Manila
Manila is the Philippine capital, known for Spanish-era churches and forts in Intramuros, the Binondo Chinatown and its Art Deco theaters.
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Manila sits on the east side of Manila Bay on Luzon and is the Philippine capital. The Pasig River flows through the middle of the city and splits it into north and south sections. Metro Manila is the wider capital region and includes Quezon City and Makati's business district. Spanish rule began in 1571, when Legazpi claimed the Tagalog settlement of Maynila as Spanish territory.
Intramuros, the walled district begun in 1571, holds Manila Cathedral and San Agustín Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Binondo claims the oldest Chinatown in the world, with many shops and restaurants. Escolta Street has Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts buildings from the American colonial period. Rizal Park, also called Luneta, is a large public park in the city center. The dry season runs from late December to early April, while typhoons usually occur from June to September.
Manila in five
- Register on eTravel before you flyArriving travelers complete the free eTravel form online before departure. Use only the official government site, and check the current rules with your airline.eTravel (official)
- Plan around trafficJourneys across the metro can take over an hour at rush hour. Group your sightseeing by area and avoid crossing the city twice in a day.
- Walk Intramuros in the morningThe walled city has Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church. Go early before the heat, then take a Grab to your next stop.
- Check your airport terminalNinoy Aquino (MNL) has separate terminals, and transfers between them take time. Check yours before you leave, especially for island connections.Palawan flights
Things to do in Manila
See all attractions in Manila
Need to know
- Airport
- Ninoy Aquino International (MNL)
- Getting there
- Flights from across Asia; domestic flights to the islands
- Getting around
- Grab, taxis, LRT and MRT lines
- Best base
- Makati or BGC for comfort, Ermita for Intramuros
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, pleasantJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°DryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°HotAprilRain
Good
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayRain21 rainy daysHigh34°Low27°HotMayRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 182 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JuneRain27 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Rains startJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 326 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JulyRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WetJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 495 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WettestAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 420 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 425 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Typhoon riskOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 299 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Drying outNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°DryDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
Average daily high and low in Manila, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan Feast of the Black Nazarene
Right now in Manila
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 80%
Manila
04:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today35°27°80%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 35°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed34°27°73%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Thu34°26°16%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 34°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Fri34°25°9%Friday: Clear. High 34°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sat34°26°45%Saturday: Drizzle. High 34°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sun33°26°68%Sunday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 68%.
Updated 01:52 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 63.7 PHP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
- SM Mall of Asia Arena · concertWestlife 25: The Anniversary World TourJan 20 – 21, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Philippine Sports Stadium · concertBTS World Tour 'Arirang'Mar 13 – 16, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Philippine Arena · concertBruno Mars The Romantic TourMay 15 – 18, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
Every year
- JanFeast of the Black NazareneManila
Day trips by train
- Tagaytay and Taalabout 2 hours by roadRidge views over Taal Lake and its volcano.
- Corregidorabout 1 hour by ferryWar-era island fortress at the mouth of Manila Bay.
Before you go to Manila
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Rules for Manila, checked
- Many nationalities enter the Philippines visa-free. Check your passport's eligibility and the allowed stay on the Bureau of Immigration site before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the arrival card. Check the current amount with the Bureau of Customs before you travel.
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Manila.
- Some restaurants add a service charge, so check the bill before you add a tip.
- Typhoons usually occur from June to September. Check PAGASA bulletins before flights and ferry trips in that period.Source
Plan around Manila
Islands, entry rules and how to link them
Read the guidePalawan travel guideEl Nido and Coron, a short flight south
Read the guideCebu travel guideMactan beaches and the Moalboal sardine run
Read the guideBoracay travel guideWhite Beach, reached via Caticlan
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and arrival forms by passport
Read the guidePhone and data on arrivalGet an eSIM before the airport queue
Read the guideManila FAQ
Where should I stay in Manila?
Makati for a first trip: it is central, has good restaurants and is easy to walk in the evening. Ermita is closer to Intramuros.
How many days do I need in Manila?
One or two. Most travelers use Manila as a gateway to the islands.
When is the best time to visit Manila?
December to April, in the dry season. July to October is wet, with typhoon risk.
Is Manila safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without trouble. Use Grab or a metered taxi after dark, keep phones out of sight on the street and avoid crowded jeepneys with valuables on show.
How do I get from the airport to Makati?
By Grab or taxi in roughly 30–60 minutes, depending on traffic. Use the official taxi queue or a ride-hailing pickup point, not touts inside the terminal.