The hustle and bustle of one of Southeast Asia’s capital cities may not be everyone’s cup of tea but Manila has so much more than meets the eye. Colourful jeepneys decorated within an inch of their lives and the hullabaloo of the markets are only glimpses of what makes Manila a must-visit destination.
As with other Southeast Asian destination, the weather in the city of Manila is hot and humid with a lot of rainfall in the months of June to October. Do remember to dress accordingly in cooling clothes but do dress modestly especially if you’re planning on attending mass at any of their beautiful churches.
Without further ado, here’re our top picks of what to do and where to do it in Manila.
#1 The ‘Walled City’
Intramuros is a 0.67 square kilometre historic walled area inside what we now know as Manila. It was known as the ‘Walled City’ during the Spanish Colonial Period and was the centre of religion, education and economy. Thus, there are historical monuments such as San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago which dates back to the 16th century.
Go on a bamboo bike tour of Intramuros with Bambike Ecotours where each bamboo bike is made from bamboo and abaca and fully Filipino-made with locally sourced materials making the bikes sustainable. The bikes are made in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, a local NGO that aims to end poverty with education, formation of good values and leadership development.
#2: National Museum of the Philippines
Admission to the National Museum is free of charge for all visitors, whether Filipino or foreign effective 2016.
The National Museum is a must-visit spot for those who are fans of fine art, archaeology, ethnography and natural history. Interesting bits to check out include the national cultural treasures that include artefacts that show 50,000 years of Philippine prehistory and early history.
Address: P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila
Website: nationalmuseum.gov.ph
Operating hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 5pm.
#3: Mall of Asia
The Mall of Asia is the 11th largest mall in the world and is located near the Manila Bay. Other than the usual shopping that one can do, the Mall of Asia is also one of the best places to catch a beautiful Manila Bay sunset. At around five in the evening, go up to the second floor and choose any restaurant you like, and the key is to dine al fresco so you won’t miss any photo opportunities.
Address: Main Mall, Philippines
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 11am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm.
#4: The Mind Museum
This is a great place to visit especially if you’ve brought your kids with you. The Mind Museum makes learning fun with 3D visualisation of atoms for example, and games that illustrate scientific concepts. Some exhibits are also interactive such as the piano keys staircase and there is also a mini-planetarium which will do well especially if you have an aspiring astronaut with you. One of the must-see exhibits is the T-Rex display and giant brain that lights up and explains the function of different areas of the brain.
Address: JY Campos Park, 3rd Ave, Taguig, 1634, Philippines
Website: themindmuseum.org
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am to 6pm
#5: Greenhills Shopping Center
If the Mall of Asia is a little too ‘mainstream’, check out Greenhills Shopping Center especially if you love buying things at bargain price. Anything and everything you want can be found here. Do be warned that there are counterfeit items sold here which could get you in trouble with the authorities if you bring it back home.
Address: Ortigas Ave, Greenhills, San Juan, 1502 Metro Manila, Philippines
Operating hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 9pm; Friday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm.
References: Lonely Planet; Willflyforfood.net.
