Overview to Manila: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
- Manila Information
- Eating & drinking in Manila
- Things to do in Manila
- Where to stay in Manila
- Manila street map
Architecturally speaking, Manila doesn't really have a great deal going for it. A few colonial buildings do remain, but they now sit beside a jungle of skyscrapers and shantytowns. Scratch away at the surface, though, and you’ll find a city that has plenty to offer by way of its amazing energy and enthusiasm.
To the north lies the district of Intramuros, the old Spanish Capital, cordoned off by crumbling brick walls and housing various colonial centerpieces. Of these, the Manila Cathedral and Church of San Agustin are two of the city’s undisputed ‘sights'.
Further north in Intramuros, Fort Santiago’s vivid history is inseparable with that of the city it guards. Visitors can view a moving photographic exhibition on the site, or simply take in the magnificent structure by walking the fortress’ ramparts which stretch for 4.5km.
Manila’s Chinatown, a little to the southeast of the city in Ongin/Binondo, is a dense hive of commercial activity, noise and color. It makes for a great place to pick up a cheap bite to eat, sit over a pot of tea, or haggle for a good price on a piece of jewelry with the shopkeepers.
And when it comes to shopping, Manila really excels, with the city’s famous malls a sight in their own right. The district of Makati houses the country’s best malls, including the huge Glorietta Mall, which has every garment and accessory a fashionista could possibly wish for.
If it all gets a bit hectic, a number of parks are close and hand to prove the perfect tonic to the urban sprawl. The largest of these, Rizal Park, (or the Luneta, as it’s known) sits south of the Intramuros district, a splash of serenity in the midst of this exciting city.
