Fly to Manila

With its cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial architecture, Intramuros is the oldest district in Manila. Join a walking tour and learn about the city's history at spots like Fort Santiago, a 16th century citadel at the entrance to the Pasig River, and San Agustin Church, a spectacular Baroque church that is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Also popular are guided cycling tours with Bambikes, riding the laneways of Intramuros on fair-trade and sustainable bamboo bikes, and exploring in a kalesa (traditional horse-drawn carriage).

The neighbourhood of Binondo is the oldest Chinatown in the world, having been home to Chinese traders for more than 1000 years. Today, it's a bustling multi-cultural hub, filled with temples, churches, markets and of course, some of the most delicious Chinese food in Manila. Discover the best of the many hole-in-the-wall restaurants and traditional bakeries on a culinary walking tour, and explore the teahouses, herbalists and traditional goldsmiths lining Ongpin Street for insights into one of Manila's most vibrant and fascinating communities.

Manila's National Museum is a sprawling complex comprising several institutions. Explore Filipino art at the Museum of Fine Arts, take a dive into the pre-history of the Philippines at the Museum of Anthropology, and immerse yourself in the incredible architecture of the Museum of Natural History. Afterwards, take a relaxed wander around the lush grounds of adjacent Rizal Park. Nearby is the National Museum of the Filipino People, housed in a handsome neoclassical building, and featuring an exhibition on the wreck of the San Diego, a Spanish galleon that sank off Luzon in 1600.