A cosmopolitan Southeast Asian metropolis with excellent opportunities for entertainment and shopping, Manila is the capital of Philippines and the busy centre of culture and business in the country. The city is exceptionally rich in history and has many fascinating Spanish-style buildings. In the vibrant nightlife of Manila you can experience the youthful atmosphere of this large university city that attracts over 1 million foreign visitors a year.
The modern Manila is a melting pot of different cultures. The city has a very lively theatre scene with the famous Repertory Philippines theatre group performing plays and musicals. The Cultural Center of the Philippines hosts folk dance, ballet and concerts in Manila throughout the year. Nightlife in Manila is famously lively with a variety of choices suitable for everyone. Many festivals are held in Manila, the feast of the Black Nazarena in every January being the most notable of them.
Parks & shopping. There are several beautiful parks in Manila. These green parks are ideal sites for walks, picnics and other outdoor activities such as golf in Manila. Rizal Park hosts many excellent museums and fascinating buildings and many concerts in Manila are also held there. Located in front of the Manila Bay, the Baywalk is fringed with coconut trees and towering lamp posts and has breathtaking views over the sea. There are also great opportunities for affordable shopping in Manila.
Accommodation & dining. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in Manilaserving both international delicacies, fast food or local Philippine specialties like fresh fish, rice, pork, and vegetables. There is also a wide selection of hotels in Manila, most of them located at Roxas Boulevard or in Ermita and Malate districts.
Historic buildings, museums, shopping & nightlife - attractions in Manila
First inhabited by the Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic communities and conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century, Manila is exceptionally rich in history. Many tour operators organize sightseeing tours in Manila that introduce you to the multicultural history of the city. There are many interesting museums in Manila and both old and modern buildings to explore. Most major tourist attractions in Manila are located along the beautiful Manila Bay. The old Spanish settlement, the walled city of Intramuros is located at the mouth of Pasig River. Founded in 1571, there are many fascinating historic buildings inside its walls.The modern Manila is a melting pot of different cultures. The city has a very lively theatre scene with the famous Repertory Philippines theatre group performing plays and musicals. The Cultural Center of the Philippines hosts folk dance, ballet and concerts in Manila throughout the year. Nightlife in Manila is famously lively with a variety of choices suitable for everyone. Many festivals are held in Manila, the feast of the Black Nazarena in every January being the most notable of them.
Parks & shopping. There are several beautiful parks in Manila. These green parks are ideal sites for walks, picnics and other outdoor activities such as golf in Manila. Rizal Park hosts many excellent museums and fascinating buildings and many concerts in Manila are also held there. Located in front of the Manila Bay, the Baywalk is fringed with coconut trees and towering lamp posts and has breathtaking views over the sea. There are also great opportunities for affordable shopping in Manila.
Practical information for your stay in Manila
Manila has a hot and humid tropical marine climate with hot summers from March to May and rainy season with occasional typhoons from June to October. The best time to visit Manila is from December to May when the weather is cooler and dry and ideal for sightseeing.Accommodation & dining. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in Manilaserving both international delicacies, fast food or local Philippine specialties like fresh fish, rice, pork, and vegetables. There is also a wide selection of hotels in Manila, most of them located at Roxas Boulevard or in Ermita and Malate districts.
Photo: benjieordonez, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
How to get there. Manila is located at the mouth of the Pasig River on the shores of the beautiful Manila Bay in the west coast of the island of Luzon. The city is the transportation hub of the Philippines. International flights to Manila arrive in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which is the main airport in the Philippines with excellent international connections and flights to major cities in the Philippines. The city can also be accessed by ferries and buses from other Philippine islands. The major islands in the Philippines are connected via highways and ferries which can carry cars and buses.
Local transport. Manila is the heart of a metropolitan area of over 11 million inhabitants. The easiest way to get around in Manila is to use the excellent and fast trains and the metro system. Taxis, buses, and jeepneys are also available but they are not very efficient ways of transport in the huge and crowded city. Car rental in Manila is not the most convenient way of traveling, either, as the traffic in the city is quite chaotic with traffic jams and limited parking space.
Safety. Manila is a large city with its fair share of poverty and crime, so be sure to take care of yourself and your belongings at all times. Due to the unstable political and security situation in the Philippines, visitors to Manila are advised to exercise caution especially in crowded places and to avoid demonstrations. Do not travel alone or after dark. Natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons are not rare in the Philippines. English is widely spoken in Manila, which makes independent travel here easy. However, be aware of pickpockets and scam artists.
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