Manila itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Manila, day by day: Rizal Park, San Agustin Church, Casa Manila, Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral first, then Binondo, Quiapo, Paco Park and the National Museums, and Baywalk, Manila Ocean Park, the zoo and Star City as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Manila in 1 day
Day 1
Rizal Park
Large public park by the bay with the Rizal Monument, gardens, a Japanese garden and the Chinese garden.
San Agustin Church
The oldest stone church in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Intramuros, with a museum.
Casa Manila
Museum in Intramuros recreating a wealthy Spanish-era townhouse, with period furniture and an inner courtyard.
Bahay Tsinoy
Museum in Intramuros about the story of Chinese Filipinos, with dioramas and a replica Chinese street.
Manila Cathedral
Neo-Romanesque basilica in Intramuros rebuilt after the war, with stained glass and a large brass door; closed on Mondays.
Fort Santiago
Spanish fortress on the Pasig River at the edge of Intramuros, where José Rizal was held before his execution.
Binondo Church
Church in Chinatown dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, founded in 1596 by the Dominicans and facing a small plaza.
Quiapo Church
Minor basilica in the Quiapo district that holds the Black Nazarene statue, venerated by huge crowds at its January feast.
Plaza Miranda
Busy square in front of Quiapo Church, a traditional centre of Manila street life and Black Nazarene devotions.
Manila in 2 days
Day 1
Paco Park
Circular 19th-century cemetery now a quiet park with a chapel and evening concerts, near Pedro Gil.
Rizal Park
Large public park by the bay with the Rizal Monument, gardens, a Japanese garden and the Chinese garden.
Manila Ocean Park
Oceanarium beside Rizal Park with an underwater tunnel, sea lion shows, aquarium exhibits and a jellyfish hall.
National Museum of Anthropology
National museum on Padre Burgos Street with Filipino archaeology, ethnography and the Manunggul jar.
National Museum of the Philippines
The country's main museum complex near Rizal Park, with fine arts, natural history and anthropology buildings.
San Agustin Church
The oldest stone church in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Intramuros, with a museum.
Casa Manila
Museum in Intramuros recreating a wealthy Spanish-era townhouse, with period furniture and an inner courtyard.
Binondo Church
Church in Chinatown dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, founded in 1596 by the Dominicans and facing a small plaza.
Day 2
Bahay Tsinoy
Museum in Intramuros about the story of Chinese Filipinos, with dioramas and a replica Chinese street.
Manila Cathedral
Neo-Romanesque basilica in Intramuros rebuilt after the war, with stained glass and a large brass door; closed on Mondays.
Fort Santiago
Spanish fortress on the Pasig River at the edge of Intramuros, where José Rizal was held before his execution.
Quiapo Church
Minor basilica in the Quiapo district that holds the Black Nazarene statue, venerated by huge crowds at its January feast.
Plaza Miranda
Busy square in front of Quiapo Church, a traditional centre of Manila street life and Black Nazarene devotions.
San Sebastian Church
Gothic Revival basilica in Quiapo made entirely of prefabricated steel, one of the few of its kind in the world.
Baywalk
Seaside promenade along Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay, popular for sunsets and evening strolls.
Manila in 3 days
Day 1
Baywalk
Seaside promenade along Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay, popular for sunsets and evening strolls.
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Large arts complex on the bay with theatres and galleries, designed by Leandro Locsin; open for performances.
Star City
Amusement park at the CCP Complex, with rides and shows; opening days are limited and some days are closed.
Manila Zoo
City zoo near Remedios Circle with animals, gardens and a small museum; it reopened after major renovations.
Remedios Circle
Small roundabout and park in Malate, centred on the Virgin of Remedios, near bars and restaurants.
Quiapo Church
Minor basilica in the Quiapo district that holds the Black Nazarene statue, venerated by huge crowds at its January feast.
Day 2
Paco Park
Circular 19th-century cemetery now a quiet park with a chapel and evening concerts, near Pedro Gil.
National Museum of Anthropology
National museum on Padre Burgos Street with Filipino archaeology, ethnography and the Manunggul jar.
National Museum of the Philippines
The country's main museum complex near Rizal Park, with fine arts, natural history and anthropology buildings.
Bahay Tsinoy
Museum in Intramuros about the story of Chinese Filipinos, with dioramas and a replica Chinese street.
Plaza Miranda
Busy square in front of Quiapo Church, a traditional centre of Manila street life and Black Nazarene devotions.
San Sebastian Church
Gothic Revival basilica in Quiapo made entirely of prefabricated steel, one of the few of its kind in the world.
Binondo Church
Church in Chinatown dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, founded in 1596 by the Dominicans and facing a small plaza.
Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz
Small square in Binondo, named after the first Filipino saint, set among the streets of Manila's Chinatown.
Day 3
Fort Santiago
Spanish fortress on the Pasig River at the edge of Intramuros, where José Rizal was held before his execution.
Manila Cathedral
Neo-Romanesque basilica in Intramuros rebuilt after the war, with stained glass and a large brass door; closed on Mondays.
Casa Manila
Museum in Intramuros recreating a wealthy Spanish-era townhouse, with period furniture and an inner courtyard.
San Agustin Church
The oldest stone church in the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Intramuros, with a museum.
Rizal Park
Large public park by the bay with the Rizal Monument, gardens, a Japanese garden and the Chinese garden.
Museo Pambata
Children's museum in the old Elks Club building near Rizal Park, with hands-on exhibits for young visitors.
Manila Ocean Park
Oceanarium beside Rizal Park with an underwater tunnel, sea lion shows, aquarium exhibits and a jellyfish hall.
Manila Hotel
Landmark 1912 hotel beside Rizal Park, a historic building with a grand lobby where visitors can have tea.
Watch: Manila
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Manila
The driest and most comfortable time is November to February, with cooler, sunny weather. March to May is very hot, and the rainy season from June to October brings typhoons and sudden downpours. Christmas season in Manila runs from September, and Holy Week and the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January bring large crowds to Quiapo.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Manila on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Manila on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Manila on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Manila with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Philippines from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Manila with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Manila
- Intramuros is walkable, but the heat is strong; start early, carry water and use the kalesa horse carriages or bike tours for the cobbled streets.
- Churches and the cathedral may close for services, so check Mass times and dress with covered shoulders and knees.
- Metro Manila traffic is heavy; use the LRT and MRT lines or ride-hailing apps rather than taxis during rush hour.
- Many Manila museums are closed on Mondays, and some open only on selected days, so check before you go.
- Keep bags and phones close in crowded areas such as Quiapo and Divisoria.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bahay Tsinoy: Judgefloro, CC0
- Baywalk: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Binondo Church: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Casa Manila: Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0
- Cultural Center of the Philippines: Nixwrites, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fort Santiago: Elmer B. Domingo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Manila Cathedral: Fernando Brambila, Public domain
- Manila Hotel: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Manila Ocean Park: Hariboneagle927, CC-BY-SA-3.0
- Manila Zoo: K R De Asis for the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO), PD
- Museo Pambata: mark pedron (Wikipedia Takes Manila participant), CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Museum of Anthropology: kornemuz, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Museum of the Philippines: Jsnueva1022, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Paco Park: Angelyn Marquez, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plaza Miranda: Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz: Judgefloro, Public domain
- Quiapo Church: SeamanWell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Remedios Circle: RioHondo, CC-BY-SA-4.0
- Rizal Park: Arius1998, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Agustin Church: patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Sebastian Church: Asolrac1, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Star City: patrickroque01, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
