I have a soft spot for Manila, and I also understand why people skip it. The city does not hand you a postcard the moment you step out of the airport. It hands you heat, horns, a jeepney painted like a disco and a smell of grilled pork from somewhere you cannot see. Then, about an hour later, you are standing inside a 400-year-old Spanish church wondering why nobody told you about this part. If you are planning a first visit from Singapore, the single biggest decision that shapes whether you fall for the place or just endure it is when you go. This guide is built around that question, with the practical detail I wish someone had given me before my first trip.
The short version: aim for late November to February if you want the kindest weather and the best festival atmosphere, accept that March to May is hot but dry and very doable with a plan, and think carefully before booking July to October because that is when the rain and the typhoon belt do their thing. The long version is below, month by month, followed by what to actually do once you are there, how to get around without losing your mind, what it costs and how to book the bits that are worth booking ahead.
Manila's seasons in plain language
The Philippines does not really do four seasons. Manila has a dry season, a hot season that sits inside the dry season, and a wet season. Locals will often say there are just two, hot and wet, and after a few days you will understand why. Temperatures barely drop below 24 degrees Celsius at night all year, so the question is never whether it will be warm. It is how warm, how humid and how wet.
The cool dry season runs roughly from November to February. Mornings can feel almost pleasant, evenings are breezy by the bay and the sky is clearer than at any other time. The hot dry season follows from March to May. Rain is rare, but the afternoon heat in April and May regularly pushes into the mid thirties with humidity that makes it feel considerably worse. The wet season arrives around June and stays until October or sometimes early November. It does not rain all day, every day. A typical wet-season day starts bright, builds into a heavy afternoon downpour that floods a few low streets and then clears by evening. The real disruption comes from typhoons, which are most likely from July through October, and which can ground flights and close attractions for a day or two at a time.
Singaporeans have a built-in advantage here. We already live in the tropics, so we know what humidity does to a shirt and we are not shocked by sudden storms. But Manila's heat is a different animal from ours because so much of the city is concrete with little shade, and traffic sits in the open air. Treat the weather as a planning constraint, not a footnote.
Month by month: what to expect
Here is how I would summarise the year. Temperatures are rough daytime figures and will vary, so use them for feel rather than for precision. Crowd levels refer to the main tourist sites, not the city as a whole, because Manila is never quiet.
| Month | Typical weather | Crowds and prices | My verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, around 30 C by day, cooler mornings, lowest humidity of the year | Busy around the Black Nazarene procession on 9 January; hotels fill early | Excellent, but avoid the procession route unless you want it |
| February | Dry and sunny, still comfortable, light breezes | Moderate; Chinese New Year livens up Binondo | One of the two best months overall |
| March | Dry, heat building to the low thirties | Moderate, school holidays start toward the end | Very good, start sightseeing early |
| April | Hot and dry, afternoons can feel punishing | Holy Week brings a strange quiet; many shops close on Good Friday | Good if you plan around the heat |
| May | The hottest stretch, first rains may begin late in the month | Fiesta and flower-procession season; fewer international visitors | Fine for indoor-heavy trips, tough for walking |
| June | Rainy season begins, humid, short heavy showers | Quieter; Independence Day on 12 June is a holiday | Workable with a flexible plan |
| July | Wet, frequent showers, typhoon risk rises | Low season, easier to find a room | Only for bargain hunters with patience |
| August | Wettest period, flooding on some roads | Low season | Risky for a first visit |
| September | Still very wet, higher typhoon risk | Christmas decorations and carols start anyway | Risky, but the festive mood is a real draw |
| October | Wet, though the end of the month can ease | Quiet before the holiday peak | Gamble; watch forecasts closely |
| November | Rain tapers off, humidity falls | Building toward the holiday season | Very good from mid-month |
| December | Dry, pleasant, festive lights everywhere | Peak season: crowded, higher prices, jammed roads | Lovely if you book early and accept the traffic |
If I were advising a friend flying out of Changi, I would say February or early March. You miss the festival crush of December and January, the heat has not yet become oppressive and the rain is a distant memory. If your dates are fixed by school holidays or leave, the tips later in this guide will help you make almost any month work.
The best window for a first-timer: late November to February
When people ask me for one answer, this is it. From roughly the last week of November through February, Manila does what it does best. The air is a little drier, so walking the old Spanish district is a pleasure instead of a test. Sunsets over Manila Bay are properly spectacular, because the sky is clear and the haze has not built up. Outdoor events are in full swing, and you can plan day trips outside the city without worrying that a storm will close the road.
There is one honest warning. This is also when everyone else wants to be there. The Philippines treats Christmas as a national obsession, and the season effectively starts in September, so by December the malls are glittering, the traffic is at its worst and a ten-kilometre taxi ride can take well over an hour. Book your hotel and any timed tickets early, and build slack into every day. If you can shift by a few weeks into late January or February, you keep most of the good weather and shed a lot of the stress.
Culturally, January is hard to beat if you enjoy the raw, devotional side of the country. The Feast of the Black Nazarene on 9 January draws enormous crowds to Quiapo, with barefoot devotees carrying a centuries-old statue through the streets. It is moving and overwhelming in equal parts. I would watch it from a safe distance, not in the crush, and I would not bring a large bag, an expensive camera or small children into the thick of it.
March to May: hot, dry and still worth it
A lot of travel advice writes off the hot months, and I think that is too harsh. Yes, April can be brutal. But the weather is reliable, flights rarely face storm delays, and the sights are less crowded with foreign tour groups. The trick is to treat the day like you would in a Singapore heatwave. Do your outdoor walking before ten in the morning and after four in the afternoon. Spend the middle of the day somewhere cold: a museum, a long lunch, a mall, a spa.
This is the right season for the heavy-air-conditioning parts of Manila. The National Museum complex is the obvious example, with its wide marble halls and the extraordinary Spoliarium painting, and you can easily spend half a day inside. Shopping malls in the Bay City area are also excellent refuges, and a few of them have attractions inside that are good fun when the pavement is too hot to touch.
May has its own charm if you enjoy local colour. Many towns hold flower processions and fiestas, and the first showers of the wet season can bring a brief, welcome drop in temperature. By the end of the month the afternoons often turn dramatic, with towering cloud and a storm that arrives like a switch being flipped. If you are visiting in late May, keep a small umbrella in your bag and do not schedule anything critical for the late afternoon.
For families, the hot months suit the amusement-park side of the city. Star City in Pasay, listed from S$17.34, is an old favourite among Manila families, and it comes into its own after sunset when the heat drops and the lights come on. If your children are more splash than spin, Splash Island is a water park a short drive out of the city, listed from S$18.24, and it is exactly where you want to be on a 35-degree day. Check each listing for opening days and what the ticket includes before you go, because water parks often close on set days for maintenance.
June to October: rain, typhoons and the case for going anyway
Let me be straight. If this is your first trip to the Philippines and you can choose freely, I would not pick August or September. The combination of daily rain, road flooding and genuine typhoon risk makes everything slower and more uncertain. A storm warning can cancel a boat trip, close a museum and delay your flight home, and the knock-on effects are annoying even if the storm itself misses the capital.
That said, plenty of people do visit in these months and have a perfectly good time. If your dates are fixed, here is what actually helps.
- Travel with flexibility. Keep the first and last day of your trip light, so a delayed flight does not wreck a tight schedule.
- Plan indoor options for every day. Museums, churches, malls, food halls and cooking classes all work in a downpour.
- Check forecasts from the national weather agency daily. Typhoon signals are announced publicly, and your hotel front desk will tell you plainly whether to stay in.
- Pack properly. A compact umbrella, quick-dry clothes, a waterproof phone pouch and sandals that cope with puddles are worth far more than a fashionable outfit.
- Buy travel insurance that covers weather disruption. Read the exclusions, because named storms are sometimes treated differently from ordinary rain.
- Avoid low-lying neighbourhoods when it pours. Some roads flood within an hour of heavy rain, so give yourself extra time to get to the airport.
The upside of the wet season is real, too. Hotel rates soften, the greenery outside the city is vivid and the famous Manila sunsets still appear when the rain clears. If you go in June, just after the season starts, the showers are typically shorter and the typhoon risk lower than in August and September. It is a reasonable compromise for travellers who have no other choice.
Festivals and calendar moments that can shape your dates
Beyond weather, the calendar matters in Manila more than in many cities, because public holidays and religious observances change how the city behaves. Some of them are reasons to come. Some are reasons to stay away. Here are the ones I would check before locking in a flight.
| When | What happens | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Early January | Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo (9 January) | Massive crowds; roads close; watch from a distance or skip |
| Late January or February | Chinese New Year in Binondo, the old Chinese quarter | Lion dances, food stalls and incredible snacks; go in the early evening |
| March or April | Holy Week (Semana Santa) | Many businesses close Thursday and Friday; quiet streets, solemn processions, limited dining options |
| May | Flores de Mayo and local fiestas | Colourful, mostly in neighbourhoods and nearby towns |
| 12 June | Independence Day | Public holiday; events and parades; some attractions shut or get busy |
| 1 November | All Saints' Day | Families visit cemeteries; roads to cemeteries are packed; many people travel out of town |
| Mid-September to December | The long Philippine Christmas season | Lights, carols and parols (lanterns) everywhere; roads jammed |
Holy Week deserves a special mention. Manila tends to empty out as residents head to their home provinces, which means the roads are lighter than usual and the city feels strangely calm. But Good Friday in particular is a day when many restaurants, shops and some attractions close. If you arrive then without checking, you can find yourself with a hotel breakfast and not much else. It is a fascinating time to see the country's Catholic traditions, but go in with your eyes open.
What to do in Manila once you are there
A first-time visitor can see the core of Manila in three days, and I think three is the right length. Fewer feels rushed, because traffic eats the hours. More starts to pay off when you add day trips, which I cover below. Here is how I would use that time.
Day one: the old walled city
Intramuros is where Manila's story begins. The Spanish built the walled city in the late sixteenth century, and although the Second World War flattened much of it, enough survives to be worth a full day. San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the country and has a remarkable interior of painted walls and ceilings. Fort Santiago, at the river end of the walls, is where the national hero Jose Rizal was held before his execution in 1896, and the footprints marking his last walk are one of the most affecting things I have seen in the city. The cobbled streets are easy to walk and the walls themselves are good for a gentle stroll once the sun is lower.
If you are visiting in the hot months, start at opening time and aim to be done by lunch. A kalesa, the horse-drawn carriage, is a touristy but fun way to cover ground if you accept the price negotiation that comes with it. Think about whether you are comfortable with the animal welfare question before you hop on, since opinions differ. The alternative is a guided walking or bicycle tour, which tends to give you more history for the same effort.
Day two: parks, museums and a bit of fun
Rizal Park, also called Luneta, sits next to the old walled city and is the city's green heart. Families picnic here on weekends, and the Rizal Monument is a national landmark with a changing of the guard. Beside it, the National Museum of the Philippines is made up of several buildings covering fine arts, anthropology and natural history. It is air-conditioned, thoughtfully laid out and an excellent choice for any weather. Allow a good half-day.
For the afternoon, you can lean into modern Manila. The Dessert Museum is listed from S$19.43 and is made for people who like colour, sugar and photographs, so it works well with teenagers and as a rainy-day backup. Check the listing for time slots and what is included.
Day three: the bay and the modern side
Pasay and the Bay City area show a very different face of Manila. There are wide boulevards, giant malls and, in the evening, the bay sunset that Manila is famous for. Walk the seafront promenade, find a table with a view and give yourself the luxury of a slow dinner. If you have not yet eaten a proper Filipino breakfast of garlic rice, a fried egg and your choice of cured meat, make that your morning mission.
If you want to add something with animals, Avilon Zoo in Rodriguez, Rizal, is listed from S$47.55. It is a drive outside the central districts, so build it into a day with fewer stops and check the opening hours before leaving.
Where to stay: choosing a base
Manila is really a cluster of cities that have grown into each other, and where you sleep changes your trip. Most first-timers choose between three areas, and none is wrong. It is a question of what you value.
| Area | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Makati | Business hotels, restaurants, nightlife, feels polished and walkable in parts | Pricier; less of the old Manila feel |
| Ermita and Malate | Close to Rizal Park and Intramuros, many mid-range options | Uneven streets at night; pick your hotel block carefully |
| Bay City and Pasay | Large malls, airport close by, sunsets over the bay, casinos and family attractions | Can feel generic; traffic on bay roads at rush hour |
| Bonifacio Global City (BGC) | Modern, clean, good for dining and cafes | A taxi ride from the historic sights |
My own preference for a short first visit is to split it. Stay in Makati or Bonifacio Global City if you value comfort and food, then take short rides into the old city for the heritage sights. If your main interest is history and you want to walk everywhere, Ermita works better. Whichever you choose, ask the hotel about their experience with flooding or road closures if you travel in the rainy season, because it really does matter for your airport run.
Hotel rates are lowest in July to October and highest in December and January. If you are travelling at Christmas, book as early as you can; if you are travelling in the wet months, you will often find good rooms with little notice.
Getting around Manila without the stress
Manila's transport is a patchwork. The train lines are useful but limited. Buses and jeepneys cover almost everything but can be bewildering without local knowledge. Ride-hailing apps and taxis fill the gaps. For a first-timer I recommend mixing methods and keeping expectations realistic about speed.
| Option | Best for | Honest notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-hailing apps | Most door-to-door trips | Convenient and price shown upfront; surge fares at rush hour and in rain |
| Metered taxis | Short hops, airport pickups | Insist on the meter; use official airport queues |
| MRT and LRT lines | Beating traffic on set routes | Crowded at peak; stations can be a walk from sights |
| Jeepneys | Short local rides and the cultural experience | Routes are hard for visitors; keep valuables close |
| Hired car with driver | Day trips outside the city | Comfortable and often sensible for families |
| Walking | Intramuros and Rizal Park | Great early morning; punishing at midday |
Traffic is the defining feature of Manila's roads. A trip that looks like fifteen minutes on the map can take an hour at rush hour, which is roughly 7 to 10 in the morning and 4 to 8 in the evening, and longer when it rains or in December. Plan fewer things per day than you think you can handle. A good rule is one big morning activity, a long lunch, and one lighter thing in the late afternoon.
Your arrival is the first transport decision. Ninoy Aquino International Airport has several terminals, so confirm which one your flight uses. Direct flights from Singapore take a little under four hours, which makes Manila an easy long weekend. If you want your arrival to be calm, pre-booking a transfer means you skip the taxi queue and the haggling. We list a Manila airport transfer from S$5.00 and a Pasay (MNL) airport transfer to Ayala Downtown from S$38.85. Check which pick-up point and vehicle size each option covers, and share your flight number so the driver can track delays.
If you have a long layover or an early flight home, an airport lounge at Terminal 1 is listed from S$30.85, and a Terminal 3 option is available too. A cold room and a proper meal before a flight can make the end of a hot, busy trip much more bearable.
Staying connected and sorting your entry paperwork
Mobile data is the easiest comfort upgrade you can buy. Having a working map and a ride-hailing app from the moment you land makes the first hour of any Manila trip dramatically less stressful. An eSIM saves you from queuing at an airport kiosk, and the choice depends on how long you stay and how much data you use. We list several, including the Airalo Philippines eSIM from S$4.00 and a 5G unlimited-data option from S$5.00. Check that your phone supports eSIM before you buy, read the validity period carefully, and install it before you fly if the listing allows.
On entry rules, Singapore passport holders have long been able to enter the Philippines for short tourist stays without a visa, but rules change and you must still meet requirements such as a passport valid for the length of your stay, an onward or return ticket and the arrival registration the Philippines asks visitors to complete online shortly before travel. Always confirm the current rules with the official government source before you book. Our visa requirements page lets you check by passport and destination so you are not relying on a half-remembered forum post.
Our records show the following for some other nationalities, verified in August 2026, and this may help if you travel with friends or family on different passports.
| Option | Who it is for | Stay and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Indian passport holders for tourism or business (since June 2025) | Up to 14 days; register online before arrival |
| Visa-free for holders of certain visas | Indian and some other nationals with a valid US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa | Up to 30 days; arrival registration still applies |
| Temporary visitor visa (9a) | Visa-required nationals, or those wanting longer stays | Applied online; fee in US dollars; processing takes about one to three weeks |
Some travellers, and in particular those on visa applications for other countries, need proof of onward travel or a flight itinerary before they have bought a ticket. If that is you, our flight reservation service provides a manual reservation that you can use as supporting paperwork. It is a reservation, not an issued ticket, so do not treat it as a confirmed seat, and do check what the embassy or airline actually accepts for your case.
Day trips from Manila that suit different seasons
Part of getting the timing right is knowing what you can do just outside the city, because the best day trips depend on the season. Here are the ones I would consider, with a note on when they work best.
Rizal province for outdoor fun. Rizal sits east of the capital and offers hills, waterfalls and trails. The 4-wheeler (ATV) adventure in Rizal is listed from S$81.08 and is a lively half-day in the dry season, though trails turn very muddy after rain, so check the operator's guidance when the weather is wet. If you prefer to hike, the Mount Daraitan hiking tour is listed from S$35.94, and there are similar tours to Mount Batolusong and Mount Kulis. Those treks are best between November and April, when trails are drier and river crossings are safe. Do not attempt river or mountain activities in or just after heavy rain.
Overnight glamping in Rizal. If you want to sleep outdoors without roughing it, Treasure Mountain private overnight glamping is listed from S$30.30, with day-tour versions and package variations also available. Cool nights between December and February make this especially nice.
Subic Bay and Clark for families. Subic and Clark lie north of the capital and make a good change of pace. Ocean Adventure at Subic Bay is listed from S$17.56 and works best as a full-day outing, with transport time on top. Clark Safari and Adventure Park is listed from S$13.00. Both are open-air or semi-open-air, so choose a dry day and check the weather before you set out.
Flying on to Boracay, Cebu or Bohol. Many first-timers use Manila as a gateway. Boracay is at its best from November to May, when the sea is calm and the sky is clear, and it is a poor choice in the rainy season when the weather turns rough. We list Boracay activities from S$23.88. For Cebu, a one-day Oslob whale shark and Kawasan Falls tour is listed from S$116.00, and for Bohol, an island-hopping and dolphin watching day tour is listed from S$77.98. These are separate flights from Manila, so build in a buffer for weather delays, particularly between June and October.
A final note on timing day trips: leave early. Traffic out of Manila builds fast, and an 8 am departure can save you an hour each way compared with a 10 am start.
What things cost: a realistic budget
Manila is good value compared with Singapore, though it is no longer the bargain it once was. Our destination data suggests a budget of roughly 2,000 to 8,000 Philippine pesos per person per day depending on style, and that is a reasonable starting range. Here is how I would break it down for a three-day city stay. Treat all numbers as approximate, since prices and exchange rates shift.
| Style | Roughly per person per day | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | PHP 2,000 to 3,500 | Hostel or simple hotel room, local meals, public transport, one or two paid sights |
| Mid-range | PHP 3,500 to 6,000 | Comfortable hotel, mix of local and casual restaurant meals, ride-hailing, a guided tour or two |
| Comfortable | PHP 6,000 to 8,000 and above | Upscale hotel, good restaurants, private transfers, day trips with a driver |
Meals are where you save. A filling local meal can cost a few hundred pesos, while a fancy restaurant in Makati will cost several times that. Tipping is appreciated but not strict, and rounding up or leaving ten percent where service is not already added is fine. Cash is still very useful for markets, small shops and jeepneys, though cards are accepted in malls, hotels and many restaurants. Carry small notes, because drivers and street vendors often cannot break large ones.
Because exchange rates move, check the rate close to your travel date and withdraw cash from machines inside banks or malls rather than from isolated street machines. Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
Staying safe and comfortable
Manila is a big city, and like any big city it rewards common sense. Most visitors have trouble-free trips. The usual advice applies: keep your phone and wallet out of sight on crowded streets, use ride-hailing or official taxis rather than unmarked cars, avoid walking alone through quiet areas late at night and be careful with bags in crowds, especially around Quiapo and on public transport. Keep digital copies of your passport and leave the original in the hotel safe when you can.
Heat is a bigger risk than crime for many visitors. Drink water often, wear a hat, use sunscreen and listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, stop, go indoors and rest. Mosquitoes are present year-round and more active after rain, so insect repellent is sensible. For emergencies, the national number is 911, and the tourism hotline listed in our data is +63 2 8524 1660. Make sure your travel insurance includes medical cover, and save the number of your hotel in your phone.
Respect local customs and you will be repaid in warmth. Filipinos are known for their hospitality, and a smile and a polite word go a long way. Using 'po' when speaking to elders is a small gesture that people notice. Dress modestly when visiting churches, with covered shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people, particularly during religious events.
What to pack for the time of year you choose
| Season | Pack | Leave at home |
|---|---|---|
| Cool dry (Nov to Feb) | Light breathable clothes, a thin layer for cold air conditioning, walking shoes, sunscreen | Heavy jackets |
| Hot dry (Mar to May) | Loose cotton or linen, hat, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, electrolyte sachets | Dark tight synthetics |
| Wet (Jun to Oct) | Compact umbrella, quick-dry clothes, waterproof pouch, sandals with grip, spare socks | Suede shoes, anything that cannot get wet |
Whatever the season, bring a power bank, a lightweight scarf or shawl for air-conditioned spaces and churches and a small bag with a zip. Indoor spaces in Manila are often aggressively cold, which surprises first-timers who have been sweating a few minutes earlier.
A sample three-day plan by season
To pull this together, here is how I would shape three days in each kind of weather. These are templates, so adjust them for your pace.
| Day | Dry season plan | Wet season plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intramuros early, lunch nearby, Fort Santiago in the afternoon, sunset by the bay | Morning in Intramuros churches and museums, long lunch, indoor afternoon, early night |
| 2 | Rizal Park and the National Museum, evening food crawl in Makati or Binondo | National Museum complex all day, then a cooking class or food hall dinner |
| 3 | Day trip to Rizal for hiking or ATV, or a Subic or Clark outing | Mall-based fun, the Dessert Museum or an indoor attraction, plenty of buffer for the flight home |
Notice that the wet-season plan keeps day three loose. That is deliberate. Many flight problems happen on the last day, and the last thing you want is a rigid schedule when the sky turns grey.
Booking tips from the HolidaySG side
A few honest notes on booking. Popular attractions, airport transfers and day tours are worth arranging a few days ahead, particularly in December, January and around holidays. Bookings made through HolidaySG are reviewed by our team before the e-ticket is emailed, so allow time rather than booking on the morning you want to go. Read each listing for what is included, the meeting point, the time slot and the ticket rules, because they differ by operator. Our refund terms are set out on the Request-Refund page, so read them before you pay, and remember that weather-related changes on outdoor tours are usually decided by the operator on the day.
If you are building a longer Philippines trip, our Philippines pages group activities by destination so you can see what is available in Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan and Boracay in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best month to visit Manila for the first time?
February. It is dry, sunny and not yet at its hottest, and it sits after the December and January crowds. Late January and early March are close seconds.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit?
It is a harder time, not an impossible one. June is the gentlest wet month. August and September carry the highest chance of disruptive storms and flooding. If you go, keep your plans flexible and have indoor options ready.
How many days do I need in Manila?
Three days covers the old city, the parks and museums, and a taste of modern Manila. Add a fourth or fifth day if you want a day trip to Rizal, Subic or Clark, or if you plan a side trip to another island.
Do I need a visa as a Singapore passport holder?
Singapore passport holders have generally been able to visit for short stays without a visa, but rules and online registration requirements change. Please confirm with the official source before you travel, and use our visa requirements page to check other passports in your group.
Is Manila safe for first-time visitors and families?
Most visitors have no problems. Use ride-hailing apps or official taxis, keep valuables out of sight, avoid dense crowds with bags and children during mass events and stay in a well-reviewed area. Heat and traffic are the bigger daily challenges.
Is it worth getting an eSIM?
For most people, yes. Having maps and a ride-hailing app working the moment you land removes a lot of first-day stress. Check that your phone is eSIM compatible and pick a plan that matches the length of your stay.
What should I avoid doing in Manila?
Avoid packing your schedule too tightly, walking long distances at midday in the hot months, joining huge religious crowds with valuables and travelling without checking the weather in typhoon season.
Can I combine Manila with a beach trip?
Yes, and many travellers do. Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan are short flights away. The dry months from November to May give the calmest seas, so if the beach is the main event, time the whole trip around them.
Featured experiences in this guide
Ready to plan your Manila trip?
Browse tickets, tours and transfers on our Philippines page, check your entry rules on the visa requirements page, and see our flight reservation service if your paperwork needs an onward itinerary.