country
PhilippinesPilipinas
First trip: treat Manila as a 2–3 night gateway and fly on to the islands (Cebu, Bohol, Palawan); do not plan Manila by walking in the midday heat or by road at rush hour.
The Philippines is 7,000 islands and the plan is flights, not roads. Manila is a heavy-traffic megacity where 10 km can take 90 minutes, midday heat is severe, and the wet season floods streets. Rules that apply everywhere: register with eTravel before you fly, keep valuables out of sight, and check typhoon forecasts before any domestic flight or boat.
All regions, cities and parks in Philippines (Atlas) →
Regions
Beaches and diving by short domestic flight
4–6 nights
El Nido and Coron by flight
4–5 nights
Capital and major cities
Use Cebu City as a transit hub for the Visayas islands: 1 night, then go to beaches, Moalboal or Bohol.
Davao suits a short stop for food, fruit and Mount Apo; 1–2 nights on a Mindanao trip.
Baguio is a cool mountain weekend from Manila; give it 1–2 nights, or use it as a base for the Cordillera.
Puerto Princesa is the entry for the Underground River and southern Palawan; 1–2 nights before moving to El Nido or Port Barton.
Routes that work
Manila only, 3 nights
Keep transfers to two per day: distances between areas are 20–60 minutes by car.
- Fly out of Manila within two nights: the islands are the reason to come, and domestic flights leave early.
- Check the airport terminal for every flight: NAIA terminals are far apart and the shuttle is slow.
- Avoid Holy Week (March or April): many shops close and roads and airports are at peak load.
Arrive
Time math
- 3 days
- Manila 3: Intramuros, Rizal Park + Binondo, Makati
- 7 days
- Manila 2 + Cebu or Bohol 5 (fly MNL → CEB)
- 10 days
- Manila 2 + Cebu 3 + Palawan 5 (two domestic flights)
Country rules
- Complete the free eTravel registration on the official government site within 72 hours before arrival; ignore lookalike sites that charge.
- Typhoon season runs roughly June to November: flights and boats are cancelled at short notice; buy flexible tickets and keep a spare day.
- Carry pesos in small notes; many stalls, jeepneys and taxis are cash-only.
Etiquette
- Say po and opo to elders as a sign of respect; a greeting first, then business.
- Dress covered in churches (shoulders and knees) and stay silent in services.
- Tipping of about 10% is normal where no service charge is added; small change for drivers and porters.
- Keep your voice calm in disputes: raised voices and open anger cost you goodwill; a smile and a polite question work better.
- Holy Week (March or April; moves yearly)
- Many shops and restaurants close Thursday to Saturday; roads and airports peak.
- Dec 16–Jan 6 (Christmas season)
- Traffic at its worst; hotels and flights peak.
- Nov 1–2 (All Saints and All Souls)
- Cemetery traffic; domestic flights sell out.
- Typhoon season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct)
- Flights and boats cancelled at short notice; street flooding in Manila.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 4/5
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- ATMs are common in malls; use those inside malls or banks, not on the street, and decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Ride-hailing apps (Grab and others) show the fare upfront and take cards in-app.
- Amounts on this site are in Philippine pesos (₱).
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · E-visa and entry
Safety
- Petty theft and phone snatching happen in crowded areas: keep phones and cameras out of hand near roads and jeepneys.
- Use ride-hailing or the metered airport taxi; agree the fare or insist on the meter with any other taxi.
- Heat: plan air-conditioned stops every 60 minutes; avoid outdoor walking from 11:00 to 15:00.
- During typhoons and heavy rain, streets flood: do not walk or drive through floodwater.
- Several governments advise against travel to parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago; Manila and the Visayas are not in those areas. Check your own government's travel advice before you book.
- Emergency: 911 (national emergency hotline).
The Philippines connects to the Southeast Asia corridor (planned) by air: Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam are short flights from Manila.
Sources
- eTravel (official arrival registration) (official)
- Bureau of Immigration (official) (official)
- Philippines Department of Tourism (official) (official)
- Manila International Airport Authority (official) (official)
- Wikivoyage — Manila (secondary)