City or town
Things to see in Manila (Philippines): 67 places and when to go
Manila is a major city in Philippines with around 11,100,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 67 places in and around it, mainly Temples (33), History (18), Museums and art (10). The best known are Manila Bay, San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral. The best time to come is December to April; also possible: May and November. In June there are 12 h 52 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 08. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Philippines · 14.6061, 120.9803
- Population
- About 11,100,000
- Places
- 67 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Temples (33) · History (18) · Museums and art (10) · Architecture (10) · With kids (3) · Wildlife (3)
- Best time
- December to April.
- Also possible
- May and November.
- Nearest airport
- MNL Manila (Pasay), 12 km as the crow flies
What to see in Manila
The places in and around Manila, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Manila BayNatural harbour, industrial port of Manila on Luzon22 km
- San Agustin ChurchRoman Catholic church in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines2.0 km
- Manila CathedralRoman Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines1.8 km
- Masjid Al-DahabMosque in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines1.3 km
- San Sebastian ChurchAll-steel church in Manila, Philippines1.2 km
- Fort SantiagoCitadel built by Spanish conquistador for the city of Manila, Philippines1.7 km
- Quiapo ChurchRoman Catholic parish church in Manila893 m
- Binondo ChurchRoman Catholic parish church in Binondo, Manila, Philippines892 m
- Malate ChurchRoman Catholic parish church in Manila, Philippines4.1 km
- Manila Ocean ParkOceanarium in Manila, Philippines3.0 km
- Manila ZooZoo in the Philippines4.7 km
- Tondo ChurchRoman Catholic parish church in Tondo, Manila1.4 km
- Caloocan CathedralSeat of the Diocese of Kalookan in the Philippines5.1 km
- National Museum of Natural HistoryConstituent museum of the National Museum of the Philippines2.5 km
- Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, ManilaRoman Catholic abbey in Manila, Philippines1.6 km
- Casa ManilaHistory museum1.9 km
- Fort San Antonio AbadHistoric military fortification in Manila, Philippines4.9 km
- Jones BridgeBridge that spans the Pasig River in the Philippines connecting Binondo and the center of Manila1.2 km
- Mount TagapoMountain on the Talim lake island, Laguna de Bay, Philippines40 km
- Bahay TsinoyMansion in Manila, Philippines1.8 km
- National Museum of AnthropologyConstituent museum of the National Museum of the Philippines2.3 km
- National PlanetariumBuilding in Manila, Philippines2.5 km
- Arch of the CenturiesTriumphal arch in Manila1.2 km
- Chapel of the Most Blessed SacramentChapel inside the De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines4.9 km
And the other 43, by what you come to do:
- Temples: Cosmopolitan Church, Santa Cruz Church, Sampaloc Church, Cathedral of Praise, Central United Methodist Church, Ermita Church, Pandacan Church, Santuario de San Jose, Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral, San Vicente de Paul Church, Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, Tondo, Kambal na Krus Chapel, Knox United Methodist Church, Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, San Bartolome Church, Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Joseph, Santo Rosario de Pasig Church, Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church, National Shrine of Saint Jude
- Architecture: Mabini Bridge, Ayala Bridge, Binondo–Intramuros Bridge, MacArthur Bridge, Napindan Lighthouse, Quezon Bridge, Otis Bridge, San Juan River Bridge, Sevilla Bridge
- History: Bahay Nakpil–Bautista, Boix House, Santa Ana Church, Cuartel de Santa Lucia, Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo, Baluarte de San Andres, San Miguel Church, Lichauco Heritage House, Pasig City Museum, Paterno Ancestral House, Nazarene Catholic School
- Museums and art: Museo de Intramuros, UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, Tandang Sora Women's Museum
- With kids: Malabon Zoo
When to go to Manila
The best time to visit Manila is December to April; also possible: May and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:13
- FebBest time11:32
- MarBest time11:54
- AprBest time12:20
- MayPossible12:41
- JunBetter not12:52
- JulBetter not12:47
- AugBetter not12:29
- SepBetter not12:05
- OctBetter not11:40
- NovPossible11:18
- DecBest time11:08
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 52 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 08. In January, 67 of the 67 places are at their best.
When to go to Philippines in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Manila
The nearest main airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL, Manila (Pasay)), 12 km as the crow flies. How to get around Philippines (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Pasay36 places6.6 km
- Quezon City61 places7.3 km
- Binangonan20 places24 km
- Malolos6 places32 km
- Cavite12 places35 km
- Santa Rosa11 places39 km
And all of Philippines, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Manila?
The best known: Manila Bay, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Masjid Al-Dahab, San Sebastian Church. In all, 67 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Manila?
December to April; also possible: May and November. In June there are 12 h 52 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 08.
How do you get to Manila?
The nearest main airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), 12 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Manila as the destination and these 67 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- PhilippinesBefore travelling to Philippines: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism stays of up to 30 days, but you do have to register o…
- Temples244 places for temples in Philippines, from San Agustin Church to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: December to April. Each with its own season by altitude and dayl
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.