Things to do in the Philippines: 9 must-see attractions

Manila is a city of sharp contrasts. Some travel guides tell you to skip the Philippine capital entirely, arguing it is too gritty or chaotic for foreign visitors. Others call it the pearl of the Orient and insist its character is severely underrated. Here is why you should carve out time to explore Manila when you visit the Philippines.

Historic Churches and Insightful Museums

Traffic gridlock and pollution often overshadow Manila, but historic neighborhoods reward those who look closer. The colonial walled district known as Intramuros holds the city's finest architecture, including several centuries-old churches. Built in 1589, San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the country. Its earthquake-resistant baroque design has survived centuries of tectonic activity, earning it a UNESCO World Heritage listing. For a deep dive into national history, head to Fort Santiago, which houses a museum dedicated to José Rizal, the national hero. If you enjoy culture, check out the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Ayala Museum for exhibits on pre-hispanic Philippines. For something quirky, the Marikina Shoe Museum displays hundreds of pairs of shoes once owned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

A Cultural Melting Pot

The capital acts as a crossroads for many different peoples and ethnicities. A short distance away stands the Chinese Cemetery, established in 1843. It features elaborate mausoleums, tombs, and family crypts blending Chinese and Western architectural styles, from turtle-shaped markers to three-story concrete houses. Back in the city center, the energy ramps up in Chinatown. Filipinos, Chinese, and Spanish communities have mingled here for centuries, and founded in 1594, it ranks among the oldest Chinatowns in the world. Stop by local food stalls to try pancit (stir-fried noodles), empanadas, or lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).

Shopping and Rooftop Cocktails

Manila has fully embraced the twenty-first century with modern retail districts and creative arts venues like the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Just 5 km away, Makati serves as the modern financial hub, home to some of the largest shopping malls on the planet. Spending an evening at a rooftop cocktail bar in Makati is practically a requirement here, given the sheer number of stylish lounges overlooking the skyline.

When to go

You can visit Manila year-round, but the most comfortable weather runs from December to February. Summer brings heavy downpours and intense heat and humidity.

How to get there

Flights from major US hubs typically connect through a Middle Eastern or Asian hub, with total travel times averaging 16 to 17 hours depending on your departure city.

Tagaytay is a municipality in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines, located in the southern part of Luzon island, home to the capital, Manila. Sitting at an elevation of 2,000 feet, it enjoys cooler temperatures than the rest of the country, similar to the relief you might find in the Appalachian highlands. The name Tagaytay comes from the tagalog language, meaning "the ridge." The town sits on a high ridge overlooking Taal Lake and its iconic volcano, providing clear views of the surrounding landscape. The view from the rooftop of the Taal Vista hotel is widely considered one of the best in the area.

The city of Taal Volcano

Tagaytay is known primarily for its location, perched on a hillside that offers panoramas of the Caldera and the Taal volcano. This high-altitude placement was historically chosen to keep the town out of reach of the volcano's frequent eruptions, which have devastated lower-lying towns nearby.

The volcano of Taal is the smallest active volcano in the world, with its most recent eruption occurring in 2020. It is a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. From the nearby village of Talisay, you can arrange an excursion to the volcano. A short boat ride followed by a 40-minute hike brings you to the summit, where you can see fumaroles, craters, and the lake inside the crater.

Tagaytay began to grow in importance during the early 20th century. Located just a few hours south of Manila, it gradually became a popular retreat for residents of the capital seeking nature and quiet. In 1938, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon visited Tagaytay to sign Commonwealth Act 338, which formally established the city.

A base for hiking

Tagaytay features several green spaces like Picnic Grove or the People's Park in the Sky, which has a unique history. These grounds were originally developed to house the residence of the former Philippine dictator, President Marcos. Following the 1986 Philippine Revolution, the site was preserved and converted into a public park.

Tagaytay also serves as an ideal base for mountain hikes, including ascents of Mount Batulao, Mount Talamitam, or Mount Pico de Loro. The area is known for its flower fields and coconut plantations. Be sure to stop by the local market or try a bowl of bulalo, a beef shank soup that is the regional specialty.

When to go

The best time to visit the Philippines is between November and March, when temperatures are warm and rainfall is minimal.

How to get there

From the capital, Manila, take a bus from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). The trip takes about 2 hours. If you are driving, you can reach the city via the Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Road in about 90 minutes.

Puerto Galera is a beach town located on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. It is a premier destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The town sits near Apo Reef, a sprawling 34-square-kilometer coral system recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which supports a massive array of marine life. Puerto Galera is also known for its accessible beaches and a wide range of dining and entertainment options, attracting a significant community of international expats.

Beaches and coastal recreation

Puerto Galera features several well-known beaches, including White Beach. This is the island's primary tourist hub, packed with nightlife, bars, restaurants, and tour operators. Other notable spots include Talipanan, which offers a smaller, quieter atmosphere, Sabang, a lively beach stretching along the former fishing village of the same name, and Aninuan.

The area is set up for a wide variety of water and land-based activities. Beyond diving, you can rent jet skis, kayaks, or windsurfing gear, go catamaran sailing, or book a deep-sea fishing trip. On land, the options are equally diverse, including paintball, mountain biking, go-karting, archery, and hiking.

The island of Mindoro, forests and biodiversity

The island of Mindoro is heavily forested and biologically diverse. Serious hikers often tackle the trail to Mount Halcon, one of the highest peaks in the Philippines, reaching an elevation of over 2,500 meters. For shorter excursions, the paths leading to the 31-meter-tall Tamaraw Falls or the Tukuran falls offer excellent opportunities to observe local flora and fauna. To reach the Tukuran falls, you even have the option of taking a ride on a cart pulled by oxen.

For those interested in local culture, the Mangyan village at the southern end of the island is worth a visit. This community is supported by a philanthropic family to preserve the heritage of an indigenous people who have faced historical persecution. On the western side of the island, do not miss the Immaculate Conception Church, which houses an excavation museum filled with artifacts and relics that provide a window into local history.

When to go

The best time to visit Puerto Galera is between January and April, which coincides with several local festivals. Be aware that typhoon season typically runs through October and November.

How to get there

From Manila, take a bus to the Batangas pier, then transfer to a ferry bound for Puerto Galera. If you are arriving from the island of Tablas, a ferry will take you to Roxas, where you will need to continue by land to reach Puerto Galera. From Coron, ferries arrive at San Jose on the western side of the island, from which you can take a series of buses to Roxas, Calapan, and finally, Puerto Galera.

Boracay is an island in the Visayas archipelago in the central Philippines, located about 300 kilometres from the capital of Manila. This small island, measuring 6 kilometres long by one to two kilometres wide, is known for its white-sand beaches and vibrant nightlife. In recent years, it has welcomed up to 2 million tourists annually. Victim of its own success, the island recorded more than 33,000 residents in 2018 compared to barely 12,000 in 2000. In 2018, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided to close all access to the island for six months for environmental reasons, kicking off a major rehabilitation period for Boracay.

A tropical island in the heart of the Philippines

Boracay packs plenty of appeal into a compact space, earning its reputation as a tropical escape with turquoise waters, exceptional marine life, warm sunshine, and upscale hotels, restaurants, and bars. It is a recognized destination for nightlife, lounging on the sand, or trying out scuba diving. Numerous activities are available on site, including paddleboarding, surfing, parasailing, and jet-skiing, alongside the island's traditional market with its fresh seafood, D’Talipapa.

The two best-known beaches on Boracay are White Beach, a 4-kilometre stretch ranked among the ten finest beaches in Asia, and Bugalog Beach, located on the opposite side where weather conditions favor water sports. White Beach is divided into several sections called stations, which reference old boat landings and help visitors navigate the island. Quieter, less-developed beaches are also accessible, particularly in the northern sector of the island. You can also take scenic walks through the surrounding nature.

The rehabilitation of Boracay Island

During the months of isolation ordered by the president of the Philippines, the island underwent a deep clean and new conduct rules were enacted, such as bans on drinking or smoking on the beaches. Quotas were put in place so the island can now accommodate a maximum of 19,200 tourists simultaneously. Hotels failing to meet specific environmental standards were closed, and the island's roads were upgraded to smooth out traffic flow. To prevent illegal construction along the shoreline, a special 30-metre buffer zone from the water's edge was established where all types of installations are prohibited.

When to go?

The best time to fully enjoy the beach life on Boracay is during the dry season between December and March. Avoid the months from June to October, which see heavier rainfall. Be sure to book your trip well in advance due to the visitor quotas now enforced on the island.

How to get there?

Boracay is accessible by ferry from Caticlan on the neighboring island of Panay, where the local airport sits just across the strait. You can also fly into Kalibo International Airport and make your way down.

Banaue is a village on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, sitting at an elevation of 1,200 meters (about 3,937 feet) in the Cordillera mountains, near the peak of Mount Amuyao. It is known for extensive rice terraces carved over 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people, a site recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage landmark since 1995. These terraces function as a sophisticated irrigation system, capturing and distributing water from the mountain forests to nourish the rice crops. Even today, local farmers maintain the fields using traditional, manual techniques.

Seeing the rice terraces, the eighth wonder of the world

Banaue is a small, rugged village and one of eleven settlements inhabited by the Ifugao tribe. Expect cooler temperatures here thanks to the high altitude and mountainous terrain. While the local economy has been anchored in rice farming for two millennia, tourism is now a significant part of daily life. The retaining walls that form the terraces were built by hand, using local materials like mud and stone. Locals often refer to the fields as "stairways to the sky," a fitting name given the steep climbs required to reach the various basins scattered throughout the valley.

You can easily walk through the rice paddies from the village to reach observation points like the Chango View Point or the Front Size View Point. If you are looking for more of a workout, multi-day treks through the valley are available, and hiring a local guide is highly recommended.

Starting point for trekking in the Philippine Cordillera

Most treks lead you through the rice fields to neighboring villages like Batad, which sits inside a natural green amphitheater, as well as Bangaan and Cambulo. Hiking routes often lead deep into the wilderness to spots like Tappia Falls, a 21-meter (69-foot) cascade where you can take a dip, or the Guihob natural pool, which was partially damaged by a typhoon in 2010. Those looking for a challenge can head to the Awa View Deck, a trail that provides a sweeping aerial view of the terraces below. You can also travel between villages by jeep, the primary local transport, or by renting a bicycle on-site.

When to go

The scenery shifts dramatically throughout the year. The landscape is lush and vibrant green during the rainy season in June and July, while the atmosphere turns dry and earthy between December and March, which coincides with the rice planting season. If your schedule allows, try to visit during the Ifugao indigenous culture festival in April to experience days of traditional costumes, songs, and dances.

How to get there

From Manila, the capital, you can take a bus to Banaue. The trip takes about 9 hours. Many travelers prefer the overnight bus to save on time, though the daytime route offers impressive mountain views.