Philippines Top Attractions

Top 20 things to see and do in Philippines

1 Intramuros

8.7 /10

The entrance of Fort Santiago in Intramuros.

The walled city of Intramuros is the oldest district in Manila as it was built in 1571. It served as the center for the Spanish colony's rule and was then once called and believed to be Manila itself. The Spanish cultural influence is evident in every corner of this walled city. The architecture is screaming its Spanish influence as the roads and buildings are of the finest style and design ...
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2 University of Santo Thomas

7.3 /10

The facade of Santo Thomas University in Manila.

If you want to leisurely explore Manila and have enough time to walk around architectural structures that date back to the Spanish colonial period, visit Intramuros and Fort Santiago. Another site to visit is the University of Santo Tomas, which is located along Manila's university belt in the area of Espaňa in Sampaloc. Finding this university is quite easy as it is located along with one of Manila's national highways.History of the University of Santo TomasThe University of Sto ...
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3 Paco Park

7.3 /10

The St. Pancratius chapel in Paco Park, Manila

Paco Park had hosted numerous musical events and wedding receptions since its restoration during the Marcos presidency. You can consider holding your wedding or musical event here as the area provides a romantically and culturally artistic backdrop for your special occasion. Before Paco Park became popular as a venue for weddings and musical events, the park had been part of Manila's turbulent history ...
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4 Casa Manila

7.2 /10

Above the main entrance door at Casa Manila.

A visit to the Philippines capital city is not complete if you do not revisit Manila's rich cultural history. The city's past is primarily dominated by the Spanish colonial era's remnants, which can be quickly toured without any problems. You have to visit Manila's Intramuros, where you can leisurely walk around numerous ruins, churches, schools, and mansions such as the Casa Manila.
The structures within Intramuros, including the Casa Manila, date back to the Spanish colonial times, with few sites faithfully restored to their former glory and other building sites just lay in ruins ...
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5 San Agustin Church

7.2 /10

The entrance facade of the San Agustin Church in Manila.

The San Agustin Church is one of the old buildings located inside the walls of Intramuros in Manila. It was founded by the Augustinians and was constructed between the years 1587 and 1604.HistoryThe building has survived wars, including the Manila-liberating war between the Americans and Japanese that destroyed the walls of Intramuros and almost every structure inside it ...
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6 Coconut Palace

7.2 /10

The Coconut Palace courtyard.

If you are looking for an idyllic place to hold your debut or wedding reception, you can consider the Coconut Palace in Manila. Its location provides wide-open, beautifully landscaped grounds that face the magnificent Manila Bay. Located within the wide complex of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Coconut Palace also provides open parking spaces for your guests.
The Coconut Palace is a prime example of one of the Philippines' opulent structures ...
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7 Taal Lake and Volcano

7.2 /10

Part of the Taal Volcano crater by the lake.

The Taal Volcano is located in Batangas, which is in the Luzon islands of the Philippines. The Taal Lake is a small lake inside a caldera formed by four large volcano eruptions earlier, 100,000 to 500,000 years ago. Eruptions that succeeded in forming the caldera have resulted in the formation of another island within the caldera that consists of 47 overlapping craters and cones ...
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8 White Beach

7 /10

The White Beach on the island of Boracay.

White beach is the largest white-sand beach on the island of Boracay. Impossible to miss, White Beach is the most popular beach in the Philippines, and with good reason.
As soon as you set foot on this stretch of fine sand, you understand why it attracts the crowds. It is not named "White Beach" by chance. The sand is really almost white. Add to that the crystal clear water, the palm trees, and all the necessary infrastructures to facilitate the tourists' life, and you get the perfect vacation spot ...
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9 Mayon Volcano

7 /10

The cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.

Mayon is an active volcano in the Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in the province of Albay. It is located a few kilometers to the south is the town of Legazpi. Mayon is a stratovolcano. It's an almost perfect cone, which makes it comparable to Mount Fuji, and is composed of pyroclastic lavas. It is geologically located at the boundary of the Eurasian and Philippine plates, a subduction zone ...
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10 Puerto Princesa Cave River

7 /10

The river by the cave's entrance.

Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park is located approximately 50 km north of Puerto Princesa, in the province of Palawan in the Philippines, in the St. Paul mountain range on the northern coast of the island.
The park has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since December 4, 19991, and was also classified as a Ramsar site since June 30, 2012.
To the north lies St. Paul Bay, to the east the Babuyan River.
The entrance to the underground river is a short hike from the village of Sabang in the municipality of Cabayugan ...
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11 Sagada Hanging Coffins

7 /10

Some hanging coffins in Sagada.

Hanging caskets are a tradition in Sagada, Philippines, of hanging caskets on high rocks.
The practice originated more than 2000 years ago from the local indigenous people. This practice is due to various factors: the ancients felt that their bodies were closer to heaven, they were afraid that dogs or headhunting tribes would dig up their bodies, the dead could continue to see the sky and feel the wind, the dead could have a benevolent eye on their loved ones, and they did not encroach on the growing space ...
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12 Batad Rice Terraces

7 /10

Batad Rice Terraces in the mountains of Banaue.

The Banaue Rice Fields are 2,000-year-old rice fields built on the Ifugao Mountains by the ancestors of the Batad ethnic group in the Philippines. They are often called 'the eighth wonder of the world'. The Batad Rice Terraces in Banaue are considered to be the most spectacular ones.
It is believed that the terraces were built with few tools, mostly by hand, using skills passed down from generation to generation. They are located at about 1,500 m above sea level and cover 10,360 km2 ...
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13 Corregidor Island

7 /10

Aerial view of Corregidor Island.

Corregidor is an island of Manila Bay in the Philippines. It is part of the municipality of Cavite.
Located 48 kilometers west of Manila, the island has a peculiar shape reminiscent of a tadpole with a tail spreading out towards the east. With its surface area of 9 km², it is strategically located as it divides the entrance to Manila Bay into two parts to the north and south ...
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14 Pagsanjan Falls

7 /10

The Pagsanjan Falls in the Luzon region of the Philippines.

The Pagsanjan Falls (or Magdapio in Filipino) is one of the Philippines' most famous waterfalls. It is one of the main tourist attractions of the Laguna region. They are located at about 97 km (2-hour drive) southeast of Manila, on Luzon's island.
The falls are accessible through a river trip by canoe. It originates from the municipality of Pagsanjan, a town that is established in the early Spanish era and is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac and the Bumbungan ...
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15 Manila Cathedral

7 /10

The Manila Cathedral within Intramuros.

The Manila Cathedral is a prominent Catholic basilica located within the historic Intramuros district in Manila. The full name of this holy site is actually 'Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception' in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Philippines' sacred patroness.
The cathedral serves as both the Basilica of the Philippine Government and the archbishop's highest seat in the country ...
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16 Donsole Whale Sharks

7 /10

Whale sharks are friendly.

The butandings (Filipino name for whale sharks) regularly circulate in this area at the time of the year when plankton proliferates. They are nicknamed 'gentle giants' because, despite their immense size (average of 9-10 meters, can go up to 18 meters), they are the most gentle sharks in the world.
In Donsol, you can actually swim and do some snorkeling among the whale sharks. However, visual encounters can often be brief as they are timid animals ...
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17 Tubbataha Reef

7 /10

The Tubbataha Reef coral reef.

Tubbataha Reef is a coral reef atoll located in the Sulu Sea at about 180 kilometers from the city of Puerto Princesa, in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is a protected marine sanctuary called the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, established on 11 August 1988. Originally measuring 332 km2, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo increased the protected area by 200% in 2006 to 968.24 km2.
Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1993, the Park is under the protection of the Philippine Department of National Defence and the technical supervision of the Palawan Sustainable Development Board and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources ...
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18 Chocolate Hills

6.9 /10

The Chocolate Hills in the Philippines.

The Chocolate Hills is a group of perfectly cone-shaped hills that is located on the island of Bohol, Philippines. This geological formation is highly unusual as the sizes of each hill are almost the same.
The hills are all covered in green grass, and during the dry season, the grass turns brown. This brown color is responsible for their name. There is not enough rain in Bohol during the dry season, so the mountainous grass dries up ...
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19 Sevilla Twin Hanging Bridge

6.5 /10

The Sevilla Twin Hanging Bridge on Bohol Island.

...
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20 National Museum of the Philippines

6.2 /10

Entrance facade of the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.

If you want to explore the Philippines' rich cultural heritage, go to the Philippines' National Museum. You can spend one whole day walking around the museum's various rooms exhibiting paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts dating back to the pre-Hispanic settlement. The museum is conveniently located near the Manila City Hall within the area of Rizal Park. So, finding the building of the National Museum of the Philippines is quite simple, and a visit to it ensures that you learn and appreciate the country's heritage at your leisure ...
Read more about the National Museum of the Philippines

* Regular pre-pandemic touristic activity level.

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