Manila attractions

In death as in life, Manila’s rich Chinese like to live large, and the renowned Chinese Cemetery—lined with otherworldly mansions, some complete with air-conditioning and flush toilets—is a tribute to their wealth. Sprawling over 133 acres (54 hectares), it’s one of Manila’s quirkiest attractions: You can even rent a bike to get around.

Located in Makati, the Ayala Museum is considered one of the most culturally significant museums in the Philippines. Spread over four stories, this well-organized and -maintained gallery houses a large collection of art, gold jewelry, archaeological artifacts, maritime vessels, and dioramas covering Philippine arts, culture, and heritage.

An enormous 3D trick-art museum in Cubao, Metro Manila, Art in Island is tailor-made for the selfie era. Insert yourself into more than 100 3D images, some based on classic originals. Pose on magazine covers, among Egyptian ruins, or in the jaws of a sea monster. Besides the paintings, there’s an on-site café if you need to refuel.

The country’s national center for the performing arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is a vast complex spread over 150 acres (62 hectares). Designed by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin, this is Manila’s go-to venue for ballet, classical music, and theater, as well as other local and international productions, performances, and festivals.

The Mt. Purro Nature Reserve ecoresort sits in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila. Activities include hiking, bird-watching, ropes courses, tree planting, waterfall swims, a swimming pool, and encounters with the indigenous Dumagat people. There’s also a restaurant and accommodation at a range of price points.

A popular weekend escape from Manila, Subic Bay was once the base for a huge US naval fleet. Today it’s reinvented as a family-friendly tourist destination, with attractions from theme parks and safari parks to jungle trekking. Most foreign travelers visit to dive the magnificent wrecks, trek the jungle, and tour the abandoned base.

This ocean theme park is home to about 14,000 marine creatures from almost 280 different species, as well as insects, birds, including penguins, and other animals. There’s a wide range of interactive, educational exhibits and shows for all ages—don’t miss the 220-degree curved tunnel offering views of sharks, stingrays, eels, and a variety of fish.

Even more than other Southeast Asian capitals, Manila is a city of contrasts. And never are those contrasts more acute than in Makati, home to sleek skyscrapers, high-end malls, and slick hotels. But Makati has historical appeal as well, with highlights including Saint Peter and Paul Parish Church, dating to 1620, and the Manila American Cemetery.

Probably the Philippines’ oldest art, and some of the oldest rock carvings in southeast Asia, the Angono Petroglyphs sit in Angono, Rizal, southeast of Manila. The 127 carvings show human and animal figures and date back to the late Stone Age, more than 4,000 years ago. A small on-site museum displays ceramics, fossils, and other artifacts.

The official residence and primary workplace of the president of the Philippines, Malacañan Palace (Malacañang Palace) is a sprawling, waterfront complex that dates back to the mid-18th century. Most of the complex is closed to visitors, but travelers can explore the Malacañang Palace Museum (Presidential Museum and Library).

Dinosaurs Island is a theme park that brings the Jurassic period to life with life-size, animatronic dinosaurs. The park boasts a forest trail featuring more than 30 moving dinosaur models, a museum containing fossils and replicas of four dinosaur skeletons, an immersive 7D cinema screen, and a Jungle Safari thrill ride.

Dedicated to the work of a family of self-taught painters now entering its third generation, the Blanco Family Museum is a distinctly Filipino affair, one filled with folk-art-style scenes of colorful fiestas and rural life. Jose “Pitok” V. Blanco founded the dynasty; today, Michael, one of his seven children, runs the museum.