Our Favorite Manila Attractions

POSTED ON JULY

We stayed in the busy and enigmatic Manila for the last three days of our month long trip to the Philippines. Aside from the great restaurants that we were fortunate to enjoy in Manila, these are our top favorite attractions, and we encourage you to check them out!

 

Intramuros and Fort Santiago

One of our favorite places to explore was Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago is the oldest Spanish fortress in the Philippines built in 1571. This place will transport you to the World War II period and give you recollections of how life was for the Filipino citizens during this time. Fort Santiago was used as a prison and many Filipinos were executed and tortured here. The site gives a history of Jose Rizal, a known national hero of the Philippines who was executed here. This is a great place to learn about the history of Manila. However, it is a sad and touchy place!

 

Tagaytay

The views from Tagaytay are amazing! One can admire the Taal Volcano Island and sigh over the beautifully calm sunsets. This is a popular tourist attraction and great place to take the whole family. Residence Inn Zoo and People’s Park are two of the fun places we visited in Tagaytay. The zoo is interactive and we got to feed baby tigers and hold iguanas and snakes. People’s Park is a fun place to hang out and enjoy the scenery. The park is well maintained and the view from up there is spectacular!

 

Corregidor Island

On our very last day, we took a boat to the historic Corregidor Island. This little tadpole-shaped island is full of history and beauty. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and we learnt so much. Corregidor served as an important fortress during World War II. It now serves as a memorial site and many say this island is haunted. By the way, you can spot monkeys and goats all over the island.

 

Mall of Asia

This massive shopping center is a must for those who love shopping. There are endless stores to choose from and a variety of eateries for when you need to take a break. There is an indoor ice skating rink where performances constantly take place. In addition, outside the mall, there are lots of fun attractions for the whole family including a train, ferris wheel, and other fun activities to do.

 

Quiapo Church

We enjoyed experiencing the way of life in the Quiapo District. Going to Quiapo Church was neat as we visited during the peak hours and were encountered with large crowds. The church was beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the street vendors take charge outside the church. It was a bit intimidating as vendors try hard to sell you flowers and rosaries by putting them around your neck or wrapping it around your hand and then quickly expecting you to pay for them. It’s all part of the fun!