2 days in Manila didn’t begin with love at first sight. I was exhausted after a long flight from Doha, but instead of collapsing at the hotel, we went for a walk around the Makati neighborhood before our evening flight to Brunei. We returned to Manila later.

When I arrived, I noticed the traffic before anything else. The noise. The density. The slightly chaotic rhythm that makes you wonder if you should have just connected straight to Palawan. And I’ll be honest, I almost treated it as a stopover.

But I’m glad I didn’t.

Because once I stopped looking at Manila as a “gateway city” and started seeing it as a place with layers, history, and personality, everything shifted. Two days gave me just enough time to move past that overwhelming first impression and discover a city that is complicated, textured, and surprisingly compelling.

How to spend 2 days in manila

Here’s how I would spend 2 days in Manila if I wanted to truly understand it, not just pass through it. We were there during Christmas and New Year’s holidays and welcomed 2026 in Manila (and if you’re looking for one of the best cities for New Year fireworks, don’t disregard Manila — they go big), so our experience probably had a slightly different energy. The city felt more festive, louder, more illuminated, but in many ways, that only made it more memorable.

Day 1: History, Heritage & Old Manila

Intramuros

If there’s one place that forces you to slow down in Manila, it’s Intramuros. It was so much nicer than I expected. The old Spanish walled city feels like stepping into another era; cobblestone streets, colonial facades, horse-drawn carriages, and thick stone walls that have seen centuries of history.

I walked without a strict plan, letting myself turn down small streets, peek into courtyards, and sit on benches under trees. It’s easy to rush through, but it’s much better absorbed slowly. The scale is manageable, and the details, wooden balconies, old doors, quiet chapels, are what make it interesting.

If you prefer more structure (or simply want to understand the stories behind what you’re seeing), this is a great place to join a guided walking tour. Another option I loved the idea of is a historical bamboo bike tour, it’s a fun way to cover more ground while still keeping that slow, immersive feel.

This is where you begin to understand Manila’s past. Reserve a good amount of time in Intramuros to see the sights and museums. We spent around five hours there and still didn’t manage to visit everything, some museums required prebooking online, which is worth keeping in mind.

Fort Santiago

Inside Intramuros, Fort Santiago deserves proper time. It’s not just a fort; it’s a deeply symbolic place in Filipino history. Walking through the gates, along the old stone paths and toward the river, you can feel the weight of what happened here.

The gardens are peaceful now, almost deceptively so. Families stroll through, couples take photos, and yet the historical significance lingers in the background. One highlight is the Museum of José Rizal, dedicated to the Philippines’ national hero who was imprisoned here before his execution. Seeing his personal artifacts, letters, and belongings made the history feel immediate and real, it’s one of those moments that stays with you long after you leave.

I found myself reading more than I expected, pausing more than I thought I would. Fort Santiago is one of those places that shifts your understanding of the country. It is a really interesting place.

Manila Cathedral

Just across the square, Manila Cathedral is grand and bright, a contrast to the heavier feel of San Agustin. The open plaza in front makes it a perfect place to pause, watch people, and take in the rhythm of Intramuros.

I liked coming here toward late afternoon, when the light softens and the crowds thin slightly.

Santo Tomas University

After exploring Intramuros and Fort Santiago, I made a stop at Santo Tomas University, the oldest university in Asia, founded by the Spaniards in 1611. It’s not just a university; it’s a living piece of Philippine history, and one of those places where stepping onto the campus makes you pause and reflect. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited, but the security allowed us to walk around.

For the perfect pairing, I’d recommend visiting San Agustin Church right afterward. Both sites share rich Spanish heritage, and together they give a fuller picture of Manila’s colonial history, one through education, the other through religion and architecture. The walk between the two also lets you soak in the surrounding streets and old neighborhoods, adding to the sense of stepping back in time.

San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church feels understated from the outside, but step inside and the atmosphere changes immediately. The ceilings are ornate, the details intricate, and the silence almost heavy.

I’m not someone who visits churches just to tick a box, but this one feels important. It survived wars and earthquakes, and standing inside it makes Manila’s resilience feel very real.

Take a moment to just sit. Even five minutes changes the experience.

Sunset at Manila Bay

No matter what people say about Manila, the sunsets at Manila Bay are something all locals mention. We did not have a good weather to check this for ourselves. It rained almost every day, although we managed to have some blue sky.

We took a taxi along the Baywalk just before dusk, where we saw many locals walking or jogging. It’s not a pristine beach. It’s not tropical paradise. But it’s real, local and raw experience.

2 days in Manila — Manila’s skyline in Makati

Day 2: Modern Manila & Cultural Layers

National Museum Complex

On my second day, I dedicated the morning to the National Museum Complex. It’s one of the best ways to understand the Philippines beyond colonial history.

The buildings are impressive, but what stayed with me were the stories inside — art that reflects identity, exhibits on indigenous culture, and pieces that connect past and present. It doesn’t feel overwhelming if you pace yourself. Choose one or two sections and give them real attention.

It adds context to everything you saw in Intramuros the day before.

Market market

If you want a taste of modern Manila’s bustling sjopping place, Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City is worth a quick visit. It’s a mix of shopping mall and public market, packed with local and international brands, food stalls, and quirky little shops tucked into corners. I loved wandering through the aisles, sampling street-style snacks, and watching the city’s rhythm shift as office workers, families, and tourists all navigated the space together. It’s not glamorous, but it’s authentic, a place where you can feel Manila’s energy while grabbing a souvenir or two without leaving the city center.

Greenbelt Chapel

Tucked inside the Greenbelt complex in Makati is a small open-air chapel surrounded by greenery and water. It feels unexpectedly serene in the middle of a busy shopping district. There are luxury shops and restaurant around as well. Just be mindful that there are many mosquitos there.

Makati and BGC

To understand modern Manila, you need to see Makati or Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Wide sidewalks. Glass towers. Cafés. Malls that feel like small cities.

It’s easy to criticize this part as too polished, but it shows another side of Manila: global and fast-moving. We liked spending an afternoon café-hopping, stepping into design-forward bookstores, and choosing between the many cool restaurants scattered around Bonifacio. BGC, in particular, feels intentionally modern and it is clean, walkable, filled with stylish cafés and restaurants that make it a great place to slow down for a few hours and just observe city life.

We stayed at Shangri-La Makati as it was so well located. Makati had a slightly more local feel while still being modern and surrounded by luxury shops. Makati felt lively and real, busy during the day with offices and shopping, but also full of restaurants, bars, and everyday city life. There are many more luxury shops in Makati and during Christmas, the area was beautiful.

The contrast is what makes Manila interesting.

Getting Around Manila

Unlike in Palawan, where we rented a car, we didn’t dare to do the same in Manila. The chaos in the city is real and I imagine we would we frustrated and ruin our only 2 days in the capital.

Grab and taxis

Moving around Manila requires a bit of patience. Traffic is part of the experience, and distances that look short on the map can easily take longer than expected. We mostly used Grab, which felt the most convenient and straightforward, especially after long sightseeing days. It’s affordable, easy to book through the app, and removes the stress of negotiating fares. However, we had difficulties with finding drivers on a few occasions. I don’t know whether it was because of the New Years (quite possibly), but sometimes we had to wait for 30 minutes or more.

In areas like Makati and Bonifacio Global City, walking is actually pleasant thanks to wider sidewalks, but in older districts you’ll likely rely on rides. If you plan your days by neighborhood instead of zigzagging across the city, everything feels much more manageable.

Local buses

Local buses in Manila are an experience in themselves. They’re cheap, frequent, and cover major roads across the city, but they’re not always the most straightforward option for first-time visitors. Most buses run along main arteries like EDSA, and routes are usually displayed on the front window rather than clearly mapped in apps. That means you need to know roughly where you’re going before you hop on.

To take one, you simply wait along the roadside at designated stops (or sometimes where locals are clearly waiting), and flag the bus down. Payment is made in cash directly to the conductor once you’re seated, it helps to have small bills ready. There’s no fixed timetable you can easily check as a visitor, so buses are better if you’re not in a rush and don’t mind a bit of unpredictability.

Personally, for short stays like 2 days in Manila, I found Grab much easier. But if you want to experience everyday local life and don’t mind navigating a bit of organized chaos, taking a bus is part of the rhythm of the city.

Safety in Manila

Safety was something I thought about before arriving, but in reality, I felt comfortable throughout our stay. Like in any large city, it’s about awareness rather than fear. We avoided flashing valuables, stayed in well-lit areas at night, and used registered transport. Intramuros, Makati, and BGC all felt secure, especially during the day.

The atmosphere was busy but not intimidating. Manila is intense, yes, but not unsafe if you approach it with the same common sense you would use in any major city. But many people told us not to go to Manila and that we won’t even be able to walk on the street comfortably. To my surprise, most of the people that warned me were Filipinos.

See also:

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2 Days in Manila: Exploring Beyond the First Impressions

How to spend 2 days in manila