Metro Manila

Understand

Locals and foreigners refer to Metro Manila simply as Manila. Administratively speaking, however, "Manila" is the name of one of the cities that composes the Metro Manila and is the capital of the Philippines. Consisting of 16 cities and 1 municipality in 630 km², the metro is the Philippines' seat of government and national capital region, and the center of the country's culture, arts, commerce, industry, and tourism. Metro Manila likewise serves as the pivot point to other exciting, popular destinations in the Philippines such as Boracay, Cebu City, and Davao City. Metro Manila is a multi-polar city with major business, shopping and leisure areas scattered across the city, rather than concentrated in a compact Downtown. However, southern Metro Manila containing Makati, Bonifacio Global City and the Entertainment City contains a large share of the city's most upscale areas and wealthiest residents, whereas Manila city proper concentrates much of the city's historical heritage and cultural options. Metro Manila is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, and further observation can mean Manila further grows into the suburban sprawl in the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and even Batangas, along the expressway corridors composed of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in the north, and Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway) in the south. This travel guide, however, covers only the area that form Metro Manila, and all nearby suburbs outside it are part of their respective provinces. First-time travellers to developing metropolises will meet Metro Manila with culture shock; you may find yourself around cacophonous traffic, crowding, urban blight, corruption, and jarring behaviors. That's why Dan Brown labelled Metro Manila as the "gates to hell" in Inferno after a character told her experience as a NGO worker in the metro's slums (spoiler alert!), despite the public backlash when it made headlines. Once you got around the chaotic environment, you may find that cultural diversity abounds. Staying in sterile areas of the metro, avoiding travel during rush hour or rough weather, and maintaining a high level of vigilance can help you get around hassle-free.

People Unlike some other Asian cities, in Metro Manila most people can speak English, can read and write in Roman text, do not feel comfortable with chopsticks, and enjoy more watching basketball and boxing rather than football and badminton. Manila has a unique blend of Asian and Western elements: many

Getting there

By plane Metro Manila is served by two airports: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Clark International Airport.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) (MNL IATA), 8 km south of Manila in Pasay and Parañaque, is the main airport serving Metro Manila. The airport is divided into three terminals. Terminal 1, long regarded as the one of the worst airport terminals in the world, has been renovated. The newer Terminals 2 and 3 are regarded as being far nicer with more amenities to boot. The following transportation options serve the airport:

Taxi: You can hail a yellow airport taxi at the arrivals area of all terminals. You can hail a white city taxi at the departure area of Terminal 3. You can hire a coupon taxi with fixed rates according to your destination at the information desk, though these taxis are notoriously overpriced and can cost over 5x what a regular taxi would cost. You can hire a Grab taxi at the arrivals area of all terminals. Jeepney: Jeepneys provide services to Parañaque and Pasay. Jeepneys that serve Terminal 3 will have "NAIA Terminal 3" written on the side route panel. Jeepneys that serve Terminals 1 and 2 will have "MIA" written on the side route panel. Local bus: UBE Express "Route 43/PITX-NAIA Loop" buses operate services between the airport (Terminal 3) and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), for onward connections to LRT Line 1. The service costs ₱150. Express bus: Genesis/UBE Express/HM Transport buses operate services between the airport (Terminal 3) and various locations around Metro Manila, many of which provide complimentary WiFi, GPS tracking, and comfortable seats. Train: MRT Line 9's NAIA Terminal 3 station is scheduled to open in 2029.

Clark International Airport Clark International Airport (CRK IATA) in Angeles City, Pampanga is 85 km north of Manila and is a popular hub for low-cost carriers. AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and SEAIR maintain hubs at Clark. Some airlines which serve Clark have dedicated bus transfer services that transport passengers between Metro Manila and the airport via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx). There are also four daily direct buses operated by Philtranco between Clark and its terminal in Pasay via SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, which costs ₱300 (to SM Megamall) or ₱350 (to Pasay). Jeepneys also connect the airport to bus terminals in Angeles, where it is possible to take a bus to Manila.

By train The Philippine National Railways (PNR) North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is under construction and will run between Clark Airport i

Getting around

Public transportation is the best way to get around Metro Manila, however the quality and frequency tends to be poor compared to the rest of Southeast Asia. Google Maps or Sakay.ph are handy for route options, but Google Maps does not have schedules for jeepneys. Driving is not for the faint of heart.

Fares

Beep is a prepaid smart card used to pay for the LRT, MRT, and some buses. The cards can also be used to pay at Lawson and Uncle John's convenience stores, Binalot restaurants and Robinsons MovieWorld cinemas. Consider buying the card if you are planning to use public transport extensively during your stay. The cards are available for purchase at LRT and MRT stations, bus terminals and Lawson and Uncle John's convenience stores. The card can hold a maximum amount of ₱10000 and can be topped up ("loaded") at LRT and MRT stations, Bayad Centers, SM Bills Pay locations and some major pawnshop chains. Using the card is straightforward, and works the same way as similar cards in other major cities. Mastercard and Visa contactless cards are accepted for travel on MRT Line 3. Simply tap your card on the fare gates and away you go, no ticket required. Contactless cards are not yet accepted for travel on LRT Line 1 or LRT Line 2 as of 2026.

By train Metro Manila's three metro lines are arguably the fastest way to get around the city, capable of zipping through the city's perennially congested streets. Line 1 is operated by the privately-owned Light Rail Manila Corporation, and is notable for being the first rapid transit line in Southeast Asia. Line 2 is operated by the state-owned Light Rail Transit Authority, and extends from Recto to Antipolo. Line 3 is operated by the nationally-owned Metro Rail Transit Corporation, and extends along Metro Manila's busiest transit corridor.

LRT Line 1 (LRT-1, colored green on maps), serves Manila, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque and Quezon City, zipping above Taft and Rizal avenues, and EDSA, in a general north-south direction. This line is particularly useful for reaching key tourist areas, including Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, Binondo and Quiapo. LRT Line 2 (LRT-2, colored blue on maps), serves Manila, Quezon City, Marikina and San Juan, going over Recto Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard, Aurora Boulevard and the Marikina–Infanta Highway in a general east-west direction. Although this line serves very few areas important to tourists, it does serve Quiapo and Cubao. MRT Line 3 (MRT-3, colored yellow on maps), serves Pasay, Quezon City, San Juan, Makati and Mandaluyong, running along the median of EDSA in a rough semi-circle

See

City walks Manila might not generally be a place to take a leisurely stroll, but it has interesting neighbourhoods that definitely deserve to be explored on foot:

Intramuros, the Spanish-built walled city that is the historical center of Manila. Largely destroyed during the World War II, it is not a charming colonial city center in the likes of Vigan, but a fascinating place where memories of the past and the realities of the present mix; Binondo is Manila's bustling Chinatown with an unmatched festival of colours, tastes, and smells; Makati's Poblacion is the historical core of Makati, containing both Metro Manila's Koreatown and hipster areas popular among backpackers; Makati's Ayala Center is a large cluster of shopping malls in Metro Manila's most important business district, which is itself an eye candy for skyscraper afficionados; Bonifacio Global City is an ultramodern business, commercial and affluent residential district in the likes of Singapore, and likely the most pedestrian-friendly area of Metro Manila.

Plazas, Parks and Nature Reserves

When it comes to parks, Luneta Park and Intramuros are the most popular destinations. Luneta Park (also called as Rizal Park and Rizal Monument) is home to the Rizal monument; a statue of the Philippines' national hero, Jose Rizal. It is one of the most significant and most important places in Philippine history from the Spanish colonial era to the EDSA revolution. The walled former city of Intramuros served as a settlement for the Indianized-Malay-Muslims, then it was taken over by the Spanish and fell into ruins during the World War II, it is one of the most popular icons of the Philippines. See Plaza de Roma in Intramuros where a statue of King Carlos IV of Spain stands, Plaza de Goiti or now known as Plaza Lacson is where a statue of Arsenio Lacson; said to be one of Manila's greatest mayor stands, next to it is Roman Santos building which would again make you think you're somewhere in Rome, Italy because of it Greco-Roman architecture. Plaza Miranda stands infront of Quiapo Church in the Filipino-Muslim district of Quiapo, an unfortunate event occurred here on 1971; the Plaza Miranda bombings. Manila Zoological and Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest zoos in Asia. It is criticized for its inadequate care towards animals and its dirty surroundings and animal rights activists are demanding to free the animals due to this while Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center have rare animals such as water monitors and the Philippine deer, it also treats injured animals even if it isn't part of their

Do

Festivals You can find almost all major festivals in Metro Manila. There are two New Years. The Gregorian New Year every January, is characterized by noise and merrymaking; the crackles and bursts of firecrackers and fireworks complete the Filipino New Year, believing it will scare misfortunes away, but can be dangerous and messy, with the day after characterized by scattered debris, used fireworks barrages and unexploded firecrackers, smoke, trash, and the most dreaded result, injured celebrators, victims of their firecrackers, and fires. Then, there's the Chinese New Year, at various dates between January and February, with the firecrackers and the Dragon Dance; Filipino Chinese offer money inside ampaw (red envelopes) and eat sticky but tasty tikoy.

There are many religious festivities held annually. The Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila every January draws millions into Manila, where devotees flock to touch the wooden statue. The festivities begins with the tradition of pahalik, where devotees kiss and rub their towels onto the image, and the actual procession, Traslación every January 9, is a very crowded situation, where personal space is almost unimportant, as people climb into and pull the carriage (andas) from the Quirino Grandstand, through parts of Manila, and back into Quiapo Church. Another major festival is the Watah Watah Festival, part of the Feast of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista) in San Juan, characterized by dances, and most notably, water fights at the streets, reminding you of Songkran in Thailand or Holi in India, so be warned, it's not a spectator sport for the ordinary tourist, especially if you look obviously foreign.

Cinemas Metro Manila has good cinemas, with the average ticket price at about ₱200, a bargain to Western standards but slightly steep to the average Filipino. Most cinemas are rather part of mall chains, and gone are the glory days of downtown movie houses. Old-style cinemas found at the heart of cities are now rare to find, but most have become seedy locations that show illicit X-rated, hardcore porn films. Modern Philippine cinemas are up to the modern standards, and expect wearing 3D glasses on some Hollywood films. IMAX cinema can be found at malls at various points in the metro.

Gambling Metro Manila is one of Asia's largest gambling hubs, containing no less than twenty casinos. Some of them have true Las Vegas or Macau standard, being not only casinos but also integrated resorts, entertainment venues and luxury shopping malls. These are mostly in the Entertainment City district of Parañ

Buy

There are generally two kinds of shopping destinations in Manila: the mall and the tiangge ("chang-ghe").

Shopping malls The Manila mall is more than just a shopping experience but a cultural destination as well. The largest malls in Metro Manila are practically their own cities within the city: complete with boutiques, supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, cinemas, medical facilities, hotels, schools, offices, gyms, serviced apartments, spas, convention centers, art galleries, bowling alleys, museums, ice skating rinks, and even a chapel for Sunday masses. SM Mall of Asia in Pasay is the largest mall in the Philippines and 5th largest mall in the world. The second largest mall in Metro Manila is SM North EDSA in Quezon City, followed by the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. The Ayala Center in Makati is not a single mall, but a cluster of four large shopping malls which combined might offer more shopping options than the aforementioned super-malls. While the typical image of shopping malls are of bland concrete boxes, many malls in Manila use innovative architecture and concepts including large open spaces, contemporary art exhibitions, and popular markets. In particular, the Bonifacio High Street in Taguig is a real "shopping mall turned into a pedestrian street", the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay contains a bustling amusement park facing the Manila Bay, Festival Alabang in Muntinlupa contains a park with a river, and the Venice Grand Canal in Taguig is, well... a replica of Venice. Eastwood City, McKinley Hill and Newport Mall are also some of the well-known malls by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls that are located in different parts of the Metro Manila. People usually go there because of their distinct architectural designs and concepts.

Tiangge

However, if you wish to experience the "ultimate Manila shopping experience", one has to shop at a tiangge. Tiangges are small makeshift stalls clustered together that sell anything and everything you can imagine think bazaars). But at bargain basement prices. In these places, one has to haggle, particularly if you are buying wholesale (defined as at least six pieces of the same item). The best tiangge complexes are in the Greenhills Shopping Center, Tiendesitas, Market! Market!, St. Francis Square, Tutuban Center Mall, Divisoria Mall, and 168 Mall. Go crazy buying quality clothes and shoes, pretty fashion jewelry and things for the house at very reasonable prices!

Eat

A tourist or visitor may be amused or perplexed to see Filipinos eating most of the time. Apart from the three major meals of the day, there are snacks in the morning and in the afternoon called merienda which are an integral part of a typical Pinoy's everyday life. Metro Manila's diverse racial community had brought the rise to international cuisine, from just one corner of the street a Filipino would be eating Shawarma (more commonly known as Doner or Kebab for some westerners), another one would be enjoying his kimchee, while others would enjoy their night with sushi, some would desire Indian and Thai curry for their lunch while some would prefer the typical American breakfast in fastfood stores. For Chinese cuisine go to Chinatown where they serve Hokkien dishes; American steakhouses, high class Japanese, Korean, Indian and Thai restaurants that lurk around Makati, Koreantown have cheaper options as does Japantown (Little Tokyo). Usually if you prefer to splurge, Makati is one of the best options. Typical Filipino cuisine and streetfood are found in the streets of Manila which provide the best options, the cost could be US$1-2 per serving or even lower.

Filipino fastfood America's influence is palpable in the Philippines, and you'll be hard pressed to find a mall without the requisite McDonalds and KFC. Filipino fastfood chains that capture the essence of Filipino food compete strongly for Philippine tastebuds however, and they may be a safe place for the tourist to try the local fare. The following are a list of fastfood chains that have branches all around the Metro, and in many cases around the country.

Jollibee. The most well-known Filipino fastfood chain of all, Jollibee can boast of over a thousand stores in the Philippines and more than 300 stores around the world. Typical fastfood fare for the most part, but the burger dressing will taste different (read: sweet) to most foreigners. For something a little different, try the pancit palabok, which is a vermicelli dish with an orange sauce. US$1-2 per serving. Greenwich Pizza. The second of Jollibee corps' trifecta of fastfood chains, Greenwich Pizzas are your typical fare, but once again with the slightly sweeter than usual tomato sauce. Some seasonal offerings may be on offer though, like the sisig pizza, so check the menu. US$2-3 per serving. Chowking. The Filipino version of Chinese food, also owned by Jollibee. For good sampling of their food, try the Lauriats, which feature a viand (beef, pork, chicken), rice, pancit (fried noodles with meat and veggies), siomai (dumplings), and b

Drink & nightlife

The epicenter of Metro Manila's famous nightlife is the Greenbelt in Makati where some of the city's best restaurants, cafes, bars and karaoke joints cluster around a park in the middle of the main business district. The Fort, Serendra and Bonifacio High Street are three different clusters that offers high-end restaurants, bars and shops in the nearby city of Taguig. Bohemian Malate and the adjoining Baywalk contain a variety of venues serving a combination of food, comedy, alcohol and live music in Manila. Other nightlife clusters in the Metro are Eastwood, Araneta Center, and Timog all in Quezon City. The introduction of American hip hop music has had a noticeable effect on Philippine night life, serving as the soundtrack to a high-spirited Manila youth culture. Many nightclubs now rival first-world standards both in terms of luxury and vibrancy. Additionally, there are numerous venues in which to catch elements of an active Philippine alternative rock community. Some venues, such as saGuijo Cafe in Makatihave risen to some prominence.

Sleep

Check city articles for listings Due to Metro Manila's horrible traffic, those who came for business are advised to stay in the business district they are visiting or as near as possible. Backpackers tend to favour Malate or Makati's Poblacion as they are both atmospheric areas with cheap food, bars, and accommodation. Those who want to avoid the gritty side of Manila typically stay in more affluent districts such as Makati's Ayala Center or Bonifacio Global City. Standard hotels range from ₱500 to ₱10000, but you can spend more if you want to stay in a luxurious place. Popular hotels such as Shangri-La and Mandarin Oriental are found in Manila and Makati while Marriot hotels just opened a branch in Newport City. Hotels include common frills such as laundry service, telephone, and TV. Motels have a bad reputation and perception by Filipinos as they are viewed as meeting places for illicit sex and things, but they are a cheap option. Condominiums, now easily rented even for short stays via websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com, are found around financial districts and often near commercial establishments.