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Jan

10

Manila Travel & Sightseeing Guide

Filed Under Philippines

Manila Skyline. Image courtesy Wikipedia

A trip to Manila
Once ruled by a Sultan from Borneo and later by Spanish conquerors, Manila boasts a long and varied history involving cultures from around the globe. Today, this capital city welcomes international travellers with a range of accommodation and endless options for entertainment. The combination of marvellous historic landmarks, a resilient night-scene that can outlast even the most dedicated partiers and a unique fusion of international cuisine puts Manila at the top of the list for many international travellers.

Flights to Manila
Ninoy Aquino International Airport boasts three terminals and a long roster of international flights to cities across Asia, Europe and beyond. The airport is located just a few kilometres outside of the city centre, so hiring a taxi to take you downtown is affordable as well as convenient. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Manila try Expedia. There is also a shuttle bus from the airport which will take you to the metro station and is a cheaper option, although you will need to make sure you know which line you need.

Manila’s metro system, LRT, operates a Yellow and Purple Line with stations across the metropolitan area. This is by far the easiest and fastest way to get around town. If you decide to hire a taxi, make sure you board a DOT-accredited vehicle. This can be arranged from the taxi stand outside of the Arrivals area of the airport. Beware of the government operated railroad as it’s slow, cramped and notoriously unsafe.

Manila

Sightseeing in Manila
Half the allure of the Philippines is its historical character. Intramuros is the original old city dating back to the original Spanish occupation. This part of town is rich with restored buildings and impressive architecture. It’s also a heavy shopping and entertainment area that plays host to heavy crowds of tourists. The San Agustin Church is one of the select historic buildings that survived the Japanese Invasion of WWII, and some of its oldest sections date back to the early 17th century.

Rizal Park is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. Orchids, Japanese botanical gardens, a skating rink and occasional open-air concerts can be found in this massive green space. Several museums and art galleries capture the local culture and heritage of Manila. The National Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are the biggest contenders, the latter of which showcases a selection of ancient pottery and an impressive Gold Gallery.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
The nightlife in Manila is multi-faceted to say the least. You will find jazz clubs, old fashioned pubs, discos and casinos all vying for your attention. Baywalk is the hottest strip for today’s tourists. A long stretch of road along Roxas boulevard is overflowing with restaurants, live music, bars and sidewalk cafés. Popular with local university students, this part of town definitely caters to younger crowds. You’ll find discos and dance clubs in and around any of the major hotels.

Back in the 1990s, local government cracked down on the seedy Ermita red-light district, forcing the ‘bikini bars’ to clean up their act. Even so, there’s a tentative move toward reseeding this part of town. A similar vein of entertainment can also be found after hours at the Makati financial district.

No matter what your preferences are, you’ll find a restaurant in Manila that serves the kind of food you’re looking for. Authentic local and international cuisine representing the whole of Asia and Europe are easy to find, especially on Baywalk.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
As you would expect with any international tourist destination, Manila has more than enough options for the world’s most enthusiastic shoppers. Namely, the Ayala Centre (located in the Makati financial district) operates a couple of the largest upscale shopping centres in the whole country. Named Greenbelt and Glorietta, these two malls are loaded with markets as well as shops and entertainment venues which are all linked by high-rise walkways.

Daytrips
If Manila’s urban congestion starts to wear you down, there’s plenty to do outside of the city. Golfers can spend the day on one of the 11 affordable and lush courses scattered around the outskirts of Manila. Kayaking is also a fun outdoor activity, particularly at the Taal Lake Yacht Club, which rents its popular unsinkable boat, ideal for beginning sailors.

Among the many traditional villages around Manila, Las Pinas is famous for its bamboo organ and international organ festival each February. Tagaytay, and its iconic Taal Volcano, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. Hikes up the volcano, which sits in the middle of a picturesque lake, provide magnificent panoramas as well as a great escape from the heat of Manila.

If you want to see what Luzon Island looked like before Europeans arrived, drive to the village of Banaue, where the locals still live their lives according to ancient tribal traditions. The Banaue Rice Terraces, dating back 3,000 years, are considered one of the natural wonders of the world.

Must-see attractions
Manila Bay is in many ways the heart and purpose of Manila. Famous naval battles were fought here over the centuries, but visitors today flock each evening for the mind-bending sunsets. There are several other natural hideaways in Manila’s concrete jungle, particularly in the expansive Rizal Park. Decorative gardens of all styles are scattered around the grounds, which is a major focal point for socialising among the locals.

Catholic churches also make up a big part of Manila’s historic character. San Agustin is the city’s oldest, and one of the few structures to have survived the Japanese bombings in WWII. Its attached museum is also quite interesting. Malate Church is a fascinating adobe structure over a century old. This is a holy place for local devotees, who come here to pray to Our Lady of Remedies, creating a unique scene of devotion worth witnessing.

Manila’s old district, Intramuros, is the real gem of the city. No trip to Manila would be complete without some serious time spent wandering its timeworn streets. Check out Fort Santiago, which today is a verdant park offering horse-drawn carriage rides, and the beautiful Spanish colonial homes in Barrio San Luis.

Best time to go
Manila is legendary for crushing visitors with its steamy humid climate virtually all year round. The only relief comes in the form of occasional sea breezes that help temper the 30C heat. There are basically three seasons in Manila. The cool dry season runs from November to February, and this is definitely the best time for a visit. The hot dry season between March and May is also a decent period, but it gets rather hot. June through October is the wet (and hot) season, when typhoons frequently hammer the Philippines.

Rainy day suggestions
Manila has the country’s best museums, showcasing the cultural and historic heritage of this unique multicultural nation. The National Museum, located within Rizal Park, contains the Philippines’ most important works of art and artefacts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the place for art-lovers and those interested in gold and ancient pottery, with some pieces dating back to 220 BC. The Casa Manila Museum is another must-see as it reproduces a 19th-century Spanish colonial residence in perfect detail.

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