Manila

Philippines·Asia

Currency

PHP

Language

Filipino, English

Timezone

Manila

Continent

Asia

Our guide

Discover Manila

Manila keeps behind its walls the only quarter that partly survived the battle of 1945: Intramuros, the Spanish city founded in 1571. San Agustin Church, finished in 1607, is the oldest stone building in the country and the only building in Intramuros left standing — its trompe-l'oeil painted ceiling is intact. Manila Cathedral, beside it, has been rebuilt eight times. Fort Santiago holds the cell where José Rizal spent his last night before being shot, which makes it as political a place as a historical one. Outside the walls, Quiapo Church draws millions each January around the Black Nazarene, and the National Museum of the Philippines holds the national collections.

When to go

December to February: the dry season and the least hot, around thirty degrees with bearable air. March to May climbs to thirty-five and the humidity turns heavy. June to November brings the monsoon and the typhoons — Manila floods regularly, and a typhoon cancels domestic flights for days. Check the storm season before fixing dates.

Getting around

Manila's traffic is among the worst in the world and five kilometres can take an hour. The elevated LRT and MRT avoid that but are packed and cover only a few corridors. Jeepneys, converted and decorated American jeeps, remain the popular transport. Grab works well and beats a street taxi. Intramuros is walked, and it is the only place where that is true.

Where to eat

Adobo — pork or chicken simmered in vinegar, garlic and soy — is the national dish and every family has its version. Sinigang, a sour tamarind soup, is the other pillar. Lechon, a whole roast suckling pig, is festival food. Halo-halo, shaved ice with fruit and condensed milk, closes the meal. Seven halal addresses are listed, the Muslim community being based mainly in the south of the country.

Good to know

The Philippine peso is the currency and cash is still needed outside the malls. English is official and spoken everywhere, which simplifies everything. Safety asks for ordinary care: do not display equipment, and Quiapo and Divisoria are dense and demanding. Two sites and museums are free. And Manila is a base more than a destination: the islands are reached by domestic flight from here.

Smart Planning