Metro Manila
Everything you need to know before you go.
Metro Manila is a shock to the system. It is loud and congested, but the energy is infectious. You will love it if you enjoy navigating chaotic cities and eating your way through different districts. The vibe is a mix of old Spanish colonial ruins and shiny new glass towers. Start in Intramuros to see the walled city and San Agustin Church. Then head to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for a cleaner, modern feel where you can walk around without dodging as many jeepneys.
For food, head to Binondo. It is the oldest Chinatown in the world. Try the fried siopao or oyster cakes for under $5. If you want something more upscale, Makati has the best dining options. Order Sisig, which is seasoned chopped pork, or a sour Sinigang soup. A decent meal at a mall or local spot usually costs between $5 and $15. Fancy dinners in Makati can run $40 or more.
Get around using Grab because taxis can be unpredictable. Visit the SM Mall of Asia if you need a break from the heat. It is one of the largest malls in the world. The city is an assault on the senses, but the people are genuinely welcoming. Just be prepared for the traffic.
Sightseeing Intramuros - Walk through the old Spanish walled city and visit Fort Santiago. $5, 3h. Binondo - Walk through the world's oldest Chinatown to see the Santa Cruz Church. $0, 3h.
Food & Drink Wai Ying - Order the dim sum and roast duck in Binondo. $15, 2h. Sisig in Makati - Try the sizzling pork sisig at a local eatery in the Legazpi Village area. $10, 1h.
Outdoor Nature Manila Baywalk - Watch the sunset over the water along the bay. Free, 2h.
Nightlife Poblacion - Hop between small bars and gastropubs in this Makati district. $25, 4h.
Cultural National Museum of Fine Arts - View the massive Spoliarium painting. Free, 3h.
Shopping Greenbelt - Visit the malls and gardens in Makati for high end shopping. $50, 3h. Divisoria - Buy cheap clothes and trinkets at this massive open air market. $20, 4h.
Day Trips Tagaytay - Drive south to see Taal Volcano and the lake. $40, 8h.
Budget Z Hostel - Makati. $25-45/night. Good for meeting people and located in the Poblacion area. Red Planet Makati - Makati. $35-55/night. Basic but clean and very central.
Mid-range Seda BGC - Taguig. $160-230/night. Walkable to everything in the Bonifacio Global City area. Novotel Manila - Pasay. $110-160/night. Good for visiting the Mall of Asia.
Luxury The Peninsula Manila - Makati. $380-550/night. Huge rooms and a legendary lobby. Shangri-La The Fort - Taguig. $450-650/night. Top tier service and a great pool.
Restaurants Manam (BGC, $15-30, Filipino): Order the House Crispy Sisig. Aristocrat (Malate, $8-20, Filipino): Get the Chicken BBQ. Mott 32 (BGC, $60-120, Chinese): The Iberico Pork Char Siu is excellent. Din Tai Fung (BGC, $20-40, Taiwanese): Stick to the Xiao Long Bao. Black Sheep (BGC, $30-70, Modern Filipino): Try the Lechon.
Fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). If you find a cheaper flight or a better connection to Clark International Airport (CRK), you can take that instead. It is further away, but sometimes less crowded.
Flights from LAX or SFO usually cost between $900 and $1,500. JFK is often on the higher end of that range.
When you land at MNL, download the Grab app. It is the only rideshare service that works reliably. A Grab car to Makati or Bonifacio Global City (BGC) costs $15 to $30. White taxis are available, but stick to Grab to avoid price haggling. Public buses and jeepneys are cheap, costing less than $2, but they are not practical with luggage. Traffic is the biggest issue. The drive to the city center takes 45 minutes at midnight and can take over 2 hours during rush hour.
If you fly into Clark (CRK), you can rent a car or hire a private shuttle to Manila. The drive takes 3 to 5 hours depending on traffic. There is no efficient train connection between Clark and Metro Manila.
Stay in Makati or BGC if you want walkable streets and modern hotels. If you want history, visit Intramuros. For food, go to Binondo, which is the oldest Chinatown in the world.
Eat Adobo (braised pork or chicken) and Sinigang (sour tamarind soup). For dessert, get Halo-halo, a shaved ice treat. A meal at a local eatery costs $3 to $7. A mid range restaurant in BGC will cost $15 to $30 per person. High end dining in Makati can easily hit $60 or more.
The sweet spot is November through February. Temperatures usually sit between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius. This is the best time to walk around the old walls of Intramuros or explore the crowded streets of Binondo. You can grab a plate of sizzling sisig for 5 to 10 USD at a mid range restaurant or spend 2 USD on street food. Crowds are manageable and the air is slightly cooler. If you time it for January, you might see the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which is an intense religious event, though it makes the city center very crowded.
December is the peak. Filipinos start celebrating Christmas in September, but December is when it hits a fever pitch. The malls in Makati and BGC are packed. Traffic becomes a nightmare, often taking an hour to move a few kilometers. Hotels spike in price. Go during this month if you want to see the massive light displays, but expect to pay more for your room and spend way too much time in a Grab car.
Avoid June through October. This is the rainy season and typhoon peak. It does not just rain; it pours. Areas like España in Manila are prone to deep flooding that can strand you for hours. The humidity is oppressive. If you visit now, you will spend most of your time indoors. A typical mid range meal in a mall will cost you 10 to 20 USD.
March through May is the hot season. Temperatures climb from 30 to 37 degrees Celsius. It is punishingly hot. You will find yourself retreating into air conditioned spaces every thirty minutes. This is the time to eat Halo-halo, a shaved ice dessert that costs about 3 to 6 USD. Stick to the modern infrastructure of BGC where the sidewalks are better and the malls are huge.
Practical cost breakdown in USD: Street food: 1 to 3 per snack. Mid range meal: 10 to 20 per person. Fancy dinner in Makati: 40 to 80 per person. Grab ride: 3 to 15 depending on traffic and distance. Museum entry: 2 to 5.