Philippines · Region
Manila
Manila is a dense, tropical megacity where Spanish colonial walls, American-era boulevards, and modern skyscrapers sit side by side around Manila Bay. As the historic and commercial heart of the Philippines, it also serves as the country's primary gateway for onward travel to the archipelago's thousands of islands.
Top attractions
attraction Fort Santiago: Manila Travel Guide
Fort Santiago, the old Spanish citadel at the tip of Intramuros in Manila, is open daily from 8am to 11pm and is best explored in the first couple of hours after opening, before tour buses and evening crowds arrive.
attraction Ayala Triangle Gardens: Manila Travel Guide (4.6★)
Ayala Triangle Gardens is a triangle-shaped green pocket in the heart of Makati's business district, open daily 6am–10pm, best visited early morning for jogging paths free of crowds or evening for the tree-lit walkways. 4.6★ (11,906 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction José Rizal Monument: Manila Travel Guide (4.6★)
The José Rizal Monument sits at the Roxas Boulevard end of Rizal Park in Ermita, Manila, and it's open 24 hours, though the changing of the guard and best light happen in the early morning or around sunset. 4.6★ (3,195 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
attraction National Museum of Fine Arts: Manila Travel Guide (4.7★)
The National Museum of Fine Arts sits in Rizal Park's museum row in Ermita, open daily 9am–6pm, and it's free to enter. 4.7★ (9,597 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
Hidden gems
hidden gem Baluarte de San Diego: Manila Travel Guide (4.5★)
Baluarte de San Diego is a circular stone fort ruin tucked inside Intramuros' walls, built in 1586 and now planted with a bonsai collection inside its old gun emplacements. 4.5★ (848 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Legazpi Sunday Market: Manila Travel Guide (4.4★)
Legazpi Sunday Market runs every Sunday, 7:30am–2pm, in Legazpi Village, Makati — and only on Sundays, so plan around that. 4.4★ (2,191 reviews) — what visitors say, hours, and tips.
hidden gem Rizal Park: Manila Travel Guide
Rizal Park (Luneta) is open daily 5am–10pm and is best walked early, between 7am and 11am on weekdays, when the lawns are near-empty and the heat hasn't built up yet.
Festivals & events
event 5SOS: Everyone's A Star! World Tour: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)
5SOS: Everyone's A Star! World Tour in Manila, Philippines — November 11-12, 2026. What it is, when and where, and how to plan around it.
event AIA Rock 'n' Roll Manila Marathon: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)
The AIA Rock 'n' Roll Manila Marathon takes place on November 29, 2026, at Luneta Park (Rizal Park) in Manila, with marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K races and live music stations along the route.
event LE SSERAFIM World Tour PUREFLOW: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)
LE SSERAFIM World Tour PUREFLOW plays Manila on December 5-6, 2026, with two nights at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Manila Bay.
event OMEGA X Beyond Asia Tour: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)
The OMEGA X Beyond Asia Tour plays Manila on Saturday, November 28, 2026, and the tour organiser's official channels carry the tickets and venue details.
event Park Jinyoung CODE# Concert: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Manila)
Park Jinyoung CODE# Concert takes place at the EVM Convention Center in Manila on Saturday, December 5, 2026, with the former GOT7 member performing as a soloist.
Ended LaLaLa Fest Manila 2026: What to Know (Pasay City)
LaLaLa Fest Manila 2026 was set for August 21, 2026 at the World Trade Center Manila in Pasay City, headlined by Steve Lacy and Two Door Cinema Club.
AQ Prime International Open Chess Championship: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Quezon City)
The AQ Prime International Open Chess Championship runs from November 17 to 26, 2026 at the MICE Center in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Ended izna Manila Debut Concert: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Quezon City)
The izna Manila Debut Concert is the K-pop girl group's first Philippine show, held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the EVM Convention Center in Quezon City as a stop on the 'WHO DAT GIRL?
Ended Louis Tomlinson Manila Concert: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Quezon City)
The Louis Tomlinson Manila Concert was set for October 17, 2026 at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, the domed arena locals call the Big Dome.
Ended MAMAMOO 2026 World Tour: What to Know (Quezon City)
MAMAMOO's 2026 World Tour was set to stop in Quezon City, Philippines, with shows reported for August 8-10, 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in the Diliman/Bagumbayan area.
event Simple Plan: The Bigger Than You Think Tour: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Quezon City)
Simple Plan: The Bigger Than You Think Tour plays its Quezon City date at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
event Zara Larsson: Midnight Sun Tour: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Quezon City)
Zara Larsson: Midnight Sun Tour in Quezon City, Philippines — October 30, 2026. What it is, when and where, and how to plan around it.
Top-rated things to do in Manila
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Where to stay in Manila
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Plan your trip to Manila
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Frequently asked questions about Manila
How do I get to Manila?
Most international travellers arrive via Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), located a few kilometres south of the city centre in Pasay; from there, official metered taxis, ride-hailing apps, or airport shuttle buses are the typical way into the city given heavy traffic congestion. Within Metro Manila, the LRT and MRT light rail lines (including MRT-3 running along EDSA) connect many central districts, though transfers between lines often require a short walk between stations.
How many days should I spend in Manila?
Allow ~2-3 days to cover Manila's core historic sites and museums, with extra time recommended if using the city as a base before connecting onward to other Philippine destinations.
What is Manila known for?
Manila is a dense, tropical megacity where Spanish colonial walls, American-era boulevards, and modern skyscrapers sit side by side around Manila Bay. As the historic and commercial heart of the Philippines, it also serves as the country's primary gateway for onward travel to the archipelago's thousands of islands.