12 Best Things to Do on Your Manila
Trip in 2025
Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines, is a vibrant city that offers a varied landscape. This destination offers you a number of different activities besides laying back and enjoying the ambience at the tropical beaches of Manila. Manila has a long-standing history and bears witness to numerous historical events that took place in the past.
Travel to different corners of Manila to find a scenic view and enjoy the local flavours. Get drowned in the vibrant charm of the city, showcasing both old-world charm and urban atmosphere. Discover the best places around Manila, as it is considered a gateway to alluring islands, breathtaking sceneries and pristine beaches.
Manila offers you a plethora of things to do on your trip to make it more memorable. The weather conditions in Manila generally vary between 33°C to 23°C, offering you a warm temperature around most of the year. January is believed to be the coldest month in Manila when you will find tourists bustling in the city to explore different points of interest.
Activities to do in Manila Philippines
Manila offers you a number of activities to enjoy on your trip. Manila caters to the likes of every tourist, irrespective of age and preference. Here is a list of 12 best things to do in Manila, Philippines:
Explore the National Museum of the Philippines
The National Museum of the Philippines is a popular tourist destination where you can spend your time witnessing the well-preserved relics, paintings, sculptures, artefacts and others from the past. The different sections of the museum will help you get acquainted with the planetarium, natural history, anthropology, art, and many more. This museum was established back in the year 1901 and, over the period, has gained popularity among tourists. One can learn about the rich history and culture of the Philippines. You can visit this museum from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9 AM and 6 PM, and every Monday, it remains closed.
Location: Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Metro Manila, 1000
Shop at SM Mall of Asia
Gain an exquisite experience of shopping at the biggest shopping mall in both Manila and the Philippines. It is a popular tourist destination as it helped in raising the shopping standard and brought you the combination of both entertainment and leisure. The mall is spread over an area of 589,891 meter square (approximately). This mall is a 10 floor building that was built back in the year 2006 and is owned by SM Prime Holdings Inc. The mall has over 680 stores that offer you premium cosmetics, shoes, apparel, home decor, electronics and other merchandise. You can visit this mall throughout the week between 10 AM to 10 PM.
Location: SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Spend your Day at Star City
Star City is another popular destination in Manila that offers you a number of different activities to engage in and enjoy your day at this amusement park. This destination is bustling with tourists throughout the year. Star City offers you over 30 rides accompanied by other attractions to spend your day enjoying. This destination is one of the sites that offers activities to do with your friends, families and kids in Manila. Some of the activities to try are the Egyptian spinning coaster, tornado, toy chest, snow world, adventure zone and many more. This amusement park opened back in the year 1991 and is spread over an area of 35000 meter square. This amusement park is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 2 PM to 10 PM.
Location: Star City, Roxas Blvd, CCP, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Explore the Old Town of Intramuros
Placed at the heart of Manila, Intramuros Old Town, also called the "Walled City of Intramuros", is a must-visit place on your trip to Manila. This town was built over 400 years ago by the Spaniards, whose presence can be felt in the architecture of the buildings. Being one of the oldest districts of Manila, you can explore the historical monuments, sculptures and buildings that stretch over 5 kilometres. You can either stroll around the old town of Intramuros or join a guided tour to learn about the town in depth. You can visit this old town any time of the year and any time of the day.
Location: Bonifacio Dr & Padre Burgos St, Manila, Luzon 1002, Philippines.
Visit Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago, one of the oldest forts of Manila, dates back to the 1500s. This first stands as testimony to the rich history of the Philippines and also the imprisonment of Jose Rizal, a national hero. It is a popular point of interest among tourists, where you can enjoy exploring the fort and also observing the unparalleled beauty surrounding the fort. There is also Papa Kafe located within Aljibe de la Fuerza, offering amazing tea and coffee. You can visit Fort Santiago every day of the week between 8 AM to 11 PM.
Location: Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Pray at San Agustin Church
San Agustin Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also one of the four Baroque churches. This church was built between 1587 and 1606 and stands as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. During World War II, only this church remained intact, signifying its holy powers. You can visit this church to witness the marvellous architecture, holy paintings and sculptures present within the church. You can also pray at this church and elevate your spirituality. This church remains open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday between 8 AM and 5 PM.
Location: General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Visit Rizal Park
Rizal Park is one of the biggest public parks in Manila, which is also a popular tourist attraction. The park is spread over an area of over 140 acres of land, which consists of monuments of Filipino heroes, ponds, gardens and open lawns. This park also has a history associated with its name, as Jose Rizal was executed in this park by the Spanish colonials. You can take a walk amidst the lush green scenery and observe the statues placed within the park. During the evening you can also enjoy the beautiful dancing musical fountain. This park remains open to the public on all days of the week in two shifts, first between 5 AM to 10 AM and second between 11 AM to 8 PM.
Location: Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Enjoy the Culinary Delights at Binondo Chinatown
Binondo Chinatown is said to be one of the oldest Chinatowns around the globe. You can also find tourists and locals butling this tourist spot for its rich cultural heritage and mouthwatering street foods. The authentic Chinese restaurants and stalls will take you on an unforgettable journey of Chinese cuisine that will make your trip a memorable one. You can also explore the different shops around the place and witness the New Bonodo Chinatown Arch, which was built back in 2015 and now serves as a gate to Binodo. You can explore Chinatown on all days of the week between 8 AM to 5 PM.
Location: ChinaTown Walk, Binondo, Manila, 1006 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Explore the Manila Ocean Park
One of the popular tourist attractions, Manila Ocean Park, is a must-visit place on your Manila trip. You can spot a variety of marine creatures in this ocean park that will take you into a state of awe. You can watch the bird show, wander around the oceanarium and enjoy the penguin talk show. You can also enjoy different shows of seals, walruses and dolphins at different timings and different dates, which is one of the best things to do in your Manila trip. Manila Ocean Park is open to the public throughout the week between 10 AM and 6 PM.
Location: Quirino Grandstand, 666 Behind, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Delve into History at Casa Manila
Casa Manila is also known as "Manila House" and stands as a reference to a building that once stood at Joboneros Street in the Chinese district of Binondo. This house has been developed to showcase the lifestyle of people back in the 19th century. The beautiful furniture, crystal chandeliers and fancy windows together bring back the high-end lifestyle of the late Spanish colonial period. You can explore the replica of the Spanish mansion to understand their architecture and way of living. Casa Manila is open to the public only on Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Location: Plaza Sans Luis Complex, General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Sample Spirits at Destileria Limtuaco Museum
Destileria Limtuaco Museum, which preserves the history of the Philippines' oldest liquor maker, is a popular tourist attraction in Manila. Here, you will get to know about the old-style distilling process and can also opt for tasting spirits. You will get to taste distilled palm liquor, called lambanog by the locals, coconut vodka and sugarcane wine. In the year 1982, the Destileria Limtuaco Museum was constructed, and in 2018, it was opened to the public. The museum is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, between 9 AM to 5 PM.
Location: 481 San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Visit Manila Cathedral
Manila Cathedral is another popular tourist destination that was built first in the year 1581 and then rebuilt seven times due to different historical events. You will be able to witness a 4500 pipe organ along with beautiful rosette windows with stained glass in them. You can also explore the beautiful views surrounding the cathedral and can also pray at the cathedral. The Manila Cathedral is open to the public on all days of the week from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Location: Cabildo, 132 Beaterio St, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.
Conclusion
Manila is a perfect travel destination in the Philippines, which offers you different activities to engage in. This blog helps understand the essence of activities besides relaxing and laying back at the beach. The different tourist attractions come with different activities to do in Manila, Philippines, which will help you have an amazing time. Manila is an engaging destination that will also help you spend time on different activities to do in Manila with friends.
If you are planning for a hassle free trip, you can travel with a reputed travel agency. Filipino Travel Center offers packages to Manila that will help you enjoy your trip and engage in different activities. You can either select from a list of well-tailored packages or consult with a travel expert to create an itinerary that fits your budget and preferences.
FAQs
Some of the best places to visit in Manila are Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, Manila Ocean Park, Casa Manila and many more.
The best month to visit Manila is between January and April when you get an average temperature of 27°C.
Manila is known for being the capital of the Philippines and also the international port of entry.
Read Also: Manila Travel Guide | Best Places to Visit in Manila | Things to Do in Philippines | Tourist Attractions in Philippines
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