Manila, Philippines — Attractions
Intramuros
The oldest part of Manila is the medieval Spanish walled enclave of Intramuros on the southern bank of the Pasig River, packed with historic buildings and churches, many of which are being or have been restored. The reconstruction of Intramuros has allowed for the inclusion of several parks and performing venues, art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants, so that the area has become an attractive, entertaining and interesting tourist Mecca. Fort Santiago, for example, was where political prisoners through the ages, from Spanish to Japanese occupation, were held, tortured and sometimes executed. Today it is a lush park full of flowering trees and homing pigeons where visitors can take a ride along the promenade on a horse-drawn carriage. Then, in the Barrio San Luis along Juan Luna Street there are five colonial residences that have been beautifully restored.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
Rizal Park
The 58-hectare (143 acre) Rizal Park is named for Dr Jose Rizal, renowned Philippine anti-colonialist, writer and philosopher. The park is one of the largest in South East Asia, and is a green lung much used by the residents of Manila for recreation and entertainment. The park features numerous ornamental gardens, a chess plaza and a skating rink. In a pond on the east side of the park the Philippines archipelago has been recreated in miniature. There are also some museums and public buildings within the park, and after sunset a sound and light exhibit featuring the martyrdom of Dr Jose Rizal is to be seen. On Sundays there is a free concert in an open-air auditorium.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Hours
- Daily 7am to 7pm
- Admission
- Free
San Agustin Church
Within Intramuros stands Manila's oldest stone church, San Agustin, which was completed in 1606 and has since survived the ravages of time and successive invasions. The church has a magnificent intricately carved door, Baroque pulpit, and an 18th century pipe organ. A museum is housed in the Monastery alongside the church, which holds a collection of paintings of saints and other religious art. The Sacristy houses a collection of richly embroidered vestments and Philippine notables are buried in the crypt.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Address
- Calles Gen Luna and Real
- Phone Number
- (0)2 527 4060
- Hours
- Daily 8am-12pm and 1pm-6pm
- Admission
- Free, but a donation is requested for the museum
National Museum of the Philippines
The large and comprehensive National Museum of the Philippines preserves and showcases the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the islands with collections housed in two different buildings (within Rizal Park). Exhibits are categorised in five divisions: art, botany, zoology, geology and anthropology. Among the many archaeological exhibits is the skull of 'Tabon Man'; the oldest human remains found in the archipelago. The section devoted to the Filipino People includes the preserved remains and treasures of the San Diego Spanish galleon that sank in Philippine waters in 1600.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Address
- Padre Burgos Street, Rizal Park
- Phone Number
- (0)2 527 1215
- Email Address
- nmuseum@i-next.net
- Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm
- Admission
- Free
Malacanang Palace
The name of this Palace, now the seat of government and official residence of the Philippines head of state, comes from the vernacular 'May Lakan Diyan', which means 'there lives a noble man'. This gracious villa has been a noble residence on the north bank of the Pasig River since the 18th century, when it was built for a Spanish aristocrat. In 1825 the Spanish Government bought the property as a summer house for the Governor General, but it later became the permanent seat of the head of state. There is now a museum housed in the palace that features mementos from each of the Philippine's presidents, including the notorious Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Address
- JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
- Phone Number
- (0)2 733 3721
- Hours
- Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm
American Cemetery and Memorial
Providing a quiet spot to retreat from Manila's rat race, the American Cemetery near the Makati commercial center is a welcome peaceful oasis, much visited by tourists, especially veterans of World War II. The hillside cemetery contains thousands of white marble crosses marking rows of graves of those who died in battle. The circular memorial contains the names of those missing in action engraved in marble columns; huge wall mosaics depict battle scenes from WWII, and a small chapel is located here.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
Las Pinas
Although the village of Las Pinas, 12 miles (20km) from the center of Manila, has now been swallowed up in the suburban sprawl of the city, it has kept its character and is a favored stop on most tours of Luzon because of its famous bamboo organ. The organ is housed in the San Jose Church, and has a very unique sound that draws international organists here every year in the second week of February for an Organ Festival. Another attraction at Las Pinas is the Sarao Jeepney Factory, where visitors can watch these unique Filipino vehicles being assembled and learn how they came to be the favored form of transportation on the islands.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Transport
- Half-hour bus journey from the city center
- Hours
- San Jose: Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm. The organ can be viewed Monday to Friday 8am to 12pm
Corregidor
This small island, shaped like a tadpole, has become a memorial and open-air museum commemorating the World War II stand of Filipino and American troops against the Japanese invaders. The island is the largest of several at the entrance to Manila Bay, laying off the tip of the Bataan Peninsula, about 26 miles from the city. Its strategic position made it a prime candidate for the last stand against the Japanese in the Pacific War, and its three and a half square miles (9 sq km) of dry land remains littered with the detritus of battle. Guided tours of the island are available by arrangement with the Corregidor Visitor's Information Center in Manila.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Transport
- There are ferry services from Manila
Tagaytay City
Tagaytay is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Philippines, famous for the Taal Volcano. The volcano is unique in that it sits on an island in a lake, and has another lake within its vast crater. The views from the ridge on the access highway to the volcano are legendary and breathtaking. Tagaytay itself provides plenty of recreation opportunities and good hotels and restaurants because it is the favored 'summer capital' for Filipinos wishing to escape the capital during the unpleasant summer heat. Other sights in Tagaytay are the 'Palace in the Sky', an unfinished complex originally meant to be a home for former president Marcos and now used as a viewpoint and park; and the huge flower farm, abloom all year round, on a slope at Barngay Guinhawa.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Website
- www.tagaytay.com
- Transport
- Bus from the center of Manila (about 45 minutes)
Banaue
This fascinating region in northern Luzon is known for being largely untouched by Western civilization and gives a glimpse of the true Philippines. In a string of villages around Banaue people live according to age-old tribal traditions. The main attraction in the area is the Banaue Rice terraces, dubbed the 'eighth wonder of the world'. Constructed about 3,000 years ago the terraces start from the base of the Cordillero Mountains and extend upwards for thousands of feet, cleverly irrigated by channelled streams and springs. The terraces bear testimony to the ingenuity of the ancient Ifugao people. There are more terraces at Batad village, which also sports a waterfall and natural swimming pool, and at Sagada there are a series of ancient burial caves in the mountainside with the famous 'hanging coffins' perched on limestone outcrops.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Transport
- From Manila it is a 10 hour drive. Take public utility buses saying Manila-Banaue, such as Auto Bus. From Bagbag airport it is a two to three hour drive, with public buses or jeeps.
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Subic Bay is a unique project on the site of a former United States Naval base. It was buried under ash after the eruption of Mt Pinatubo in 1991 and has since been transformed into a buzzing eco-tourism and commercial hub, only five minutes from the Philippines International airport and a two-hour drive northwest of Manila. Most of the area, which is enclosed by a security fence, is covered in dense forests teeming with flora and fauna, including rare butterflies and bats. There are also lovely unspoiled beaches to enjoy, exceptional scenery, forest trails, watersport activities, coral reefs and shipwrecks to explore, numerous sports facilities and duty-free shopping centers.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
Palawan
The island of Palawan is an elongated stretch of thickly forested landscape bordered by coves, beaches, lagoons and limestone cliffs, stretching from southwest of Luzon towards Malaysia. The island's Tubbataha Reef is extremely ecologically important to the Philippines as a feeding ground and nursery for marine life, and the area is archaeologically important too. Caveman remains have been discovered on the island dating back 22,000 years. The main attraction on the island, however, is the underground river, St Paul's Subterranean Cave near Sabang, about two hours by road from Puerto Princesa. The cave extends more than five miles (8km) and contains the world's longest underground river. Palawan is still 'off the beaten track' but it can be reached by a flight from Manila.
- Region/City Name
- Manila
- Transport
- By air from Manila to the island's airport at Puerto Princesa. There are also regular ferry sailings to and from the capital
