Manila Old and New: Sightseeing Tour Including Intramuros and Fort Santiago
Badge of Excellence
Luzon, Philippines
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Discover the top sights of Manila on a 4-hour sightseeing tour by coach with an expert guide. Take in the City of Makati and Old Manila, including landmarks such as Nielson Tower, American Cemetery and Memorial and the old walled city of Intramuros. Walk through Intramuros to see UNESCO World Heritage sites including San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago, and learn about the nation's history and heroes like Dr Jose Rizal. You'll gain insight into the Philippine's history, the Spanish colonial era and vibrant modern-day Manila.
- See the City of Makati, the heart of the Philippine’s financial center
- Learn about the Spanish colonial period on a walk through the Intramuros district to Fort Santiago
- Discover intricate Baroque architectural designs of UNESCO World Heritage-listed San Agustin Church
- Round-trip hotel transport by comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle included
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on selected hotels only
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Local English-speaking guide
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Choose from a morning or afternoon tour that starts with pickup from your Manila hotel, then travel with your experienced guide into the heart of the Philippine’s financial center: Makati.
Relax in air-conditioned comfort as your driver cruises down Ayala Boulevard. After a short stop at Nielson Tower, where the Filipinas Heritage Library collection is kept, continue past an exclusive residential enclave named Forbes Park and nicknamed ‘Millionaire's Row,’ en route to the American Cemetery and Memorial. The cemetery dates to World War II and holds the largest number of US soldiers killed in WWII of any cemetery in the world, in addition to soldiers from the Philippines and other Allied nations.
Next, drive along pretty Roxas Boulevard to Old Manila, passing through Luneta (aka Rizal Park) to arrive in the old walled city of Intramuros, the oldest district in Manila, built in the late 1500s when the Spanish Empire took power here. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed San Agustin Church, one of the country’s oldest churches, then walk on cobblestone paths get a closer look at the old walls, church ruins and other remains from the Spanish colonial era.
Your final stop takes in Fort Santiago, one of Manila's most important historical sites. Built by the Spanish in the late 1500s, the fort fell under the rule of successive colonial powers throughout the centuries. It is also the site of a notorious prison where Philippine national hero Dr Jose Rizal wrote his famous poem ‘My Last Farewell’ and was executed by the Spanish in 1896.
Your tour ends after four hours with drop-off at your hotel.
Relax in air-conditioned comfort as your driver cruises down Ayala Boulevard. After a short stop at Nielson Tower, where the Filipinas Heritage Library collection is kept, continue past an exclusive residential enclave named Forbes Park and nicknamed ‘Millionaire's Row,’ en route to the American Cemetery and Memorial. The cemetery dates to World War II and holds the largest number of US soldiers killed in WWII of any cemetery in the world, in addition to soldiers from the Philippines and other Allied nations.
Next, drive along pretty Roxas Boulevard to Old Manila, passing through Luneta (aka Rizal Park) to arrive in the old walled city of Intramuros, the oldest district in Manila, built in the late 1500s when the Spanish Empire took power here. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed San Agustin Church, one of the country’s oldest churches, then walk on cobblestone paths get a closer look at the old walls, church ruins and other remains from the Spanish colonial era.
Your final stop takes in Fort Santiago, one of Manila's most important historical sites. Built by the Spanish in the late 1500s, the fort fell under the rule of successive colonial powers throughout the centuries. It is also the site of a notorious prison where Philippine national hero Dr Jose Rizal wrote his famous poem ‘My Last Farewell’ and was executed by the Spanish in 1896.
Your tour ends after four hours with drop-off at your hotel.
1
Rizal Park
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
San Agustin Church - Immaculate Conception Parish
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Intramuros
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Roxas Boulevard (Pass By)
5
Fort Santiago
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Minimum age is 2 years
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Question (1)
Q:What is the pick up location?
A:We offer pick ups from most hotels. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.
Jul 2019
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 398 reviews
GEORGENES_M, Apr 2026
The tour was good, the guide was knowledgeable, but my airport pick-up was 15 minutes late. I also had the misfortune of being paired up with a group from Bangladesh who wouldn’t shut up so during the entire experience I was either listening to the guide telling about Manila or listening to the guy from Bangladesh voice his opinions loudly. But overall it was a pleasant afternoon
Nicole_A, Apr 2026
Brilliant guide and overall a very interesting few hours showing a few jey moment's in history, would certainly recommend this tour.
Michael_D, Apr 2026
A great knowledgeable guide, together with a safe driver, is a super combination and winning team for any tour. We had both.
Martin_G, Apr 2026
A good overview of Manila with a knowledgeable guide. The pick up and drop off went smoothly. There were enough restroom breaks.
Gary_B, Apr 2026
We had half a day to kill between flights, 1.30 pick up from Grand Hotel, Mataki City & this tour filled the spot perfectly.
Quick trip around some of the new & historical sites, with an exceptionally knowledgeable guide.
Even paced, mostly driven, some easy walking.
MARY_B, Mar 2026
Our Guide (Bernardo) was great!! He shared plenty of historical information but also inquired about the guests & where they were from. I really appreciated seeing the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Site. I enjoyed the walking tour (Fort Santiago)
but it seemed others did not anticipate the amount of walking.
Not sure if it was displayed in the tour information.
Manuel_M, Mar 2026
We booked the Manila Old and New: Sightseeing Tour Including Intramuros and Fort Santiago, and it was the perfect way to see the city's contrasts in just a few hours. Coming from a cruise/port stop with limited time, we wanted an efficient yet immersive experience, and this delivered exactly that—no rushing, no crowds at the key spots.
Our guide (huge shoutout to Honorio "Rodi"—he was outstanding!) was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate about Philippine history, and spoke excellent English. He shared fascinating stories about the Spanish colonial era, WWII impacts, and heroes like Dr. Jose Rizal, making every site come alive. The driver was prompt, the van clean and comfortable with AC, and pickup/drop-off from our close cruise ship hotel was seamless.
We started from Manila Ermita and then in the bustling modern heart of Makati, Bay City, Pasay City and many other places like BGC and US Memorial cementery, then headed to historic Old Manila. The highlight was strolling through the walled city of Intramuros—UNESCO-listed San Agustin Church was stunning with its baroque beauty and peaceful atmosphere. We explored Fort Santiago (walked the grounds, saw the Rizal Shrine and dungeons—very moving), Plaza de Roma, Manila Cathedral, and soaked in the cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. Everything was well-paced, with plenty of photo ops and time to absorb the history.
The tour blended old-world charm with glimpses of today's Manila perfectly. Our guide even pointed out local tips and fun facts we wouldn't have known otherwise. It felt informative, engaging, and not overwhelming—ideal for first-timers or short visits.
Thanks again to Rodi and the team—you made our Manila day memorable!
Thomas_C, Mar 2026
Great informative tour. Opportunity to learn a lot about the history of the Philippines. Pick up time at hotel was as instructed.
Evelyn_E, Mar 2026
It was a great tour in a limited period of time which was all we had. My friend Carol and I learned so much historical information from our excellent guide Nori from Baron Travel. Most of the 4 hour tour was a drive-by through the old sections of old Manila and new Manila. The walking was limited to less than an hour in Intramuros and less than half hour at the American Cemetery which were the 2 sites where we stopped. My friend and I are in our early 80s so the limited walking was perfect for us. Appreciated our visit to the Manila Cathedrdl and St. Augustine Church.
The only suggestion we would make is for the person doing pickups to have identification that would allow the participants to easily spot him/hetmr. We were told the meeting place was the lobby of the Manila Hotel which is a huge place. We arrived a bit earlier than the meeting time and didn’t know which part of the lobby we should be looking for the pickup tour rep. We were asking hotel personnel if they knew where the Vistor rep would be and nobody knew, not even the concierge. Bit frustrating since there was no way the Viator rep would know us.
TIMOTHY_W, Mar 2026
I took the tour with RJ (tour guide) and
Rod (driver).
Picked up on time in a clean van.
Saw all the sites listed.
RJ was very knowledgeable about the tour, the sites, and his Philippines.
I had a very good time.
I highly recommend this tour
Mark_T, Mar 2026
The guide was very knowledgeable. It was very hot and he did his best to keep us in the shade. He pointed out sites while we were out n the van.
Katrina_M, Feb 2026
Stella was very knowledgable and friendly. She gave us more than enough time at each stop to take photos, learn about the history, and explore on our own. We would definitely recommend this tour to get acclimated to Manila and general Filipino history!
Anonymous, Feb 2026
Excellent tour and had very knowledgeable guide.The tour was about the right amount in duration.
Highly recommend
alexander_k, Feb 2026
Far too expensive for what you get. Essentially you get a van ride to the American Cemetery and then to Intramuros (short walk to Fort Santiago) and then back to hotel. We two paid $120; if we took Grab, it would be $20 for all three legs of the trip. The guide was nice and attentive, but the trip itself does not offer good value. I cannot recommend this trip.
marilynft, Feb 2026
The tour of Old and new Manila was very interesting, especially Intramouros. Unfortunately the traffic on Friday afternoon was very bad which delayed the tour, but this is not a reflection on the tour company.
Marjan_L, Feb 2026
Interesting. Spent half of the time in traffic congestions. Good mixture of aspects of history, modern developements.
Kyra_W, Feb 2026
10/10! Eric and Henry were so great! Eric the tour guide was so informative, passionate, and really fulfilled our purpose of learning to much about the culture and history!! We went to six amazing sights. I definitely recommend this tour for everyone visiting Manila!!
Bill_T, Jan 2026
Our guide was very knowledgeable. He told us so much information on the drive to our destinations. Very good.
Ruby_M, Jan 2026
Tour was in an air conditioned van, driver was impressive with knowledge of streets which was congested, but maintained comfort, Nori our tour guide was impressive with his knowledge of every part of the sites our tour covered. My family learned so much about history and culture of Filipinos in Manila
Gina_L, Jan 2026
Great overview of the area of Manila. Our guide Nori was very knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information. Perfect 1/2 day tour.
faye_c, Jan 2026
3-4 hours, depending on pick up point. Not too much walking, which is nice if you don't enjoy the humidity! Intramuros is worth a visit, but the rest of the city isn't too memorable. Richard the guide was friednly and knowledgeable.
reema_k, Dec 2025
It was a great experience to see the old and new Manila
Nori our guide was excellent and was happy to answer all my questions
Recommend this to everyone
wendy_b, Dec 2025
Disappointing and underwhelming due to an unenthusiastic tour guide. He picked us up at 1 pm and we drove for almost an hour to pick up other guests. He didn’t introduce himself or talk to us during this drive except if we asked questions and then his answers were brief. The information he shared once the tour started was very plain vanilla and we could learn more by googling the places we were seeing. The tour was supposed to be about 4 hours but ended in less than 2 1/2 hours. Not a great introduction for our first day on Manila. We would not recommend this tour guide.
Rosemarie_S, Dec 2025
We were very disappointed with this tour. Our guide gave almost no local information during the hour long drive from our pickup point to the first stop on the tour. When we did stop, he left us to our our devices, which was fine in some cases, but quite unsatisfactory in others like when we could not get into the church because of a wedding mass, when he was nowhere to be seen to give us any other suggestions.
joandbryan, Dec 2025
Small group tour. Just 3 of us. We had an excellent guide in Richard who was very knowledgeable. Interesting to drive through and hear about some of the different neighbourhoods of Manila. Be prepared for the tour take more than 4 hours, due to the traffic.
rosewavy, Dec 2025
Highly informative with only six of us in the van. Felt very much more personal than excursion offered by the cruise line and at half the price.Highly recommended
Jeremy_S, Dec 2025
Excellent trip with a great guide who went over and above in our expectations! He was extremely knowledgeable and vary informative as well as happy to share his life experiences
David_P, Dec 2025
Great informative tour. Nori is like a walking encyclopedia. Full of historical facts. I would definitely recommend
cmescolar, Dec 2025
The tour guides were knowledgeable, friendly and just great guides!
There were a number of historical sites. Great value for the money.
Trudy_J, Nov 2025
I enjoyed the history. Not many people really know about the Philippines and WWII. Fernando was my tour guide. He was great!
Likely to Sell Out
From $80.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Manila Old and New: Sightseeing Tour Including Intramuros and Fort Santiago
398
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$80.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Luzon, Philippines
More attractions near Luzon, Philippines