Country guide · Philippines
Best places to visit in Philippines
3 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first trip to Philippines, start with Boracay: Powder-white sand, paraw sailboats and sunsets over the Sibuyan Sea. For beaches, look at Boracay and Cebu. Cebu is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 3
- Best months overall
- January–May
- Start with
- Boracay
- Least expensive here
- Cebu
3 places to visit in Philippines
Best: January–May · 5 days
Boracay
Powder-white sand, paraw sailboats and sunsets over the Sibuyan Sea
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Best: December–March · 3 days
Manila
Spanish-era Intramuros, free national museums and Binondo food crawls
Compare the destinations
When to visit Philippines
Across these destinations the most reliable months are January–May. Timing still varies by place: Boracay is best in January–May; Cebu is best in February–May; Manila is best in December–March.
Signature dishes across Philippines
Events through the year in Philippines
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Boracay: Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo (usually the third weekend of January); Cebu: Sinulog Festival — street dancing and processions honouring the Santo Niño (third Sunday of January) |
| February | Cebu: Chinese New Year — celebrations at the Taoist Temple and in the city (late January or February); Manila: Chinese New Year in Binondo (some years fall in February) |
| March | Boracay: Holy Week — very busy with domestic travellers (March or April); Cebu: Holy Week (some years fall in March) |
| April | Boracay: Summer school holidays in the Philippines (April–May); Cebu: Holy Week — busy beaches and religious processions (March or April) |
| May | Boracay: Labour Day long weekend crowds (1 May); Manila: Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan — flower festivals and parades in parishes (throughout May) |
| June | Boracay: Independence Day (12 June); Cebu: Independence Day (12 June) |
| November | Boracay: Start of the kitesurfing season on Bulabog (usually November); Cebu: All Saints' Day (Undas) — family visits to cemeteries (1 November) |
| December | Boracay: Christmas and New Year celebrations with fireworks on White Beach (late December); Cebu: Simbang Gabi — dawn masses before Christmas (16–24 December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Boracay | Cebu | 282 km |
| Boracay | Manila | 310 km |
| Cebu | Manila | 571 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Philippines?
Boracay: Boracay is a small island about 7 km long off the northwest tip of Panay, best known for White Beach, a roughly 4-km stretch of fine pale sand on its west coast divided into Stations 1, 2 and 3. Most visitors fly into…
+When is the best time to visit Philippines?
Generally January–May, though it varies by region.