1. See Intramuros during Golden Hour

Intramuros is the oldest district of Manila and also its most famous. Its name comes from Latin, meaning within the walls. Here, behind a massive fortification of stone is a walled city that is closed off from the bustle of modern-day Manila. This site, also referred to as Old Manila, was once occupied by the Spaniards, the Americans, and even the British for a short period of time before being reclaimed by the native Filipinos. The major attractions include Fort Santiago and its iconic gate, Plaze de Roma , the Manila Cathedral , and Philippines’ oldest stone church, San Agustín .

As of October 2019, the famous Walk This Way Tour has been closed due to the passing of political activist Carlos Celdran. My friends and I went on a really unique tour of Intramuros, known as the Bambike Bicycle Tour. On the Bambike Tour, you get to ride bicycles made out of recycled bamboo by the folks at Gawad Kalinga, a non-profit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. It’s a super amusing way to cover long distances as you get the experience firsthand the art of maneuvering Manila traffic.

Hours of Operation: Bambike tours run once in the morning from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, and in the afternoon from 3:00 – 5:30 OM. I suggest going during the afternoon one because Intramuros is more enchanting during golden hour.
Cost: 1,200 pesos each for the full bike ride. If you prefer to do an express version of the Bambike Tour, it costs 600 PHP for one hour.

Posing with the canons of yesteryear

It’s more fun in the Philippines!

Bamboo bikes look beastly but they’re pretty lightweight!

 2. Learn More about your Fate at Quiapo Church

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene is known to locals as Quiapo Church . Here, you will witness the folk interpretation of Catholicism at its strongest. Enshrined in the front of the church is the Black Nazarene, a reinterpretation of Jesus Christ as a darker man believed to be miraculous. Outside is Plaza Miranda, a place where the mystics of Manila congregate and will happily reveal your future in exchange for a small fee of 150-300 PHP depending on how well you bargain. Note: they might not speak any English so ask before sitting down. The fortune tellers consult their tarot cards and spew out slightly humorous, sometimes unsettling predictions. Roaming secretly in the crowd are vendors selling herbal potions which they vow will relieve the patient of a number of physical ailments, including those looking to perform illegal abortions.

Where? 363 Quezon Blvd, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila, Philippines

The front facade of Quiapo Church

Getting a not-so good tarot card reading

3. Go Mall Hopping around Metro Manila

Believe it or not but malls and Manila go hand-in-hand. In the Philippines, the mall culture is so prevalent that you’re bound to end up in one during a stay in the city. Even my boyfriend Tim who isn’t impressed by much was dazzled by the immensity of the malls, especially The Mall of Asia which is the 11th largest mall in the world! Locals can recite a listing of malls like Makati Greenbelt, or Greenhills Promenade, but the most well-known are the SM Malls,, the largest chain franchise in the Philippines. Unlike other places in Southeast Asia where malls merely act as refuge from the heat, Manila’s malls are about entertaining their guests.

At SM Megamall, the Taiwanese dumpling institution, Din Tai Fung, has set up shop. The chocolate lava xiao long baos are divine and are only served at the Manila branch! At Century City Mall, you can attempt to complete a live escape room challenge with Mystery Manila if you’re brave enough to face their sinister-sounding themed rooms. It might sound counter-intuitive but if you want to immerse yourself in the ongoings of the real Manila, make a beeline for the nearest mall.

Taiwan’s most famous dumpling shop came to SM Megamall

We escaped our “Escape Room” which was actually set in the entirety of the mall!

 4. Feast on Fresh Seafood in Dampa

Dampa is Manila’s answer to Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market and Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, only a bit more crude and humble. At this wet market, you scan for the finest of Manila’s seafood scene before cooking them any which-way you like at one of the restaurants found alongside the seafood emporium. It is located on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City near a huge body of water (ie. Manila Bay) so you don’t have to question the freshness of the catch. Besides the popular Maya Maya or Red Snapper, you can also pick up some crabs, mussels, squid, and abalone. There are practically next-to-no tourists. The majority of the guests here are local regulars who all have a favorite paluto restaurant. Paluto literally means “to have someone cook something for you.” My favorites after our day were th  adobong pusit, squid cooked in an adobo-style marinade, and kinilaw, the Philippine take on ceviche using coconut milk and vinegar in lieu of traditional lime juice.

Where? Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Hours of Operation: 10 AM – 10:30 PM everyday

The vendors here are eager to catch their next sales

The prices are always fair but don’t be afraid to haggle

5. Take a Bite out of Manila’s Street Food

Foreigners are forewarned to not partake in the street food ways of Manila because of sanitary concerns but I go by the rule that if there are a lot of customers crowding by and the food is being cooked fresh, you should give it a try! In the Philippines, it seems like skewered meats are the street food of choice. My favorite is fish balls, but another popular snack are skewered intestines known as isaw. The isaw is grilled on the spot and then you have the option of dunking your skewer in either sweet or spicy sauce. I always go for extra marination. Most street meats cost on average, about 10-15 PHP per skewer or cupm so it makes it a very affordable snacking option for tourists on the go. It was on my bucket list to have my friends eat balut, aka underdeveloped duck embryo. My friends were very apprehensive at first, especially being serious animal lovers, but with the guidance of the balut salesman, they worked their way to stomaching the challenge.

How to eat balut: Every person has their own way to eat balut but this is how I do it: crack the top of the shell (whichever end is most hollow), sip the warm broth found inside (this is only found in the masabaw version of balut as opposed to the tuyo version), and then peel the rest of the shell halfway to expose the cooked egg yolk and douse it with vinegar and pinch of salt.

The friends feeling a bit nauseated by the idea of trying balut

Filipinos love playful nicknames! Skewered chicken intestines are sometimes called IUDs heh

Honorable mentions

• Ever heard of coconut macaroons infused with leche flan? I didn’t think flan could get more decadent until I discovered the baked goods of Custaroonery by Gigi Gaerlan and then my opinion was changed forever.
• In Manila right now, live escape rooms are all the rage and the offerings they have in the city are incredibly creative. Try Mystery Manila if you want a spooky storyline and for more action and adventure, head to Breakout Philippines.
• Thanks to the recent beautification of Escolata, Manila’s creatives have returned to this historic street and are setting up shop in the aged buildings. One special enterprise the HUB Make Lab, an alt-retail space where dreamers and makers can come and play. Support the creatives by picking up your souvenir haul at First United Building, 413 Escolta St in Binondo.
• A free water light show happens daily at Rizal Park, also called Luneta Park, right after sundown. Its been nicknamed “Dancing Water” since the fountains legitimately seem to be grooving to the sounds of seventies disco music.
• Tagaytay is the perfect weekend escape from Manila relished for its location in the highlands of Batangas which provides an ethereal view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, the world’s smallest active volcano, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
• Van Gogh is Bipolar (Inner Courtyard 154 H. Maginhawa Street in Sikatuna Village) is restaurant aimed at cultivating awareness on mental health by serving up mood-altering inspired dishes. Call ahead to make sure the property is open. Fun fact: the restaurant’s founder is bipolar! This restaurant, and more, can be found on the famous college food street known as Maginhawa Street, that caters to Manila’s hungry youth.
• Stock up on freshwater pearls at the Greenhills Shopping Center on Ortigas Avenue in San Juan. It is a massive shopping bazaar referred to as ‘tiangge‘ (pronounced chang-ge) by the locals. You can purchase pre-picked pearl sets, or even make your own custom string of pearls at the 300-booth pearl market inside of tiangge.