Where to stay · Manila · Philippines
Where to stay in Manila
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages). The business district's leafy blocks of hotels, malls and restaurants. Best alternatives — families: Bonifacio Global City (BGC); budget: Poblacion, Makati; nightlife: Poblacion, Makati.
Key facts
- First visit
- Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages)
- Families
- Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
- Budget
- Poblacion, Makati
- Nightlife
- Poblacion, Makati
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages) | The business district's leafy blocks of hotels, malls and restaurants |
| Families | Bonifacio Global City (BGC) | Planned, walkable district of towers, parks and outdoor malls in Taguig |
| Couples | Intramuros | The walled Spanish city, with a few heritage hotels inside the walls |
| Budget | Poblacion, Makati | Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district |
| Luxury | Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages) | The business district's leafy blocks of hotels, malls and restaurants |
| Nightlife | Poblacion, Makati | Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district |
| Food lovers | Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages) | The business district's leafy blocks of hotels, malls and restaurants |
| Solo travellers | Poblacion, Makati | Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district |
| Shopping | Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages) | The business district's leafy blocks of hotels, malls and restaurants |
| Quiet stays | Intramuros | The walled Spanish city, with a few heritage hotels inside the walls |
Manila neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, shopping and food lovers
Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages)
Makati's central business district around Ayala Avenue holds the Greenbelt and Glorietta malls, international hotels and dozens of restaurants, with Legazpi and Salcedo villages offering tree-lined streets, parks and weekend food markets. It is the most practical base for first-time visitors.
- Good
- Wide choice of hotels and restaurants; Walkable elevated walkways and parks; About 20–40 minutes from the airport
- Watch out
- Traffic to Intramuros and Binondo; Expensive by Philippine standards
- Nearby
- Greenbelt, Salcedo Saturday Market, Poblacion
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Poblacion, Makati
Poblacion, Makati's original town centre around P. Burgos Street and Kalayaan Avenue, is now the city's busiest bar and street-food district, with hostels, cocktail bars, rooftop terraces and late-night eateries alongside old houses and the Saints Peter and Paul church.
- Good
- Best nightlife in the city; Good-value hostels and boutique hotels; Walk to Makati CBD
- Watch out
- Loud at night; Some rough edges on side streets
- Nearby
- Makati CBD, P. Burgos Street, Rockwell Center
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, shopping and first-timers
Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
BGC is a modern district of wide pavements, parks, public art and the open-air Bonifacio High Street, with international restaurants, cafés and hotels. It is one of the easiest places in Metro Manila to walk around and suits families and business travellers.
- Good
- Clean, safe-feeling and walkable; Great dining and parks; Good for children
- Watch out
- Far from historic Manila in traffic; Little local character
- Nearby
- Bonifacio High Street, The Mind Museum, Uptown Mall
$$ · Best for budget, culture and first-timers
Ermita and Malate
These bayside districts are the closest hotel areas to Intramuros, Rizal Park and the National Museum, and the Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard is known for its sunsets. Hotels are cheaper than in Makati, and Malate's Remedios Circle has bars and restaurants, but parts feel run-down.
- Good
- Walk to the main historic sights; Manila Bay sunsets; Lower hotel prices
- Watch out
- Seedy pockets at night; Older hotels
- Nearby
- Rizal Park, National Museum of Fine Arts, Intramuros, Manila Bay
$$ · Best for culture, couples and quiet stays
Intramuros
Staying inside Intramuros means waking up among colonial churches and stone walls, within walking distance of Fort Santiago, San Agustin and the Manila Cathedral. There are only a handful of hotels, and the area is quiet after dark.
- Good
- Historic setting; Early starts at the main sights; Quiet nights
- Watch out
- Few hotels and restaurants; Far from Makati nightlife
- Nearby
- Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Rizal Park
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture and budget
Binondo
Binondo, across the Pasig from Intramuros, is a dense district of Chinese-Filipino bakeries, dumpling houses, gold shops and temples around Ongpin Street and the Binondo Church. A few hotels make it a base for food-focused travellers.
- Good
- Outstanding cheap food; Close to Intramuros; Strong local character
- Watch out
- Congested and noisy; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Binondo Church, Ongpin Street, Escolta Street, Quiapo
$$$ · Best for luxury, families and nightlife
Bay Area and Entertainment City
On reclaimed land along Manila Bay in Pasay and Parañaque, Entertainment City holds large integrated resorts with casinos, pools and restaurants, next to SM Mall of Asia and its seaside promenade. It is close to the airport and handy for short stays.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Big resort pools and facilities; Bay sunsets
- Watch out
- Car-dependent; Far from historic and local neighbourhoods in traffic
- Nearby
- SM Mall of Asia, Manila Bay, Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages) | $$$ | Greenbelt, Salcedo Saturday Market, Poblacion |
| Poblacion, Makati | $$ | Makati CBD, P. Burgos Street, Rockwell Center |
| Bonifacio Global City (BGC) | $$$ | Bonifacio High Street, The Mind Museum, Uptown Mall |
| Ermita and Malate | $$ | Rizal Park, National Museum of Fine Arts, Intramuros, Manila Bay |
| Intramuros | $$ | Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Rizal Park |
| Binondo | $$ | Binondo Church, Ongpin Street, Escolta Street, Quiapo |
| Bay Area and Entertainment City | $$$ | SM Mall of Asia, Manila Bay, Ninoy Aquino International Airport |
Getting to your hotel
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is about 7–10 km south of Makati, with terminals that are not connected airside, so check which terminal your airline uses. Grab cars and taxis reach Makati or BGC in about 20–60 minutes depending on traffic, and point-to-point buses run to some districts. Clark International Airport (CRK) is about 90 km north, two hours or more by bus or car.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Manila for first-time visitors?
Makati (Legazpi and Salcedo Villages). Makati's central business district around Ayala Avenue holds the Greenbelt and Glorietta malls, international hotels and dozens of restaurants, with Legazpi and Salcedo villages offering tree-lined streets, parks and weekend food markets.
+Where should families stay in Manila?
Bonifacio Global City (BGC): Clean, safe-feeling and walkable.
+Which area of Manila is best for a budget stay?
Poblacion, Makati ($$): Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district.