The Philippines remains to be a tourist destination for people around the world with over 540,000 visitors in February 2016. The Philippines provides remarkable sights and experiences like no other.

Tourist Office

Local tourist offices provide information about the city, maps, hotel and hostels, public transport information and tours.

The official tourism site for the Philippines is:
http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/.

The official tourism site for Manila is:
http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/destination/manila/.

Offices

Department of Tourism - NCR
DOT Bldg., 351 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Tel: (632) 459-5200 to 5230

Quezon City Cultural & Tourism Affairs Office
8/F Civic Center Bldg. A, City Hall Compound, Elliptical Rd., Brgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: (632) 988-4242

Makati Tourism Office
10/F New Bldg. II, Makati City Hall, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City
Tel: (632) 899-8954

Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau
G/F Manila City Hall, Padre Burgos, 659 Ermita, Manila
Tel: (632) 528-1134

Sightseeing

Manila has various tourist spots and historic sites to visit.

Luneta Park
Address: Roxas Boulevard, Manila
Tel: 63919 926 4413
Admission: Free
Hours: Open daily 9am-9pm

Luneta Park, also known as Rizal Park, is one of the major tourist attractions in Manila. It is home to the monument of Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero. The kilometer zero marker is also found here and is used as the focal point to measure all road distances from Manila.

Intramuros
Address: Manila
Sites, Admission, Hours and Tel: Intramuros Sites and Museums Admission Fees

Intramuros is the oldest district and historic center of Manila. It was the original seat of government in Manila and was constructed as a walled city. Intramuros is a Spanish word which translates to "within the walls".

Manila Bay
Address: Roxas Boulevard, Manila
Admission: Free
Hours: Open daily

Manila Bay serves as the main port of Manila. You can stroll along the baywalk, a two-kilometer boardwalk stretch with views of the bay and surrounding areas. Sunset is the best time for a walk as Manila Bay sunsets are one of the best in the world.

Manila Ocean Park
Address: Behind Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, Manila
Tel: (632) 567-7777
Admission: Based on packages ranging from PHP 600 to PHP 3000
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm

Manila Ocean Park is an oceanarium with various sections including an underwater acrylic tunnel and a musical fountain. It also has a concourse plaza which hosts events, concerts and performances. There is a nearby marine-themed mall and the Hotel H2O with marine-themed rooms and suites.

Ayala Triangle Gardens
Address: Makati City (triangle intersecting Makati Ave., Ayala Ave. and Paseo de Roxas Ave.)
Admission: Free
Hours: Open daily 6am-10pm

Ayala Triangle Gardens is one of the few green areas in the central business district of Makati. It is a park frequented by joggers, pet owners and those who want some peace and quiet of their own. The park houses restaurants and hosts events such as art exhibits and the famous lights and sounds show during the holiday season.

La Mesa Ecopark
Address: La Mesa Dam Compound, Greater Lagro, Quezon City
Tel: (632) 430-4051 / 430- 5207
Admission: See rates on website
Hours: Open every day from 8am - 5pm

La Mesa Ecopark is an outdoor and recreational park in Quezon City. It is a popular destination for family outings, picnics and educational field trips. It has orchidariums, walking and biking trails and swimming pools. It also has a butterfly sanctuary as well as a lagoon for fishing and boating.

Tagaytay

Tagaytay is a mountain town south of Manila. It's a three-hour drive from Manila with a cooler climate and incredible views of Taal Lake. Taal Volcano, located within Taal Lake, is the smallest active volcano in the world. Tagaytay also has many restaurants worth visiting.

Corregidor Island

Corregidor Island is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay. It was fortified to defend the city of Manila from attacks during war. It houses the Pacific War Memorial which commemorates the Filipino and American soldiers who died during World War II. It also houses the Malinta Tunnel, the Japanese Garden of Peace and the Corregidor Lighthouse.

Tours

There is a range of tours with different focus areas and price points.

Day Tours

Many day tours focus on an overview of the city, though there are many different options focusing on particular aspects like architecture history. There are also tours focusing on the dining scene and tours of particular attractions.

Tours can last as little as an hour, with many in a two to four hour range. Most tours have a fee and are lead by a tour guide.

How to Find a Tour

Many of these types of tours meet at tourist attractions or transportation hubs. Investigate the scene before arrival through forums or by visiting the actual tour website to find out your options.

Tours in Manila

• Walk This Way Tours - This famous tour lead by Carlos Celdran takes you through Intramuros. He gives you an overview of Philippine history, architecture and culture mixed with performance art, wit and humor. He also has a roundup of other recommended tours and tour guides here.
• Old Manila Walks - This tour was established by Ivan Man Dy who was born and raised in Manila. He offers different walking tours, the most well-known of which is the food tour of Chinatown.
• Sun Cruises - Sun Cruises started as a ferry service to the island of Corregidor and now provides guided tours and accommodations for its Corregidor island tour. It also provides sunset and dinner cruises around Manila Bay.

Festivals

The Philippines is known for its countless festivals, locally called fiestas. Fiestas are rooted in Christianity since the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation. Fiestas were celebrated in honor of a patron saint. Most fiestas are now either religious or cultural. Below is a list of major festivals around Manila.

January

Caracol Festival - This festival is celebrated by Makati City in honor of Mother Earth and her bounty.

February

Bamboo Organ Festival - This festival celebrates the first and only bamboo organ in the world located in Las Piñas City. A musical show is held where organists will play the bamboo organ.

April

Aliwan Fiesta - This festival celebrates the different fiestas across the country. Contingents of street dancers from around the Philippines gather around Pasay City to showcase their talent and heritage.

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