Senior travel: Manila
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 67 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Ayala Triangle GardensStep-free: yes · about 45 minFew.
- Rizal Monument (Luneta) and Rizal ParkStep-free: yes · about 60 minA few steps at monuments.
- Ayala MuseumStep-free: yes · about 100 minFew.
- Manila CathedralStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 25 minSteps at the main door.
- San Agustin Church and museumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minA few steps at the entrance and in the museum.
- Fort SantiagoStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 90 minSteps to the walls and the shrine; the main path is flat.
- National Museum of Fine ArtsStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 90 minA flight of steps at the main door.
Getting around in Manila
Manila is hard on wheels. Pavements are broken or blocked, kerbs are high, and step-free access exists mainly in malls, newer hotels and some museums. Plan door-to-door car rides and pick a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Broken, narrow and shared with vendors; Makati and BGC have level walks.
- Transit:
- LRT and MRT have lifts at some stations (check); trains are crowded at peak.
- Taxis and cars:
- Ride-hail cars are the practical option; ask for an SUV when you book.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets are in malls and newer hotels.
- Heat:
- Plan AC stops every 60 minutes.
- Floods:
- Streets flood within an hour of heavy rain: stay in.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Philippines guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Heat:
- Mar–May: air conditioning every 60 minutes, electrolytes, no midday walks. Heat exhaustion is the most common visitor illness.
- Dengue:
- Mosquito-borne; worst in the rainy season. Use repellent, wear long sleeves at dusk and drain standing water.
- Water and food:
- Do not drink tap water; choose hot street food; wash hands before eating.
- Leptospirosis:
- After floods, avoid wading in dirty water; see a doctor if you have fever after contact.
- Pharmacies:
- Mercury Drug and other chains are on almost every street; many are 24 h.
- Vaccines:
- Check routine and travel vaccines with a clinic before you go.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.