Manila at a Glance
Manila is a city of sharp contrasts, to put it mildly. Some travelers suggest skipping the Philippine capital entirely, arguing it is not an easy place to visit. Others call it the "pearl of the Orient" and maintain its appeal is widely overlooked. Here are the top reasons to take the time to explore Manila if you are traveling around the Philippines.
Historic Churches and Insightful Museums
Manila often takes flak for its heavy traffic, political friction, and smog, yet certain neighborhoods reward exploration. The historic colonial district known as Intramuros holds the city's finest landmarks, including several churches. San Agustin Church, built in 1589, stands as the country's oldest religious building. Its earthquake-resistant baroque design, engineered to withstand the frequent seismic activity in the Philippines, earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. For a deep dive into the nation's history, head to Fort Santiago, which houses a museum dedicated to José Rizal, the Philippine national hero. If you enjoy culture, you will likely make time for the National Museum of Fine Arts and Ethnography and the Ayala Museum covering pre-Hispanic Philippines. For something more eccentric, the Marikina Shoe Museum displays the 800 pairs of shoes once owned by the country's former First Lady.
A Cultural Melting Pot
The Philippine capital brings together diverse peoples and ethnic groups. Proof of this lies in the Chinese Cemetery, established in 1843 just outside Manila. You will find elaborate mausoleums, tombs, and sarcophagi built with a mix of Chinese and Western influences. Turtles, pagodas, three-story residential tombs, the variety and scale of the resting places are striking. Afterward, dive back into the frantic pace of Manila in Chinatown. Filipinos, Chinese, and Spanish populations have coexisted here for centuries. Founded in 1594, it is considered the oldest Chinatown in the world. Stop to sample delicious pancit (Chinese noodles), empanadas, or lumpia, a local cross between an egg roll and a spring roll.
Shopping and Cocktails
Manila is also a modern metropolis fully geared toward the twenty-first century. You can shop in trendy boutiques and check out the local arts scene at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Makati, a sleek commercial hub 5 kilometres from Manila, features some of the largest shopping malls on earth. Grabbing a drink at a chic bar in Makati is practically mandatory, as the area is packed with rooftop lounges and cocktail spots.
When to Go
You can visit Manila year-round, but the most comfortable weather runs from December to February. From March to May, the dry season continues, but the heat becomes intense. From June to October, the monsoon season and typhoons bring heavy downpours.
How to Get There
A flight from Paris to Manila starts at around $570*. Your flight will likely include at least one layover in the United Arab Emirates or Kuwait, bringing the total travel time to about 16 to 17 hours.
I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy my visit to Manila. Aside from discovering a few interesting markets, the city didn't win me over.
What strikes you most is the stark contrast between the luxury hotels and the poverty that is everywhere in the streets.
In my opinion, Manila doesn't offer much of interest for travelers, other than its practical function as the home of the international airport that makes it easier to reach other regions of the Philippines.