Manila: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: treat Metro Manila as two distinct clusters (historic Old Manila by the bay versus modern Makati and BGC to the south-east), group all sights in one cluster into the same day so you only cross town outside peak hours, and always double-check which of the four airport terminals (T1, T2, T3 or T4) your flight uses.

Old Manila versus Modern Metro Manila (Makati and BGC)

When travellers talk about "Manila", they usually mean Metro Manila (the National Capital Region), a continuous urban area made up of sixteen cities. All of the 16th- to 19th-century historical landmarks sit in the original City of Manila along Manila Bay and the Pasig River: walled Intramuros, Rizal Park, the National Museum Complex and Binondo Chinatown. Roughly ten kilometres south-east lie the gleaming financial and lifestyle districts of Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC, in Taguig), known for shaded pedestrian parks, contemporary galleries, speciality coffee and destination restaurants. Plan one or two full days in Old Manila and another in Makati/BGC rather than bouncing back and forth at midday.

Check your NAIA terminal and beat rush-hour traffic

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) has four terminals scattered around its perimeter roads, and transferring between them on surface roads can take 30 to 45 minutes if you have a tight domestic island connection; verify your exact terminal number on your e-ticket before ordering a Grab car. When riding between Makati/BGC and historic Manila, travel after the morning rush or take the elevated LRT-1 train up to Central Terminal or Carriedo.

Free National Museums, Monday closures and cash

Admission to all three flagship buildings of the National Museum of the Philippines (Fine Arts, Anthropology and Natural History) around Rizal Park is permanently free of charge for both locals and international visitors; bring a valid passport or photo ID to sign in at the desk. Remember that the National Museums, Casa Manila and San Agustin Museum close on Mondays. Cards and GCash work widely across Makati and BGC, while small Philippine peso notes are essential for Binondo food stalls and intramuros pedicabs.