Philippines · top picks
Best hotels in Manila
The highest-rated, best-reviewed places to stay in Manila, Philippines. We surface Expedia properties scoring 8+ out of 10 from real travelers, sorted by review density.
- ✓Only properties scoring 8.0+ in real Manila guest reviews
- ✓Sorted by review density — the more reviews, the more reliable the score
- ✓Refundable rates labelled per stay — book now, decide later
- ✓No booking fees · Powered by Expedia
What first-timers get wrong in Manila
Distance means nothing here. EDSA at six in the evening can take ninety minutes for six kilometres, so plan by clock, not map. Get a Beep card for LRT and MRT, and expect airport-style bag checks at every station entrance. Taxi drivers refusing the meter are routine, so use Grab. NAIA's four terminals are not walkable between each other.
What's actually worth your time in Manila
Intramuros is the anchor. Fort Santiago costs PHP 75 and the Rizal Shrine inside justifies it, while San Agustin Church, the only Intramuros church left standing after the 1945 Battle of Manila, is the one authentically old structure here. Casa Manila is a careful reconstruction, worth twenty minutes. Rizal Park and the Baywalk sunset cost nothing; skip the ticketed Manila Ocean Park.
What to eat in Manila
Binondo, the oldest Chinatown anywhere, is the eating ground: kiampong and fried siopao around Ongpin Street, hand-pulled noodles at Lan Zhou La Mien, hopia from Eng Bee Tin. For Filipino cooking, sisig and crispy pata belong in Poblacion and Quezon City carinderias. Breakfast is tapsilog or longsilog, meaning cured meat, garlic rice and a fried egg, eaten anywhere before nine.
When the weather turns in Manila
Rain here floods streets within the hour, so pick somewhere you can stay put rather than plan a route. The National Museum complex gives three free buildings and a long dry walk between them. SM Mall of Asia and Greenbelt's five interlinked blocks take over from there, chapel and cinemas included. Escolta's First United Building runs weekend markets and design studios.
What things cost in Manila
A carinderia plate of rice and two viands runs roughly PHP 100 to 150, about what a Jollibee combo costs. Jeepneys now start at PHP 14, LRT-1 rides are PHP 15 to 30, MRT-3 PHP 13 to 28. Fort Santiago is PHP 75 and the National Museum free. A Grab across Makati runs PHP 200 to 400 depending on surge.
When to go to Manila
| Best months for best-hotels | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| February | 31°C / 88°F | 9 days |
| January | 30°C / 86°F | 12 days |
| March | 32°C / 90°F | 10 days |
The month to avoid is May — around 34°C (93°F) with roughly 21 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: February is the sweet spot, May the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Light, breathable clothing — linen and technical fabrics earn their keep, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, A packable rain shell or compact umbrella earns its space, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.