Find places in Philippines

Must-Haves

• Intramuros (Intramuros)
  The Spanish era walled city, best explored on foot or by bamboo bike along its ramparts.
• Fort Santiago (Intramuros)
  The old citadel at the mouth of the Pasig, where national hero José Rizal spent his final days.
• San Agustin Church (Intramuros)
  The oldest stone church in the country and part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
• National Museum of Fine Arts (Ermita)
  Home to Juan Luna's vast Spoliarium and free to enter.

Fun for Everyone

• National Museum of Natural History (Ermita)
  A striking Tree of Life atrium and galleries on the islands' wildlife.

Must-Haves

• Rizal Park (Ermita)
  The capital's great green space, with the Rizal Monument and evening crowds.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Binondo Food Walk (Binondo)
  The world's oldest Chinatown is best eaten your way through, dumpling by dumpling.

Fun for Everyone

• Manila Bay Sunset at Baywalk (Malate)
  Locals gather along the bay for one of Asia's famous sunsets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pasig River Ferry (Escolta)
  A cheap public ferry that shows the city from the river.

Must-Haves

• Manam (Bonifacio Global City)
  Modern takes on Filipino comfort food, perfect for a first taste of sisig and sinigang.
• Aristocrat Restaurant (Malate)
  A Manila institution since the 1930s, famous for chicken barbecue with java rice.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dong Bei Dumplings (Binondo)
  Handmade northern Chinese dumplings folded in front of you.
• Wai Ying Fastfood (Binondo)
  A bustling, much loved spot for roast meats and dim sum.

Great for Date Night

• Toyo Eatery (Makati)
  Inventive tasting menus built on Filipino ingredients and memories.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Café Adriatico (Malate)
  A long running Malate café with a bohemian feel.

Great for Date Night

• The Curator (Makati)
  A tiny coffee bar by day and a celebrated cocktail bar by night.

Fun for Everyone

• Poblacion Makati bars (Poblacion)
  The city's liveliest nightlife strip, packed with small bars and food stalls.

Must-Haves

• Greenhills Shopping Center (San Juan)
  A maze of stalls for pearls, gadgets and bargains.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Quiapo Market (Quiapo)
  A chaotic, colourful market beside Quiapo Church, home of the Black Nazarene.

Off the Beaten Path

• Escolta Street (Binondo)
  Manila's old commercial street, now with art spaces and weekend makers' markets.

Must-Haves

• The Manila Hotel (Ermita)
  A grand historic hotel on the bay that has hosted presidents since 1912.

Must-Haves

• Feast of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo)
  Huge crowds join the January procession of the revered statue.

Must-Haves

• El Nido Island Hopping Tour A (Bacuit Bay)
  The classic tour to the Big and Small Lagoons by boat and kayak.

Fun for Everyone

• El Nido Island Hopping Tour C (Bacuit Bay)
  Hidden beaches, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine in one day.

Must-Haves

• Big Lagoon (Miniloc Island)
  Emerald water ringed by limestone cliffs, explored by kayak.
• Nacpan Beach (Nacpan)
  A long, quiet golden beach north of town lined with coconut palms.

Off the Beaten Path

• Duli Beach (Bucana)
  A remote surf beach with few people and big skies.

Fun for Everyone

• Las Cabanas Beach (Corong Corong)
  A sunset beach with a zipline out to an islet.

Must-Haves

• Artcafe (El Nido town)
  A popular all day spot by the beach for meals and travel information.

Great for Date Night

• Trattoria Altrove (El Nido town)
  Wood fired pizza that has fed island hoppers for years.
• Happiness Beach Bar (El Nido town)
  Middle Eastern plates and drinks right on the sand.

Low Cost and Authentic

• El Nido Public Market (El Nido town)
  Fresh fish and local snacks where residents shop.

Must-Haves

• El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island (Miniloc Island)
  An island resort reached by boat, set in a quiet cove.

Great for Date Night

• Lagen Island resort (Lagen Island)
  Overwater cottages in a sheltered forest cove.

Must-Haves

• Kayangan Lake (Coron Island)
  The postcard viewpoint and clear lake surrounded by limestone.
• Twin Lagoon (Coron Island)
  Swim between two lagoons where warm and cool water meet.

Fun for Everyone

• Barracuda Lake (Coron Island)
  Freshwater over saltwater, with strange layers that divers love.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Maquinit Hot Spring (Coron town)
  A saltwater hot spring that is lovely after dark.

Off the Beaten Path

• Malcapuya Island (Coron area)
  White sand and calm water on a longer island hopping route.

Must-Haves

• Coron Japanese shipwreck dives (Coron Bay)
  Second World War wrecks that rank among the world's great wreck dives.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mount Tapyas (Coron town)
  Climb the steps for a sunset view over the bay.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Coron Public Market (Coron town)
  Fresh fish, fruit and simple local eateries.

Must-Haves

• Magellan's Cross (Cebu City)
  The cross planted in 1521, under a painted pavilion downtown.
• Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (Cebu City)
  The country's oldest Catholic image and the heart of the Sinulog festival.

Fun for Everyone

• Fort San Pedro (Cebu City)
  A compact Spanish fort with gardens and a small museum.

Off the Beaten Path

• Casa Gorordo Museum (Parian)
  A restored house in the old Parian district.
• Museo Sugbo (Cebu City)
  A former prison turned museum of Cebu's history.

Must-Haves

• Kawasan Falls (Badian)
  Turquoise tiered falls at the end of the canyoneering route.
• Canyoneering in Badian (Badian)
  Jump, slide and swim down a river gorge to Kawasan.

Off the Beaten Path

• Simala Shrine (Sibonga)
  A castle like church that draws pilgrims from across the country.

Fun for Everyone

• Temple of Leah (Busay)
  A grand Roman style folly in the hills with city views.

Must-Haves

• Moalboal sardine run (Moalboal)
  Millions of sardines swirl just off Panagsama Beach.

Fun for Everyone

• Pescador Island (Moalboal)
  A small island with a coral wall for snorkelling and diving.
• Bantayan Island (Bantayan)
  White sand beaches and a slow island pace.

Off the Beaten Path

• Osmeña Peak (Dalaguete)
  The highest point in Cebu, with jagged hills and an easy hike.
• Malapascua Island (Daanbantayan)
  Dawn dives to see thresher sharks.

Must-Haves

• Rico's Lechon (Cebu City)
  Cebu style roast pig, crisp skinned and stuffed with herbs.

Low Cost and Authentic

• House of Lechon (Cebu City)
  Another favourite for lechon with all the trimmings.
• Larsian BBQ (Cebu City)
  Open air barbecue stalls with puso, rice cooked in woven leaves.

Great for Date Night

• Abaca Baking Company (Cebu City)
  A busy bakery and café for brunch and pastries.

Must-Haves

• Carbon Market (Cebu City)
  The city's oldest and largest market, recently redeveloped.

Fun for Everyone

• Ayala Center Cebu (Cebu Business Park)
  A big mall with food halls and air conditioning on hot days.

Great for Date Night

• Shangri-La Mactan (Mactan Island)
  A large beach resort near the airport with its own marine sanctuary.

Must-Haves

• Sinulog Festival (Cebu City)
  January street dancing in honour of the Santo Niño, one of Asia's biggest festivals.

Must-Haves

• Chocolate Hills (Carmen)
  More than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season.
• Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (Corella)
  See the tiny wide eyed tarsiers in a protected forest.

Fun for Everyone

• Loboc River cruise (Loboc)
  A gentle floating lunch on a jade green river.

Off the Beaten Path

• Can-Umantad Falls (Candijay)
  A tall jungle waterfall above rice terraces.
• Hinagdanan Cave (Dauis)
  A cool cave pool lit by holes in the roof.

Fun for Everyone

• Bilar Man-Made Forest (Bilar)
  A shady mahogany forest on the road to the hills.

Must-Haves

• Baclayon Church (Baclayon)
  One of the oldest stone churches in the country.

Off the Beaten Path

• Blood Compact Shrine (Tagbilaran)
  Marks the 1565 friendship pact between Datu Sikatuna and Legazpi.

Great for Date Night

• Bohol Bee Farm (Dauis)
  Organic food on a cliff with honey ice cream to finish.

Great for Date Night

• Amorita Resort (Panglao)
  A cliff top resort above Alona Beach.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dauis Church (Dauis)
  A coral stone church with a well said to have healing water.

Must-Haves

• Cloud 9 (General Luna)
  The famous reef break and boardwalk, watched by surfers worldwide.
• Sugba Lagoon (Del Carmen)
  A clear blue lagoon among mangroves, with a diving board.

Fun for Everyone

• Magpupungko Rock Pools (Pilar)
  Natural tide pools that appear at low tide.

Off the Beaten Path

• Maasin River (Maasin)
  A leaning coconut tree rope swing over a green river.
• Sohoton Cove (Bucas Grande)
  Hidden lagoons and jellyfish lakes on a day trip.

Must-Haves

• Siargao three island tour (General Luna)
  Naked Island, Daku and Guyam in one easy day.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Surf lessons at Jacking Horse (General Luna)
  A friendly beginner wave near Cloud 9.

Fun for Everyone

• Siargao island motorbike loop (General Luna)
  Ride past palm forests and villages around the island.

Must-Haves

• Kermit Siargao (General Luna)
  Wood fired pizza and Italian food that became an island favourite.

Great for Date Night

• Shaka Siargao (General Luna)
  Smoothie bowls by the ocean near Cloud 9.

Low Cost and Authentic

• General Luna public market (General Luna)
  Fresh fish and fruit for those cooking or grilling.

Must-Haves

• Nay Palad Hideaway (Malinao)
  A barefoot luxury hideaway among the palms.