Manila, the capital city of Philippines, is the heart of the country’s social, political, economic and cultural activity. This city is rich with a mixture of variant cultures including the Filipino heritage of native, Chinese, Spanish as well as American cultures. Located at the mouth of the Pasig River, Manila has been loved by numerous Travel Enthusiasts as well as people in general that stepped into its boundaries.

Best Time to Go

Even though the weather can be unpredictable in Philippines, it is popularly visited during the dry season which is between November and April. This is because tourists can have full access to all the beautiful islands as well as the remote areas. Since temperatures are high during March and April, it is better to travel during the cooler months from December to February. Between May and October is the wet season, but since the rain isn’t constant, it shouldn’t have an impact on your travel plans. Since the months of May and November are not very crowded and the weather is pleasant as well, it can be a good value for money.

Where and What to Eat

Andrew Zimmern, a renowned name in the culinary world, cited that Filipino cuisine would be the next big thing! Since this country has a vast mixture of different cultures, there is a wide range of flavours to choose from. We have condensed down the list of restaurants to the best ones that serve authentic Filipino cuisine, to ensure that the Travellers are able to get the true taste of Philippines.

• Abe: Located in Serendra Piazza, this restaurant has been serving authentic Filipino cuisine for over 30 years. Some of their popular dishes include bamboo rice, Sikreto ni Maria (sticky rice dessert with ripe mangoes and macapuno ice cream), Lamb Adobo and Crispy Pork Adobo ni Lola Ising.

• Blackbeard’s Seafood Island: For a true Filipino dining experience, you cannot miss out the “boodle fight”. It is a Filipino tradition where a central mound of grilled food is piled up on banana leaves. Diners are supposed sit around the spread and eat with their hands. Boodle feasts are offered in many restaurants but this restaurant, located in many parts of Manila including the Mall of Asia, is one of the most popular for it.

• Seaside Market: Located in Macapagal Boulevard, this seaside market will be a real treat if you love fresh seafood. You will be able to buy raw seafood from the wet market and have it freshly cooked by one of the restaurants in the complex.

Activities To Do

Besides varied experiences of food trips, Manila offers a lot of other fun activities. Here is a list of some of the best things to do in Manila:

• Cruising: Enjoy the beautiful hues of the sunset of Manila alongside a dinner cruise. You can check out the cruise at the Esplanade Seaside Park.

• Visit the Oceanarium: Home to about 14,000 sea creatures, the Manila Ocean Park is the country’s biggest oceanarium. It is located behind the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

• Historical Streets: Take a walk down the historical streets in Intramuros City that had been built by the Spanish during 1571.

These are some of the activities that you can and places you should check out while staying in Manila. Let me know in the comment box below if you have any suggestions for activities or places to do in Manila