Things to Do in Manila

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. Rising up from the center of Taal Lake and harboring its own crater lake and island, the unique setting—an island in a lake on an island in a lake—makes for an incredible sight.

 

The journey to Taal Volcano is as much a part of the adventure as the views. Boats set out from Talisay on the shores of Taal Lake, and once on the island, it’s about a 40-minute hike or horse ride to the rim of the crater, where you’ll have a spectacular view over the crater lake and island. A full-day Taal Volcano tour from Manila typically includes round-trip transport and lunch.

 

Boats to Taal Volcano run from Talisay, around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) southeast of Tagaytay city or a 30-minute journey by tricycle or jeepney. With limited public transport from Manila, the easiest way to visit is as part of a guided tour.

 

Taal Volcano is accessible year-round, but the most popular time to visit is during the dry season from November to April. Temperatures are highest during March and April, so hikers might want to avoid this period.

 

There are a number of hiking trails around the volcano island, the most popular being the Spanish Trail, which climbs to the very top. From there, enjoy views from the rim of Main Crater Lake to Vulcan Point, the tiny island at the center of the lake. To escape the crowds and the heat, try the Kenney Trail; it’s shaded by trees for much of the way, though the views aren't quite as impressive as those on the Spanish Trail.

Manila Ocean Park is the city’s world-class ocean theme park. The 86,000-square-foot (8,000-square-meter) park features an oceanarium with over 14,000 marine creatures, as well as birds, insects, and other animals in a variety of interactive and educational exhibits and shows, and will appeal to visitors of all ages.

 

Manila Ocean Park is divided into multiple sections and offers both attractions and experiences. Don’t miss the 82-foot-long (25-meter-long) viewing tunnel containing sharks, stingrays, eels, and a large variety of fish. Other highlights include the multimedia jellyfish exhibit and the sea lion show. The park also offers a chance to get up close and personal with their underwater residents, from dry encounters with sea stars, rays, and sharks to partially or even fully submerged encounters, where guests wear special diving helmets with pumped-in air. Or try the fish spa, where tiny fish nibble dead skin off your feet or hands.

 

Each attraction or experience charges a fee, and depending on what catches your interest, you can purchase tickets for individual attractions or experiences or choose passes that bundle multiple attractions and experiences. Bundles can sell out, so purchase them earlier in the day, or ahead of time.

 

 

Manila Ocean Park is located behind the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park. It’s easiest to take a taxi or jeepney there. To get there by public transit, take the LRT to United Nations Avenue or the bus to Swagman.

 

Manila Ocean Park is very popular, especially on weekends and public holidays. Visit during the week for fewer crowds. Stay for Symphony, the daily multimedia light and water show at 6:30pm.

 

A number of the entertainment options here are shows, such as the Sea Lion Show or the All Star Bird Show, and experiences, such as the Mermaid Swim Experience or the Aquanaut Voyage, on set schedules. Check the schedule before you start your day to best plan your route and avoid disappointment.

Step back in time and see how upper-class Filipinos lived during the colonial era at Casa Manila, a beautifully reconstructed traditional Spanish colonial home within the walls of Intramuros, in the heart of Manila. Casa Manila is filled with period furniture, furnishings, decorative objects, and artwork from the colonial era.

 

Although the house itself is a reproduction built in the 1980s, all the furnishings inside are authentic and sourced from different homes. Guided tours are available, but you can also wander around the three-story house on your own. See the living room, dining room, and kitchen on the top floor, then move down to the bedrooms and office-library on the floor below. Don’t miss the double-seated toilet in the latrine. Finally, end your visit at the lovely fountain in the outdoor courtyard.

 

Many sightseeing tours, whether half-day or full-day, stop at Casa Manila, in addition to other top attractions such as Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, and the National Museum of the Philippines. Or experience Manila like a local and visit as part of a jeepney tour. Book a private tour to combine Casa Manila with other must-see attractions on your list.

 

 

Casa Manila is located in the Plaza San Luis Complex in Intramuros. It’s easiest to take a taxi or jeepney directly to Intramuros. You can also take the LRT to Central Terminal Station, then catch a jeepney to Intramuros. Once at Intramuros, you can walk or take a pedicab.

 

Casa Manila is open daily except on Mondays. Visit early in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat.

 

Near Casa Manila, San Agustin Church and Museum is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Next to the church is the museum, built on the site of a monastery destroyed during World War II. Today the museum houses a collection of rare books, manuscripts, and religious artifacts.

An ever-popular retreat from Manila, Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort is a historic hacienda and working coconut plantation. Attractions here run from a restaurant set in a waterfall, where you dine with water running over your toes, to swimming pools, a river, a museum, buffalo-cart rides, bamboo rafts, and cultural dance shows.

It’s possible to stay overnight or for several days at Villa Escudero, with accommodation at a range of different price points. However, most choose to visit as a day trip from Manila. Ticket prices, which include lunch at the waterfalls, are substantial but more affordable than western-hemisphere equivalents and vary depending on the day of the week and the season. Villa Escudero tours typically depart from Manila and include door-to-door round-trip transfers.

Villa Escudero is in Tiaong, Quezon, 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Manila, or around a 2.5-hour drive. It’s possible to reach the plantation by catching a bus bound for Lucena from Buendia terminal, asking the driver to let you off, and picking up a tricycle. Most travelers will find it easier to book a tour that includes door-to-door round-trip transfers.

Villa Escudero is a hugely popular destination with Manilans. Unless the weekend cultural shows are particularly important to you, avoid visiting on weekends or on public holidays, around Christmas, Easter, and New Year. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are least crowded, especially during the low season, which runs September through November.

Don Placido Escudero and his wife Doña Claudia Marasigan founded Villa Escudero as a sugarcane plantation during the 1880s. Their son converted to coconut farming during the early 1900s and built the country’s first hydroelectric plant. Since their grandchildren first opened the estate in 1981, a visit here has been a rite of passage for Manilans as an expression of their Filipino heritage.

First settled by the Spanish during the 16th century, Manila Chinatown in Binondo is one of the world’s older Chinatowns. It centers on Ongpin Street, where stores offer mooncakes, incense, paper money, herbal medicines, and tasty dumplings. Buddhist temples and towering gates add extra color to the Chinese area of Binondo.

There’s no charge to visit Manila Chinatown, or, indeed, Binondo, the district in which it sits. It’s easy enough to wander around on foot—Chinatown is a pleasant walk from Intramuros—or pick up one of the horse-drawn carriages known as kalesa. 

If you’re pressed for time or would like to take a deeper dive, you may prefer a Binondo tour. Some old Manila tours and Manila history tours make time to stop in Binondo, as the district, although developing rapidly, is one of Manila’s oldest.

Manila Chinatown is conveniently central and a satisfying walk from other historical areas such as Intramuros. Escolta River Ferry is the best water-bus stop if you’re riding the Pasig River Ferry; if traveling by train, connect to Carriedo Station on Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1. Ask taxi drivers to drop you at the Filipino–Chinese Friendship Arch.

As with Chinatowns the world over, Manila Chinatown comes alive during the big annual festivals: Lunar New Year around January or February and Mid-Autumn Festival around late September or early October. Try and avoid traveling to Chinatown during rush hour (roughly 7am–9am and 5pm–9pm), when Manila’s already hectic traffic is at its worst.

Often described as the world’s oldest Chinatown, Binondo was founded in 1594 by Spanish colonists across the river from their main settlement at Intramuros. Immigrants, mainly Hokkien people from Fujian, flooded in. For centuries the area was Manila’s business capital, with Escolta Street the city’s answer to Broadway, although today Makati holds that role.

Established in 1901, the National Museum of the Philippines is a vast complex of museums and a planetarium located next to Rizal Park. Immerse yourself in the artistic, historical, and cultural heritage of the Philippines through the museum’s expansive collections covering fine art, ethnography, anthropology, archaeology, and natural history.

 

The National Museum comprises the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Planetarium, as well as branches of the museum throughout the Philippines. It’s also an educational, cultural, and scientific institution and offers lectures, interviews, and publications and conducts various research programs.

 

The museum complex is so massive that visitors would do well to prioritize areas that are of interest to them. A number of tours make a stop at the National Museum, along with other Manila highlights such as the Ayala Museum, Casa Manila, and Fort Santiago. Cruise ship passengers and those on a layover can take a customized private tour.

 

 

The museum complex is located in Ermita in Central Manila, near Rizal Park. All of the buildings are located close to each other. Parking can be difficult, so it’s best to take a taxi or a jeepney. The closest LRT station is United Nations.

 

The National Museum is very popular, especially the newly opened Museum of Natural History. Visit early in the morning to try to beat the crowds. The museum is closed Mondays.

 

The Museum of Natural History opened its doors on May 18, 2018. The museum features six floors and 12 galleries, and visitors are advised to start at the top and work their way down. Don’t miss the “Tree of Life” sculpture, the mini mangrove and marine life exhibits, and the replica and skeleton of Lolong, the largest crocodile ever held in captivity.

The country’s national center for the performing arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is a vast complex spread over 150 acres (62 hectares). Designed by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin, this is Manila’s go-to venue for ballet, classical music, and theater, as well as other local and international productions, performances, and festivals.

 

Built in the 1960s, the Cultural Center of the Philippines has been a key venue for the performing arts since its founding. It hosts national troupes such as the Philippine Ballet Theater, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. 

It’s best to visit the center when there is a performance. If that’s not possible, it’s still an interesting venue to visit, renowned for its brutalist structures. Some sightseeing tours include a stop at the cultural center, along with other attractions such as Casa Manila, the Ayala Museum, and Fort Santiago.

 

 

The Cultural Center of the Philippines is located on Roxas Boulevard in Manila’s Pasay City. It’s easiest to get there via taxi or jeepney. The closest LRT station is Vito Cruz, from which the orange shuttle bus runs to the center.

 

Visitors should check the calendar to see the schedule of performances at the Culture Center and arrange their visit accordingly.

 

Located on the fourth floor of the main building at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Museum of Philippine Culture focuses on the works of traditional Filipino artists. A permanent exhibit highlights Filipino artistic traditions, while another is focused on traditional Asian instruments from around the region. The museum also features a rotation of changing exhibitions and organizes workshops from time to time.

Located in Makati, the Ayala Museum is considered one of the most culturally significant museums in the Philippines. Spread over four stories, this well-organized and -maintained gallery houses a large collection of art, gold jewelry, archaeological artifacts, maritime vessels, and dioramas covering Philippine arts, culture, and heritage.

 

The brainchild of the late artist Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo, the museum opened in 1967, with much of the initial collection donated by the artist’s family.  Highlights include an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold objects, textiles, and maritime vessels. It also features artwork from top artists such as Zóbel de Ayala, Juan Luna, and Fernando Amorsolo. And don’t miss the 60 dioramas depicting key events in Philippine history, a highlight for many at the museum. There’s also a rotation of temporary exhibits and a café serving snacks and beverages.

 

Visitors can purchase a full admission pass, which covers the museum and all exhibits, or a pass just to view the temporary exhibits. The Ayala Museum features on many half-day and full-day sightseeing tours of Manila, along with other top attractions like Rizal Park and Fort Santiago. Cruise ship passengers or those on a layover can take a customized private tour.

 

 

The Ayala Museum is located in Makati, at the edge of the Greenbelt Shopping Center. It is walking distance from most of the top hotels in Makati, as well as the MRT Ayala Station.

 

The Ayala Museum is open daily, except on Mondays. As it doesn’t usually get too crowded, the museum is a good option when other museums and attractions are busy. The Ayala Museum also hosts a range of performances, talks, lectures, and special exhibitions. Check the calendar to see the latest schedule.

 

The Filipinas Heritage Library can be found on the sixth floor of the Ayala Museum and requires a separate admission fee. The library houses over 15,000 books, an extensive photo collection, and a collection of over a thousand contemporary titles on Philippine arts, culture, and history. The on-site conservation laboratory helps preserve old books and documents.

In death as in life, Manila’s rich Chinese like to live large, and the renowned Chinese Cemetery—lined with otherworldly mansions, some complete with air-conditioning and flush toilets—is a tribute to their wealth. Sprawling over 133 acres (54 hectares), it’s one of Manila’s quirkiest attractions: You can even rent a bike to get around.

There is no fee to enter Manila’s Chinese Cemetery, although you may want to to rent a bicycle to explore its sprawling avenues. Signage is very limited, which means that to find the most impressive mansion tombs, not to mention official temples and memorial halls, it helps to have a guide, who can also explain the complex fusions of Chinese Buddhism and Christianity here.

Chinese Cemetery tours typically form part of a longer Manila day or half-day tour, but the sheer weirdness of the place means some could happily spend half a day exploring. For this, it’s often best to hire a private guide (you shouldn’t need a driver).

Set in Loma, south central Manila, the Chinese Cemetery is refreshingly easy to reach by public transport. Just catch LRT Line 1 to Abad Santos and walk for a few minutes (or take a tricycle). If you’re combining the Chinese Cemetery with other Manila attractions, it makes sense to book a tour that includes transport.

The Manila Chinese Cemetery is open seven days a week from morning until early evening. Two substantial festivals see Tsinoys—Chinese Filipinos—paying their respects to the souls of the ancestors here. The first is the ancient Chinese tomb-sweeping festival of Qingming, which follows the lunar calendar and usually falls in early April. The second is comprised of the Christian festivals of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, on November 1 and 2.

Known as Tsinoy (based on “Pinoy,” meaning Filipino), Chinese Filipinos are one of southeast Asia’s largest Chinese communities. Their influence is obvious in Binondo, the city’s historical Chinatown, and at the Chinese Cemetery, the second oldest in Manila. Many Chinese Filipinos come from Hokkien or Cantonese backgrounds, and although the Chinese Cemetery features temples, the overwhelming majority of Chinese Filipinos are Christian.

The colonial heart of Manila, Intramuros—which means “within the walls”—is the capital’s oldest district and home to some of its most impressive historic monuments. Founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls, stretching for almost 3 miles (5 kilometers).

 

Many Manila city tours include a visit to Intramuros, and a walking tour is a popular way to explore the many historic attractions within the walls. Highlights include the mighty waterfront Fort Santiago, home to the Rizal Shrine, a tribute to Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal; San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest churches in the country; the 16th-century Manila Cathedral; and the fascinating Casa Manila Museum. Leave plenty of time to browse the souvenir and handicraft shops, and enjoy a coffee at one of the lively cafés, too. Some excursions combine a tour of the city with an evening dinner cruise.

 

Intramuros is located close to the port on the south bank of the Pasig River, and there are numerous entry points to the walled town. The closest train station is Central Terminal. Alternatively, the easiest way to access Intramuros is by taxi.

 

Make an early start to avoid the heat and the crowds, as you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking. While it’s possible to visit Intramuros at any time, most attractions close around 6pm. Be aware that museums are typically closed Mondays.

 

Spanish governor Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the walled city of Intramuros in 1571. At the time, it was the entire city of Manila. With its 20-foot-high (6 meter) walls, moats on all sides, and seven fortified gateways, the 163-acre (66-hectare) citadel was impenetrable. However, the city sustained considerable damage during World War II bombings and extensive restoration work has since taken place on the walls, city gates, and many of the historic buildings.

Towering 4,757 feet (1,450 meters) above Luzon, the Mt. Pinatubo stratovolcano blew its top quite spectacularly in 1991. Today, the crater lake that’s left behind and the surreal mudflow landscapes around it make one of the Philippines’ most fun adventures—and one that’s well worth the early start. The volcano is carefully monitored for safety.

In order to visit the volcano, you must be with a guide in a 4x4. Mt. Pinatubo tours typically set out from the small town of Santa Juliana, around 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Manila. If you want to explore from Santa Juliana independently, arrive the day before and spend the night. Most travelers choose to visit Mt. Pinatubo as a day trip from Manila; these tours generally set out around 4am and start the 4WD adventure not long after 6am. It’s also possible to visit from the city of Angeles, around 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Santa Juliana. 

A typical Mt. Pinatubo tour includes a 4WD adventure on the dusty mud plains that cover the volcano slopes followed by a fairly easy guided hike to Lake Pinatubo, the crater lake. Tours generally include lunch at a nearby town, and some operators might add activities like hot springs and white-water rafting.

Around 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Manila, not far from the city of Angeles, is Santa Juliana, the jump-off point for Pinatubo tours. Reaching it independently involves an exciting array of jeepneys, tricycles, and more followed by a night in town. Since the volcano can only be visited with a guide and 4WD, most travelers opt to join a tour from Manila (or occasionally Angeles), which includes door-to-door transfers to mitigate the early start.

Philippines regulations state that trips to the Mt. Pinatubo crater must start between 6am and 8am. That means most tours from Manila leave as early as 4am and even those from Angeles start long before 6am. The mountain can be closed for reasons as varied as heavy rain (Pinatubo is prone to both landslides and flash floods), volcanic activity, and military exercises. Visit during the week to beat the weekend crowds.

Achieving a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 and causing more than 700 deaths, Mt. Pinatubo saw the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century and the largest in a populated area. The eruption reduced the summit of the mountain from 5,725 feet (1,745 meters) to 4,872 feet (1,485 meters) and produced ash clouds that caused temperatures to drop around the world.

Set amid the bustle of downtown Manila, the Manila American Cemetery is an oasis of peace and remembrance. The cemetery is home to the remains of 17,184 soldiers who died during World War II, with serried ranks of brilliant white crosses across manicured lawns and galleries that explain key battles.

There is no charge to visit the Manila American Cemetery, which is open seven days a week from morning until late afternoon. The burial ground is a stop on some tours of both Manila and Makati, the financial district, though opening hours mean it has to be visited on a separate day from Corregidor Island. If you’re considering a history tour of Manila or planning an agenda with a private guide, this war graveyard makes a worthwhile stop.

Over 7 miles (12 kilometers) from Intramuros, the walled historical area in Manila city center, the Manila American Cemetery is time-consuming to reach by public transport, so many opt for the convenience of a door-to-door tour. Alternatively, catch the metro to Ayala (MRT Line 3), then a bus toward the BGC stop. You’ll walk 10 to 20 minutes, depending which bus you catch.

The Manila American Cemetery is open year-round, and officials and members of the military lay wreaths at the cemetery each Memorial Day (the last Monday in May). Significant anniversaries include the Fall of Corregidor, on May 6, 1942.

The Philippines and the United States have had a complex relationship since the Philippines gained its independence from the US in 1946, but American and Filipino soldiers fought side by side during the Second World War. A new visitor center at the Manila American Cemetery, open in 2019, explores the American role in the archipelago during WWII.

A popular weekend escape from Manila, Subic Bay was once the base for a huge US naval fleet. Today it's reinvented as a family-friendly tourist destination, with attractions from theme parks and safari parks to jungle trekking. Most foreign travelers visit to dive the magnificent wrecks, trek the jungle, and tour the abandoned base.

Whether your tastes run to wrecks or theme parks, it's possible to visit Subic Bay as a day trip from Manila or spend a few days here. You don't need a tour to visit Subic Bay but, unless you're confident driving in Manila's gridlocked traffic or piecing together jeepney routes, it certainly helps. 

Some of the most unique Subic Bay tours have a military theme. These include visits to the former US naval base, abandoned after Mt. Pinatubo's 1991 eruption; courses at the Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp, which teaches survival skills; and diving the many World War II wrecks that dot the bay. Other Subic Bay tours cover attractions such as Zoobic Safari and Ocean Park marine park.

Subic Bay lies around 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of downtown Manila"”around a 2- or 3-hour drive depending on the time of day. Victory Liner express buses run from Sampaloc to Olongapo, a 10-minute jeepney ride away, and there are slower buses direct to Subic Bay. Many travelers prefer the ease of a tour that includes door-to-door transfers.

Subic Bay fills up on weekends, when Manilans make the mass exodus west for beach and jungle fun. For shorter lines at rides and much less crowded wrecks, visit during the week. As with other popular domestic tourist destinations, don't even think about visiting over the Easter period, when Filipinos take to the roads en masse.

A US naval base since 1898, when the US made the Philippines its only colony, Subic Bay is home to seven World War II wrecks that are regularly dived. These include the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese cargo ship sunk in 1944 with many Allied POWs aboard, and the USS New York, a battle cruiser sunk by the Americans in 1941. Visibility is poor compared to locations such as Coron but is at its best between February and April.

One of Manila’s best-known streets, Roxas Boulevard hugs the waterfront for most of its length and includes Rizal Park, the historic Manila Hotel, and the popular promenade Manila Baywalk. It’s backed by the lively Malate district, with its open-air bars and restaurants, while Manila Bay sunset views make it a popular early evening stop.

You don’t need a tour to visit Roxas Boulevard. If the traffic fumes aren’t too much, it’s easy enough to head here for a sunset stroll along the Baywalk. A number of Manila city tours drive along Roxas Boulevard, enabling you to soak up the marine sights without the traffic fumes. The street is at its most attractive when seen from Manila Bay, and many visitors opt to view it on a sunset cruise.

Roxas Boulevard runs along the Manila waterfront from Rizal Park until Paranaque, when it becomes the Manila-Cavite Expressway or Coastal Road. As such, many tours will simply pass along the boulevard. There are numerous bus stops along the boulevard itself, while its starting point is an easy walk from Intramuros.

Weekends are the best time to visit Roxas Boulevard, when the yacht clubs and restaurants that line it are liveliest and the traffic on the road itself is lighter. Visit around sunset to soak up enviable views of Manila Bay, to embark on a Manila Bay sunset cruise, or to join the locals on a sunset stroll along Manila Baywalk.

First planned out over 100 years ago, Roxas Boulevard was originally called Cavite Boulevard, then became Dewey Boulevard and Heiwa Boulevard before acquiring its current name during the 1960s. Manuel Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines, but the first president after the islands achieved independence from the US. 

A rugged, forested island around 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Manila, Corregidor Island is perhaps the Philippines’ most important World War II site. General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters until 1942, Corregidor was occupied by Japanese forces until January 1945, and most visits focus on WWII-era relics rather than natural attractions.

Unless you’re staying overnight in the island’s only hotel, the Corregidor Inn, or camping, it’s not possible to explore Corregidor independently. Corregidor Island’s single ferry operator offers a welter of day-trip options, however, from walking tours, tram tours, night tours, and bike tours to yoga classes, painting workshops, specialized photography tours, and team-building. All include lunch.

Most Corregidor Island tours visit MacArthur’s headquarters, the Spanish Lighthouse, the Japanese Cemetery, the barracks, and a gun battery or two. It’s worth booking ahead, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Corregidor Island ferries leave from the Esplanade Seaside Terminal, around 4 miles (7 kilometers) from downtown Makati. The ferry terminal is tricky to reach by public transport, so most opt either to take a taxi or to book a Corregidor tour that includes the convenience of door-to-door round-trip private transfers.

As with anywhere in the Philippines, Corregidor Island is at its busiest around Christmas and Easter. It’s popular with day-trippers on weekends, so visiting during the week is recommended. Be aware that typhoons can impact travel to Corregidor, as to any part of the Philippines, during typhoon season, which peaks in August.

Sometimes known simply as “The Rock,” Corregidor (Corrector) Island has long stood as the first bastion of defence of Manila. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines in the wake of Pearl Harbor, American and Filipino troops held out here for six months before surrendering. Many would die on the Bataan Death March. American forces, led by Douglas MacArthur, retook the island during the Second Battle of Corregidor, which ended in 1945. 

The Basics

As one of Old Manila's most popular attractions and religious sites (and the oldest church in the Philippines), this stone church is typically included as a stop on most half-day, full-day, and themed Manila city tours. Usually including hotel pick-up in Metro Manila, these sightseeing tours are available on foot or by bus, private vehicle, or colorful jeepney, a popular form of public transportation in the Philippines. Tours often also stop at Casa Manila, Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, and Manila Bay. Should you choose to visit San Agustin on your own, keep in mind that although the church itself is free, the neighboring museum has a small entrance fee.

• This church and museum is a must for history buffs.
  
• Visit with an English-speaking tour guide to learn more about the church's history.
  
• Travelers should set aside at least an hour or two for a visit.
  
• Consider attending a mass; most are in English.

How to Get to the San Agustin Church and Museum

The easiest way to visit the San Agustin Church and Museum, located on General Luna Street in the Intramuros, is on a guided city tour, but it's also possible to visit independently. The site is accessible by foot from nearly anywhere in the Intramuros, and the nearest train station is Central Terminal on LRT 1. The Pier jeepney route passes in front of Manila Cathedral, a short walk from San Agustin.

When to Get There

The church is open daily throughout the year. Visiting during mass has both benefits and drawbacks, so be sure to check the schedule in advance of your visit. Keep in mind that the site's museum closes for an hour at lunch, while the church remains open. The museum's galleries are air-conditioned, making it a popular attraction on hot afternoons.

Don't Miss the Museum Collection

Many travelers make the mistake of ducking into the church without spending any time at the equally worthy museum, which showcases the rich history of Catholicism in the Philippines. The galleries within the San Agustin Museum house a superb collection of religious art and antiquities that come from countries around the globe, including the Philippines, Spain, Mexico, Singapore, and China. You'll find ceramics, botanical drawings, liturgical goods, and antique furniture.

Situated next to the walled city of Intramuros, historical Rizal Park is one of the largest urban parks in Asia and covers 140 acres (58 hectares). With lawns, gardens, walkways, ponds, museums, an observatory, a concert hall, and more, it’s one of the most popular attractions in Manila for locals and visitors alike.

 

Also known as Luneta Park, Rizal Park is named after 19th-century Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, who was executed by the Spanish colonial government at this spot. There is a shrine to Dr. Rizal, along with a statue to Lapu Lapu (Statue of the Sentinel of Freedom), who stopped Magellan’s invasion in 1521, and a Gallery of Heroes, dedicated to other key Filipino heroes throughout history. Other highlights of the park include the tallest flagpole in the country, the kilometer zero marker, an orchidarium, and a giant relief map of the Philippine islands on a man-made lake.

 

Nearly every sightseeing tour stops at Rizal Park, along with other top Manila attractions such as Casa Manila and Fort Santiago. To experience Manila like a local, visit as part of a jeepney tour. Book a private tour to combine Casa Manila with other must-see attractions on your list.

 

 

Rizal Park is located next to Intramuros.  It’s easiest to take a taxi or jeepney directly to Rizal Park, but you can also take the train to the United Nations station and walk a few minutes to the park.

 

It’s pleasant to visit Rizal Park year-round. The park is a favorite leisure spot that’s at its liveliest on weekends and public holidays. The open-air auditorium features rock concerts on Saturday nights and classical concerts on Sunday nights, and other events are held here periodically.

 

The Rizal Shrine is one of the most famous and photographed monuments in the Philippines. The 41-foot-tall (12.6-meter-tall) monument featuring a statue of Dr. Rizal and housing his remains is 100 meters from the exact location where he was executed, on December 30, 1896. Larger-than-life-size statues and bas-reliefs depict key moments in his life, including his final moments (The Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal). There is an entrance fee to this site, which includes a tour during the day and a presentation at night in Tagalog and English.

About 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Manila, a visit to the 33-foot-high (10-meter-high) Pagsanjan (Magdapio) Falls delivers an epic thrill ride. First, paddle upstream in a small boat. Then ride a bamboo raft under the cascade itself into Devil’s Cave. Finally, race down the jungled gorge through a series of adrenaline-pumping rapids.

Pagsanjan town licenses boatmen (bangcero) to operate the small canoes that ride upriver through the gorge to the waterfall, and prices are set centrally, per head. Fees reflect the effort involved in navigating a small boat upstream—this is not a cheap trip.

Unless you’re exploring the Mt. Banahaw region, you’ll likely visit Pagsanjan Falls from Manila. Rather than getting up at the crack of dawn to make the drive and then arranging boats on arrival, most visitors opt for the convenience of a tour. Most Pagsanjan Falls tours include hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, a canoe ride, and a bamboo raft ride. A few budget Pagsanjan tours omit the rapids in favor of hiking or swimming and looking at the waterfall.

One of the Philippines’ favorite waterfalls, Pagsanjan Falls are around 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Manila. Even leaving early and in a private vehicle, the drive takes over two hours. If you’d prefer a day trip rather than spending the night in the unremarkable town of Pagsanjan, your only options are tour, taxi, or drive. Most find a tour more convenient than driving through gridlock and arranging your own boat.

Also known as Magdapio Falls, the Pagsanjan Falls are one of Manila’s most popular weekend trips: on Saturdays, Sundays, and over the Easter period they can be insanely crowded. In terms of timing, look to balance high water, which creates rapids and makes the waterfall dramatic, with low water, which allows boatmen to navigate the river. Early in the wet season, between August and October, is the best time to visit.

Widely considered one of the greatest movies ever made, Apocalypse Now explores sanity and insanity against the background of the Vietnam War. Americans were unwelcome in Vietnam during the ’70s, so director Francis Ford Coppola chose the Philippines to shoot his movie. The culminating sacrifice scenes were filmed on the river that runs up to Pagsanjan Falls.

Even more than other Southeast Asian capitals, Manila is a city of contrasts. And never are those contrasts more acute than in Makati, home to sleek skyscrapers, high-end malls, and slick hotels. But Makati has historical appeal as well, with highlights including Saint Peter and Paul Parish Church, dating to 1620, and the Manila American Cemetery.

You don’t need a tour to explore Makati, although a set of wheels will come in handy, as this is a large, sprawling district. One very Filipino way to experience Makati is by hanging out in malls—the Ayala Center alone offers three, as well as a museum. 

Most Makati tours check off the key sights in half a day or visit the area as a stop on a more general Manila tour. Historical Manila tours may visit the American cemetery or one or more of Makati’s churches.

Though it’s possible to drive and malls provide easy parking, gridlock during Manila’s lengthy rush hours makes public transit a more popular option. And getting to Makati by public transit is easy: Just ride the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) to Ayala station on Line 3. 

If sundowners form part of your Makati plan, aim to arrive at the rooftop bar between 5pm and 6pm, depending on the time of year; arriving by 5pm should enable you to beat the evening rush hour. Malls are at their busiest on weekends, which can make them particularly entertaining for the traveler in search of local color.

Manila was pretty much flattened during World War II, leaving opportunities for wealthy Filipino families. One such dynasty was the Ayala family, who built Makati almost out of nothing: Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue were the runways of the city’s old airports. Today, the Ayala group is worth billions of dollars and remains family owned; attractions from museums to shopping centers as well as streets and stations bear their name.