Have you ever wondered what would it look like if the past meets the future? Come and discover the marvels of Manila City, the capital of the Philippines, and one of the business center districts of the country. Aside from being industrialized and fast-paced, some things never changed as this city preserved its roots and culture through time.
Travel back in time where you can witness what the city looks like a millennium ago. As some may note Manila as their drop-off point to go to the country’s tourist destinations such as Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, or Davao, this bustling city soaring tall buildings and skyscrapers also showcase how rich the Filipino culture is. Discover the old Manila with these tourist destinations that are both Instagrammable and notable for its historical backgrounds.
Paco Park
What you can see in Manila is a mixture of various traditions and cultures. Most of these spots are from Spanish colonization, as Manila became the central point of the conquistadors’ activities, while you can eat various Chinese-Filipino delicacies in Binondo or more popularly called Chinatown.
Escolta Street in Binondo
How to Go to Manila
The most convenient way to go to Manila if you’re from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is to book a Grab. The fare roughly costs Php 300-500 depending on the surge and availability of drivers. Alternatively, you can ride a premium airport bus called UBE Express that costs around Php 110 to Php 160 which have several bus stops along the way.
Where to Stay in Manila
There are a lot of good places to stay when you’re in Manila. However, you may include the accessibility and convenience to your factors on where would be the best place to stay in the metro. Below are some suggestions on where you can look for affordable and accessible B&B to cater your itinerary plans.
- Makati City – Makati City is one of the central business districts today and a lot would agree that this is one of the best areas to stay when you’re in Manila because of its accessibility and wide-range of accommodation options whether you’re on a budget or want to try their fancy hotels.
- Ermita, Manila – If you’re looking for a place that is relatively close to Manila’s tourist spots, Ermita would be a great option! It may not be as busy as Makati, but the area can assure you that you’ll enjoy watching a sunset in Manila Bay or have a dinner cruise.
- Intramuros, Manila – This area is one of the books. You’ll feel as if you travelled back in time with the ambiance it can offer. It’s one of the oldest districts in Manila and is perfect for those travelers who wanted to indulge more on the historical and cultural background of Manila.
Manila Day Tour Itinerary
If you’re planning to wander around Manila City, here’s our most recommended itinerary and we can assure you that you’ll see the best of the best here in Manila.
- Paco Park
- Rizal Park
- Manila Chinatown (Binondo)
- Escolta
- 1919 Grand Cafe
- Jones Bridge
Paco Park
- Address: San Marcelino & General Luna Sts., Paco, Manila City
- Operating Hours: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm
- Contact Number: (632) 524 2022 loc. 119
- Entrance fee: Free
St. Pancratius Chapel found at the center of the park
This park is a breath of fresh air situated in the bustling city of Manila. Paco Park was once a cemetery built during the Spanish colonization and was the former resting place of Jose Rizal’s tomb, who is the Philippines’ National Hero. It’s also known for having unmarked graves – you don’t know who’s who – and one of them was Rizal’s grave. When Rizal’s sisters discovered where their brother’s grave was, they bribed one of the civil guards in the cemetery to mark his grave as “RPJ”, Jose Rizal’s reversed initials.
Paco Park’s Entrance
At present, the park features a chapel and serves as a venue for free local fairs and concerts every Friday. You may also take a picnic here with your friends and family while enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the park.
Chapel’s Interiors
Bonus: met these paw friends while taking their daily jog. Aren’t they cute?
Rizal Park
- Address: Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila City
- Operating Hours: 05:00 am – 09:00 pm
- Entrance fee: Free
This 58-hectare iconic park plays a significant role in the country’s history through time. Once called “Luneta” ‘til the 1950s, it’s the best place to de-stress and take a stroll and enjoy the day with your loved ones. It is where Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, was executed the Spanish conquistadors at that time. Moreover, the vast public park served as the social venue of the elites during the American colonization.
What to do when you’re in Rizal Park? You may jog or stroll together with locals while passing through ornamental gardens, ponds, lawns, and various monuments of Filipino heroes, including the infamous Rizal monument that is guarded the military groups. At noon, you may visit the Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden also located within the park, and have some picnic. While on the east side of the park, you will see the National Museums, Manila Orchidarium, and a life-sized three-dimensional map of the Philippines.
Manila Chinatown (Binondo)
- Address: Binondo, Manila City
- Operating Hours: generally 10:00 am – 06:00 pm
- Entrance fee: Free
Lucky Chinatown Mall
You will know that you’re in the area of Binondo when you can spot the arch at the foot of Jones Bridge. The 63.8 feet high and 74 feet wide arch with three pagodas is said to be the world’s largest Chinatown arch in the world. Additionally, Binondo was the first-ever Chinatown in the whole world. To give you a brief background, Manila Chinatown was established way back in 1594, several years earlier when the Philippines was colonized the Spaniards. Barter trades happen here between Chinese and old Filipinos back then.
China Town arch at the foot of Jones Bridge
Here in Binondo, it symbolizes the Filipino-Chinese friendship through the years. Thus, the food crawls you may have in Manila Chinatown is a fusion of Filipino and Chinese delicacies. From the wide selection of deep-fried snacks, steamed dumplings, to broth-rich noodles, you’ll eat your hearts out at these authentic delicacies that have loved and passed on from generation to generation.
Another Chinatown arch at the background
A trip to Manila Chinatown won’t be complete without dropping Eng Bee Tin. There’s a lot of this Chinese deli chain in the area, but we visited the one in Ongpin Street that rises a three-story building— a floor for the grocery, restaurant, and a museum. Eng Bee Tin is famous for their hopia or mooncakes with various fillings such as mung bean, purple yam, and pork. Visit this chain, and you’ll definitely love Eng Bee Tin’s hopia!
Gigantic hopia found at Eng Bee Tin Ongpin Street
Below are some of the must-try delicacies on your gastronomic adventure here in Manila Chinatown:
- Dumplings, fried pancake and Xiao Long Bao at Dong Bei Dumplings
- Kiampong and special kikiam at Cafe Mezzanine
- Fried Chicken, Frog Legs, and Fried Oyster Cake at Sincerity Cafe and Restaurant
- Hakaw and HongKong Milk Tea at Wai Ying Fastfood
- Mami at Masuki
- Classic Maki at Ongpin Manosa
- Dim sums at Ying Ying Tea House
- Hopia and Tikoy at Salazar Bakery
- Fried Siopao at Shanghai Fried Siopao
Frog Legs
Green Tea Plum Cake & Taro Mochi Cake
Escolta
- Address: East end – Plaza Santa Cruz, Sta. Cruz, Manila, West end – Plaza Moraga and Quintin Paredes St., Binondo, Manila
- Operating Hours: generally 10:00 am – 07:00 pm
- Entrance fee: Free
Regina Building
Before we had Makati, Ortigas, Bonifacio Global City, or Quezon City as the central business districts in the metro, Escolta was the place to be. People flock here to dine, shop, and do business in this historic east-west business district in the 1800s to 1930s.
Commercial Bank and Trust Company Building
Calle de la Escolta or dubbed as “The Queen of Streets” was the hub of department stores, theatres, cafes, and business sites that lost its spotlight when other districts modernized rapidly. The buildings were abandoned and unused for several decades. But thanks to the initiatives of conservationist groups, Escolta Street has been reborn, thus, having its own renaissance. These buildings with magnificent yet classical architecture and design are now being occupied and open for today’s generation to discover as well as wander the old Manila’s renowned past.
First United Building
Regina Building
The HUB & Escolta Block Party at First United Building, Escolta St.
The Den Coffee and Contemporary Culture Cafe located at First United Building
1919 Grand Cafe
- Address: 117 Juan Luna St., Binondo, Manila
- Operating Hours: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Price range: averagely Php 400 per dish, good for sharing
- Contact Number: (632) 8429 7068
1919 Grand Cafe
1919 Grand Cafe is one of the products of preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring the neoclassical buildings in the early 1900s. To give you a brief background, this building was erected for the Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) as the oldest foreign bank in the Philippines until it moved its head office to Makati in the late 1970s.
A brief history of the building
This century-old building is truly a gem to waste if it will be unused and demolished. So, a lot was relieved when the new owner of this building restored and retrofitted it being a cafe it is now.
The facade of 1919 Grand Cafe
Its architecture is very admirable and fascinating up to now. The five-story neoclassical building features a 23-feet high ground floor ceiling and 6-feet high ceilings for the succeeding floors. Moreover, it exudes elegance and it is a classic for its main entrance found on a corner lot. You will be amazed at how massive this cafe is as well as its vintage yet classical architecture, both interior- and exterior-wise.
Corner Lot Entrance of the Cafe
This cafe is a must-try when you’re out for a food crawl here in Binondo. Though it does not offer the usual authentic Chinese delicacies, you’ll be more than satisfied with what they can offer. Check out what we ordered during our visit to the 1919 Grand Cafe.
Assorted Flavor of Pizza* – Php 680
Muscovado Latte – Php 180 *pizza flavors include Four-cheese pizza, Hawaiian pizza, Vegetable pizza, and Seafood pizza
Kung Pao Pasta – Php 360
Pasta Negra Pasta – Php 430
Jones Bridge
Jones Bridge at night
Jones Bridge has also been revitalized as part of the local government’s efforts to preserve and rehabilitate old Manila to promote its culture and historical background. Dubbed as “Paris of Asia” and “Pearl of the Orient,” was then known as Puenta de Espania during the Spanish colonization. This bridge features European-style lamp posts making you feel as if you’re in Paris, France.
However, it was destroyed during World War II and the aesthetics of the well-known bridge was never the same. So, kudos to the local government of Manila for their unending efforts to revitalize and rehabilitate historic Manila landmarks, and promote it as must-visit tourist destinations.
Manila Chinatown Arch at the foot of Jones Bridge
Endnote
Manila City, being the capital city of the Philippines, truly is rich in culture and history. There are a lot of places to go to, discover and wander at your own comfort given that these places are close to each other. Having tall buildings and skyscrapers on one end to keep up with today’s rapid modernization, discover how the future bridges with the past in this city. See how old Manila bloomed and flourished as one of the busiest hubs in the metro several decades ago. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss a chance to find these gems while you’re in Manila!
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