Manila Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal₱150.00≈ $2.44
- Mid-range meal₱600.00≈ $9.74
- Cappuccino₱120.00≈ $1.95
- Domestic beer₱90.00≈ $1.46
- Taxi (per km)₱15.00≈ $0.24
- Public transport ticket₱13.00≈ $0.21
- Museum entry₱100.00≈ $1.62
- Mid-range hotel (night)₱3,500.00≈ $56.83
Food & Drink
- Manam RestaurantFilipino · $$
Popular Filipino comfort-food restaurant chain known for its crispy sisig and generous rice meals in a casual, colorful setting.
- Aristocrat RestaurantFilipino · $$
Manila institution since 1936, famous citywide for its chicken barbecue served with java rice.
- Sentro 1771Filipino · $$
Modern Filipino restaurant known for its adobo flakes and creative reinterpretations of classic dishes.
- Barbara's RestaurantFilipino/Spanish · $$$
Restaurant inside Casa Manila in Intramuros offering Filipino and Spanish-influenced dishes with a nightly cultural dance show.
- Toyo EateryContemporary Filipino · $$$$
Fine-dining restaurant reinterpreting Filipino cuisine through a tasting menu format, widely recognized on Asia's best-restaurant lists.
- Ineng's Grilled IsawStreet food · $
Well-known street-food style stall for grilled isaw (chicken/pork intestine skewers), a classic Filipino pulutan snack.
- The Palace Manila
Large open-air nightclub complex in Poblacion known for international DJs and late-night dance floors.
- Draft Gastropub
Craft beer bar with a wide rotating tap list, popular in the Poblacion, Makati nightlife area.
Culture & History
- National Museum of Fine Arts
Manila's main art museum housing Juan Luna's monumental Spoliarium painting, free entry.
- National Museum of Anthropology
Museum covering Philippine ethnic groups and archaeology, including artifacts recovered from historic shipwrecks.
- Fort Santiago
16th-century Spanish citadel in Intramuros where national hero José Rizal was imprisoned before his execution, with a shrine and museum inside.
- San Agustin Church Museum
Attached to the oldest stone church in the Philippines (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with a museum of colonial-era religious art.
- SM Mall of Asia IMAX
Large multiplex including an IMAX screen inside the SM Mall of Asia complex on Manila Bay.
- Manila Day
City-wide celebration commemorating the founding of Manila, with cultural events centered on Intramuros.
- Feast of the Black Nazarene (Traslación)
Massive Catholic procession through Manila's streets carrying the centuries-old Black Nazarene statue, drawing millions of barefoot devotees.
Nature & Outdoors
- Manila Bay / Baywalk
Waterfront promenade along Roxas Boulevard, popular for its famous Manila Bay sunsets rather than swimming.
Active & Fun
- Gold's Gym Makati
Well-established gym chain location in the Makati business district with full weight and cardio facilities.
- Star City
Long-running amusement park near the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex, with classic rides and games.