Language · 11 published
Country guide
About 7,641 islands hold more than 114 million people, and the Philippines divides north to south into three parts — Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao — which is the division a traveller ends up planning around. Luzon carries Manila and the national institutions; the Visayas are the middle scatter of smaller islands where most beach itineraries land; Mindanao in the south is the least visited of the three. Nothing here joins up by road for long. The land adds up to only about 300,000 square kilometres, but it is strung across a stretch of the western Pacific wide enough that a domestic flight is usually the honest answer.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
San Sebastian Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Manila, Philippines. It is widely recognized as the only all-steel church in Asia and one of the few prefabricated steel churches worldwide.
Fort Santiago is a citadel within the walled district of Intramuros, Manila. Built by Spanish colonial forces, it served as a military headquarters and prison complex during successive colonial periods.
The Rizal Monument stands in Rizal Park, Manila, as a memorial to Dr. José Rizal, the Philippine national hero executed by Spanish colonial authorities in 1896.
The University of Santo Tomas is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1611, it is one of the oldest existing universities in Asia.
Fort San Antonio Abad is a historic Spanish colonial fortification located in Malate, Manila. Constructed during the Spanish colonial period, it formed part of the defensive network protecting Manila Bay and the city of Manila.
Baluarte de San Diego is a bastion structure forming part of the historic Spanish colonial fortifications in Manila. Built during the period of Spanish rule, it represents military architecture designed to protect the walled city of Intramuros.
Isabel II
De La Salle University Manila
UST Main Building
Apolinario Mabini Shrine
Musoleo De Los Veteranos De La Revolucion
M. P. Lichauco Heritage House
UST Central Seminary Building
Church of Santa Ana
Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat
Rizal Park Flag Pole
Santa Lucia Barracks Ruins
Fort San Pedro is a military defence structure in Cebu City, the Philippines. The National Museum of the Philippines operates the site as the National Museum of the Philippines Cebu, one of its regional museums.
Santo Niño de Tondo Parish Church
Archdiocese Shrine of Espiritu Santo
San Francisco del Monte Church
Jose P. Laurel Ancestral House
Ocampo Pagoda
Baluarte De San Andres
Cobangbang House
St. Andrew The Apostle Parish Church
Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto
Nuestra Señora De Guia Parish Church
St. Jude Parish Church
Cathedral of the Holy Child
St. Stephen's High School
San Vicente De Paul Church
University of Santo Tomas Junior High School
Iglesia Ni Cristo, Lokal ng Tondo
The Nazarene Catholic School
King Charles IV Monument
Parola ng Binondo
Ramon Magsaysay (1907–1957)
Bradford Uniqted Church of Christ in the Philippines
Almacen de Polvora
Amado Hernandez y Vera
Andres Bonifacio (30 Nobyembre 1863 – 10 Mayo 1897)
Apolinario Mabini
Dambanang Apolinario Mabini
Ariston Bautista Lin
Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas, Inc. Settlement House
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Birthplace of Sergio Osmeña, Sr.
Tulay ng San Juan
Casa Gorordo Museum
Casas Consistoriales
Cebu
Simbahan at Kumbento ng San Juan Bautista de Bagumbayan
Simbahan at Kumbento ng Recoletos
Church of San Agustin
Church of Santa Ana
Church of Tondo
Gusali ng Lunsod ng Maynila
Claudio S. Teehankee: 1918–1989
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
Roman Ongpin
Elpidio R. Quirino
Elpidio R. Quirino (1890–1956)
El Renacimiento
Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
Pari Jacinto Zamora
Padre Jose A. Burgos
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Ten to fourteen days should focus on one or two island groups, such as Manila with Palawan or Cebu with nearby Visayan islands. Each additional island adds a terminal transfer and weather exposure, so keep the final night close to the international departure airport.
Use the official eTravel service for any required arrival registration and check Bureau of Immigration guidance for the passport and length of stay. Registration is not a substitute for a visa when one is required, and unofficial lookalike services should not be used.
The Philippine Ports Authority documents passenger terminals and inter-island links, including Batangas services toward Mindoro, Palawan, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Mindanao. Confirm the exact port and terminal with the licensed carrier. Domestic-air routing and claims about Manila or Cebu as flight hubs are Not recorded by this source, so they are not inferred here.
Dry-season expectations vary by island and typhoon exposure matters more than a single national calendar. Build the trip around the weather pattern of the selected island group, keep sea-transfer days flexible and monitor official storm notices before any ferry leg.
The Philippine peso is used nationwide. Cash is important on smaller islands and for local road transport, while city hotels and larger businesses more often accept cards; use bank-connected machines and check whether island services add separate terminal or environmental fees.
Call 911 for the recorded emergency service; power standards include Types A, B and C at 220 V. Tap-water safety is Not recorded in this dataset, so confirm supply locally, and retain carrier and terminal contacts whenever the itinerary includes sea travel.
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