Vigan
The Museo San Pablo, behind the altar of St Paul Cathedral, is a good place to see old santos (religious statues). Make sure to have a look at the…
Must-see attractions in Philippines
Camiguin
Heading west from Mambajao, just before Bonbon, you’ll pass the Old Camiguin Volcano, whose slopes have been turned into a steep and beautiful Stations of…
Busuanga & the Calamian Islands
This 7m waterfall is a pleasant place for a swim if you're passing near the airport on a bike tour of the island. The turnoff to the falls in barangay…
Manila
Beat the heat and entertain the kiddies in this enlightening science museum filled with fun facts, educational video games and dozens of interactive…
Bicol
The lovely 19th-century facade of the Church of San Juan Bautista, with greenery growing out of the cracks in the mighty masonry, is a must for colonial…
Manila
At the northern end of Paredes St stands the attractive granite-stone bell tower of Binondo Church, an unusual octagonal structure dating back to 1596…
Batanes
The Dipnaysupuan Tunnels were built deep into the rock face by the occupying Japanese during WWII using forced local labour; you can explore the tunnels…
Sagada
You'll pass the Echo Valley lookout on the way to the Echo Valley Hanging Coffins. You'll probably hear people shouting into the valley before you get…
Puerto Princesa
Housed in the old City Hall building adjacent to Mendoza Park, this newly modernised museum has two floors of exhibits about the ethnological and…
Bicol
This small museum, located on the 3rd floor of the campus of the University of Nueva Caceras, is ethnographic in focus, filled with crafts, tools and…
Leyte
These pleasant, easy-to-reach falls make for a refreshing dip. The path to the falls begins just west of the turnoff to Southern Leyte Dive Resort. From…
Manila
In the middle of Rizal Park are the Central Lagoon, a pool lined with busts of Filipino heroes and martyrs, and a dancing musical fountain that erupts in…
Manila
This simple but moving outdoor memorial in a small shady square honours the approximately 150,000 civilian Manileños who perished in the Battle of Manila…
Manila
Looming east of Intramuros, the neoclassical city hall building is distinguished by an attractive clock tower that is beautifully illuminated at night. It…
Manila
A giant Ferris wheel, à la the London Eye, smack dab on the Mall of Asia promenade abutting Manila Bay. It's surrounded by various other amusement park…
Southeast Luzon
A couple of kilometres inland from Buenavista are the Malbog Hot Springs, where a series of bathing pools have been constructed to tap the sulphur-scented…
Manila
Baluarte de Santa Barbara, a restored 18th-century Spanish military barracks where hundreds of Filipino and American POWs were killed in WWII, is now the…
Manila
This charming children's museum is near Rizal Park. Its interactive, hands-on exhibits explore Manila through the eyes of kids. Efforts are made to bring…
Dumaguete
An imposing landmark, this coral-stone tower was built between 1754–76, with the top layer or campanario (the part with the bell) added in 1867. Locals…
Camiguin
In Guinsiliban, behind the elementary school by the pier, are the remains of this centuries-old sight, which used to guard against possible Moro attacks…
Panay
Originally built as a water-storage tank, this quirky museum on the plaza will give you a quick (30-minute) introduction to the city. A Heritage Walk…
Manila
Standing as a beacon of serenity among its bawdy surrounds, this Taoist temple is both peaceful and beautiful, and worth popping into for a look.
Puerto Princesa
This museum has touch-screen videos and a hologram that outline Palawan’s history and explain contemporary economic and environmental challenges. There's…
Puerto Galera
Protecting Puerto Galera's seascape, this mangrove reserve is accessed via a well-kept bamboo boardwalk. Go early when the birds are active.
Eastern Visayas
A few kilometres west of Cabucgayan is multitiered Kasabangan Falls, which like Tinago Falls have been fitted out with a sealed access road and bleachers,…
Manila
The smell of incense wafts out of the large Seng Guan Buddhist Temple, the centre of Manila’s Buddhist community. It's just north of Chinatown in the hard…
Manila
A shady spot in Rizal Park where regulars test each other and look for new blood with shouts to visitors of ‘Hey Joe, do you play chess?’.
Southeast Luzon
This vast bat-filled limestone cave near the village of Lictin, en route to San Andres, extends for about 200m via a well-made path. Bring a torch or hire…
Iloilo
This historic neo-Gothic church is interestingly sometimes referred to as 'the feminist church' because there are only sculptures of female saints on…
Manila
This is a famous Ninoy Aquino statue that shows him right before he was shot. It’s built on the spot where many pro-democracy rallies took place in the…
Batanes
From Basco it’s a 1½-hour walk, a tough 30-minute bike ride or an easy tricycle jaunt up to Radar Tukon, a weather station on a hilltop with great 360…
Siquijor
Upstairs in the San Isidro Convent building is this small museum, with historical photographs and a few old santos.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology (Philvolcs) Station
Camiguin
Monitors activity of the Hibok-Hibok Volcano. A hired motorcycle or multicab will take you there to see the lacklustre equipment and memorabilia of past…
Davao
This centrally located cathedral on the site of the city's oldest church has an interesting design meant to resemble an ark. Daily mass in English at 6am…
North Luzon
At the entrance to Blue Lagoon is Bantay-abot (‘Mountain with a Hole’), which is exactly as the name suggests: it's a rock with a photogenic arch-shaped…
Negros
The sulphur Baslay hot springs are accessed along a bumpy road 10km off the main highway, best accessed by motorcycle or habal-habal (motorcycle taxi).
Iloilo
This riverside walkway is a credit to the city, which had to move mountains to build it. It's 1.3km long, made of brick paving stones, and for pedestrians…
Around Manila
An unlikely location among industrial surrounds, but a nice stretch of sand to relax on midweek. Day entry is from 6am to 6pm and includes use of nipa…
Batanes
Tukon Chapel is an appealing stone church built by the Abad family for their daughter's wedding in 2008; it's a 1¼-hour uphill hike southeast of Basco.
Bacolod
The city's central gathering place is worth a stroll, particularly on weekends when it's a popular picnic spot. Bring some food for the resident tilapia.
