Manila travel guide

In Manila, the walled city of Intramuros and the Makati business district belong on different days, so where you stay decides your travel time.

Fort Santiago costs 75 pesos for general admission and is open 8:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday and 6:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

All arrivals register on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival; visa-free stays depend on your nationality. From the airport to Makati there are coupon taxis, regular taxis and Grab; the airport bus route has been suspended before, so check whether it is running.

Visa and entry requirements for The Philippines

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Bureau of Immigration Philippines (Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines)
• Temporary Visitor (9A) Visa Waiver extension fees (Bureau of Immigration Philippines)
• eTravel (Philippine Travel Information System) (Government of the Philippines)

According to the Intramuros Administration, general admission to Fort Santiago is 75 pesos, and 50 pesos for students, seniors and people with disabilities. Monday to Friday it is open 8:00 to 22:00 with last walk-in entry at 20:00; Saturday and Sunday 6:00 to 22:00 with last walk-in entry at 20:30.

Inside the walls, see the fort first in daylight and walk the walls in the evening. Makati is some distance from Intramuros, so going back and forth on the same day costs time; split them. Check current hours and prices for each site in the Intramuros Administration's facility information.

Based on the Intramuros Administration. General admission 75 pesos; students, seniors and people with disabilities 50 pesos.

With 2 nights: go from the airport to your hotel on day one and see Fort Santiago in the afternoon; spend day two eating and shopping in Makati. Not going back and forth between the two areas on the same day keeps you out of traffic.

With 4 nights: keep the first two days in the same order, add another part of the city or a nearby trip on day three, and leave plenty of time for the airport on day four.

Manila airport has coupon taxis and yellow regular taxis; coupon taxis charge a fixed fare by destination. Coupon taxis to Makati are listed at 330 to 430 pesos, while regular taxis use the meter. Rush hours take longest, so decide based on your arrival time.

The P2P bus from Terminal 3 to One Ayala in Makati cost 150 pesos, but the airport–One Ayala route was reported suspended from 13 October 2023, so rely on it only after confirming it is running. On days with lots of luggage, arrange a taxi or a pre-booked car first.

Plan meals in Manila around adobo, sisig, lechon and halo-halo. Cool off with halo-halo in the hot afternoon, and choose rice dishes such as adobo or sisig for dinner. We don't pick specific shops or prices here.

Register for free on the official eTravel site within 72 hours before arrival and show the QR code to your airline. Visa-free stays and passport-validity rules depend on your nationality; check the official sources before you travel.

Fort Santiago's last weekday entry is 20:00, so hurry on a late-afternoon arrival day. The airport bus has a history of suspensions, so have a taxi or Grab ready too.

Before you leave Manila

• Register on eTravel and save the QR code
• Check passport validity and your onward ticket
• Check Fort Santiago's hours for the day
• Choose between coupon taxi, regular taxi and Grab
• Check entry requirements on the official sources

• Seeing historic sites: stay near Intramuros and see Fort Santiago in daylight first.
• Shopping and dining: stay in Makati and visit the walled city for one day.
• Worried about airport transport: decide on a coupon taxi or Grab first, and check whether buses are running.