Intramuros & Bamboo Bikes
Fort Santiago and the walled city by bike.
PhilippinesIShowSpeed streamed here
Manila
A chaotic, warm-hearted megacity of Spanish walls, rainbow jeepneys and Manila Bay sunsets — where Asia's friendliest crowds meet 400 years of history.
- Metro population
- 14,000,000
- Country
- Philippines
- Region
- Asia
Overview
Why visit Manila
Metro Manila is really sixteen cities fused into one urban sprawl of over 14 million — Spanish walls at Intramuros, American-era boulevards, and the modern skylines of Makati and BGC, all wrapped around a bay famous for its sunsets.
Intramuros, the 16th-century walled core, holds Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church — Asia's oldest stone church — a few blocks from Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown. Jeepneys, the decorated truck-buses, remain the loud and cheap way to move.
Speed's 2024 Southeast Asia stop included a boxing session with Manny Pacquiao, the country's hero, before crowds swarmed his stream — a turnout that made local headlines.
Things to do
Top things to book in Manila
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Binondo Food Crawl
Dumplings and hopia in the oldest Chinatown.
Manila Bay Sunset
The famous golden sunset from the bay.
Taal Volcano Day Trip
The volcano-in-a-lake viewpoint south of town.
Plan your trip
Compare prices for Manila
Pick your dates once and search hotels, homes, flights and tours on every major site.
Compare two at a time
Side by side in Manila
Tour prices change by date and group size, so each site opens with your search ready to check today's price.
Starting prices checked on Nov 9 on each company's site. Prices depend on age, country and dates; confirm before you buy.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Manila
- 01
World'S Oldest Chinatown
Binondo was founded in 1594 — the oldest Chinese quarter outside China.
- 02
Jeepney Capital
The rainbow-painted jeepney, born from WWII jeeps, is the city's symbol on wheels.
- 03
A Spanish Wall In Asia
Intramuros' 16th-century walls still enclose churches, plazas and Fort Santiago.
- 04
Pacquiao'S City
The boxing legend and senator is Manila's most famous son — he even sparred with Speed.
- 05
Bay Of Gold
Manila Bay's sunsets, framed by Roxas Boulevard, are considered Asia's finest.
- 06
16 Cities In One
'Manila' is a metro region of sixteen cities — including Quezon City, once the capital.
- 07
The Bamboo Organ
Las Piñas church holds the world's only organ with bamboo pipes.
- 08
Mall Kingdom
The malls are the size of towns — SM Mall of Asia alone holds around a thousand shops.
- 09
Rizal'S Last Walk
National hero José Rizal's final footsteps are bronzed at Fort Santiago.
- 10
Karaoke Traffic
Chronic gridlock is survived with patience, snacks and sing-alongs.
Random Manila fact
Tap the button for a random fact about Manila.
FAQ
Quick answers about Manila
Where is Manila located?
Manila is in Philippines, in Asia.
What is the population of Manila?
The greater Manila area is home to about 14,000,000 people.
What is Manila famous for?
Manila is famous for the Philippines' sprawling capital — Intramuros' Spanish walls, jeepneys, Manila Bay sunsets and some of Asia's friendliest crowds.
Did IShowSpeed stream from Manila?
Yes — IShowSpeed streamed from Manila on his 2024 Southeast Asia tour, including a boxing session with Manny Pacquiao. See his full world tour map.
Enjoying Famous Cities?
If these guides helped you plan a trip, or just daydream about one, you can say thanks with a coffee. Every bit keeps the site independent and free.