What to See in Manila

Nearest railway station: United Nations (LRT-1). Manila's green lung, this large urban park stretches from the Quirino Grandstand in the west to Taft Avenue in the east, with the historic walled district of Intramuros bordering it to the north.…

Destroyed and rebuilt several times over, the Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and one of the most important churches in the Philippines.…

A true Spanish Baroque treasure, with magnificent trompe-l'œil ceilings and a splendid high altar. Consecrated in 1607, this ancient building managed to survive the Second World War (although it, too, sustained heavy damage) and is said to be the oldest stone church currently standing in the Philippines.…

Built and opened in the 1900s, the museum showcases significant collections from archaeology, arts, cultural properties, zoology, botany and many more. The National Museum of the Philippines is a government institution in the Philippines and serves as an educational, scientific and cultural institution in preserving th…

Opened in 2008, this is Manila's first major oceanarium. Although not quite as large and well-equipped as some of Asia's more famous oceanaria (including those in Hong Kong and Singapore), it's still a popular attraction among locals and could be a very interesting diversion for families with children.…

The former military headquarters of the Spanish colonial government. Although the fort sustained very heavy damage during the 1945 Battle of Manila, several key portions of the compound were subsequently restored - including its iconic gate with a wooden relief featuring Santiago Matamoros (St. James the Moor-slayer), the patron saint of Spain.…

Built by the Dominican priests in 1820, this cemetery is where Jose Rizal was buried after his execution in Luneta (also known as Rizal Park) in December 30, 1896. In August 17, 1912, Rizal's remains were exhumed and laid beneath his monument at Rizal Park. A marker can be seen in the location where the remains of Rizal used to be interred.…

Buddhist temple open to the public and is worth visiting as it shows the roots of the Chinese-Filipino, you can burn incense sticks and utter your prayers. There is also these red wooden half moons you can use to have your fortunes told.…

Make way for the most important person in the Philippines....the President. The official residence of the President, the etymology of the name Malacañan is from the Tagalog phrase "may lakan diyan" meaning "there's a nobleman there". The mansion was first used as a residence for the Spanish governor generals as well as the Americans.…

Adjacent to the San Agustín Church (see Churches, above), this museum's very impressive - if rather poorly labelled - collection includes Spanish colonial-era ecclesiastical vestments, sacred vessels, religious art, manuscripts, and other important cultural artifacts.…

Built in the 1820s and reconstructed after the 1863 earthquake, this building once housed the Spanish colonial government's customs offices and other administrative units. It was damaged during the war but survived to re-enter government service - at one point housing the Central Bank of the Philippines - only to fall victim to a 1979 fire that caused massive destruction.…

Completely rebuilt in 1884 after the disastrous earthquake of 1863, the seat of Manila's colonial-era city council once had some of the grandest interiors in Intramuros. The 1945 Battle of Manila left it a gutted shell, of which only parts of the first storey survived; it then suffered the indignity of serving as a parking lot.…

Using images, sounds, and animatronics, the museum takes visitors on a journey through Philippine history under Spanish rule. The facility is housed in a building whose facade reproduces the appearance of the old mother house of the Beaterio de la Compañía de Jesús, which stood on the site until its destruction during the Second World War.…

Built by Arcadio Arellano in 1914 when Philippine architecture was influenced by Art Nouveau in building houses and buildings, historically it was the home of Dr. Ariston Bautista and his wife Doña Petrona Nakpil along with her brother; Julio Nakpil with his wife, Gregoria De Jesus who was also the widow of Andres Bonifacio; a Filipino leader during the Spanish colonial era.…

built in 1596, it is one of the oldest places of Christian Worship. The Church is home to the Our Lady of China and in-front of the church, Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz lies; it is named after a Filipino-Chinese saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz.…

Bounded by the Manila Cathedral to the southeast, the Palacio del Gobernador to the southwest and the Ayuntamiento to the northeast, this small plot of land is Intramuros' very own plaza mayor (main square).…

An art deco building designed by Filipino architect; Juan M. de Guzman Arellano, first opened in the 1930s and then was severely damaged after the liberation of Manila by America and the Filipino forces in 1945, it was again reconstructed by the Americans however by the 1960s it fell into disuse but again reopened in t…

During the Spanish colonial era, Plaza Dilao became one of the Japanese settlements in Manila. In 1915, Dilao became a transport center with the operation of the Paco Railway Station. During World War II, intense battle were fought in the area between the Japanese and joint Filipino and American forces.…

This eight-storey office building was erected in the late 1970s on the site of the Spanish Governor-General's official residence, which was destroyed in a powerful 1863 earthquake that also damaged many other structures in Intramuros.…

Almost a twin of the former Finance Department headquarters nearby, this Neoclassical building is a prominent feature of the eastern end of Rizal Park. The colossal statue of Lapu-Lapu - a fairly recent addition to the park - stands between the two buildings, and the giant relief map of the Philippines is just a short …

Never mind the ill-conceived pink and yellow paint job - this grand Neoclassical structure from the 1920s is a fine exemplar of the massive government buildings that were erected in this part of Manila during the American colonial period.…

The Ocampo Pagoda is an example of "Where East meets West" architecture, the pagoda is mixed of European and Oriental architecture and looks like as if a temple in good old China has been invaded by the English and made into a castle. The history is that Don Jose Ocampo wanted and ordered to beautify his garden.

Dating from the 17th century, this formidable bastion surrounds the remains of the round fort of Nuestra Señora de Guia, the first stone fort built in Manila. Severely damaged during the Second World War, the Baluarte de San Diego was restored in the 1980s and is now a major tourist attraction.

Quiapo is home to a large Muslim Community, this mosque was built in the 1970s in order of Imelda Marcos for the visit of former Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, although his visit was cancelled. It is the biggest mosque in Metro Manila and serves the large Muslim community of Quiapo.

A recreation of a typical upper-class colonial Intramuros home. The interiors are filled with antique furniture, artwork, and other artifacts from the Spanish era, all carefully arranged to illustrate what life was like for wealthy families of that period. ₱75, ₱50 students/children.

Purchased and converted into a guesthouse in the 1970s, it showcases European silver ware including notable 18th and 19th century silversmiths Paul de Lamerie and Paul Storr. It has been given as a gift to the Marcoses during their Silver wedding anniversary.

Built during the American colonial era, the emblems of the United States of America are still seen. It was used as official use of the administration of President Manuel L. Quezon until the Marcos' administration. Today it showcases Filipino history

Built in 1662, renovated 1782-83. On 30 Dec 1896, national hero José Rizal was taken through this gate en route to the place of his execution, in what is known today as Rizal Park (see related entry on the district sub-page for Ermita).

The external appearance of this post-war building closely mimics that of the Augustinian Provincial House, an extension of the nearby San Agustín convent that was built on the site in the 19th century and destroyed by fire in 1932.

A children's interactive museum, the first of its kind in the Philippines. Opened in 1994, Museo Pambata is the dream come true of Nina Lim-Yuson, who was inspired by the Boston Children’s Museum to open up a similar facility in Manila.

This University is oldest and first University in the whole of Asia and the Philippines. It was used as a camp by the Japanese during their occupation where the imprisoned about 10,000 people even though it only can hold 4,000.

Another Chinese temple worth seeing, located along Narra Street, it is usually jam-packed with people burning incense and offering food and fruits to Buddha during celebrations of the lunar calendar.

Built by the Jesuits and consecrated in 1889, the church's magnificent interiors were completely destroyed in 1945. There are plans to restore the ruined building for use as an ecclesiastical museum.

Inaugurated during Imelda's heyday, it used to display works by Caravaggio. This, the premier art museum of Manila, showcases both traditional, Hispanic and modern art with its exhibits.

Located within the walls of Fort Santiago (see above), this small museum contains exhibits related to the life and work of José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.

Built in 1861, this was the last gate to be opened in Intramuros' walls under Spanish rule. A fine statue of Queen Isabel II of Spain stands in front of the gate.

Look around Plaza Miranda which is just outside Quiapo Church, here they sell amulets believed to give you powers and protection from dark forces.

Is rather decrepit, and in need of drastic renovations. The Manila Zoo covers an area of 0.055 square kilometers. Accessible via LRT-1 Quirino station.

Showcases Juan Luna's and Felix Ressurecion Hidalgo's paintings. It has a library, clinic and a room for photography equipment.

One of Manila's well-known museums; see Chinese biographies and their contributions in the history of the Philippines.

See Asia's first botanical garden, opened on the late 1850s, renamed after John C. Mehan, the park superintendent.

Established in 1923, it is the first and the oldest Chinese-Filipino secondary school in the Philippines.

Includes documents such as the signing of Independence displayed in a holy grail-like showcase.

Baroque-style church founded in 1594 and rebuilt in 1864.

Built during the 1890s of Neo-Renaissance ornamentation.

Mansion of the Paterno family, of neo-classic details.