Manila
51 hostels · dorms from €12
The capital and the main flight hub. Chaotic, historic in Intramuros, and usually a transit stop.
Philippines country guide
Things To Do In The Philippines
Seven thousand islands, the best island-hopping in Asia, and English spoken almost everywhere. Harder to get around than Thailand, and the payoff is beaches with nobody on them.
€9
Dorm bed, from
7,641
Islands
€2
A meal from a carinderia
3
Days to cross the country
Seven thousand islands and no straight lines
The Philippines has more islands than anywhere else in this guide and no efficient way to move between them, which is the whole character of a trip here. Journeys take longer than the map suggests, ferries are weather-dependent, and domestic flights through Manila or Cebu are how most people cover distance.
Palawan is the headline: El Nido and Coron have limestone cliffs rising out of impossibly clear water, and island-hopping tours there are among the best day trips anywhere. Siargao has the surf and has become the country's backpacker centre. Cebu and Bohol have waterfalls, whale sharks and diving, and Banaue in northern Luzon has 2,000-year-old rice terraces carved into mountains.
English is an official language and spoken almost universally, which makes the Philippines one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel independently once you accept that everything takes longer than planned.
Where to go
Domestic flights through Manila or Cebu do the long legs; ferries and vans the rest.
Cebu
39 hostels
The second city and the other flight hub, with waterfalls, canyoneering and diving nearby.
Great vibe, good taxis, great ART scene, U of P Cebu art and artists incredible, great food, music festivals, raves, cultural events
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Moalboal
31 hostels
Cebu's west coast: a sardine run you can snorkel from the beach, turtles, and canyoneering at Kawasan falls.
Moalboal is fantastic! There are so so many tourists (especially Brits!) Because of this but honestly where else in the world can you put your head in the sea and see a Sea Turtle just chilling about! The coral reef is amazing and the sardines are so cool! I rented a scooter as well which was super fun and the beaches are nice, all round brilliant.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Bohol
The Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and beaches on Panglao next door.
Boracay
Four kilometres of white sand, closed in 2018 for a clean-up and reopened with rules. Still the best beach in the country.
El Nido
38 hostels · dorms from €10
Northern Palawan: limestone cliffs, lagoons and the best island-hopping day trips in Asia.
Coron
36 hostels · dorms from €7
Also Palawan: wreck diving on a sunken Japanese fleet, and lakes inside limestone walls.
Coron is an amazing destination with breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and unforgettable island-hopping tours. The town has a relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and plenty of restaurants, cafés, and travel services. Whether you're looking for adventure, nature, or simply beautiful views, Coron has it all. Definitely one of my favorite places in the Philippines!
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Siargao
The surf island and the country's backpacker centre, with lagoons and rock pools alongside.
What kind of trip is this?
The Philippines is a beach and water country above everything else.
Beach in Philippines
Seven thousand islands, and the best island-hopping in Asia.
What to do
- Island hop tours A and C in El Nido
- Kayak Big Lagoon
- Find a beach with nobody on it
Spots to visit
- El Nido lagoons
- Coron
- Siargao
Reading on beach in Philippines
Adventure in Philippines
Surf, canyoneering, caves and volcanoes.
What to do
- Surf Cloud 9 on Siargao
- Canyoneering to Kawasan Falls
- Climb Mount Pinatubo
Spots to visit
- Siargao
- Kawasan Falls
- Banaue rice terraces
Reading on adventure in Philippines
Food in Philippines
Carinderias, lechon and a sweet-sour palate all its own.
Budget in Philippines
Cheap once you are still, less so when moving.
Culture in Philippines
Spanish colonial towns and 2,000-year-old rice terraces.
What to do
- Intramuros in Manila
- The Banaue rice terraces
- Vigan's colonial streets
Spots to visit
- Banaue
- Intramuros
- Vigan
Best cities for it
Nightlife in Philippines
Island bars, karaoke everywhere, and a very social culture.
What to do
- A beach bar on Siargao
- Karaoke, which is unavoidable and enjoyable
- Sunset drinks in El Nido
Spots to visit
- Siargao
- El Nido
- Cebu
Reading on nightlife in Philippines
Things to do
Things to do in the Philippines
El Nido's island-hopping tours are the country's signature: four standard routes labelled A to D, around €25 to €35 including lunch, taking you between lagoons, limestone walls and beaches. Tour A is the classic; going early or choosing a private boat avoids the worst of the crowding.
Coron's draw is underwater — a Japanese fleet sunk in 1944 sits in shallow enough water that some wrecks are snorkellable, and the rest are among the best wreck dives in the world.
Siargao is the surf island and now the place people extend their stay. Beyond the waves there are rock pools, mangroves and island trips, and a hostel scene that has grown quickly.
In Luzon, the Banaue and Batad rice terraces were carved into the mountains around two thousand years ago and are best reached on an overnight bus from Manila.
Food and drink
Eating in the Philippines
Filipino food is distinct from the rest of southeast Asia — less chilli, more vinegar, soy and citrus. Adobo, meat braised in vinegar and soy, is the national dish, sinigang is a sour tamarind soup, and lechon, whole roast pig, is the centrepiece of every celebration and best in Cebu.
Carinderias are the budget option: small eateries with trays of cooked dishes where you point at two or three and pay €1.50 to €3.
Halo-halo is the dessert — shaved ice, evaporated milk, beans, jelly and purple yam, and better than that description suggests. Street barbecue on skewers costs a few pesos a stick and is everywhere after dark.
Nightlife
Going out in the Philippines
Nightlife here is island bars and karaoke rather than clubs. Siargao has the liveliest scene — beach bars, live music and a young international crowd — and El Nido has sunset bars along the beachfront.
Karaoke is a national institution rather than a novelty, sung enthusiastically and seriously in bars, homes and roadside huts, and joining in goes down much better than watching.
Local beer is around €1 to €1.50, rum is cheaper still, and the social culture is warm and inclusive to an unusual degree — being invited to join a table is normal rather than remarkable.
More on nightlife in Philippines
Getting around
Getting around the Philippines
This is the hard part and it shapes every itinerary. There is no rail network to speak of, so movement means domestic flights, ferries and vans, and most flights route through Manila or Cebu even when that means flying backwards.
Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia cover the domestic network cheaply, and booking ahead matters. Ferries — 2GO and the fast craft operators — link the bigger islands, and they are cancelled in bad weather, which happens often in typhoon season.
Locally, jeepneys and tricycles do short distances for pennies, and Grab works in Manila and Cebu. Build slack into the plan: a missed ferry or a cancelled flight will happen at some point on a three-week trip.
Costs
What the Philippines costs
Being still is cheap; moving is not. Dorms start around €9, a carinderia meal is €1.50 to €3, and a local beer is about a euro.
The costs that add up are transport and tours: domestic flights at €30 to €80, island-hopping tours at €25 to €35 a day, environmental and terminal fees charged separately almost everywhere, and diving at €30 to €45 a dive.
Budget €30 to €45 a day for a moving trip, less if you settle in one place for a while, which the Philippines rewards more than most countries — Siargao and El Nido are full of people who came for four days.
Safety
Staying safe in the Philippines
Most of the country is safe for travellers and the welcome is genuinely warm. Ordinary caution applies in Manila, particularly around Ermita and Malate at night, and petty theft happens on ferries and in crowded terminals.
The natural risks are the significant ones. Typhoon season runs roughly June to November, and typhoons cancel flights and ferries and occasionally strand people for days — travel insurance covering disruption is not optional. The country also sits on the Ring of Fire, with active volcanoes and earthquakes.
Government travel advice restricts parts of the far south, notably western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, and those restrictions can affect insurance validity. They do not apply to Siargao, Cebu, Bohol or Palawan, which is where almost all travellers go.
Entry and documents
Entry and documents
Most Western nationalities enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable in country, and the rules have been adjusted several times — check the official Philippine immigration position before booking.
Passports need six months' validity from entry, and proof of onward travel is genuinely enforced here: airlines routinely refuse boarding without an onward ticket, more consistently than in most countries.
There is also an eTravel registration to complete online shortly before arrival, and departure taxes are usually included in ticket prices but occasionally charged separately at smaller airports.
When to go
December to May is the dry season and the right answer. Typhoon season runs roughly June to November and affects flights, ferries and whole itineraries.
Jan
Dry and cooler. Excellent, and busy after New Year
Feb
The best month. Dry, calm seas, clear water
Mar
Excellent and warming. Peak diving visibility
Apr
Hot and peak season. Holy Week fills domestic travel
May
Hot, with the rains arriving at the end
Jun
Wet season begins. Typhoon risk starts
Jul
Rain and typhoons. Cheapest month
Aug
Wettest in Luzon. Ferries cancelled regularly
Sep
Still typhoon season. Siargao surf is at its best
Oct
Rain easing late. Surf season continues
Nov
Transitional. Improving, with typhoon risk lingering
Dec
Dry season returns, and Christmas is enormous here
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Manila. The archipelago is large enough that weather varies by island — Siargao surfs best in the wet months, while Palawan is at its best from December to May.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel and how long for. Per night, for one person, in euro equivalents of pesos.
Transport runs high because domestic flights and ferries do the work. Island-hopping tours at €25–35 a day sit in the doing column.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
What's on
What is on while you are there
Christmas here starts in September and is taken more seriously than anywhere.
Staff pick
24–25 October
CosMeet
Paranaque City
CosMeet is a lively annual gathering in Philippines, uniting fans of anime, J-pop, and pop culture. Attendees can explore over 100 artist and exhibitor…
Staff pick
11 October
Midnight Run Asia
Cebu City
The Midnight Run Asia – Cebu by HOKA invites runners to experience Cebu City, Philippines, in a unique nighttime setting, racing through its bustling…
Staff pick
29 November
Rock 'n' Roll Manila
Manila
Rock 'n' Roll Manila brings the excitement of a global running series to the heart of Manila, Philippines, blending the thrill of a marathon…
2 October
Ben&Ben's
Quezon City
Saranggola: The Concert celebrates Ben&Ben's nine years of music and friendship, featuring songs from their three major eras. You'll hear beloved hits like Saranggola,…
2–4 October
Cosplay Mania
Pasig City
Cosplay Mania 2026 brings Gavis Bettel of HOLOSTARS English -TEMPUS- to Manila for a Meet & Greet that fans won't want to miss. Known…
3–4 October
Pokémon RUN 30
Pasig City
Filipino runners and Pokémon fans gather at SM Mall of Asia for a 5KM fun run celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary. The course transforms…
17 October
Louis Tomlinson
Quezon City
Fans of Louis Tomlinson will find a night filled with heartfelt indie-pop and fan favorites from his solo career. The concert highlights songs from…
6–14 November
LANY
Cebu City
American pop-rock duo LANY brings their Soft World Tour to Cebu for a two-night run at SM Seaside Cebu Arena. The tour supports their…
Hostels
Where to stay in the Philippines
The highest-rated hostels in the country, live from Hostelworld. Siargao, El Nido and Coron have the best backpacker scenes; Manila is mostly a transit stop.
Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach
El Nido
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Mad Monkey Manila
Manila
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Kaiz Hostel
Coron
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Outpost Beach Hostel
El Nido
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Manila-Z-Hostel
Manila
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Outpost Hostel - Coron
Coron
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Coluradel Hostel
El Nido
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Philippines travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How long do you need in the Philippines?
Three weeks minimum. There is no rail network and most routes go through Manila or Cebu, so moving between islands eats days. A fortnight realistically covers two island groups, not more.
When is the best time to visit?
December to May, the dry season, with February and March the sweet spot for calm seas and diving visibility. Typhoon season runs roughly June to November — though Siargao surfs best during it.
Is the Philippines cheap?
Cheap when you are still and expensive when you move. Dorms from €9 and carinderia meals at €1.50 to €3, but domestic flights at €30 to €80 and tours at €25 to €35 push a moving day to €30 to €45.
El Nido or Coron?
El Nido for the lagoons and the classic island-hopping tours; Coron for wreck diving on a sunken Japanese fleet and lakes inside limestone walls. They are four hours apart by ferry, so most people do both.
Is English widely spoken?
Yes — it is an official language and spoken almost everywhere, which makes the Philippines one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel independently.
Is the Philippines safe?
The main travel areas — Palawan, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol — are safe, with ordinary caution in Manila at night. Government advice restricts parts of the far south, and typhoons are the real disruption risk, so insure for it.
Do I need an onward ticket?
Yes, and it is enforced more consistently here than almost anywhere. Airlines routinely refuse boarding without proof of onward travel, so have a booked flight out before you check in.
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