6 best day trips from Manila

Day trips compared

The day trips

60 km · About 1.5–2.5 hours by road

1.Tagaytay and Taal Volcano

A cool ridge town overlooking Taal Lake and the active Taal Volcano, with viewpoint restaurants, bulalo beef-marrow soup and fruit stands. Access to the volcano itself depends on its alert level.

Getting there

Car with driver, ride-hailing car or bus

Best for

Families, Couples, First-timers

48 km · About 1–1.5 hours by ferry

2.Corregidor Island

A fortified island at the entrance to Manila Bay, scene of a key Second World War battle, with ruined barracks, gun batteries, the Malinta Tunnel and a Pacific War memorial, usually toured by trolley bus.

Getting there

Ferry tour from the Manila Bay area

Best for

Culture, Families

100 km · About 2.5–3 hours by road

3.Pagsanjan Falls

Boatmen paddle and drag canoes upriver through a forested gorge to a waterfall, where a raft takes you under the cascade; the ride back down shoots small rapids.

Getting there

Car with driver or tour, then a dugout boat upriver

Best for

Families, First-timers

25 km · About 1–1.5 hours by road

4.Antipolo and Pinto Art Museum

A hillside town east of Manila known for its pilgrimage cathedral, suman rice cakes and cashews, and the Pinto Art Museum, a large collection of contemporary Filipino art in white Mediterranean-style pavilions and gardens.

Getting there

Ride-hailing car or car with driver

Best for

Culture, Couples, Quiet stays

100 km · About 3 hours by road plus a 4x4 ride and hike

5.Mount Pinatubo

The volcano whose 1991 eruption was one of the largest of the 20th century now holds a turquoise crater lake, reached by 4x4 across ash fields and a hike. Tours start before dawn, and access is sometimes restricted, so check its status.

Getting there

Organised tour via Capas, Tarlac, with 4x4 and guide

Best for

Solo travellers, First-timers

120 km · About 2.5–3.5 hours by road

6.Anilao, Batangas

A coastline of dive resorts known for macro diving and snorkelling over reefs with nudibranchs and small marine life; most visitors stay a night or two rather than returning the same day.

Getting there

Car with driver or dive-resort transfer

Best for

Beach, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Jeepneys, the colourful shared minibuses, run fixed routes for very low fares, and the EDSA Carousel bus runs in a dedicated lane along the main highway.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask