Manila

Manila 10-day itinerary

10 days in Manila on foot. The plan moves through Landmarks, Museums, City, starting with University of Santo Tomas, National Museum of the Philippines, Bahay Tsinoy. No car.
Best for
First-time visitors who want a full Manila trip with day trips.
Pace
Seven walking days, two day trips, and one slower day.
Base
Landmarks
Estimated budget
$800–$2,800

Day-by-day plan

Follow the stops in order. Walk times are estimates between nearby places.

  1. Day 1

    Landmarks

    Walk Landmarks in Manila. Start at University of Santo Tomas, then National Museum of the Philippines and Bahay Tsinoy. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      University of Santo Tomas

      This university is oldest and first university in Asia and the Philippines. It was used as a camp by the Japanese during their occupation where the imprisoned about 10,000 people even though it only can hold 4,000.

    2. Stop 2

      National Museum of the Philippines

      Built and opened in the 1900s, the museum showcases significant collections from archaeology, arts, cultural properties, zoology, botany and many more. The National Museum of the Philippines is a government institution in the Philippines and serves as an educational, scientific and cultural institution in preserving the various permanent national collections featuring the ethnographic, anthropological, archaeological and visual artistry of the Philippines.

    3. Stop 3

      Bahay Tsinoy

      One of Manila's well-known museums; see Chinese biographies and their contributions in the history of the Philippines.

    Eat · Bacolod Chicken Inasal: Bacolod Chicken Inasal listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

    Browse Manila tours
  2. Day 2

    Museums

    Walk Museums in Manila. Start at Museo Pambata, then Manila Zoo and Manila Dance and Cultural Arts Center. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      Museo Pambata

      A children's interactive museum, the first of its kind in the Philippines. Opened in 1994, Museo Pambata is the dream come true of Nina Lim-Yuson, who was inspired by the Boston Children’s Museum to open up a similar facility in Manila.

    2. Stop 2

      Manila Zoo

      Has since reopened after heavy renovations. The Manila Zoo covers an area of 0.055 km². Accessible via LRT-1 Quirino station.

    3. Stop 3

      Manila Dance and Cultural Arts Center

      Manila Dance and Cultural Arts Center on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · Greenery Kitchen: Greenery Kitchen listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  3. Day 3

    City

    Walk City in Manila. Start at St. Mark United Church, then Iglesia Evangelica Methodista En Las Islas Filipinas and Quezon City Evangelical Church. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      St. Mark United Church

      St. Mark United Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 47 min walk

      Iglesia Evangelica Methodista En Las Islas Filipinas

      Iglesia Evangelica Methodista En Las Islas Filipinas on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. Stop 3 · 75 min walk

      Quezon City Evangelical Church

      Quezon City Evangelical Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · Mila's Lechon: Cuisine: regional.

  4. Day 4

    City

    Walk City in Manila. Start at Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church, then Arcilla's Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church and Christian Gospel Church. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church

      Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 29 min walk

      Arcilla's Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church

      Arcilla's Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. Stop 3 · 40 min walk

      Christian Gospel Church

      Christian Gospel Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · Smokeys: Smokeys listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  5. Day 5

    City

    Walk City in Manila. Start at Sta. Mesa Heights United Methodist Church, then Lutheran Church In The Philippines and Roosevelt Memorial Church. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      Sta. Mesa Heights United Methodist Church

      Sta. Mesa Heights United Methodist Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 54 min walk

      Lutheran Church In The Philippines

      Lutheran Church In The Philippines on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. Stop 3 · 68 min walk

      Roosevelt Memorial Church

      Roosevelt Memorial Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · Max's Restaurant: Cuisine: asian.

  6. Day 6

    City

    Walk City in Manila. Start at Kanlaon Baptist Church, then Eatery and United Bethel Church. Stay on foot.

    1. Stop 1

      Kanlaon Baptist Church

      Kanlaon Baptist Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    2. Stop 2 · 8 min walk

      Eatery

      Eatery on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    3. Stop 3 · 29 min walk

      United Bethel Church

      United Bethel Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · New Kamameshi Sushi Bar: Cuisine: sushi.

  7. Day 7

    Day trip toward Makati

    Leave Manila for the day. Come back to the same bed.

    1. Stop 1

      Makati

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

    2. Stop 2

      Pasay

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

    3. Stop 3

      Ninoy Aquino International Airport

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Check the regional train or bus the night before.

    Eat · Pack snacks from town. Do not count on a full menu at a small station.

    Browse Makati day trips
  8. Day 8

    Day trip toward Pasay

    A second day outside Manila. Keep the same hotel base.

    1. Stop 1

      Pasay

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Book the earliest practical train or bus.

    2. Stop 2

      Ninoy Aquino International Airport

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Book the earliest practical train or bus.

    3. Stop 3

      Tagaytay

      Listed as a next stop from Manila. Book the earliest practical train or bus.

    Eat · Eat near the station before you leave. Plan dinner back in Manila.

    Browse Pasay day trips
  9. Day 9

    Do one thing slowly

    No new neighborhood. Use the spare day on a single activity.

    1. Stop 1

      Repeat a street you liked

      Walk the first day again without tickets. Manila reads better the second time.

    Eat · Go back to a place that already worked.

  10. Day 10

    City

    Keep Manila on foot. No new tickets required.

    1. Stop 1

      Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church

      Bishop Sobrepeña Memorial Church on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.

    Eat · Eat near the hotel.

Where to stay

Sleep near the walking base. Pick an area, then search hotels by neighborhood.

  • Museums

    Walking this plan

    Base here if you want National Museum of the Philippines, Bahay Tsinoy, Museo Pambata on foot.

Full where-to-stay guide →

Things to book

Tours and tickets that match this plan. Book anything that needs timed entry.

Budget

Rough mid-range spend for 10 days in Manila, excluding long-haul flights. Hotel nights drive most of the range.

  • Budget: about $800 (hostel/budget hotel, transit, street food)
  • Mid-range: about $1,400 (3★ hotel, sit-down meals, a tour or two)
  • Comfort: about $2,800 (nicer hotel, taxis, paid attractions)

Trip budget calculator →

Transportation

Get in

* | url=https://betternaia.com | email= | address= | lat=14.508611 | long=121.019444 | directions= | phone= | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q86446 | lastedit=2019-08-20 | content=Main international airport of Manila. }} For more information check the section on airports in the Metro Manila article. For travel by ferry, mainly from other parts of the Philippines but also from a few other ports, see the section on boats.

Get around

thumb|250px|LRT Line 1 Manila is served by LRT Line 1 (green line), operated by Light Rail Manila Corporation, and LRT Line 2 (blue line), operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority. Line 1 uses light-rail type rolling stock and serves Malate, Ermita, Quiapo, Binondo and Santa Cruz. Line 2 uses longer commuter-grade rolling stock and serves Quiapo, Sampaloc and Santa Mesa. Most tourist sites are along Line 1.

Where to eat

Simple meal ideas near the day’s walking route.

  • Bacolod Chicken Inasal

    Bacolod Chicken Inasal listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  • Greenery Kitchen

    Greenery Kitchen listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  • Mila's Lechon

    Cuisine: regional.

  • Smokeys

    Smokeys listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  • Max's Restaurant

    Cuisine: asian.

  • New Kamameshi Sushi Bar

    Cuisine: sushi.

  • Gumbo

    Gumbo listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

  • Secret Recipe

    Secret Recipe listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.

Before you go

Questions

Do I need a car in Manila?
No for this plan. The days stay inside walking range, then local transit to MNL. thumb|250px|LRT Line 1 Manila is served by LRT Line 1 (green line), operated by Light Rail Manila Corporation, and LRT Line 2 (blue line), operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority. Line 1 uses light-rail type rolling stock and serves Malate, Ermita, Quiapo, Binondo and Santa Cruz. Line 2 uses longer commuter-grade rolling stock and serves Quiapo, Sampaloc and Santa Mesa. Most tourist sites are along Line 1.
Is 10 days enough?
Yes if you want Manila plus day trips. Use the 5-day plan if you will stay in town.
Where should I stay?
Base near Landmarks so the first walking day starts at the hotel. Las Palmas Hotel is a listed option, not a ranking.
Where do I eat?
Each day names one sit-down stop. Bacolod Chicken Inasal is on the list. Keep the rest as bakeries and market counters.

Other Manila trip lengths

Daily stops compiled from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, and OpenTripMap. Updated 2026-08-25. Edited by Lina Varela.