What do we know about Manila? Any student will say that this is the capital of the Philippines. A person who is more knowledgeable in geography will specify that the city is located on the island of Luzon, and the archipelagic state itself is located in the Pacific Ocean. Tourists somehow do not linger in the capital, immediately rushing to their vacation spots. But in vain. In the capital should stop at least three days. And not just to acclimatize to the tropics.
The capital and its surroundings are simply crammed with various sights. In this article you will find the most complete story about Manila. Traveler reviews formed the basis of this essay. What do tourists say about the beaches of the capital of the Philippines, its hotels, public transport, entertainment, shopping? How to get from the airport to Manila? And how cheap to fly to the Philippines? When is the best season for tourists coming there? What to see in Manila, having one day left? Let's look at each question in order.
How to get to the Philippines
In order to come to this exotic country, consisting of 7 thousand islands, tourists from Russia do not need a visa. But this is provided that the visit to the Philippines will last no more than 30 days. The wonderful climate, humane visa and customs policies, exotic nature, many cultural attractions, dizzying shopping - all this can serve as a reward for a very long flight.
Quickly get to the island country does not work. There are no regular direct flights from Moscow to the Philippines. We have to get with transfers. The fastest way to fly to coconut paradise is to use the services of Qatar Airlines (with a connection in Doha) or Emirates Airlines (with a landing in Dubai). But in such cases, the journey will last 17-18 hours. Upon arrival, tourists expect some cultural shock. According to travelers in reviews, the Benigno Aquino Manila Airport is considered the worst in all of Southeast Asia. Almost all flights are accepted by terminal No. 1.
How to get from the airport to Manila
Having stood a huge queue for border control and going into the arrivals hall, the tourist can choose one of two options. First: take the free airport shuttle, drive to terminals 2 or 4 and head to the beautiful resort islands. Second: stay for two or three days in the capital of the Philippines, Manila. In the reviews, tourists recommend this particular option.
To get to the city quickly, it is not necessary to take a taxi. From T1 you get to terminal No. 3. There, you transfer to another free shuttle that will take you to the Baklaran railway station. And from there the Metro-Rail Transit train already runs. So you get to the main station of Manila without traffic jams. But the train runs only from five in the morning to ten in the evening.
If you arrived in the capital of the Philippines at night, you only have one option to get to the city - a taxi. Drivers of neat yellow cars, before getting a license, pass an exam in English, so you can talk to them. It is better to order a taxi at the counter than to get into the car in the parking lot. Buses depart from terminals 1 and 2. They deliver passengers only to the central part of the city.
When to come to the Philippines
In this island state, the subequatorial climate dominates. Here all year round there are high air and water temperatures, as well as high humidity. There are two seasons - “dry” and “rainy”. Moreover, while on other islands, the differences in periods are milder, then in Manila they appear very sharply. The dry season begins on December 15th. And it lasts until the beginning of May. The period from the New Year to April is considered the best for a beach holiday in Manila. Reviews of tourists on this score are the same.
In winter, you will find a clear, calm sea, a clear sky and zero chance of typhoons and other natural disasters. From May to mid-December, Manila rains. Their peak occurs in August, when more than 400 mm of precipitation falls. In January, the air temperature in Manila is about 29 degrees during the day and 23 at night. The hottest month in the Philippines is June. Then the air temperature reaches +32 ° C during the day and +26 ° C at night, which is very difficult to tolerate at a humidity of one hundred percent. The ocean off the coast of the capital is always warm: +25 ° C in winter and +30 ° C in summer.
Manila areas: where is better to live?
As tourists say in reviews of Manila, this is not even a metropolis, but a whole agglomerate. And the area of the city is not as large as it seems. But Manila is one of the overpopulated capitals of the world, and in this human anthill it's time to get lost. Let's look at the satellite cities of Manila and find out where it is safer, better and more profitable to rent housing financially.
The metropolitan area consists of: Navotas, Kalukan, Malabon, Marikina, Valenzuela, Pasig, Pasaya, Mandalayong, Makati, San Juan, Tagig, Las Pinas, Paranaca, Quezon, Muntinlupa. And this is not an exhaustive list, but simply the largest areas. At the center of this metropolitan area is Metro Manila. All iconic sights are concentrated in it.
If you are visiting Manila for tourist purposes, it is best to settle in the Intramuros area. For business people, the satellite city of Makati is more suitable. Planning to make radial sorties from Manila? Kalukan is a large transport center. And for those who come for shopping, the areas of Mandalayong, Quezon, Pasay and Pasig are suitable.
History of manila
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived at the end of the 16th century on the local shores, the city already existed. The name of the capital of a small Islamic principality in Tagalog means "There is a nile (algae, which colors the water in emerald color)." But the founding date of modern Manila is considered to be the year 1571, when the leader of the conquistadors Lopez de Legazpi founded Intramuros (literally “Inside the Walls”), an area protected from the rest of the city in which the families of the invaders lived. Following the soldiers came missionaries, who gradually evangelized the Muslim population.
But the high walls of Intramuros could not help the Spaniards keep Manila and the Philippines as a whole. In 1898, the revolution began, but then the country became dependent on the United States. During the Second World War, the Philippines was occupied by Japan. Manila has been hit hard by the American bombing. The country gained independence only in 1946. After the war, the state began to develop rapidly, and the capital turned into the largest metropolis of Southeast Asia. Based on this, historical sights should be sought in Metro Manila. In the reviews, tourists say that this area is very large, so it is better to settle in a hotel located next to Intramuros.
How to get around the city
There is a metro in Manila, but it is very short and passes mainly along the outskirts. When you get into a taxi, stopped with a wave of your hand, you need to immediately agree on a price and double it down shamelessly. Riding the meter will not save you from fraud, but only take time, because the driver can carry you in a circle.
Judging by the reviews of Manila, the most democratic way of moving around the city is the "jeepney" - a private minibus with very colorful tuning (you will recognize it by colorful paintings on the back, ribbons, bows and other decorations). City buses run, but it is difficult for a foreigner to understand their route, as well as the location of the stops.
Manila Historic Sites
In the reviews, tourists recommend confining themselves to the Intramuros district, as well as the adjacent Hermite (quarter of ancient monasteries) and Pasay, where the Coconut Palace is located. The historic center has preserved the old mansions of the Spanish nobility. Time also spared the military fort of Santiago, worthy, according to reviews, visits. The cathedral and church of St. Augustine are included in the UNESCO List as pearls of the Baroque architectural style.
Especially for the arrival of the Pope in Manila, the Coconut Palace was built - exclusively from the trunks and peel of this palm nut. In the central areas there are many museums and art galleries. Mandatory in Manila is a visit to Chinatown. Chinatown is located in the Binondo area. There, in addition to cheap shopping, you can visit the interesting Bahai Tsina Museum, dedicated to community life, a pagoda and shocking tourists (according to their reviews) cemetery. In the mausoleums of the rich departed there is even a jacuzzi.
Natural attractions of the capital
If you want to forget that you are in the heart of the metropolis, go to the landscape Risal Park - one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Here, in addition to charming tropical nature, there are pavilions of butterflies and orchids. Special mention should be made of the Nyong Pilipino Ethnographic Museum, where open-air types of buildings from different corners of the archipelago, and a modern aquarium are collected. In reviews of Manila, tourists say that even more natural attractions can be found in the vicinity of the capital. Everyone praises the excursion to McDapio Falls, where the famous episode from the movie "Apocalypse Today" was filmed.
Manila beaches (Philippines): reviews
Many tourists are attracted by the white sand surrounded by palm trees and clear turquoise water. Looking at the map and making sure that Manila lies on the seashore, travelers rush to the capital of the Philippines in search of beach bucolic. Yes, the megalopolis has a beautiful multi-kilometer embankment. But swimming within the city is undesirable. The port and the mouth of a rather dirty river make this vacation uncomfortable. Believe the tourist reviews: the beaches of Manila (Philippines) are located a few kilometers south and north of the metropolis, and even on other islands. Subic Bay is considered the best; you can relax on White Beach, Sabang and Boracay.
Ride with baby
Many tourists argue about whether a family vacation is possible in Manila (Philippines). In the reviews, travelers indicate that the city is very noisy, with chaotic traffic. But some tourists claim that there is room for children to have fun here. A visit to the oceanarium, butterfly pavilions, orchidarium, and the Pambata interactive museum where you can play with exhibits will be very educational for the child. The city has a zoo Avilon. It occupies a vast territory and is divided into “climatic zones”.
Shopping
All the most expensive boutiques of the metropolis are concentrated on the 7-kilometer Rojas Boulevard. You will find a reasonable ratio of price and quality in the numerous shopping malls that are available in the city center, and in almost all of its satellite villages. Fans of branded clothing and shoes praise the mall: Rustans, Robinsons, Landmark and Shumart.
In some stores and even boutiques of Manila (in the reviews it is mentioned quite often), you can bargain. The buyer can almost double the price. If the main thing for you in shopping is low prices, head to Chinatown. They sell everything they can, but the quality of the product leaves much to be desired.