What to do in Manila, Philippines?

[KeithD]

One thing many people want to know when travelling to Manila, especially for the first time, is what to do in Manila?

The first thing is to get used to the traffic, and try not to travel in the rush hour

What you do in Manila depends on what things you are in to. Eating is easy with plenty of food outlets, and unlimited shopping in the malls.

I like to visit war graves on my travels, so the American Cemetry and Memorial is a must. They also have one for the 1000's of Filipino's who died but I haven't been there yet.

Taal Volcano isn't really Manila, but it's not that far and although still active, it's a great place to visit.

[grahamw48]

I mainly 'people-watch'.

[lastlid]

I like to visit war graves on my travels, so the American Cemetry and Memorial is a must. They also have one for the 1000's of Filipino's who died but I haven't been there yet.

I have seen the American cemetry from the air. Looks very impressive with the lines of white crosses. And also seen it on the ground.

I think Manila Ocean Park is a good place to go. I didnt spend much time in Manila even though I stayed in the hotel there. I spent a lot more time in Cavite in Island Cove hotel, water park, "theme park" and zoo.

http://www.islandcovephil.com/about/

http://www.islandcovephil.com/

It is within a taxi ride of central Manila.

[grahamw48]

Go ice-skating at the Mall of Asia in Pasay....showing off your skills to an admiring audience and also when subsequently skimming across the ice on your face at 30mph, how efficient that long pointy white man's nose is as a brake.

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Do a bit of part-time modelling in aid of British exports.
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Stay in bed and sample the local food:
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Admire the view at the back of the shopping mall:
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[Manila_Paul]

La Mesa Eco Park in QC is worth a visit: http://www.lamesaecopark.com/

[Manila_Paul]

Just outside Manila as well but me and mahal loved The Enchanted Kingdom theme park in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Especially the massive outdoor Go Karting track. I hammered the Filipinos at this. My guess is they're not used to open road.

Just get the minibus from under Ayala MRT station. They go at the same time every day. About P250 each. Entry to the park about P400 each, P250 for children. Great value!

[stevewool]

american cemetry is a nice place to visit, for a few hours or more,rizal park too

[Doc Alan]

Many visitors can’t wait to get out of Manila – there is so much else to see in the Philippines. It is worth at least a few days, perhaps after arriving at the airport and a day or two before leaving .
Your first impression will be from the air ( 1 ), and then from your hotel or wherever you are staying. Here ( 2 ) is the view of Makati and beyond from the rooftop of a modern hotel like St Giles ( www.StGilesManila.com ) . A three hour city tour ( www.greatsights.com.ph ) takes in Rizal Park ( 3 ), Fort Santiago, and the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial ( 4 ) for P 1,600. The view of Manila Bay and Corregidor ( www.corregidorphilippines.com ) from SM Mall of Asia is not to be missed ( 5 ). Manila Ocean Park ( www.manilaoceanpark.com ) is a new attraction ( 6 ). Air-conditioned taxis are relatively cheap, but at least one trip in a jeepney is a must, and very cheap ( 7 in Makati Avenue ).
There are several day trips from Manila worth considering – Tagaytay ( with Taal volcano, 55 km ) for P 3000, and Pagsanjan Falls ( 100 km ) for P 4,500 at last year’s rates – with scenic countryside en route. Try to read an up to date guide book first such as The Rough Guide to the Philippines published last year ( www.roughguides.com ) .
( 1 )

( 2 )

( 3 )

( 4 )

( 5 )

( 6 )

( 7 - Makati Avenue )

[grahamw48]

Just outside Manila as well but me and mahal loved The Enchanted Kingdom theme park in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Especially the massive outdoor Go Karting track. I hammered the Filipinos at this. My guess is they're not used to open road.

Just get the minibus from under Ayala MRT station. They go at the same time every day. About P250 each. Entry to the park about P400 each, P250 for children. Great value!

Ah....thanks for that one.
Sounds like my kind of place .

[tanga]

Here's a great place to chill out after the heat and mayhem of the metropolis
http://splashmountain.com/

An alternative from the same shopping experience in the same SM mall
http://www.tiendesitas.com.ph/

[Terpe]

Some nice ideas already in this thread.

I do enjoy my day out to MOA and an evening promanading.

[grahamw48]

I spent a pleasant few days there in Los Banos with the ex many years ago.

[Terpe]

Here's a great place to chill out after the heat and mayhem of the metropolis
http://splashmountain.com/

We've been twice recently and really enjoyed it. Especially the hot springs.
Our niece and her friends had such a great time they didn't want to go home

[malditako]

can't think of what do to in manila other than shopping, food tripping and bars but if you fancy to sat in a quiet garden you can go to fort santiago in intramuros. I love eastwood citywalk in libis and if you want to treat yourself with a grand buffet dinner Spiral in sofitel hotel is worth a try just get your wallet ready Or if you want a romantic dinner on a cruise try Manila bay Dinner Cruise (pirmi travel). You can also go on a day tour going to corregidor through sun cruises or stay there overnight.

heres the link if anyone is interested

http://corregidorisland.com/gettingthere.html

[CBM]

A visit to Intramuros should be on the list - Fort Santiago at least, and may I recommend lunch at Illustrado?

I do have a favourite place in Manila, which I alwasy visit - the Solidaridad Bookshop, in Padre Faura, in Malate, quite near to Intramuros. It's a real bookshop, with an eccentric owner - the very distinguished novelist F Sionil Jose - and it specialises in Filipiniana and Philipine History in English.

If you happen to be C of E, and have nothing to do on a Sunday morning, try going to church at the Anglican Holy Trinity Church in Forbes Park. Seriously. You will meet a lot of rather nice English and American people who are long term residents of the Philippines, and more Filipinos than you might be expecting. And you get to see Forbes Park..

[lastlid]

A visit to Intramuros should be on the list - Fort Santiago at least, and may I recommend lunch at Illustrado?

I do have a favourite place in Manila, which I alwasy visit - the Solidaridad Bookshop, in Padre Faura, in Malate, quite near to Intramuros. It's a real bookshop, with an eccentric owner - the very distinguished novelist F Sionil Jose - and it specialises in Filipiniana and Philipine History in English.

If you happen to be C of E, and have nothing to do on a Sunday morning, try going to church at the Anglican Holy Trinity Church in Forbes Park. Seriously. You will meet a lot of rather nice English and American people who are long term residents of the Philippines, and more Filipinos than you might be expecting. And you get to see Forbes Park..

I wonder if he and Johnnie Johnson have met?

[CBM]

I wonder if he and Johnnie Johnson have met?

More than likely.

I know that Frankie Jose is a close friend of the British writer James Hamilton Patterson, ("Ghosts of Manila", "America's Boy" etc) whom I also know slightly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hamilton-Paterson

I'd incidentally recommend both those books to anyone wanting to understand the Philippines better.

[CBM]

You can also go on a day tour going to corregidor through sun cruises or stay there overnight.

heres the link if anyone is interested

http://corregidorisland.com/gettingthere.html

I'd second that recommendation and suggest that you stay overnight on Corregidor - if the ghosts won't bother you.

As an Englishman, after visiting the scene off the gallant defence put up by the Americans and the Filipinos, and comparing it with the fall of Singapore, I can only admire the Americans and the Filipinos the more.