Manila travel guide

At a glance

capital city of the Philippines. For a first visit, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Baroque Churches of the Philippines, San Agustin Church are strong starting points. This guide brings together 9 places, practical 1/3/5/7-day routes and a concise food shortlist so you can understand the city before shaping the trip around your pace.

Highlight stops

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport — airport serving Metro Manila, Philippines and main international gateway to the Philippines
• Baroque Churches of the Philippines — World Heritage Site consisting of four churches in the Philippines
• San Agustin Church — Roman Catholic church in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
• Rizal Park — historic urban park in Manila, Philippines
• Manila Cathedral — Roman Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines
• Manila hostage crisis — mass murder in Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines on August 23, 2010
• Grand Hyatt Manila — tallest skyscraper in the Philippines
• De La Salle University — Roman Catholic, Lasallian research university in Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, Philippines

Food and drink

Use these well-documented flavours as a practical tasting shortlist; open an item to understand it and add it to your trip plan.

• nata de coco — Chewy, translucent, jelly-like food produced by the fermentation of coconut water
• Bopis — Filipino dish
• Filipino spaghetti — Filipino adaptation of Italian spaghetti with a sweet tomato sauce, sliced sausages, giniling and grated cheese
• mango float — food
• lechon — Filipino pork dish
• Tubâ — Filipino alcoholic beverage

1-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

Manila Cathedral · Baroque Churches of the Philippines · San Agustin Church · Rizal Park

3-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

Manila Cathedral · Baroque Churches of the Philippines · San Agustin Church

Day 2 · History and landmarks

Rizal Park · Manila hostage crisis · De La Salle University

Day 3 · History and landmarks

Malacañang Palace · Grand Hyatt Manila · Ninoy Aquino International Airport

5-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

Manila Cathedral · Baroque Churches of the Philippines

Day 2 · History and landmarks

San Agustin Church · Rizal Park

Day 3 · Parks and open air

Manila hostage crisis · De La Salle University

Day 4 · History and landmarks

Malacañang Palace · Grand Hyatt Manila

Day 5 · Architecture and city fabric

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

7-day itinerary

Day 1 · History and landmarks

Manila Cathedral · Baroque Churches of the Philippines

Day 2 · History and landmarks

San Agustin Church · Rizal Park

Day 3 · Parks and open air

Manila hostage crisis · De La Salle University

Day 4 · History and landmarks

Malacañang Palace · Grand Hyatt Manila

Day 5 · Architecture and city fabric

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Before you go

This route distributes nearby source-backed stops across balanced days. Opening times and ticket conditions can change; check the official source before visiting.