A Full Guide on How to Manila

_{After sunset @ Fort Santiago}_–

Like it or not, if you want to go to the Philippines, you will still need to fly from Manila. Since Manila is the capital city of the country, it is well connected to the other islands. So, a trip to your paradise island might be held for a while with this metropolitan stop.

_{Waiting our flight to Manila}

Is Manila worth it to visit? Well, besides the obvious mall hopping, absolutely! Manila is a perfect gate for your Philippine trip for you to get the contrast of chilly island life vs modern busy life. And if you are a fan of culture and history, you should definitely stop here.

_{Hubby & I – Posing in front of Spanish street name near Intramuros}

10 TOP THINGS MANILA

1 – Intramuros

You can’t visit Manila without stopping at Intramuros. This place is a remnant of a Spanish fort and it is popular among the locals too because of the architecture, that you will spot couples doing their pre wedding photoshoot there.

_{Intramuros gate}

_{Preweds photo shooting @ Intramuros}

2 – Casa Manila

Old local and well maintained houses are my favorites. So, when I stumbled upon Casa Manila I just had to make a stop. A great surprise is that you will get a free guide inside the house. Each main room has their own guide and they explained well. I was satisfied going back from here.

_{Casa Manila – A house inspired by Spanish era in The Philippines}

_{Well maintained and fairly popular among tourists in Manila}

3 – Manila Cathedral

When the Spanish left the Philippines, they left Catholicism there as well. And just like any other city, there is a Cathedral in Manila as well. The difference would be that this church also offers a museum for a visit (note that visiting the museum is not free).

_{Manila Cathedral with its antique architecture}

_{Interior part}

4 – Fort Santiago

Just like Intramuros, Fort Santiago is also a Spanish fort ruin which one should visit. I feel Fort Santiago offers even more since you can walk to the top and the underground. It also has explanation shields. Moreover, it has a more green area with decorated light since one can also rent the place for events.

_{Fort Santiago}

_{Chairs from the previous event}

5 – Chinatown Manila

Did you know that Chinatown in Manila or so called by Binondo is the oldest Chinatown in the world? Chinatown in Manila is interesting to be explored since it is assimilated with the Philippines culture. And one can see it easily from the food.

PRO TIP:

A- Go to Chuan Kee Chinese Fast Food to try the first Chinese fast food in town

_{But be ready to line up since it is very popular}

_{However, the food was worth the wait! Do try their Xiao Long Baos}

B – Learn about the Chinese settlement in Manila at Chinatown Museum

_{The museum is picturesque}

_{You can even dress up with the provided costume in their quirky settings}

C – Visit the most famous Catholic church in Chinatown

_{When we were there, it was still under renovation though}

_{But across the church, you can pose with the I love Manila Chinatown sign}

6 – Anthropology Museum

If you only want to visit a museum in Manila, this should be your pick. This museum is huge and has a lot of collections from across the Philippines. I learned a lot about the indigenous communities here. And even if you don’t like reading, their pieces are worth looking at.

_{The building reminded me of a supreme court}

_{I learned a lot about the indigenous of The Philippines here}

7 – Yuchengco Museum

Well, among all four floors, there were only two floors which were interesting to be seen. BUT, this is your place if you are interested about the most famous man in The Philippines aka the national hero, Jose Rizal. There is a floor dedicated to him and it is worth a visit.

_{You will be starting from the top floor, a seasonal exhibition}

_{A floor dedicated to Jose Rizal & also a corner for his first love}

8 – Manila American Cemetery & Memorial

This is probably the closest biggest green area that one can enjoy for free in Manila. You will see a lot of crosses here since it is a mass graveyard for the dead American soldiers during the war. They have a little chapel. We went there during the closing time and they had their flag ceremony at 16:45, just 15 minutes before closing.

_{Peaceful ambience and organized cemetery}

_{During the flag ceremony}

9 – Manila South Cemetery

Unlike the cemetery above, this cemetery is totally different. When you think about how a cemetery should be peaceful, this one isn’t. Manila’s rent is so high that some people opted to live in the cemetery inside freely. I went there without knowing this fact and was surprised with all the living that I discovered.

_{Notice how the second part of mausoleum has a window attached to it}

_{The community who is living in the cemetery complex}

10 – Try Balut

This could be a hit or miss. Balut looks just like a normal egg from the outside. But, it is an already fertilized duck egg between 14-21 days. I didn’t dare to eat the baby duck part. But, trying the yolk and the soup it felt quite normal. Balut is popular in Manila and during my trip in Palawan, I honestly didn’t see any.

_{Dare to try this?}

_{Dave’s cousin told me how Balut is actually not an exotic food since the locals in Manila eat them as snacks, just like skewers}

WHERE TO SLEEP?

Go Hotels Ermita was the choice if you want to sleep on a budget. We slept there for 4 nights without any issue. The hotel has a bistro and in house massage option. It is also located near the old town.