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.