Practical Information for visiting Manila

Traffic is the defining problem. Metro Manila has some of the worst congestion in the world, and journey times bear almost no relation to distance. Plan two or three things in one district rather than crossing the city.

Ride-hailing apps are the practical choice for visitors: fixed fares, air conditioning, and no negotiation. Grab is the main one.

Rail: the LRT and MRT lines are cheap and bypass the traffic, though crowded and limited in coverage. A subway is under construction.

Jeepneys are cheap, everywhere and genuinely local, but routes are unmarked and understanding them takes practice. Pass your fare forward along the bench.

Walking works inside Intramuros, Rizal Park and Bonifacio Global City, and poorly elsewhere — pavements are intermittent.

Allow enormous margins for airport transfers.

Coverage for mobile networks is good across the metropolis with 4G and expanding 5G from Globe and Smart.

Local SIM cards are cheap and sold at the airport and in every mall; registration with a passport is now required by law. Data bundles are inexpensive and worth having, as ride-hailing apps are essential.

Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, malls and cafes; speeds have improved substantially but remain variable.

Signal is deliberately suspended along the route during the Black Nazarene procession and occasionally at other large events, as a security measure.

Power cuts occur, particularly in storms; most hotels have generators. The supply is 220 volts on flat two-pin sockets.

Manila requires more caution than most Southeast Asian capitals, though visitors who take sensible precautions rarely have trouble.

• Street crime: snatching of phones and bags, particularly from jeepneys, on crowded streets and around markets. Keep valuables out of sight and carry little.
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• Taxi scams: use apps rather than hailing, and refuse a driver who will not run the meter.
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• The tanim-bala and similar airport scams have been reported; keep baggage closed and use plastic wrapping if it reassures you.
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• Areas: Tondo, parts of Santa Cruz and the port district are best avoided without a local companion, and the city should not be walked at night.
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• Flooding during storms is genuinely dangerous; never wade through floodwater, which hides open drains and carries disease.
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• Traffic: crossing roads requires care and commitment.

Private hospitals in Makati and Bonifacio Global City are excellent and used to foreign patients; public facilities are stretched. Payment is expected upfront, so insurance matters.

Vaccinations: routine cover plus hepatitis A and typhoid; rabies and Japanese encephalitis for longer or rural stays.

Dengue is the main mosquito-borne risk and occurs year round with outbreaks after the rains; the mosquito bites in daylight, so repellent during the day matters. There is no malaria in Metro Manila.

Leptospirosis follows floods, spread through contaminated water — a genuine reason not to wade.

Water: drink bottled or filtered.

Heat in April and May is severe; the heat index is reported daily.

Air quality is poor along the main roads.

Emergency number: 911 nationally for police, fire and ambulance.

Medical. St Luke’s, Makati Medical Center and the Medical City are the hospitals foreign visitors are usually directed to; they are good and expect payment or an insurance guarantee at admission.

Typhoon warnings are issued by the state weather bureau on a signal scale, and class and work suspensions are announced the evening before. Take them seriously; flights and ferries stop.

Flooding: stay indoors and above ground level, and do not attempt to travel during a major storm.

Earthquake: drop, cover and hold on; the West Valley fault scenario is well publicised locally and buildings vary widely in quality.

Most countries maintain embassies in Manila, many in Makati.