Poblacion
NightlifeMakati's bar district, with the best hostels.
Manila city guide
Things To Do In Manila
A sprawling, chaotic capital with a Spanish walled city at its heart, the oldest Chinatown in the world, free national museums and a big-city nightlife, plus the main gateway to the islands.
51
Hostels in the city
6.9
Average, from 7,675 reviews
1594
Binondo founded
Free
National Museums
7,641
Islands in the country
The walled city and the megacity
Manila was the capital of the Spanish Philippines for more than three centuries, and Intramuros, its walled city, still holds the San Agustín Church, a UNESCO-listed baroque church that survived the Second World War. Much of the rest of Manila was destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt as a vast, traffic-choked metropolis.
For most travellers it is a stop on the way to the islands, but it rewards a day or two: Intramuros, Binondo's food and the museums.
Two days is right.
Where to stay
Makati, around Poblacion, has the best hostels, food and nightlife, and is the easiest base for most travellers. Bonifacio Global City (BGC), next door, is modern, walkable and safe, but pricier. Intramuros and Ermita put you near the old city and the museums, but are quieter at night.
BGC
ModernWalkable, safe and pricier, next to Makati.
Intramuros
HistoryThe walled city, near the museums; quiet at night.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 11 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Manila
Intramuros, the walled city built by the Spanish from 1571, is the heart of old Manila. Walk the walls, visit Fort Santiago, where the national hero José Rizal was held before his execution in 1896, and see San Agustín Church, the oldest stone church in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Casa Manila recreates a Spanish-era house. Calesa horse carriages and bamboo bike tours are a fun way round.
The National Museum complex, by Rizal Park, holds the country's fine arts, anthropology and natural history collections, and is free. Rizal Park itself has the Rizal Monument and space to escape the traffic.
Binondo, founded in 1594, is the oldest Chinatown in the world; a food walk through its stalls and bakeries is one of the best things to do in the city.
In the evening, watch the sunset over Manila Bay from the Baywalk, and go out in Poblacion, Makati's bar district.
More on things to do in Manila
Free things
Free things to do in Manila
The National Museum of Fine Arts, Anthropology and Natural History are all free, and are among the best museums in Southeast Asia.
Rizal Park, the Baywalk at sunset, and walking the streets of Intramuros and Binondo cost nothing. Quiapo Church and its market, crowded with devotees and vendors, are free to visit, and BGC's parks and public art make a pleasant free afternoon.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Manila
Filipino food is hearty and often sweet-sour. Adobo, meat braised in vinegar, soy and garlic, is the national dish; sinigang is a sour tamarind soup, and kare-kare an oxtail stew in peanut sauce. Sisig, sizzling chopped pork, comes from Pampanga, north of Manila.
Binondo is the place for Chinese-Filipino food: dumplings, hopia pastries and fried siopao. Jollibee, the national fast-food chain, is an experience in itself. Halo-halo, shaved ice with beans, fruit, jelly and ube, is the classic dessert.
A street or canteen meal is €2 to €4; a restaurant meal €6 to €12.
Nightlife
Going out in Manila
Poblacion, in Makati, is the city's best nightlife district: dive bars, speakeasies, rooftop bars and street food, busy every night. BGC has polished bars and clubs, and karaoke is a national passion, in private rooms or bars.
Beer is cheap: a San Miguel is €1.50 to €3 in a bar.
More on nightlife in Manila
Getting around
Getting around Manila
Ninoy Aquino International Airport has several terminals far apart; check which one you use. Grab cars from the airport to Makati take thirty minutes to over an hour depending on traffic.
Traffic is severe. Use the LRT and MRT train lines where you can, and Grab for everything else. Jeepneys are cheap and iconic, but routes are hard to follow at first.
Domestic flights from Manila reach almost every island: Cebu, Palawan, Boracay (via Caticlan or Kalibo), Bohol and Siargao. Complete the eTravel online registration before arriving in the Philippines.
Costs
What Manila costs
Manila is mid-priced for the Philippines. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €35.
The National Museums are free, Fort Santiago charges a couple of euros, and a Grab across the city is €3 to €8 depending on traffic. A San Miguel is €1.50 to €3.
The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 65 pesos to the euro. Cards work in malls and bigger restaurants; carry cash for street food and jeepneys.
Safety
Staying safe in Manila
Manila needs ordinary big-city care. Pickpockets work on trains and in crowds, especially in Quiapo and Divisoria; keep bags in front. Use Grab rather than street taxis, which may refuse the meter.
Watch out for friendly strangers who invite you to drinks or a card game; it can end in drugging or a scam.
Typhoons hit roughly from June to November and can cancel flights and ferries for days; build slack into island plans.
Emergency number is 911.
Day trips from Manila
A volcano in a lake and the home of sisig.
Taal Volcano
A volcano in a lake, viewed from the ridge at Tagaytay.
Pampanga
The culinary capital and home of sisig.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Christmas in the Philippines starts in September.
Staff pick
29 November
Rock 'n' Roll 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…
28 November
Otherworld Festival
OTHERWORLD Festival brings a full day of music, art, and immersive experiences to Manila on November 28, 2026, pulling together international and local artists…
3 October
Intramuros Legacy Run
Intramuros Legacy Run 2026 is a running event held at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila, on October 3, 2026. Participants can choose between 3K,…
31 Oct – 1 Nov
Intramumu 2026
The Walled City of Intramuros transforms for Halloween, bringing its centuries-old legends and shadows to life in ways you won't find anywhere else. This…
15 November
Run for Earth
The Earth Run is the fourth and final event in the Takbo Para sa Kalikasan element series, following Fire Run, Water Run, and Air…
9 Jul – 15 Nov
Olafur Eliasson
Olafur Eliasson's three-decade practice arrives in Manila as the final stop of an international tour that has traveled through Singapore, Auckland, Taipei, and Jakarta.…
Hostels
Where to stay in Manila
The top-rated places to stay in Manila right now, live from Hostelworld.
Mad Monkey Manila
Dorms from €13 a night
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Manila-Z-Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
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Lub d Manila Makati
Dorms from €18 a night
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Yamato Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
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Lime Lite Manila Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Ola! Hostel Manila
Dorms from €9 a night
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Cheese Hostel Manila
Dorms from €3 a night
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NomadsMNL Hostel
Dorms from €8 a night
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CROSSROADS HOSTEL MANILA
Dorms from €9 a night
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Townhouse Hotel
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1 River Central
Dorms from €5 a night
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When to go
December to May is dry. June to November brings typhoons.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Hot, Holy Week
May
Hot
Jun
Rains begin
Jul
Typhoon season
Aug
Typhoon season
Sep
Typhoon season
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Hot and humid all year.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in pesos locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Manila travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Manila worth visiting?
For a day or two, yes: Intramuros, the free National Museums and Binondo's food are the highlights. Most travellers then fly to the islands.
Where should I stay?
Poblacion in Makati for hostels and nightlife, BGC for something modern and safe, or Intramuros for history.
How do I get around?
LRT and MRT trains where possible, and Grab for the rest. Traffic is severe, so allow plenty of time.
Which airport terminal?
NAIA has several terminals far apart; check yours before leaving for the airport.
How many days do you need?
One or two.
When is the best time to visit?
December to May, the dry season. Typhoons hit from June to November.
What do I need before arriving?
Complete the eTravel online registration before your flight to the Philippines.
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