Metro Manila

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the liveliest capital cities on the planet, but it's also a city of great diversity, where luxury, affluence and tourist attractions are somewhat interspersed with squalor and poverty. It is this diversity that makes Manila such a fascinating tourist destination, and a city where things are rarely quiet and attractions are plentiful.


The city is rich in history. There are more than just a couple of sites for people to visit that will not only guarantee amusement and entertainment, but will also enlighten visitors of the country’s colorful past.

Places to visit

Intramuros, in the center of Manila, was once the walled capital of the Philippines during the Spanish occupation. You can tour the area while riding a Kalesa (horse-pulled carriage) and visit its many antiques shops, museums and restaurants, which are preserved in their historical grandeur.

Rizal Park - (Luneta Park) has gardens, historical markers, plazas, a grand stadium, an observatory, an open-air concert hall, an artists' sanctuary, a light-and-sound theatre, restaurants, food kiosks and playgrounds, and dozens of fountains.

Paco Park, was originally planned as a municipal cemetery for the well-off and established aristocratic Spanish families who resided in the old Manila, or the city within the walls of Intramuros during the Spanish colonial era.

Manila Bay, see the harbour, famous Manila sunset view.

Jumbo Kingdom is one of the most misunderstood structures in Manila Bay. A lot of people are intimidated with its magnificent floating restaurant structure and often mistake it to be a casino. It's claim to fame is not only its magnificent sculpture, precise workmanship and intricate detail but also its delicious Cantonese Chinese restaurant! Jumbo Kingdom boasts of 11 VIP rooms equipped with videoke, a Fine Dining Restaurant, Crystal Banquet Hall and the Jumbo Music Lounge on the top floor (which is the place to be).

Malacañang Palace, the historical landmark - official residence of the President of the Republic.

Casa Manila. A museum showing how it was like to live in Manila during the Spanish era.

National Museum of the Philippines, is the official repository established in 1901 as anatural history and ethnography museum of the Philippines. It is located next to Rizal Park and near Intramuros in Manila.

Central Bank Money Museum

Cultural Center of the Philippines, is located in Pasay City and the City of Manila, Metro Manila. It was opened in 1969 to promote and preserve Filipino arts and culture, and to become a mecca of culture and the arts in Asia. 

Churches, cemetries & shrines

Manila Cathedral, is a prominent Latin Rite Roman Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the Philippines. Located in the Intramuros district of Manila in the Philippines

San Augustin Church, Centuries-old cathedral with museum and antique garden.

Quiapo Church, also known as: Church of the Black Nazarene.

Keep an eye out for the pick-pockets. Unhappily, some miscreants and swindlers hang around not to make their devotions but to prey on the believers.

Malate Church,  is a church in Manila, Philippines. It is a Baroque-style church which faces a small park and beyond that Manila Bay. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Remedios ("Our Lady of Remedies"), the patroness of childbirth. 

Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz , is located in the District of Binondo, Manila, in the Philippines. This church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity.

Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, is the parish church of Saint Joseph in Las Piñas City,Philippines, is a nineteenth-century church organ made almost entirely from bamboo. Only the horizontal trumpet stops are made from metal.

Shopping

Ayala Commercial Center, where you are entertained with shopping, cinema, amusement centre, bars, restaurants.

SM Mall of Asia, (MOA) is a shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall developer and owner in the Philippines. SM Mall of Asia is the 2nd largest mall in the Philippines after SM City North EDSA, 3rd largest shopping mall in Asia.

SM Supermalls,  owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is a chain of shopping malls in the Philippines, with 42 malls across the Philippines as well as branches in China.

Robinsons Malls, is the second largest shopping mall and retail operator in the Philippines. And has 28 branches as of October 2009.

Flea Market

Divisoria, is a market district in the heart of the City of Manila known for its street stalls and mall buildings with wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping. Clothes, accessories, toys, novelties, decorations, pirated films and music, electronics, fruits, dry goods, school, office and household supplies, fabrics, textiles, crafts, novelties, decorations and “everything under the sun” can be found in Divisoria. It is a shopping Mecca specially for bargain seekers who don't mind swimming through streams of people roaming the area in search for those great buys.

Baclaran, just like Divisoria it is also knows for it's wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping.

Binondo - China Town, One of the largest and oldest in the world, Manila’s Chinatown in the bustling district of Binondo is a must-see when exploring the heady capital. Manila’s Chinatown offers everything from the sought after tastes of Chinese cuisine and rare delicacies to the unique ambiance of a authentic Chinese community.

Amusement Theme Parks

Star City,  the fees in Star City Philippines theme park today is Php 350.00 for a ride all you can. The rides cost (Php 250/3 rides) and the new attractions include Snow World and Dino Island. You can find Star City in Pasay City Manila (CCP Complex). The entrance fee is on a per person basis with a ride all you can ticket stub wrapped around your wrist. Snow World is the most sought after attraction there but there are also other new ones like the Dino Island.

Enchanted Kingdom, is a theme park. It is located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, about 29 kilometers (16.1 miles) from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares (41 acres). Click here to know more about Enchanted kingdom and for the ticket rates. 

Circle of Fun, located at Quezon City near Quzon City Memorial Circle. As of May 2011, the entrance fee is P20 and P30-P60 for each ride.

Manila Ocean Park, behind the Quirino Grandstand Luneta, Manila, Philippines. The marine park's oceanarium features 20,000 exotic and colorful fishes, most of which are endemic to the Philippines. Ticket Information: Adult: 400 pesos; Kids (4 ft. below): 350 pesos opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, and closes at 9 p.m.

Iloilo Accommodations

HIGH-END ACCOMMODATION (ILOILO CITY)

Area Code: 033

• Amigo Terrace Hotel, a first-class at the cor. of Iznart and Delgado Sts., has 100 aircon rooms with bath, IDD/NDD phone, fridge, minibar and cable TV (standard single/double, de luxe, junior suite, studio suite, VIP suite, executive suite, terrace suite, family suite and presidential suite).  It also has a restaurant, coffee shop, swimming pool, disco (Tivoli), bar, 1,500-pax ballroom, 10-200-pax function rooms, souvenir shop, pastry shop and shopping arcade (Amigo Plaza Mall). Tel: 335-0908-17 & 335-0610.  Fax:  337-0144.   Manila booking office: Scorpio Travel and Tours, Inc., Ground Floor, C.C. Castro International Bldg., 38 Timog Ave., Quezon City.  Tel: 371-0220, 415-3374 & 416-7723.  Fax: (632) 427-7437. 
• Days Hotel Iloilo, a first-class hotel at the Atrium Bldg., Gen. Luna St. cor. Bonifacio Drive, has 70 aircon rooms with bath, cable TV, minibar and coffee and tea-making facility (de luxe single/double and junior/executive and presidential suites with jacuzzi and kitchenette).  It also has a restaurant serving international cuisine (Promenade), shopping mall, business center and function rooms.   It also offers currency exchange, city tours, dry cleaning, laundry, booking assistance, secretarial and room service.  Tel: 337-6135, 337-3297 & 336-8801.  Fax:  336-8000.  Toll Free: 1-800-1-888-3279.  Manila booking office: Penthouse, Sunette Tower, Makati Ave. cor. Durban St. in Makati City.  Tel: 897-2004-07 & 897-1111.  Fax: (632) 892-0165, 810-6567 & 896-4921. 
• EON Centennial Plaza Hotel, a standard-class hotel along Jalandoni cor. Ledesma Sts., has 41 aircon business class rooms with bath, TV and minibar (six single, 26 twin and nine matrimonial) and five suites (four executive and one presidential).  It also has restaurants (Mandarin Court, Steak & Sizzlings), a coffee shop (Plaza Café & Lobby Lounge), 250-pax banquet hall (Millenium Hall), 30-100-pax meeting rooms, business center, travel agency and offers currency exchange, shoe shine, laundry, pressing, bell and room service.  Tel: 337-2277.  Fax:  337-2299. Cel: (0917) 308-0500 & (0917) 722-2500. 
• The five-storey Harbor Town Hotel, a standard-class hotel at cor. Aldeguer and J.M. Basa Sts., has 31 aircon single/double rooms with bath, TV, NDD and IDD phone and card lock system (standard, superior) and three junior suites.  It also has a restaurant (Commodore’s), coffee shop and bar (Port St. Bar), function room, convenience store and offers currency exchange, safety deposit boxes, laundry, valet and 24-hour room service.  Tel:: 337-2374, 337-2384 & 336-1435 to 37.  Fax: 336-1438.
• Hotel del Rio, a standard-class hotel along M.H. del Pilar St., is located along the riverbank in Molo District.  It has 57 aircon rooms with bath and TV (standard single/twin, de luxe single/double, executive suite, junior suite and presidential suite, PhP2,000-8,000).  It also has restaurants (Owami Japanese Restaurant, Golden Salakot, Igmaan), coffee shop, disco (Insomiax), 700-pax convention hall (Sunset Terrace), bar, cocktail lounge (Plazoleta Gay Lounge), swimming pool, souvenir shop and barber shop.  It offers car rental, mailing, secretarial, laundry and 24-hour room service.  Tel: 335-1171-76.  Fax:  337-0736. 
• Four Season Hotel, a standard-class hotel at cor. Fuentes and Delgado Sts., has aircon rooms with bath and cable TV (standard single/double, de luxe single/double, suite and presidential suite).  It also has a restaurant and coffee shop, conference room, penthouse function hall, business center and offers car rental, safety deposit boxes, tour and room service. Tel: 336-1070 & 336-1068.  Fax: 509-3888. 
• The seven-storey Grand Dame Hotel, a standard-class hotel at cor. Rizal and Huervana Sts. in La Paz District, has 35 aircon rooms with bath, IDD/NDD phones and minibar (standard and suites).  It also has a 24-hour concierge and front desk, coffee shop (the 24-hour, 32-pax The Lobby Café), restaurant (Emilion Specialty Restaurant), business center, sundry shop and offers laundry, pressing, dry cleaning and 24-hour room service.  Tel: 320-9076, 320-0581, 508-8881, 320-5252, 320-5353 & 320-5454.  Fax: 320-5656.  Cel: (0917) 303-1514.
• La Fiesta Hotel, a standard-class hotel along M.H. del Pilar St., Molo District, has 29 aircon rooms with bath and TV (12 regular, 15 de luxe and two superior).  It also has a restaurant, 150-pax ballroom (Calesa), 20-pax function room (Carosa), business center and offers car rental, laundry and 24-hour room service.  Tel: 338-0044 & 338-0222.  Fax:  337-9508.  Cel: (0917) 303-1514.
• The Residence Hotel, a standard-class hotel at 44 Gen. Luna St., has aircon rooms with bath and cable TV (super savers single/double, standard single/double, deluxe single/double, family room, single/double suites).  It also has a coffee shop, restaurant, bar (Buddy's), 150-200-pax ballroom (Traditions), function rooms (100 to 200-pax Waterfront Terrace, 20-30-pax Gateway and 50 to 75-pax Cascade) and offers safety deposit boxes, currency exchange, massage and laundry service. Tel: 338-1091-94.  Fax:  337-2454.
• Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, a first-class hotel at 101 Gen. Luna St., has 184 aircon rooms with bath, IDD/DDD phone, fridge and cable TV (34 economy, 23 standard, 25 superior, 92 de luxe, one studio suite, one superior suite, five de luxe suites and one presidential suite).  It also has restaurants Al Dente, Aris Bar & Restaurant, Citrus Global, Freddy’s Grille & Bar, Sam Guk Ji, Suehiro and Tinagong Dagat), 24-hour coffee shop (Café Salvatore), swimming pool, six function rooms, 1,200-pax ballroom (Kalantiao), beauty parlor, gym (Clark Hatch) and souvenir shop and offers safety deposit boxes, tours and travel, car rental and laundry service.  Tel: 335-1021 (connecting all departments), 337-8460, 335-1031, 337-9130, 337-8530 & 337-1602.  Fax:  337-9127. Manila booking office2006 Aragon cor. Finlandia Sts., Makati City.  Tel: 889-4620.  Fax: (632) 888-6374. 

MID-RANGE ACCOMMODATION

• Castle Hotel, an economy-class hotel along Bonifacio Drive, has 27 aircon single/double/twin rooms with bath and a restaurant (Luto).  Tel:  338-1021-23. 
• Chateau Angelique Hotel, an economy-class hotel at 39 Arguelles St. in Jaro District, has aircon rooms with bath and cable TV, coffee shop (Rendezvous), bar (Avant et Apres), 25-30-pax aircon conference rooms (Bon Jour & Bon Soir), grand ballroom (Plein-Ciel), business center, souvenir & gift shop and offers safety deposit boxes, massage, airline reservations, tours and laundry service. Tel: 329-1380 & 329-0240-44.  Fax: 329-1390.
• Chito's Iloilo Penn Hotel, an economy-class hotel at 180 Jalandoni cor. J. De Leon St., has 22 aircon single/double rooms with bath and TV (junior and senior de luxe), restaurant, swimming pool, function room and offers safety deposit boxes, laundry, pressing and room service.  Tel: 337-6415 & 337-6135.  Fax: 338-1186. 
• Hotel Centercon, an economy-class hotel along a lane between J.M. Basa and Iznart Sts., has 30 rooms (non-aircon rooms, aircon rooms with bath) and a restaurant.  Tel:  337-3431 to 33. 
• Hotel Madia-as, an economy-class hotel along Aldeguer St., has 43 rooms (aircon and non-aircon rooms with bath) and a restaurant.  Tel:  337-2756-59, 337-2750 & 337-0206.  Manila booking office: Tel: (632) 741-9703. 
• Iloilo Midtown Hotel, an economy-class hotel at the Summer House Bldg., 888 Yulo St., has 47 aircon rooms with bath and cable TV (single, de luxe/standard twin, matrimonial).  It also has a restaurant (The Summer House), coffee shop and offers tour and travel services.  Tel: 509-6888, 336-2088 & 336-2288.  Fax: 338-0888.
• Jaro Bellevue Pensionne, an economy-class hotel at CarTer West Centre, along Lopez-Jaena St. in Jaro District, has aircon rooms with bath (standard double, de luxe single/double, matrimonial, semi-suite).  Tel: 320-9521-23.  Fax: 320-3886.
• Lelac Inn, a tourist inn at 126 Lopez Jaena St., Jaro District, has non-aircon double rooms and aircon single/double/family rooms with bath.  It also has a coffee shop (Jess Cafe).  Tel:  329-3113, 329-4959, 337-6863 & 337-4510.       
• Manfred's Inn, a tourist inn at 22 Gen. Luna St., has aircon rooms with bath and a restaurant.  Tel: 335-0298, 335-0580-81, 335-0298 & 337-3788.
• The Original River Queen Hotel, an economy-class hotel along Bonifacio Drive, has 43 rooms with bath (aircon and non-aircon), 1000-pax banquet hall and a restaurant (Terrace).  Tel:  337-6667, 335-0176 & 337-6620.    Fax: 337-6488.   

BUDGET ACCOMMODATION

• Bayani Beach - Arevalo District (tel: 337-6655) 
• Bayani de Luxe Lodge - San Isidro, Jaro District (tel: 337-9013)
• Bayani Drive Inn - Brgy. Calumpang, Molo District (tel: 337-2613)
• Bayani Inn - Manduriao District, near airport (tel: 337-2954) 
• Bayani Mansion Hotel - Jalandoni St. (tel: 337-8955)
• Bayani Royal Hotel, along Gen. Hughes St., has 18 aircon rooms with bath.  Tel:  337-8754.  
• Casa Plaza Pension, at the Casa Plaza Bldg., cor. Gen. Luna and Iznart Sts., has aircon rooms with bath (single, double and executive double) and a coffee shop.  Tel: 337-3461-65.  Fax:  337-2543. 
• City Dweller Pension, at 160 Luna St., has 12 rooms.  Tel: 320-0064.
• D’House Pension - 127 Quezon St. (tel: 337-2805)
• Eros Traveller's Pensione, along Gen. Luna St., has aircon and non-aircon rooms with bath and a restaurant.  Tel:  337-1359.  
• Family Pension House, along Gen. Luna St., has aircon and non-aircon single/double rooms with bath and a restaurant (Tree House).  Tel:  335-0070.  
• Fine Rock Hotel, along Jalandoni St., has aircon single/double rooms with bath and TV, suites and a restaurant.  Tel: 336-9075-79.  Fax:: 336-9080.
• Gegg’s Pension - Huevana St., La Paz District (tel: 320-1345 & 329-0902)
• Holiday Lodge - 29-1-1 Valeria St. (tel: 337-6972)
• Jaro Pension, at 36-A D.B. Ledesma St., has non-aircon single/double rooms with bath.  Tel: 320-2863, 508-0439 & 337-1670. 
• Jed’s Pension Plaza - 142 Javellana St.,La Paz District (tel: 320-8142-43)
• La Paz Plaza Pension, at 11 Burgos St., Plaza La Paz, has non-aircon rooms with common bath, non-aircon single rooms with bath and aircon rooms with bath.  It also has a coffee shop.  Tel: 320-8330, 320-0337, 320-6389, 337-1470 & 320-0226. 
• Le Chateau D’Iloilo, a pension house cor. M.H. Del Pilar and Lopez-Jaena Sts. in Molo District, has aircon and non-aircon single rooms with common bath, aircon single/double rooms with bath, deluxe twin/double rooms and standard twin rooms.  Tel: 337-9480 & 336-4518.  Fax: 336-2086.
• Lourdes Hall Pension, at No. 8 Magsaysay Village, La Paz District, has non-aircon single/double rooms with common bath and aircon single/double/ matrimonial rooms with bath.  It also has a restaurant, coffee shop and 30-pax conference room.  Tel: 320-2171.  Cel: (0919) 769-9145. 
• Moonlight Lodge - Arevalo District (tel: 337-4832 & 337-1673)
• Nagarao City Inn, a lodging house at 113 Seminario St., is located 70 meters from the Jaro plaza.  It has aircon and non-aircon single/double rooms with bath and TV.  It also has a restaurant.  Tel: 320-6290 & 329-0078.  Fax: 329-2139. 
• Palmares Guest House, at Magsaysay Village, has two aircon and 10 non-aircon rooms.  Tel: 320-1071.  
• Pension del Carmen, at 24-26 Gen. Luna St., has aircon rooms with bath.  Tel: 338-1626.
• Perpetual Hotel - Luna,La Paz District (tel: 508-9646)
• Punta Villa Beach Resort - Arevalo District (tel: 337-7972, 337-7253 & 336-1105-06).
• Queen's Court Drive Inn - Bulilao, Manduriao District (tel: 320-0788)
• Rock Pension - Simon Ledesma St., Jaro District 
• Rosa Maria Pension - Burgos St.,La Paz District (tel: 335-1442) 
• ST's OG's Traveler's Pension - Delgado St. (tel: 336-2333 & 336-2444) 
• Sports Pension - Magsaysay Village,La Paz District (tel: 329-3838 & 329-4848).
• St. Jude's Seaside Beach Resort and Restaurant - Brgy. Calumpang, Molo District (tel: 337-5119)
• YMCA - Iznart St. (tel: 337-5760 & 337-7531). 
• Sunshine Citihaus - Timawa Ave., Molo District (tel: 338-1554-55) 
• Villa Darroca - Quezon St.,Arevalo District (tel: 337-2443 & 337-6593).