Manila Travel Guide for First Time Travelers
Looking to visit Manila soon? The vibrant and most populous center of the Philippines may seem overwhelming at first glance, but don’t worry! We’re here to walk you through the things you need to know as first-time travelers to this bustling metropolis.
From when to go to what to do and where to stay, we’ve compressed a comprehensive guide for first-time travelers looking to traverse the Philippines’ eclectic capital.
When’s the Best Time to Visit Manila?
The Philippines has a tropical climate which makes Manila a great place to go any time of the year. There are only dry and wet seasons, and unlike other places in the country where a majority of its attractions can be fully enjoyed when the sun is out, the bustling metropolitan has just as many indoor activities to offer (if not more) so a bit of rain won’t dampen your fun. As a general rule, always bring an umbrella – useful for when it's sunny or if it pours.
September to December
The “Ber months” mark the holiday season in the Philippines, so you can expect streets and establishments to be decked with holiday decorations and adorned with twinkling lights. Filipinos celebrate Christmas as early as September so visiting at this time of year is guaranteed to be a delightful experience. Although, expect rain, some heavier than most, to come your way as these months fall under the country’s wet season.
January to April
The dry season is most likely the best time to go although it could get really warm with an average daily high temperature of 33°C. But that’s not something a quick stroll through the city’s many air-conditioned malls won’t fix. If you’re visiting during these months, remember to stay hydrated and don’t forget to put on sun protection!
Fit Check
With a warm climate, it’s best to dress in light, breathable clothes. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes too as walking is the best way to explore a new city, but if you’re doing it under the Manila sun, take umbrellas or caps with you (maybe even a portable fan!). It can also get chilly in the evenings and inside malls so it’s best to have a light jacket on you.
Getting to Manila
Manila can be accessed by flight from both international and domestic destinations and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) currently has four terminals on which you’ll be landing.
If you’re coming from abroad, there are several commercial airlines that offer direct and connecting flights to the capital. Prices depend on the airline, destination, and season so it’s best to do your research. Flight search engines such as CheapFlights and Skyscanner can help get you the best deals, and also keep an eye out for special promos on airlines’ social media pages.
If you’re flying from local destinations, some of the most popular airlines serving direct flights to Manila include Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Where to Stay?
Once you've booked a flight, the next order of business is finding a place to stay. Although budget is a major factor in choosing accommodation, one must also consider location in a massive city like Metro Manila. Ideally, you should choose a place that is either close to the airport or where most of the activities you plan to do are located.
Metro Manila is composed of sixteen independent cities and one independent municipality. All of them are highly urbanized and offer various attractions from massive malls and shopping streets to green parks and historic museums. The good news is accommodation is available in every city district from budget hostels to more luxury hotel chains such as Shangri-La and Okada.
Hostels are ideal for solo travelers as they offer single bedrooms or dorm beds with shared bathrooms. They’re a great place to meet new people and are the cheapest accommodation option as you can get a dorm bed in Makati for as low as P670.Hostelworld is a great place to start looking for budget-friendly accommodation options. They even have a link-up feature that allows you to connect with other travelers.
Check out: Lub D Hostel in Makati is the largest hostel in Manila and is one of the more popular stays known for its easygoing vibe that encourages guests to meet and mingle in their shared spaces, such as the game room and rooftop restaurant and bar.
The Red Planet Makati Amorsolo is also a great budget-friendly option with rooms you can book for as low as P1,774 per night. Red Planet Hotels are also available in several cities around the metro.
If you have a higher budget to spend and want a more comfortable stay, you can book a one-night stay at Holiday Inn Manila Galleria for as low as P3,504. It's a great spot, right in the heart of Mandaluyong city and nestled right next to a shopping mall!
You can check out Klook for some great hotel deals around the metro or visit the hotel’s respective websites.
Check out: Entertainment City in Pasay City is a massive complex by the bay lined with some of the country’s most luxurious hotels and casinos. Along the avenue, you’ll find Solaire Resort and Casino, a stunning hotel with its own theatre where many of the country’s live-stage performances are held; City of Dreams, which brings together several leisure brands such as Hyatt, Nobu, and DreamWorks; and Okada Manila, the home of “The Fountain”, the world’s largest multicolor dancing feature.
For those traveling in a group and in need of a bit more room,Seda Manila Bay offers a Family Club Room for P17,309 a night. There are also serviced apartments you can rent out for longer periods, offering a range of unit sizes and other amenities such as swimming pools and gyms.
Transportation From The Airport
Manila mostly makes use of its roads so travel is usually by car, bus, or taxi. At the airport, there are free Airside Shuttle Buses that connect to all terminals. They come every fifteen minutes depending on traffic, and all you have to do is show your booking tickets or boarding passes to be able to hop on board.
Alternatively, you can use the premium point-to-point bus service called “The Ultimate Bus Experience (UBE Express)," which provides shuttle service from NAIA airport terminals to main hotels and popular destinations in the metro. Buses depart every thirty minutes, but travel time can take more than an hour due to traffic. There’s a P150 fixed fare for all routes, except for Araneta Center which is priced at P100. Tickets can be purchased at UBE express counters and online.
You can also take a taxi to your hotel. At the airport, it’s important to know the types of taxis available at the stands.
- Coupon Taxi – white taxi/cab vans that charge a fixed price per area or destination. They’re located right at the arrival’s exit and usually have a sign board listing destinations and their rates.
- Regular-Metered Taxi – white cabs with a flag down rate of P45, plus P13.50 for every succeeding kilometer and P2 per minute of travel time.
- Yellow-Metered Taxi – yellow cabs with a fixed flag down rate of P75 for the first 500 meters traveled, P4 for every succeeding 300 meters, and 2 minutes of waiting time.
You can also book your own taxi service through the Grab mobile app. Alternatively, you can also rent your own car from rental car companies at the airport if you want to explore the city at your own pace. For more information on other transport services available, the Manila International Airport Authority details them on their website.
Getting Around Manila
Public transport in Manila may not compete with other Asian destinations such as Japan’s exemplary train lines or Singapore’s innovative transport app that allows locals and travelers to easily plan their trips, but local transport in Manila is fairly direct and easy to understand, and sure to get you to where you need to go. That’s what really matters in the end, right?
It might be a little bit overwhelming for first-time visitors to explore Manila using public transport, so we recommend more point-to-point options like taxis or booking through car-hailing or ride-sharing apps.
In Manila, Grab is the leading super app offering a wide range of services from rides to food delivery. The abundance of motorcycles in Manila also paved the way for motorcycle taxi services which you can book via Angkas or JoyRide. These are faster and more cost-effective options, especially during peak hours.
Other transportation options include Manila’s train lines which are the Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 and 2. The trains connect the north and south of the capital, providing a good way to avoid traffic jams. However, they do get pretty crowded during peak hours. The Light Rail Transit Authority details fares and routes on their website.
Jeepneys are the most popular mode of transport in the city and have become a symbol of Philippine art and culture. Each jeep can fit up to 20 passengers and is available on most major and small roads with a minimum fare of P13 to P15 (for modern jeeps). On smaller roads, you can also opt to ride a tricycle which is similar to Thailand’s tuk-tuk.
Best Things To Do in Manila
There’s so much to do and explore in Manila that it’s almost impossible to fit it into a few days’ itinerary. If it were up to us, we’d recommend you stay for a month or two to fully immerse yourself in the culture and even explore some of the outlying provinces where you’ll find other national treasures such as rainforest trails and beautiful beaches among others.
But, if you’re here to get to know the Philippine capital, we’ve listed the best cities to go to depending on the type of activities and attractions you’d want to experience.
For history, heritage sites, and architecture: MANILA
Intramuros is a 450-year-old city upon which modern Manila was built. It’s the oldest district in Manila and is the best place to start if you want to get to know the city’s roots as this walled city used to be the seat of government back when the Philippines was still under Spanish rule. Fun fact: it’s the only remaining district in Manila where you can still see Spanish architecture.
Go back in time and explore this captivating walled district and learn more about its history by booking a walking tour or visiting some of its popular destinations such as Fort Santiago and the Manila Cathedral. Entrance fees to each site are priced at P75 (adults) and P50 (Students/Children/Seniors). For more information on attraction fees and operation hours, click here.
Additionally, Manila is where Binondo is located—the oldest Chinatown in the world! If you’re a foodie kind of traveler, you will surely get your fill here. Just a short 15-minute stroll from Intramuros lies Escolta, another historical street, which is now in the midst of a renaissance of sorts.
For modern buildings, green parks, and trendy cafes: BGC
Bonifacio Global City is a burgeoning business and lifestyle district popular among the youth, especially on the weekends as it’s where all the trendiest clubs, malls, brunch spots, restaurants, and cafes (yes, there are pet-friendly ones too!) are located.
Bonifacio High Street is a wonderful outdoor shopping street lined with fantastic restaurants and retail stores. For book lovers, you’ll find the Fully Booked flagship store with over four floors teeming with books from fiction to graphic novels, and paperbacks to hardcovers. They also have an art section packed with art supplies and art books and sell a variety of novelty items from music records to stationery and figure collectibles. Speaking of art, there are a lot of murals and art installations around the city that are surely fun to spot while strolling through the streets.
For business centers, art museums, nightlife, and luxury malls: MAKATI
Makati is the central business district of Manila and is where a lot of company headquarters are located. As the hub of international affairs, the city has become quite multicultural and is the location of a lot of famous retail and designer brands which you can find in Ayala malls like Glorietta and Greenbelt.
Makati also boasts a trendy neighborhood called Poblacion, which mostly caters to international travelers and young locals as it’s the location of a lot of hostels, restaurants, shopping centers, and concert venues. After the sun sets, Poblacion turns into a neon-lit club scene where you can party the night away and then seek some grub after.
For shopping, amusement parks, and unique museums: PASAY
Pasay City is home to SM Mall of Asia, the largest mall in the Philippines (and one of the largest in Asia overall) so if you’re looking to shop till you drop, this is the best place to do it. Some of the mall’s recreational features include a game park with a bowling alley and an indoor ice-skating rink. A 2-hour pass on the ice is priced at P350 (weekdays) and P399 (weekends and holidays). For the complete timeslot schedule and additional fares, click here.
Right next to the mall complex is the SM MOA Arena and SMX Convention Centre where a lot of concerts, conferences, and summit events are held. The mall also holds a fireworks spectacle during the holiday season, right over Manila Bay.
If you’re looking to go on thrill rides or try your luck at arcade games, Star City is a theme park filled with all kinds of rides and attractions such as roller coasters, haunted houses, and a Ferris Wheel. Star City also has a Snow Park where you’ll be submerged in an icy wonderland and experience going down the country’s biggest ice slide!
The park is open from Wednesday to Friday from 2 PM to 10 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 PM to 10 PM. Tickets start from P699 which gets you access to all the rides and can be booked online on their website.
Quick Reminders!
- Safety first! No matter where you go or what you do, always be wary of your surroundings and stay alert! From simply looking both ways before crossing the streets to always keeping your belongings on you, it’s important to be mindful when traveling to unfamiliar places.
- Plan ahead! Although it can be fun to go with the flow, traveling takes time and effort so don’t waste both and make sure to book attractions ahead and even anticipate changes in weather conditions.
- Have fun! Traveling can be stressful and downright terrifying especially if you’re traveling somewhere new. But remember that it’s all part of the adventure and have fun along the way! Getting lost and even making tiny mistakes can lead to the best experiences and most exciting stories to tell later.
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