Attractions in Manila

The Manila Cathedral, officially the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Standing on the west side of Plaza de Roma inside Intramuros, it has been rebuilt eight times following earthquakes, typhoons, and wartime destruction — a testament to Filipino resilience.

The Manila Metropolitan Theater — locally known as the Met — is an Art Deco masterpiece on Padre Burgos Avenue, completed in 1931 and considered one of the finest examples of the style in Southeast Asia. After decades of decay, a comprehensive restoration was completed in 2021, returning the building to its original grandeur.

The Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch is an ornate paifang (traditional Chinese gateway) at the entrance to Binondo on the corner of Quintin Paredes Street and Ongpin Street. Standing 12 meters tall, it marks the threshold between the modern city and the world's oldest Chinatown.

San Agustin Church is the oldest surviving stone church in the Philippines, completed in 1607 by Augustinian friars. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, it is one of only four such churches in the country and the only one that survived the Battle of Manila intact.

Fort Santiago is a 16th-century Spanish citadel perched at the mouth of the Pasig River, within Intramuros. It served as the headquarters of the Spanish, British, American, and Japanese military forces at various points in Philippine history. Today it is best known as the final imprisonment site of national hero José Rizal.

San Sebastian Church in Quiapo is the only all-steel church in Asia and one of only two prefabricated steel churches in the world. Designed by Genaro Palacios and fabricated in Belgium, its Gothic Revival structure was assembled in Manila between 1886 and 1891.

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, commonly called Quiapo Church, is home to one of the most venerated religious icons in the Philippines. Every January 9, millions of barefoot devotees process through Manila's streets for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, one of the largest Catholic processions in the world.

The Rizal Monument is a memorial to Philippine national hero José Rizal, located at the western end of Rizal Park. The bronze and granite monument marks the exact spot where Rizal was executed by a Spanish firing squad on December 30, 1896, and contains his remains.

The Chinese Cemetery of Manila, established in 1850, is one of the most unusual necropolises in the world. Sprawling mausoleums resemble full-sized houses — some multi-story, air-conditioned, and fitted with kitchens, flushing toilets, and even mailboxes.

Jones Bridge is a historic Beaux-Arts bridge spanning the Pasig River between Escolta and Binondo, connecting Manila's historic districts. Rebuilt and restored in 2019 with ornamental lampposts, European-inspired sculptures, and arched balustrades, it has become one of Manila's most photogenic pedestrian crossings.

The Manila Hotel is a grand waterfront hotel opened in 1912, a living monument to Manila's colonial and wartime history. General Douglas MacArthur made it his home for seven years, and every Philippine president from Manuel Quezon to Ferdinand Marcos held state dinners in its chandeliered ballrooms.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is the country's premier performing arts complex, a striking Brutalist landmark designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin and inaugurated in 1969. Situated on reclaimed land along Manila Bay, it hosts opera, ballet, theater, and symphonic performances year-round.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) is the oldest existing university in Asia, founded in 1611 — older than Harvard by 25 years. Its Main Building, completed in 1927, is a National Historical Landmark and one of the largest earthquake-resistant structures in the Philippines.