1 destination · 10 things to do
Philippines
Manila is the loud, warm, layered capital of the Philippines, and the city rewards travellers who give it more than a night between flights. On the south bank of the Pasig River lies Intramuros, the walled Spanish city founded in 1571, where Fort Santiago guards the river mouth, the stone church of San Agustin has stood through earthquakes and war, and bamboo bicycles roll along the old ramparts at sunset. A short walk south, the National Museum fills three grand buildings around Rizal Park with Juan Luna’s Spoliarium, galleon treasure and the natural history of the islands, all free. Across the river, Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world, feeds the city dumplings, hopia and noodles, while the street stalls of the capital serve everything from isaw to halo-halo. Beyond the sprawl lie two classic day trips: the ridge at Tagaytay, looking down on the crater lake of Taal Volcano, and the boat ride up a jungle gorge to Pagsanjan Falls. This guide books the tours and tickets worth booking, explains the current volcano rules and shows how to fit the city into a first trip.
