PH · Metro Manila · 14.60°N 120.98°E

manila

Intramuros history, Binondo food crawls and mega-malls.

Best time
December to February is the coolest and driest. March to May is very hot, and June to October is the rainy season, with typhoons and street flooding.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, about 4 hours. Use Grab or an airport taxi into the city, and leave plenty of time for traffic.
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PH · Metro Manilamanila14.60°N 120.98°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Intramuros history, Binondo food crawls and mega-malls.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingManilaPH, Metro Manila
KLmanila
≈ 2,469 km from KL, as the crow flies
Sunset cityscape of Manila, from The Bayleaf Intramuros, Manila

Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The Philippine capital, on Manila Bay. It's big, hot and known for its traffic, but the walled old city of Intramuros, the food streets of Binondo and the giant malls make for a good couple of days before or after the islands.

Makan

  1. Binondo snacksFried siopao, dumplings, hopia and other Chinese-Filipino snacks along Ongpin Street.Map ↗
  2. Filipino classicsTry adobo, sinigang (a sour tamarind soup) and kare-kare (oxtail in peanut sauce).Map ↗
  3. Halo-haloShaved ice piled with beans, jelly, fruit, leche flan and ube. Think of it as a cousin of our ais kacang.Map ↗
  4. JollibeeThe Filipino fast-food chain everyone loves. Order the Chickenjoy and the sweet spaghetti.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. IntramurosThe Spanish walled city, with Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country.Map ↗
  2. BinondoFounded in 1594 and often called the world's oldest Chinatown. Best explored on a food crawl.Map ↗
  3. Rizal Park and the National MuseumA big park honouring the national hero José Rizal, next to the National Museum's art and history buildings.Map ↗
  4. Manila Bay sunsetWatch the sun go down over the bay from the waterfront along Roxas Boulevard.Map ↗
  5. SM Mall of AsiaOne of the country's biggest malls, by the bay in Pasay.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Traffic is very heavy. Plan one area per day and use Grab to get around.
  • For halal food, head to the Muslim quarter around the Golden Mosque in Quiapo. Many malls also have halal options.
  • Keep phones and wallets secure in crowded areas and on public transport.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.