Neighborhoods in Manila

Intramuros is the historic walled city at the heart of Manila, built by the Spanish in 1571 as the seat of colonial government. Enclosed within 4.5 kilometers of stone walls and a moat, this 64-hectare district contains Manila's most important colonial-era churches, plazas, and government buildings. Walking its cobblestoned streets is the single best way to experience the Philippines' layered colonial past.

Binondo is the world's oldest Chinatown, established in 1594 by Spanish colonial authorities as a settlement for Catholic Chinese immigrants. Today it remains the commercial heart of Manila's Filipino-Chinese community, a sensory labyrinth of narrow streets packed with hardware shops, gold dealers, apothecaries, and some of the best street food in Asia.

Ermita is a historic bayside district south of Intramuros, flanking Rizal Park. Known for its mix of budget accommodations, colonial-era landmarks, and the lively Remedios Circle dining strip, it offers an accessible base for exploring old Manila.

Escolta was Manila's original premier shopping street during the Spanish and American colonial periods, once nicknamed the Queen of the Streets. After decades of decline, a grassroots revitalization movement has transformed it into a creative hub with pop-up galleries, artisan markets, and co-working spaces inside restored Art Deco buildings.

Poblacion is Makati's oldest neighborhood — its original Spanish-era town center — reborn in the 2010s as Metro Manila's most exciting nightlife and rooftop-bar district. What was once a working-class barrio is now packed with speakeasy cocktail bars, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and Instagram-worthy rooftop venues.

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is Manila's most modern planned district, built on the former Fort Bonifacio military camp in Taguig. Its wide pedestrian-friendly boulevards, curated public art, and high-rise skyline make it feel like a different city from the rest of Manila.