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City guide · Manila, Philippines · 2026

Manila in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 32 spots · open in 2025–26

Manila, Philippines. From 32 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: Intramuros · Makati · Malate.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 6h 5m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    IntramurosIntramuros🏛️ Sight

    Spanish walled city; walk it or rent a bamboo bike

  2. Lunch
    Ongpin StreetBinondo🍜 Food

    Chinatown lane of dumplings and hopia; busy at lunch

  3. Afternoon
    DivisoriaTondo✨ Hot spot

    Wholesale market; cheap but very crowded, leave valuables

  4. Late afternoon
    Binondo ChurchBinondo🏛️ Sight

    Chinatown church founded 1596; start of a food walk

  5. Evening
    Manila BaywalkMalate🌙 Night

    Manila’s classic sunset walk; the 30 min at dusk is the show

Day 2 about 7h at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Fort SantiagoIntramuros🏛️ Sight

    Ticketed; Rizal’s prison cell and rampart walk

  2. Lunch
    Aristocrat RestaurantMalate🍜 Food

    Since 1936; chicken barbecue with java rice

  3. Afternoon
    Greenhills Shopping CenterSan Juan✨ Hot spot

    Bargain center for pearls and gadgets; bring cash

  4. Late afternoon
    Ayala MuseumMakati🏛️ Sight

    History dioramas and pre-colonial gold; closed Mondays

  5. Evening
    Poblacion MakatiMakati🌙 Night

    Dense bar and rooftop quarter; busy Fri–Sat, use Grab

Day 3 about 6h at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    San Agustin ChurchIntramuros🏛️ Sight

    UNESCO baroque church; monastery museum is paid

  2. Lunch
    Legazpi Sunday MarketMakati🍜 Food

    Sunday mornings only; local food and craft stalls

  3. Afternoon
    GreenbeltMakati✨ Hot spot

    Garden mall with restaurants; busy weekend evenings

  4. Late afternoon
    National Museum of Fine ArtsBy Rizal Park🏛️ Sight

    Free, closed Mondays; don’t miss the huge Spoliarium

  5. Evening
    Okada Manila FountainEntertainment City🌙 Night

    Free evening musical fountain; check the schedule

🍜 Where to eat in Manila: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. Ongpin StreetBinondoIn the route

    Chinatown lane of dumplings and hopia; busy at lunch

  2. Barbara's Heritage RestaurantIntramuros

    Folk-dance dinner show in a Spanish-style house; book

  3. Aristocrat RestaurantMalateIn the route

    Since 1936; chicken barbecue with java rice

  4. Seaside DampaPasay

    Pick seafood at the market, have it cooked next door; check prices

  5. Salcedo Saturday MarketMakati

    Saturday-morning market of Filipino snacks and meals

  6. Legazpi Sunday MarketMakatiIn the route

    Sunday mornings only; local food and craft stalls

  7. Cafe AdriaticoMalate

    Malate square café-restaurant since 1979

  8. Rowena'sTolentino West, Tagaytay

    Bakery-cafe known for buko tarts, the usual stop for Tagaytay pasalubong

✨ Manila hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. SM Mall of AsiaPasay

    Mega mall; sunsets on the bayside promenade

  2. GreenbeltMakatiIn the route

    Garden mall with restaurants; busy weekend evenings

  3. Bonifacio High StreetBonifacio Global City

    Walkable new-town shopping strip; look for murals

  4. DivisoriaTondoIn the route

    Wholesale market; cheap but very crowded, leave valuables

  5. Greenhills Shopping CenterSan JuanIn the route

    Bargain center for pearls and gadgets; bring cash

🌙 Manila at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. Manila BaywalkMalateIn the route

    Manila’s classic sunset walk; the 30 min at dusk is the show

  2. Poblacion MakatiMakatiIn the route

    Dense bar and rooftop quarter; busy Fri–Sat, use Grab

  3. Okada Manila FountainEntertainment CityIn the route

    Free evening musical fountain; check the schedule

  4. Mercato CentraleBonifacio Global City

    Night food market; days vary, check before going

🏛️ Top sights in Manila

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. IntramurosIntramurosIn the route

    Spanish walled city; walk it or rent a bamboo bike

  2. Fort SantiagoIntramurosIn the route

    Ticketed; Rizal’s prison cell and rampart walk

  3. San Agustin ChurchIntramurosIn the route

    UNESCO baroque church; monastery museum is paid

  4. Manila CathedralIntramuros

    Stay quietly at the back during Mass; avoid shorts

  5. Casa ManilaIntramuros

    Recreated Spanish-era mansion museum; closed Mondays

  6. Rizal ParkErmita

    Rizal Monument with honor guards; stroll in the evening

  7. National Museum of Fine ArtsBy Rizal ParkIn the route

    Free, closed Mondays; don’t miss the huge Spoliarium

  8. Binondo ChurchBinondoIn the route

    Chinatown church founded 1596; start of a food walk

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