Places To Stay In Manila – Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a bustling city known for its excellent sightseeing, shopping and cuisine. Metro Manila consists of 16 “sub-cities”, the most famous of which are Makati, Malate and Quezon City. Deciding where to stay in Manila is difficult, but not impossible, due to the city’s size, density and notorious traffic!
Moreover, this cosmopolitan city has stark contrasts from the glamor of Makati to the slums of Tando. Hence, choosing your base properly can make a big difference during the trip.
Places To Stay In Manila
As always, I’ve selected the best places to stay in Manila, Philippines for you, taking into account quality of hotel or other accommodation, proximity to attractions, safety and price.
Budget Hotels In Areas Near Manila (hygienepass Certified!)
Before choosing a district or neighborhood, remember that traveling in Manila is often quite difficult. So, booking early to get the best location and avoid long travel times will make your vacation even better!
For those of you short on time, here are the best of the best – all downtown, with great reviews and sorted by price:
Here are the different areas of Manila that I will cover in this post on a simple map.
When deciding where to stay in Manila, many first-time tourists choose Makati, the Philippines’ business district. Makati is a great place to stay for first time visitors to Manila as it is clean, safe and has many notable modern commercial developments such as Ayala Center. The district is full of shopping malls, cultural institutions and international restaurants. It’s the westernmost part of the city, so if you’re prone to culture shock, you’ll feel most at home in Makati.
The Best Luxury Hotels In Manila
Just because it’s safe doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of places to have fun at night too! After the sun goes down you’ll find plenty of entertainment options, whether you enjoy live music, dancing, bar hopping or something else.
Visitors staying overnight in Manila should also consider Makati because of its proximity to Bonifacio Global City and the international airport, with Intramuros, Ermita and other central neighborhoods just a short drive away.
This 5-star luxury hotel is one of the best choices in Manila. An on-site gym, spa, international restaurant and outdoor pool are just the beginning. Fairmont Makati not only offers stunning modern rooms, but also has a pillow menu to ensure you get the best night’s sleep during your stay.
Malate and Ermita are lively places, full of attractions, specialty restaurants serving Filipino, Chinese and international cuisine, shopping opportunities and the best nightlife in Manila.
Hotel 101 Manila
You’ll see high-rise buildings with single-story buildings facing Manila Bay and get a taste of local life here. Looking forward to delicious Filipino food and incredible sunset cruises. At night, some streets are completely transformed, becoming the center of attention for many partygoers.
If you’re here to party, head to Jalan del Pilar, the quarter’s red-light district, but if you’re looking for a more relaxed getaway, enjoy Ermita’s sprawling parks and gardens.
Although there are still some poor areas in this part of the city, in recent years, Malte and Ermita have become safer areas to live in. Thanks to overall safety, a great beachfront location, and opportunities for all types of visitors, Malte and Ermita are the best areas to live in Manila.
This beautiful hotel overlooks its namesake park and is right on the waterfront. In addition to the unbeatable location, enjoy comfortable rooms and suites, breakfast and overall services. An onsite gym and a rooftop infinity pool with city views are some of the hotel’s other top amenities.
Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila 5* (philippines)
Known as the hip, trendy and foodie hotspots of Manila, Quezon City (QC) is the most populous area in the Philippines. Located in the northeast of the Bay Area, this city attracts a young population eager to shop at trendy cafes and cool boutiques, and is a great place to stay for backpackers.
Quezon City is not only home to some of the top universities in the country, but it’s also where you’ll find some of the best street food in the country. So, even if you’re not young (or young at heart), you’ll still enjoy the many street vendors who offer incredible snacks at even better prices! There are many things you can see in this former capital of the Philippines. If ecotourism, religious sites, good food, and bargains are among your interests, you should stay here!
Note: Quezon City is about 25 minutes by car from Makati, slightly further from the airport than other districts in Manila.
Modern open design, children’s playground, on-site restaurant, and spectacular swimming pool are just the beginning when it comes to this amazing 4-star hotel. With numerous amenities to cater to all types of visitors, whether you are visiting Manila for a family vacation, business trip or luxury vacation, Novotel Marina is the perfect choice!
Best Staycations In Manila With Pool: Hotels, Condos, And Vacation Homes
Intramuros translates from Spanish to “within the wall.” If you want to experience the old history and culture of Manila while traveling, the historic area of Intramuros is for you. In the past, this part of the city was the center of Spanish colonial rule in the 16th century. So you can find traces of that time here, including the walls surrounding the area and Spanish landmarks like Fort Santiago.
When you listen to Filipinos speak, you will notice many Spanish words that have become embedded in the language and are still around today!
Bordering Ermita, the Pasig River and the bay, Intramuros is a small area full of interesting things to see and do, making it a great place not only for history buffs, but also for families! If you haven’t had enough culture, across the river from Intramuros you’ll find the world’s oldest Chinatown in the Binondo district.
This 5-star property offers easy access to popular tourist spots in Intramuros and includes a business center, spa, gym, outdoor swimming pool, pool bar and several restaurants serving Chinese, French and other specialties. This hotel makes comfort a top priority with high-end mattresses and other amenities and is one of the best places to stay in the city.
Hotels In Manila From $7
When planning where to stay in Manila, include traffic as a key determining factor. The city is notorious for traffic jams and overcrowding in trains and buses. As a result, many locals commute hours to work from home on the worst days. Remember that getting anywhere by car will take longer than you think!
Many tourists visiting the capital of the Philippines find the transfer from the airport to their accommodation complicated. So, if you are coming to Manila for the first time, try to book a hotel with shuttle service. It will save you time and money and give you a stress-free introduction to the Philippines.
Although the areas I’ve discussed in this post are some of the safest in the city, there are areas you should avoid. Avoid areas around Navotas, Tondo, Baclaran and other areas with high number of squatters and/or poorly lit streets. Usually, these areas are away from the tourist spots so if you live near the areas I’m talking about, you should be fine.
Aside from Makati, Pasay is probably the best area to spend a day or two on a short break in Manila. Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila (luxury), Conrad Manila (midrange) or OYO 110 Asiatel Hotel (budget) are some of the best hotels near Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Manila Travel Guide With Sample Itinerary & Budget
Pickpocketing and petty theft are unfortunately quite common in Manila. Avoid wearing jewelry and carrying expensive items in your bag while roaming the streets as they are very easy to steal. A common scam is monitoring long conversations with strangers on the street, as fellow scammers can easily find your personal items while you’re engaged. Pickpockets are common on the metro so keep your bags in front and be alert at all times.
Try to avoid walking the streets at night, take a taxi instead. Taxis in the Philippines are very cheap and will take you to your destination in the safest way possible. Usually, it won’t cost more than P150 ($3.50) for a 20-minute ride and you can either call them on the street or book a ride using the Grab app. If you must walk at all, avoid dimly lit streets and alleys.
Most tourists stay in Makati because it is the westernmost part of the city. In this area you will find large hotel chains and large shopping malls as well as other tourist attractions.
Everyone should visit the capital Manila during their stay, but islands like Cebu, Boracay and Palawan are the best places to stay in the Philippines.
Best Luxury Hotels In Manila 2023
Manila doesn’t really have a downtown because it’s so big that it has many smaller ones.
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