By air
Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), ~10 km
Southeast Asia · Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Spanish walls, markets and a megacity's energy
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — dry season
Don't miss
Intramuros
San Agustin Church
Fort Santiago
Rizal Park
Things to do
Walking Intramuros
A Binondo food tour
Sunset over Manila Bay
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Light clothes, an umbrella
A quieter corner
Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown, on a food walk
Questions travellers ask
What's the best time of year for Manila?
December to April, the dry season. Pack light clothes and an umbrella.
Where should I start sightseeing in Manila?
Walk Intramuros, then see San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago and Rizal Park. End the day with sunset over Manila Bay.
Which Manila dishes should I try?
Adobo and sisig, plus dumplings in Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown, ideally on a food walk.
How far is Manila's airport from the city?
Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) is about 10 km away.
About Manila
- Coastal
- Riverside
Where it is
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, where the Pasig River enters the bay, at the heart of the sprawling Metro Manila region.
History
Before the Spanish came, Maynila was a fortified trading settlement on the Pasig ruled by rajahs with ties to Brunei. Miguel López de Legazpi founded Spanish Manila in 1571, and for two and a half centuries the galleon trade linked its walled city of Intramuros with Acapulco in Mexico. After American rule from 1898, the city was largely destroyed in the Battle of Manila in 1945 and rebuilt as the capital of the independent republic.
People
Manileños speak Filipino, based on Tagalog, and English, and Metro Manila draws people from every region of the country. Binondo's long-established Chinese Filipino community, the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo each January and the colourful jeepneys of its streets are all part of city life.
Known for
- Intramuros and Fort Santiago
- San Agustin Church
- Binondo's Chinese food streets
- Sunsets over Manila Bay
- Rizal Park
Did you know?
Binondo, founded in 1594 as a settlement for Chinese traders, is often described as the oldest Chinatown in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.