The bustling, fun and friendly city of Manila attracts travelers with its tropical exotics, historical monuments from the colonial era, world-class resort hotels, huge shopping malls and plenty of entertainment.
Check this guide on best things to do and popular tourist attractions to visit in Manila, Philippines.
Old Town Attractions
Manila city is full of historical sites that bring back thoughts of colonial times. A walk through the capital is worth starting with the ancient quarters of Intramuros, the name means “inside the walls”. In 1574 the Spanish colonists built a strong fortress here, and for a long time Manila’s territory was limited to its borders.
There’s a lot to see in this part of Manila – most of the historic buildings and landmarks of the Philippine capital are located within Intramuros. When the Philippines was a colony of Spain, it was the seat of power.
Click here to join Manila Old and New City Tour.
Fort Santiago
The core of the citadel is Fort Santiago, which is the oldest stone castle of the Spanish period. Nearby is the ancient cathedral. In colonial times, a Spanish archbishop lived there, he had authority over the entire archipelago.
San Agustin Church
This is one of the prominent architectural structures in Manila that should be on your list of places to visit. San Agustin Church was built at the end of the 16th century in the Spanish Baroque style. The cathedral is listed as a World Heritage Site. It has been rebuilt several times due to the destruction caused by natural disasters and warfare.
Plaza de Roma
It is one of the squares of the Intramuros neighborhood. A very picturesque place, which in the past was a place of trade.
Baluarte de San Diego
This is another historical monument that witnessed the colonial era. A round tower whose main task was to protect the city of Manila from attack.
Visit Escolta Street
Escolta street is one of the most underrated places to visit in Manila. The small settlement has not yet been fully rebuilt after the events of World War II, but this fact is what makes it so interesting. There, you will immerse yourself in history and see the consequences of hostilities that took place more than half a century ago.
Escolta is also an ideal location for photographers. Here you can take some really interesting ideas for pictures. There are a lot of small authentic cafes with national food, craft workshops, music festivals are also take place there, as well as art exhibitions.
Rizal Park or Luneta Park
Rizal Park, sometimes called Luneta Park, will be one of the first destinations when exploring Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The seaside Roxas Boulevard, planted with coconut palms, leads you to a vast park located in the heart of the city.
There are museums and art galleries, park sculptures, landscape gardens, sports facilities, and national heroes’ memorials with a guard of honor. In the artificial lake created a relief map of the Philippine archipelago, there is also a sign “Kilometer Zero”. From here the distance to the cities and islands of the country is counted. Everything in Rizal Park has to do with the history of the Philippines.
In the center of the park stands a statue that is almost a century old. It is dedicated to Jose Rizal, the doctor and writer. He was shot in 1896, for the charge of inciting rebellion against Spanish rule.
The park is divided into three zones and occupies about 16 hectares.
Click here to join Manila City Day Tour and visit Rizal Park, Tagaytay Taal Volcano and other places.
Manila Ocean Park
At the waterfront, there is Manila Ocean Park building that stands right out of the waves of Manila Bay. Aquarium is one of the places to visit in Manila, it is a home to 14,000 marine creatures of 277 species that inhabit the tropical seas.
Click here to book Manila Ocean Park tickets.
Walk along the transparent underwater tunnel, visit Seabird Kingdom, separate locations with sharks and stingrays, and ocean jellyfish. An Antarctic penguin park is set up here, and a seal show is held in a large auditorium for 1,900 people.
Interested parties can take a ride in a boat with a transparent bottom, dive into the underwater coral reefs, swim, wear a funny mermaid tail. The oceanarium building is crowned by a hotel and restaurant. There you can taste exotic seafood dishes. Near the shore, there is a 40-meter jets of fountains, complete with multimedia effects, gush from under the water.
Walk along Manila Waterfront
In the evenings, the Manila waterfront is especially crowded. Luxury yachts return to the port for rest. Cruise liners stand at the roadstead shining with lights, and illuminated high-rise hotels and shopping malls are reflected in the darkening waters of the sea bay.
The light and music fountains have colorful performances, but the main show is the stunning sunsets. This is the time to take the most spectacular photos, and rest assured that the epic celestial pictures will never be repeated.
Binondo – Manila Chinatown
It is a very authentic historical place in Manila. It was founded as early as 1594 and was the world’s first Chinatown. Miniature streets that resemble a spider’s web. You can walk around the block for hours. In Binondo neighborhood there are many small shops, bakeries, and cafes that serve delicious food for little money. Be sure to try the traditional Chinese dumplings, oyster pie, and fried tofu.
Binondo Church
It was built in 1596 and became one of the significant places in Chinatown. It was founded by Domincan priests who converted to Christianity. Church services are usually held in English and Chinese.
