine cuisine of homegrown chefs such as Chele Gonzalez, and finish with cocktails in a sky-high rooftop bar.

Two days in Manila let you experience the throbbing megalopolis plus some of the wonderlands around the city. Go deep into the Philippine capital’s rich history and spectacular cuisine, then discover volcanoes such as Mt. Pinatubo or Taal, historical Corregidor Island, or epic Pagsanjan Falls. Here’s how to maximize 48 hours in Manila.

Day 1: Feast on the City

Morning: Start exploring Manila’s historic quarter in the relative cool of the day. You’ll want to visit Intramuros, the oldest part of the city, and 16th-century Fort Santiago—choose between walking tours and a unique tour on bamboo bicycles. Branch out to Makati or Chinatown for a broader view of the city.

Afternoon: Look beyond a fast-food lunch and start discovering the Philippines’ rich foodie culture, an exciting blend of Asian, Spanish, and American influences. Consider tours of Chinatown, head to a church restaurant, feast on dishes like pork knuckle or roast sucking pig, or join a full-day city tour that includes a cultural lunch.

Night: A Manila sunset is an experience not to be missed, whether you’re catching it from the harborfront or a rooftop bar. But the best way to watch the sun illuminate the boats and towers on the waterfront is a sunset cruise of Manila Bay; look for one that includes dinner.

Day 2: Day Tripping

Day: With two days in Manila, you can go deeper into one of the city’s signature surrounding attractions. Many opt for Corregidor Island, an island fortress about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Manila, which played a key role in two significant World War II battles. Alternatively, if you’re more into outdoor adventure than history, journey to one of Luzon’s natural wonders. Experience an active volcano by climbing to the crater of Mt. Pinatubo or riding a horse up Mt. Taal, or brave a bamboo raft through the flow of Pagsanjan Falls—the jungle cascade seen in Apocalypse Now.

Night: Once you’re back in the city, it’s time to prepare yourself for your travels by learning more about the rich traditions and culture of the Philippines’ thousands of islands. Soak up folklore and fiestas as you feast on local fare at a cultural dinner show

From grimy Malate to historic Intramuros to Makati’s skyscrapers, Manila is a city like no other. A surging megacity full of honking jeepneys, brightly colored tricycles, and an all-around crazy energy, the Philippine Manila is a sensory overload that visitors either love or hate. Here’s how to ensure you love it, even if you have one day.

Morning: City Sightseeing

Spend your first morning in Manila getting a handle on how the city fits together. You’ll likely want to start with a tour of the city’s most historic quarter, Intramuros, and 16th-century Fort Santiago: choose between walking tours or a Philippines special, a bamboo bike tour. For a more comprehensive overview of the city, consider a jeepney tour or a city tour by car or bus. Expect to cover highlights like the American Cemetery and Makati, some of the city’s significant churches, more of the waterfront, and perhaps a hint of Chinatown. 

Afternoon: Volcano Voyage

Gridlock means that most of the natural and historic charms around Manila remain out of reach if you have only one day in town. But you can still squeeze in a trip to the Taal Volcano, in a lake with its very own crater lake up top. Head to the pretty mountain town of Tagaytay to see this active volcano and to tour dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Palace in the Sky. Alternatively, if the travel feels a bit much, then discover the Philippines’ delicious, hearty fare: take a food tour of Chinatown, try a church restaurant, or book a cooking class.

Night: Bay Beauty

No trip to a coastal city is truly complete without a harbor cruise. So why not treat yourself to a sunset cruise on Manila Bay, perhaps including a Filipino dinner and live entertainment? Alternatively, prepare yourself for the myriad cultures of the nation’s thousands of islands at a cultural show, where dancers display the Philippines’ rich folklore and fiesta traditions as you feast on classic Pinoy fare. Other options for this evening: discover how Spanish, Asian, and American influences meet in Filipino cuisine on a night market food tour; or simply spend a sophisticated evening sipping cocktails in a rooftop bar.

For a town that just years ago had little appeal in the way of good eats, metro Manila has taken a positive turn and is well on its way to becoming a dining mecca with plentiful options. Read on for some of the best bites and food experiences in the Philippines.

Must-Try Dishes

In the Philippine capital, grilled meats are a street-food favorite, with marinated fish, chicken, and pork cooked to a variety of specifications. Dishes like sinigang na hipon, a slightly sour shrimp soup, and fried lumpia, a type of spring roll, can be found on restaurant menus throughout the city. Those craving noodles should sample palabok, a simple dish made from noodles and egg. Seafood lovers will appreciate kinilaw, Manila’s answer to ceviche or poke, made with fresh fish, onions, garlic, ginger, spicy chilies, tomato, and coconut vinegar. You also can’t go wrong with arguably the most famous Filipino dish, chicken adobo.

The huge variety of tropical fruits that grow in the archipelago, including mangoes, jackfruit, and coconut, inspire many of Manila’s sweet treat. Buko salad mixes them all together with a sweet cream. In the heat of summer, locals cool off with halo-halo, a pile of shaved ice topped with evaporated milk, diced fruits, sweet red beans, purple yam, and coconut gel.

Must-Do Experiences

• Sample some of Manila’s best Filipino street food on a walking tour of Bonifacio Global City night market.

• Learn to transform typical Filipino ingredients into delicious and popular dishes at a hands-on cooking class within a local Manila home.

• Feast on the flavors of the world’s oldest Chinatown, historic Binondo, during a guided food tour of the neighborhood.

• Dive into the history and heritage of Filipino cuisine during a hosted dinner in a private home in Quezon City, showcasing lesser-known Filipino dishes.

• Immerse yourself in the traditions of the Philippines by combining a barrio fiesta feast with a traditional dance performance.