History · Manila · Philippines
8 historic sites to see in Manila
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ernest Malsin, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Intramuros, Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–14 hours across 3 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 12–14 hours
- Areas
- Intramuros, Ermita and Malate and Binondo
Historic sites in Manila
Historic site · Intramuros
1.Intramuros
Much was destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Manila, but its walls, bastions, churches and rebuilt colonial houses make it the best place to understand the city's history, on foot, by bamboo bike or by horse-drawn kalesa.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
Castle · Intramuros
2.Fort Santiago
Brass footprints trace his final walk, and the Rizal Shrine museum displays his writings and belongings amid gardens and old walls.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Kids
Religious site · Intramuros
3.San Agustin Church
Its interior has a 19th-century trompe-l'oeil painted ceiling, and the adjoining monastery museum holds religious art and colonial artefacts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Religious site · Intramuros
4.Manila Cathedral
Its stained glass, bronze doors and large pipe organ are highlights, on Plaza Roma at the centre of Intramuros.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
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Museum · Intramuros
5.Casa Manila
It shows how the colonial elite lived in the classic bahay na bato style of stone ground floor and wooden upper storey.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · Ermita and Malate
6.National Museum of Anthropology
Across the plaza from the Fine Arts museum, this museum traces the Philippines' pre-colonial cultures, with the Manunggul burial jar, textiles from many ethnic groups and finds from the San Diego, a Spanish galleon sunk in 1600.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Park · Ermita and Malate
7.Rizal Park (Luneta)
It includes Chinese and Japanese gardens, open lawns and fountains, and fills with families at weekends.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Binondo
8.Binondo Chinatown
Ongpin Street and its side alleys are lined with bakeries selling hopia, dumpling houses, noodle shops, tea and herb stores, and the Binondo Church, with its octagonal bell tower, stands on Plaza Calderon de la Barca.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- History
- Shopping
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Intramuros | Intramuros, Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral and Casa Manila | Half a day + 1.5 hours + 1 hour + 30 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Ermita and Malate | National Museum of Anthropology and Rizal Park (Luneta) | 1.5 hours + 1 hour |
| Binondo | Binondo Chinatown | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Intramuros; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Intramuros): Intramuros, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Intramuros): Fort Santiago → San Agustin Church → Manila Cathedral → Casa Manila, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Ermita and Malate): National Museum of Anthropology → Rizal Park (Luneta), at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Binondo): Binondo Chinatown, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- October: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 16 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rains ease through the month, though late typhoons are possible.
- June: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 17 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rainy season begins, with heavy afternoon storms and occasional flooding.
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 21 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wet with typhoons possible; Christmas decorations start to appear in malls.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Ermita and Malate — Old tourist belt by Manila Bay, Rizal Park and the National Museum
- Intramuros — The walled Spanish city, with a few heritage hotels inside the walls
- Binondo — Chinatown's food streets, gold shops and temples north of the Pasig River
More of Manila
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Manila?
Intramuros. The walled city founded by the Spanish in 1571 was the seat of colonial government for more than three centuries.
+Which of these are free in Manila?
Intramuros, Manila Cathedral, National Museum of Anthropology, Rizal Park (Luneta) and Binondo Chinatown.