Metro Manila is the Philippines’ National Capital Region. Composed of 16 highly-urbanized cities and one municipality, this region offers infinite activities. You’ll never run out of things to do whatever the mood you’re in.
Here’s the good news. Most of the establishments in the region have reopened their doors to fully-vaccinated individuals. Before you go out, this definitive list will show you the top 10 things to do in Metro Manila all year round!
Things to do in Metro Manila
1. Go food tripping in Metro Manila’s dining hotspots
Filipinos love to eat. It’s evident in the sprawling food districts all over the country. Everywhere you go, you can always find a food establishment or a store selling instant goods.
The logic behind this is simple. Food makes catch-ups more enjoyable. By the same token, stories make foods more delicious.
Here’s a warning though: If your squad is full of indecisive peeps, deciding where to dine can take forever. Before heading out for your meetups, it’s best to research where to go. Some of the places where you can food hop are:
● Maginhawa Street (Quezon City)
You can never go wrong with the huge selection of restaurants and cafés in this area. This place offers the most exclusive gastronomic delights — from appetizers to desserts and breakfast to late-night drinking.
● Salcedo Saturday Market (Makati City)
This open-air community market sells artisanal produce every Saturday. If you’re looking for a unique food experience, this place is perfect for you.
Note: There’s an ongoing renovation in its original location. If you plan to visit this outdoor weekend market, head straight to the Paseo Center parking area.
● Binondo (Manila City)
Are you craving Chinese food? Visit Binondo, one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world. This place is famous for restaurants selling authentic Chinese cuisines. After eating, you
can stroll around its historic streets to burn the calories you consumed. You can also shop at Carvajal Street for unique and local delicacies.
● Pasay Seafood Market (Pasay City)
Satisfy your seafood cravings by visiting Pasay Seafood Market. The restaurants in this area are famous for their paluto services. All you need to do is to buy any seafood from the wet market, choose a restaurant, and ask them to cook it for you.
● High Street (Taguig)
Bonifacio High Street is popular for its hip cafés, high-end restaurants, and mainstream nightclubs tailor-fitted for the contemporary lifestyle.
2. Visit museums and historical sites
Manila City has been an important eyewitness of many historical events. Amid its modernization, you can still find traces of our country’s rich culture and bittersweet experiences all over the place. Thankfully, museums and historical sites have curated and preserved artifacts from our nation’s distant past for our convenience.
Whether you’re a history geek or you want to impress your date, going back the memory lane is an exciting thing to do in a place surrounded by tall and modern infrastructures.
Here are some places you can visit:
● National Museum Complex
The National Museum Complex is a group of adjacent buildings consisting of the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Natural History.
● National Planetarium
The National Planetarium is only a few walks away from the National Museum Complex. In this place, you can learn about the wonders of the Universe through its full-dome planetarium shows. It will remind you of how beautiful stars look in the countryside.
● Casa Manila
Located inside Intramuros, this ancestral-home-turned-museum will give you a glimpse of our ancestors’ way of life during the Spanish era.
● Rizal Shrine at Fort Santiago
This museum depicts the life of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. It’s also located in the same building where Rizal spent his final night and where he wrote the famous poem Mi último adiós (My Last Farewell).
● Metropolitan Museum
Home of art collections and contemporary visual works, the Metropolitan Museum is a treat to your inner artist self.
● San Agustin Museum
This museum houses a huge collection of religious artifacts, paintings, furniture, statues, and other church ornaments from the Spanish era.
3. Take a breather in nature parks
Reacquainting with Mother Nature is an exciting thing to do post-pandemic. You don’t even have to go out of town for a quick yet sweet escape!
In Metro Manila alone, you can find several parks where you can pause the hectic city life.
● La Mesa Nature Reserve (Quezon City)
La Mesa Watershed and Eco Park serve as the last rainforest in Metro Manila. It’s also the main source of drinking water for 12 million people.
Visiting this place will give you a countryside vibe. Inside, you can find tall trees, greenery, different bird species, insects, and other indicators of a healthy environment.
● Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (Quezon City)
Another place where you can find temporary solace is the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City. As a Protected Area, it is home to more than 3,000 trees, and different bird and fish species. It also serves as a shelter and rehabilitation facility for injured wildlife.
● Rainforest Adventure Experience Park (Pasig City)
RAVE is a recreational-slash-natural park that features a zip line, boating lagoon, skatepark, camping area, obstacle course, and a small zoo.
4. Try unique physical activities
Apart from your regular exercise routine, you can also try other unique physical activities around the Metro. Here are some:
● Archery
Stressed? Try archery. This stress-relieving activity is a good way to improve your focus and hand-eye coordination.
● Parkour
Unleash your inner ninja by doing parkour — a physical activity that includes running, climbing, jumping, swinging, rolling, and vaulting.
● Martial arts
Martial arts not only teach you self-defense but also enhance your mind and body conditions. The good thing is it’s accessible to Manileños. Just do a quick Google search and you’ll discover training centers and academies within your area.
5. Discover new hobbies
If you’re tired of doing the same thing every day, perhaps it’s time for you to embrace a new hobby. Once you’re good at it, you can even turn it into a sideline business! Check out these activities:
● 3D printing
3D printing is one of the coolest things you can try right now. Through this technology, you can print whatever you can think of! If you want to see 3D printing in action, Makercarl 3D is the place to be! It’s one of the best places to visit.
● Soap making
Soap making is a practical hobby to learn especially if you’re sensitive to chemical ingredients found in commercial soaps. The overall process can also relieve your stress as you design your soap creations in however shape and look you want.
● Smartphone photography
Creating memories while traveling around the city is fun, but capturing them through your lenses is another story. Impress your friends with your photographic skills by learning how to take advantage of your smartphone’s camera features.
6. Check out these contemporary museums
Take up your photography skills to the next level and upgrade your Instagram feed by visiting these vibrant contemporary museums. These funky places deserve a spot in the top things to do in Metro Manila.
● Art In Island (Cubao, Quezon City)
As the largest 3D art museum in Asia, Art in Island features interactive art exhibits where you can take a photo as if you’re a part of the painting.
● The Dessert Museum (Pasay City)
Whether you have a sweet tooth or none, the Dessert Museum is such a treat to the eyes! Indulge in its 8 mouthwatering rooms during a two-hour tour and get 5-6 desserts to complete this sweet museum experience.
The Upside Down Museum in Pasay and the Mind Museum in Taguig are also the top contenders for the best contemporary museums in Metro Manila. However, both are still temporarily closed until further notice.
7. Get artsy at Cubao Expo
Are you on the hunt for vintage treasures and cool new finds? Head on to the Cubao Expo! This artsy hub is the home of offbeat establishments that sell antiques, collector toys, kitsch items, and other objects you can’t easily find anywhere else.
At night time, this U-shaped compound transforms into a zappy place full of youngsters dressed in hippy outfits.
8. Chill on coffee shops
For chill conversations, coffee shops are the best places to go. However, the popular ones can get pretty crowded and noisy.
Fret not because there are lots of under-the-radar coffee shops around Metro Manila where you can find a cozy and quiet ambiance.
Take a look at some of our recommendations for your next coffee run:
● MA+D Manila Café (Diliman, Quezon City)
● The Black Bean (San Antonio, Makati City)
● Latitude Bean and Bar (Malate, Manila City)
● Common Folk Coffee Bar (Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City)
● The Giving Cafe (Sheridan, Mandaluyong City)
9. Go on a Visita Iglesia trip with family
If you’re planning to go on a Visita Iglesia (Church Visit), Manila City is a convenient choice. The churches within the city are only a few kilometers away from each other so you can quickly reach your next destination in no time. Your starting point will depend on where you come from. If you’re from the South, for instance, it’s best to start in the churches in Intramuros. Here’s a sample route:
● Malate Church
● Manila Cathedral
● San Agustin Church
● Quiapo Church
● Sta. Cruz Church
● Binondo Church
● San Sebastian Church
● Sta. Ana Church
In case your last stop is Sta. Ana Church, you may also want to take a quick detour to San Felipe Church, a historic church in Mandaluyong City.
10. Shop for local products
Yes, shopping malls are cool, but these local markets are more impressive. Aside from scoring affordable products, shopping in local markets enables you to support local businesses and help vendors put food on their tables. Every purchase matters. So make sure to visit these local markets the next time you go out such as:
● Quinta Market (Quiapo, Manila City) for household goods, seafood, fruits, and vegetables.
● Dangwa Flower Market (Sampaloc, Manila City) for affordable flowers.
● Dapitan Arcade (Dapitan, cor. Kanlaon St. Quezon City) for export-quality home improvement items.
● Quezon City Memorial Circle Plant Center for domestic and exotic plants.
● Farmers Market (Cubao, Quezon City) for fresh seafood, cooking ingredients, household products, flowers, and more.
Are you ready to go around Metro Manila? Before you head out, make sure to maintain a safe social distance, wear your mask, and bring sanitary items with you. Always remember that the COVID-19 virus is still lurking around.
Keep safe while having fun doing these activities!