Planning a 2 day Manila itinerary? We’ve got you covered! With 2 days in Manila, you can discover the history, of the oldest Chinatown in the world and discover some of the biggest malls. Read more to plan your Manila trip!
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and a great place to spend a few days learning about the history of the country. We’ve heard that travellers skip Manila and focus on the tropical islands instead. Our opinion – do both!! You can spend a great 2 days in Manila before heading off to Cebu or Palawan to enjoy the beaches.
It’s likely that you’ll be flying into Manila if you’re arriving internationally. However, you may also be flying out from the capital, so you can choose to do your 2 day Manila itinerary at the beginning or end of your Philippines trip.
This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you.
How to Spend 2 Days in Manila
- Explore the historical area of Manila and discover the Spanish influence
- Eat your heart out in Makati
- Check out weekend markets for souvenirs or even more food
- Shop & browse the biggest malls in The Philippines
- Discover the oldest Chinatown in the world
We think this city deserves a few days on your itinerary to explore what it has to offer. Keep reading on to find out what to do in Manila in 2 days!
Also check out our 3 Week Philippines Route & Itinerary: Where to visit in 2024!!
How to get to Manila from the Airport
Once you’ve arrived at Ninoy Airport, go through immigration and reach arrivals. Connect to the airport Wifi or pick up a sim card if you need one. The best way to get from the airport to Manila city is by using Grab! If you’re staying in the Makati area it should take around 20-30 minutes and cost in between 250-450 pesos depending on the time of day.
Tip: Before visiting the Philippines make sure you download Grab (similar to Uber), you can also download it using the Wifi at the airport.
Our experience getting from the airport to Makati
We tried to use Grab from the Airport to Makati, but we really struggled to get any drivers at the time to accept our request. When you step out of arrivals, look for signs leading to Coupon Taxi. There are also metered taxis, whilst coupon taxis are fixed prices. We went for Coupon taxi as we could see the price upfront (440 pesos to Makati).
The downside to catching a taxi (that we learnt very quickly) is they ALWAYS expect you to have the exact change when you arrive at your destination, as they will claim they have 0 cash on them.
Apparently, this is something all taxi drivers do, usually expecting you to let them keep the difference. Luckily, our Air BnB host was around to help us out. If you can, hang around a little longer on the Grab app to use their service instead and pay in-app.
How to get around Manila
- Grab – Easiest but sometimes long waits to find a driver
- White metered taxi – Similar to Grab but a little more pricey sometimes
- Public transport (MRT/LRT) – Fast, but limited routes
- Jeepneys – Cheapest but very difficult to know which routes they take
2 Days in Manila Itinerary
After spending almost a week in Manila, we have created the best 2 day Manila itinerary for you to enjoy the best parts of the city. Let’s explore Manila!
Day 1 – Explore the History District of Manila
Take a visit to Rizal Park
Rizal Monument
Start your morning by catching a Grab over to Rizal Park. This is a beautiful green space, and a great way to start your day! Nothing says you’re in the Philippines like watching a huge Filipino flag dance in the wind at Rizal Monument. Find the location here – Rizal Park Location
Chinese Gardens
As you stroll your way through the park, you’ll come across a stunning Chinese Garden, make sure you check it out as it is one of the highlights of Rizal park! Find the location here – Chinese Gardens Location
Japanese Gardens
Another beautiful garden to walk around with many Japanese themed items in the park. Both are free to enter. Find the location here – Japanese Gardens Location
Want to be a more sustainable in The Philippines? Here's 18 Great Eco Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
Explore historical Intramuros
Before you visit here, it’s important to understand the Philippines’ colonial past.
The Philippines was discovered by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on March 21st 1521, who at the time was working under Spanish control. Spain then colonised the Philippines and remained under their rule from 1565 to 1898, totalling 333 years.
Their rule came to an end following the Spanish – American war in 1898. America remained in power for 48 years, with the Philippines later gaining independence in 1946 following the end of World War II.
Now that you have a brief understanding of the history of the Philippines, as you wander the old streets of Intramuros you will understand why it feels like you’ve been transported to Europe.
Ok! Now you’ve made it to Intramuros you have a few options to get around. We chose the leisurely route of wandering around on foot, which is perfectly possible as we did. Find the location here – Intramuros Location
You will also be asked by many bike riders if you would like a tricycle tour. This is also a good option to cover the entire area as it is quite large, and the guides are very knowledgeable about each historic spot.
Highlights of Intramuros
- Casa Manila
- San Agustin Church
- The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
- Fort Santiago
Wonder through Chinatown (Binondo)
A walk or Grab away from Intramuros is Manila’s Chinatown.
It’s actually the oldest Chinatown in the world, how crazy is that? It was established in 1594 in Binondo Manila. Chinatowns are usually created when a large number of Chinese residents move to an area with very few Chinese residents living there. This creates a higher demand for Chinese items and restaurants.
The Chinatown in Manila has a lot going on and although it’s small, it’s great to see the craziness that goes on here. It’s a great place to find lunch or dinner too!
If you didn’t eat in Intramuros, then you can find great restaurants here! We highly recommend Vege Select (Find on GoogleMaps here – Vege Select Location). It’s a buffet-style vegetarian restaurant and there’s so much atmosphere inside, it’s quite a small place with a lot going on!
Day 2 – The Malls of Manila in Makati
From your accommodation head straight to Glorietta Mall for your first mall experience in the Philippines. The malls here are open quite late so you don’t have to rush in the morning if you wanted to rest after your big day yesterday.
Glorietta Mall
Glorietta is a shopping mall complex in Makati filled with shops, dining and anything you could possibly need! The malls are really safe in Manila and at the moment everyone sanitizes when entering.
There are 4 buildings to explore, so it can take a while but you can pick and choose the shops you want to explore. Find out what stores are in Glorietta Mall here!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Glorietta Malls Location
Greenbelt Mall
Right next to Glorietta Mall is the Greenbelt Shopping Mall. Both malls are part of Ayala Mall which also owns other malls in Manila (check them out here). Greenbelt has more luxury shops but it’s still a beautiful mall to walk around.
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Greenbelt Mall Location
A lunch recommendation near Greenbelt is Greenbar! An all-vegan restaurant serving light dishes, big lunches and even bakery products.
SM Mall of Asia
The ultimate mall in Manila is SM Mall of Asia as it’s the biggest mall in the Philippines! There is too much you can do inside this huge building – from ice-skating to eating and of course shopping.
Things you can do in Mall of Asia
- Try your luck with Ice skating
- Improve your skills at Bowling
- Watch shows in the Mall of Asia arena
- Check out the Ferris Wheel & Amusement Park
- Catch the latest movies at the Cinema
Honestly, you could spend all day here, but an afternoon could also work. If you wanted to choose between these three malls.
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – SM Mall of Asia Location
Power Plant Mall
Okay, one more mall to add to this list is Power Plant Mall! It’s not as big as the others in Manila but it is so lovely… and fancy! We visited here to go to the cinema and were very impressed by both the mall and the cinema. We even found a games arcade to play our favourite game – Mario Kart!! There are lots of great food options and you can even find a few vegan options!
Find the location here on GoogleMaps – Power Plant Mall Location
More Things to do in Manila
- Salcedo Saturday Market
- Day Trip to Lake Taal
- Day trip to Mt. Pinatubo
- SM Megamall
- BCG (Bonifacio Global City)
There are a lot of things you can do in Manila and so many neighbourhoods to explore. If you have more than 2 days in Manila then you can check off some of these extra things to do.
Where to stay in Manila
We highly recommend staying in Makati during your 2 days in Manila. It’s a safe neighbourhood in the city, has lots of malls, is closer to the airport and lots of great restaurants!
Mark & Christines Airbnb – $-$$ (Makati)
We stayed here for a total of 5 nights, two different times. It was exactly what we needed and the beds are so comfortable. It’s a shared apartment with kitchen facilities and you have the option to meet other travellers. It’s close to lots of malls and restaurants! (1BR POBLACION MAKATI (08))
Find them on Airbnb here – Link to Mark & Christines Airbnb
Zula Residences – $$ (Makati)
Just around the corner from the Airbnb, that we stayed at, is Zula Residences, which other travellers very well-reviewed and somewhere we would have stayed if we had more time in Manila. Find them on Booking.com here – Link to Zula Residences
Z hostel – $$ (Makati)
Another great hostel recommended by other travellers is Z Hostel. This is a great place to meet other people as there are many dorms here! Find them on Booking.com here – Link to Z Hostel
Best Restaurants in Manila
Cosmic Poblacion
Possibly our favourite restaurant in Manila! All vegan Filipino cuisine – which tastes amazing! Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll enjoy their amazing menu. Dishes to try: Kare Kare, Un-pork Siomai, Vegan BBQ Isaw & Fried Chick-un.
Find their location on GoogleMaps here – Cosmic Poblacion Location
Check out their website here – Cosmic Poblacion Website
Want to be more sustainable in The Philippines? Check out our 18 Great Eco Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap in 2024 guide!
Greenbar
If you’re looking for a vegan bakery in Manila, this is the one! They serve a great international menu with many donut and cake options. We came here for breakfast and left with a box of donuts!
Find their location on GoogleMaps here – Greenbar Location
Check out their website here – Greenbar Website
IVegan
Another great menu in the Makati area and close to some great malls. We came here for lunch and had great Filipino food. They also have a huge international menu with many drink options. We tried their promotion menu to meet our budget (it’s at the back of the menu!)
Find their location on GoogleMaps here – IVegan Location
Check out their website here – IVegan Website
Best time to visit Manila
The best time to visit Manila is from January to April. However, it’s totally possible to visit Manila all year round. The dry season in the Philippines runs from January to May before the rain starts to pick up in the summer months.
What to do after your Manila Trip
- Head to Moalboal in Cebu to enjoy canyoneering at Kawasan Falls
- Go north and explore rice paddies, mountain towns and cooler weather
- Visit El Nido or go diving in Coron
- International trips – you can get great flights from Manila to South Korea, Taiwan or Singapore if you want to add some more cities to your trip.
More Philippines guides:
- The Best Bohol Itinerary: 3 Days in Bohol, Philippines
- 3 Week Philippines Route & Itinerary: Where to visit in 2024
- Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls: 2024 (After Typhoon Odette!)
- The Best 3 Days in Siquijor Itinerary – Philippines (2024)
- Moalboal Itinerary: The Best Things To Do (2024)
- All our Philippines posts!
That’s the end of our The Best 2 Days in Manila: Things to do & Itinerary! Have a great trip to the Philippines and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!
