Manila
Travel Guide

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and also of the Metro Manila region. It is a city of cities, since it covers nine more towns and small villages around. This makes the result of the metropolis a blend of history, modernity, art, traditions, wealth and poverty. The contrast is felt everywhere and makes it a very interesting destination. It is located between the East and West. The Bay of Manila in the China Sea... was one of the strategic points of the Silk Road. Surely this influence of cultures and invasions makes its people identify with both Asian and Latin cultures.
The Philippine capital has a wide offer for tourism, which makes it very attractive to visitors. It is packed with museums, parks, shopping malls, entertainment centers and, of course, charming landscapes.

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Manila Overview

Language

English, Filipino (Tagalog). The Filipino is the official language, but some people, especially in big cities like Manila, know how to speak English. In rural areas it is perhaps a little more complicated.

Weather

The climate in Manila is tropical savanna as it's right at the limit with tropical monsoon climate. That is, it is humid and warm throughout the year. Its proximity to the equator makes thermal temperature stable all year. Manila’s temperature ranges between 20 and 37 °C. However, moisture reigns in the area with an average of 75%. Broadly speaking, the wet monsoon season extends from the months of May to December, about the time when typhoons occur. The dry season runs from January to April.

Money

Philippine Peso (PHP). It is recommended to take some money to cover small expenses and exchange it later. But beware, there are many tourists in Manila and they may fool you by keeping your money without you noticing. A place that has a good reputation is Edzen, they are honest and fees are not very high. Sheeha 2 is also a good place and offers the same exchange rate than Edzen.

When to go

From January to April, it is the driest season in Manila, there is less humidity and temperatures are not as high. The worst time to go to the capital of the Philippines is between June and September, when rains and typhoons occur. Still, typhoons do not prevent temperature to be comfortable. The most protected area in case of heavy rains is in Visayas, in the central part of the country.

Days

3 day minimum: if you're a city lover. If you like urbanites sites but also want to visit other parts of the Philippines, we recommend that you spend at least two full days. Manila is a city that offers a lot for tourists.

Surroundings

Mt. Pinatubo (volcano on an island)
Cráter del volcán Taal (volcano)
Tagaytay (city)
Daranak falls (waterfalls)
Angono (Art Capital of the Philippines)
Anawangin & Nagsasa Coves, Zambales (beach and caves)
Small islands around

Store Hours

10am to 8pm. Generally, these are the working hours in Metro Manila, but, as in many cities, there are exceptions depending on the day and month.
In the bazaars, shops tend to open before 10am.