Manila Tours and Activities

Manila is the national capital of the Philippines and is home to various historical sites, scenic attractions, Philippine cuisine, and cultural landmarks. There are various activities and fun things do in Manila from indoor museums, outdoor biking spots, to iconic foodie spots that you can try out when you book Manila tour packages.



When in Manila, visit the walled city of Intramuros, one of the best biking destinations near Manila. There are a lot of places to visit in Intramuros while on an Intramuros bamboo bike. Inside the walled city, drop by the San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral. Another must-see church, Quiapo Church, is only a few kilometers away from Intramuros and is known for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which attracts millions of devotees yearly.



Visit Binondo’s Chinatown, the oldest in the world, for a gastronomic adventure in the best Binondo restaurants, try Binondo tours, and at the end of the day, watch one of the best sunsets along the Manila Bay at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex. When planning your Manila itinerary, don’t miss a visit to the National Museum Complex in Manila, one of the best museums in Manila, and drop by the monument of the National Hero Jose Rizal at Rizal Park.

There are a lot of fun activities in Manila. You can visit many churches and marvel at their architecture, and go on a food trip at Binondo’s Chinatown when doing Manila day tours. Choose from its countless hole-in-the-walls, bakeries, street-side eateries, and family-style buffets, and try to find one (or more) that will happily fill your stomach. If you want to learn more about the history and culture not only of the city but also of the Philippines as a whole, visit the National Museum, which houses collections representing the art, culture, and history of the country. It has different sections to see, Fine Arts, Anthropology, Natural History, and Planetarium.



For couples, there are also a lot of date ideas in Manila, such as cycling around Intramuros on a bamboo bike. You can even try a Manila night tour in Intramuros. If you’re tired from exploring and want to rest for a while, you can find a comfortable spot at Rizal Park or Paco Park. If you’re looking for where to shop in Manila, you can go to Divisoria for thrift finds or go to malls for shopping in Manila, like SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and SM Megamall in Ortigas. You can visit Quezon City and Makati as well. Quezon City is known for its historical monuments and the location of some of the most instagrammable cafes in Manila. On the other hand, there are a lot of things to do in Makati, like visiting Makati CBD, shopping at Glorietta and Greenbelt Malls in Makati, and checking out other Makati tourist spots.

The general climate in Manila is wet and dry. The wet and rainy season starts from July to October, while the dry season is between November to May. While the dry season is the preferred time to travel to Manila, keep in mind that from March to May, the summer heat can get a little too sweltering. Since summer temperatures can get as high as 38°C, this is understandably the peak season for beaches and resorts, despite the cranked-up rates. It's best to check weather forecasts for your destinations when making your itinerary, especially if you’re planning to book staycation packages. If you prefer a colder season with only scattered rain showers, months December to March are ideal. The caveat is that December is a busy time for Filipinos who love Christmas; the same can be said about Holy Week, which may fall on either March or April.

If you’re planning to explore just Manila, which is different from the Metro Manila region, a Manila day trip or two is enough. For the rest of the cities in Metro Manila, you’ll probably need multiple day trips from Manila, considering the time you’ll be stuck in traffic. There are plenty of Manila hotels with travel promos that you can check into if you’re staying for more than a day.

There are many destinations that you can visit for a quick getaway near Manila, including kid-friendly places near Manila. The City of Manila is bordered by other Metro Manila cities Pasay, Makati, Quezon City, Caloocan, Mandaluyong, and San Juan are great spots for a Manila tour.

The Metro Manila region itself is close to the provinces of Tagaytay, Batangas, and many more destinations perfect for day trips from Manila. For a hassle-free vacation, we recommend online trip booking with Guide to the Philippines, a Philippines travel agency and travel booking website for Philippines guided tours and Philippine tour packages. Plan Manila tours with day trips near Manila perfect for families and vacation packages for couples looking to stay at 5 star hotels in the Philippines or affordable resorts near Manila.

For those who want a one-of-a-kind experience, jeepneys and tricycles are a must-try. Locals prefer riding the faster Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) that also has stations in other cities. If you want to be more comfortable, ride-hailing app Grab is also available, or take a cab. More adventurous travelers can try Angkas, which is quite like Grab but with a motorcycle and a lot faster and cheaper. From the airport, you can also book a Manila airport transfer. You can also rent a car in Manila so you can explore the city at your own pace.

Before booking flights to Manila and booking Philippine tour packages, you have to consider many things, such as safety. Like other urban jungles, Manila is riddled with petty theft, so avoid wearing flashy jewelry and keep your valuables close to you at all times. Unfortunately, taxi scams at the airport are prevalent, with drivers unjustifiably racking up the prices or not using a taxi meter. To be on the safe side, use only the airport’s official taxis, or book a Grab. In general, be alert and avoid strangers who look shady to you. Also, do take note that because of the current pandemic, safety measures and guidelines need to be followed.

You can drop by Intramuros, the National Museum, Binondo, and CCP complex for the Manila Bay sunset if you’re only planning a day tour. There are also day tours from Manila in nearby destinations outside the region perfect for road trip near Manila like Tagaytay tour packages, Bataan tour packages including a day tour to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Rizal tours, Cavite tours, Batangas tours like beach resort near Manila day tour in the many beach resorts near Manila, private resorts near Manila, and pet-friendly resorts near Manila, and Bulacan tour packages.

As of 2019, there are 13,698,889 people in Manila.

Aside from the official cabs that can be found on taxi stands and booking a Grab car, there are also buses that you can take outside the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airports (NAIA). There’s the Airport Loop that can take you to Baclaran, Pasay Rotonda, and EDSA/Taft Avenue, as well as the Point-to-Point bus UBE Express that has only one stop. UBE has different routes, including Araneta Center Cubao, Robinsons Galleria Ortigas, Ayala South Park Muntinlupa, Alabang Town Center, Starmall Alabang, Solenad 2 Nuvali, and Robinsons Tagapo. Make sure to ride one that is closest to your destination and its schedule.