Old Manila is Spanish Intramuros behind its walls, with the parks and museums of Ermita by the bay right next to it. The core of this guide is my list of saved places: forts, churches, parks, a Masonic temple and one pub. I added San Agustín Church, the Casa Manila house museum, the National Museum of Fine Arts and Barbara's Heritage Restaurant on the advice of travel guides and blogs, and checked them on Google: still open, rated 4.2 or higher. Every description is put together from Google Maps reviews; I'll add my own notes after the trip.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 100 ₱ ≈ $1.60.
In short
- If you only have one day: Intramuros. Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustín Church and the Casa Manila house museum next to it are within twenty minutes' walk of each other, and Rizal Park is close by.
- Free: the National Museum of Fine Arts with Juan Luna's Spoliarium (bring ID), and the free guided tour of the Metropolitan Theater (places are limited).
- Dinner with a show: Barbara's Heritage Restaurant in Intramuros, a Filipino buffet with songs and dances in the evening, 1,500–2,000 ₱ (≈$24–32).
- A quiet hour: Paco Park, a round garden inside the walls of an 1822 cemetery, then Filipino craft beer at Tap Station 1313 Adriatico.
- Sunset: Manila Baywalk on the bay, though you shouldn't swim there.
Intramuros
Fort Santiago
Intramuros · fortress & museum · daily 8:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · Intramuros
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 12,600+): a 16th-century Spanish fort on the Pasig River, the key monument of the colonial era and a national shrine. Inside are the restored gate, prison dungeons, ruins and a museum to José Rizal, and from the top there's a view over the river. The park by the entrance sometimes has folk dance shows, and there are cheap cafés and shops. Weekend queues are long; some visitors found half an hour enough, others spent the whole day.
Manila Cathedral
Intramuros · cathedral · Tue–Sat 8:00–16:30, Sun 8:00–11:30, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · 132 Beaterio St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 7,800+): the country's main cathedral. A church has stood on this spot since the 16th century, and several popes have visited. Inside are stained glass, statues and high vaults, and it's especially lovely lit up at night. It's next door to Fort Santiago, so the two go together. Dress modestly; in the hot months it gets stuffy inside.
San Agustín Church
Intramuros · church, UNESCO site · Tue–Sun 8:00–17:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · Facebook · General Luna St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 5,500+): the oldest church in the Philippines and one of the country's Baroque churches on the UNESCO list. Reviewers love the painted vaulted ceilings and the old Baroque pipe organ in the choir loft. The nave is free to see; the other rooms cost extra. Inside, keep your voice down and follow the rules.
Casa Manila
Intramuros · house museum · Tue–Sun 9:00–18:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · Plaza San Luis, General Luna St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 1,000+): a replica of a wealthy stone house from the late Spanish era, built in the 1980s next to San Agustín Church, with a stone ground floor, a wooden upper floor with sliding capiz-shell windows, high ceilings, antique furniture, chandeliers and household things. A visit takes fifteen or twenty minutes, and there's a café and souvenir shops in the courtyard. Reviewers suggest an official Intramuros Administration guide; one found the ticket staff less than friendly. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Barbara's Heritage Restaurant
Intramuros · Filipino food & folk show · 1,500–2,000 ₱ (≈$24–32) · daily 9:00–21:00
Google Maps · website · Plaza San Luis Complex, General Luna St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 1,400+): a restaurant with Spanish-era interiors, chandeliers, stone walls, antiques and live piano. In the evening there's a Filipino buffet with songs and folk dances, and guests are invited to try the tinikling. People praise the pork sinigang and the fresh coconut. The downsides: pricey for the portions, and some found the papaitan and the pavlova small.
Ermita, Malate and Paco
Rizal Park
Ermita · park · daily 5:00–22:00
Google Maps · website · Ermita
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 30,600+): a huge 57-hectare park with the Rizal Monument, gardens and fountains, plus a light-and-music fountain show in the evening. Mornings belong to joggers and people resting in the shade; evenings to families, couples and artists. The National Museums are right next to it. There's little food inside, the toilets are basic, and weekends are crowded.
National Museum of Fine Arts
Ermita · art museum · daily 9:00–18:00
Google Maps · website · Padre Burgos Ave
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 9,600+): the country's main art museum, and it's free; just bring ID. At the entrance you're met by Juan Luna's Spoliarium, the huge canvas many people come for. Beyond it are several floors of Filipino painting and sculpture, more than you can see in one visit. There can be a queue at weekends, but it moves.
The Metropolitan Theater
Ermita · Art Deco theatre · tours Mon–Thu 9:00–16:00
Google Maps · Facebook · Padre Burgos Ave, corner of Antonio Villegas St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 260+): the oldest surviving theatre in the Philippines and a national treasure, built in Art Deco style. The guided tour is free but has few places; sometimes National Artists give talks during it. In the evening it hosts concerts, film screenings and orchestras, and reviewers praise the acoustics and the air con. The downside: mobile data barely works inside.
Manila Bay Beach
Malate · promenade & beach · 6:00–18:00, closed Thu
Google Maps · Baywalk, Roxas Blvd
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 6,600+): the Baywalk promenade and the man-made Dolomite Beach, the place for one of the best sunsets in Manila. Bags are checked at the entrance: no food, drinks, plastic or glass. After sunset, vendors with snacks line the exit. Swimming is not allowed: the water is polluted and rubbish washes ashore, so come for a walk, not a beach day.
Paco Park
Paco · park in a former cemetery · Mon–Tue 7:00–17:00, Wed–Sun 6:00–17:00
Google Maps · Belen, Paco
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,400+): a circular garden inside the stone walls of the city's former cemetery, built in 1822, where José Rizal was temporarily buried. There's a domed chapel in the middle, old tombs around the edge and tall trees above. Entry is free, it's quiet, and it's popular for wedding photos; some liked it more than Fort Santiago. The outside walls are not well kept.
Scottish Rite Temple
Malate · Masonic temple · no hours on Google
Google Maps · 1825 Taft Ave
A Scottish Rite Masonic temple on Taft Avenue. Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 80+) are few and short, mostly from lodge members and event guests who call it a historic place of peace and unity; the building is also used as an events venue. There are no opening hours on Google, so plan to see it from outside.
Tap Station 1313 Adriatico
Ermita · craft beer pub · up to 2,000 ₱ (≈$32) · Mon–Sat 8:00–2:00, Sun 12:00–0:00
Google Maps · 1313 Adriatico St
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 150+): a small pub under a big tree where most of the taps are Philippine craft beer. The stout gets praise, and they let you taste before you choose. There's cheap-ish fish and chips and a happy hour. The downsides: pricier than nearby pubs, the toilet is a walk away, and one couple felt rushed out of an empty bar.
One last thing
Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days for this walk. Manila Cathedral, San Agustín Church and Casa Manila are closed on Mondays, Manila Bay Beach on Thursdays, and the free Metropolitan Theater tours only run Monday to Thursday. Manila traffic is serious, so it's easier to give old Manila a whole day: Intramuros in the morning, the museum and Rizal Park in the afternoon, the Baywalk at sunset.
More on Manila: Binondo and Escolta, Makati and BGC.