Is Manila a good holiday choice?
Let’s take a look at some of the attractions to this vast tropical city.
In 2023 5.45 million tourists visited the Philippines, making it a popular choice for travellers to South East Asia.
Located in the heart of the Philippines, Manila blends colonial heritage with modern living. Skyscrapers sit alongside bustling markets. The world’s fifth largest shopping mall, The S.M Mall Asia, is located in the city and this is only one of over one thousand shopping malls in the city.
Besides being a shopper’s paradise, this is also a historic city. Manila is centuries old. This historic capital city of the Philippines still showcases its past of Spanish, American, and Asian cultures. Manila is also home to Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown.
There’s plenty to explore in Manila’s historical sites and landmarks. Take a walk through the iconic walled city of Intramuros along cobblestone streets lined with ancient gothic churches. There’s even a museum dedicated to the study of money.
Along the bayfront, Roxas Boulevard is the number one place to really get to know the modern face of Manila. A range of bars, restaurants, theatres, art centres, and the yacht club are all here. This is where young urban locals mix with foreign tourists in the city.
Manila is situated next to Manila Bay, which is a natural harbour on the western side of the island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea and has played a significant role in the city’s history, serving as both a strategic port for trade and commerce. Today the bay area not only provides a picturesque backdrop to the city’s skyline but also offers opportunities for leisure activities such as sunset cruises, dining along the boulevard, and enjoying waterfront parks and promenades.
The bay is also known for its stunning sunsets, attracting locals and tourists alike to witness the breathtaking spectacle as the sun disappears behind the skyline especially magnificent when viewed from the Bay view hotel location.
While many people head to more popular destinations in the region such as Bangkok Thailand, Manila is as equally good a choice. The people are equally as friendly, the cuisine, while not on the world stage, has it’s own unique qualities.
What may set Manila apart as a holiday destination is the warmth and hospitality of its people and their ability with the English language. Renowned for their friendliness, generosity, and welcoming spirit, visitors feel able to communicate more freely than surrounding countries where the lack of English spoken may cause barriers between the holiday maker and the host.
Manila is often used as a stop-over destination for visitors travelling to the vast array of islands in the region. Yet the city itself may be worth a holiday, as its diverse history, and depth of culture, and of course, the shopping will keep visitors amused for days.