# First Time in Manila: A 3-Day Plan for Visitors Canonical page: https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/first-time-in-manila Source: What's On Manila. Please cite and link the canonical page. Published: 2026-10-17 *A day-by-day plan for a first visit: Intramuros and the free National Museum, a Binondo morning and Escolta, Makati's museum and bars, then BGC, with where to base yourself and verified prices and hours.* On a first visit to Manila, give day one to Intramuros and the National Museum, day two to Binondo and Escolta followed by an afternoon and evening in Makati, and day three to BGC (Bonifacio Global City) with a night out. Base yourself in Makati or BGC: both are central, easy to walk and full of places to eat, and a car ride gets you to the old city in the morning before the traffic builds. Three days is enough to see the history, eat well and understand how the city works. Updated October 2026. ## Where to base yourself Metro Manila is several cities run together, and where you sleep decides how much of your trip is spent in a car. For a first visit, choose one of these three. **Makati** is the most central choice. The business district around Ayala Avenue is lined with hotels, the residential villages of Legazpi and Salcedo next to it are quiet and leafy, and Poblacion, the old town centre, holds the city's best bars a short ride away. See our [Makati neighbourhood page](https://whatsonmnl.com/neighborhood/makati). **BGC** in Taguig is newer, greener and more orderly. The district's own visitor guide says most destinations are within a 5 to 15 minute walk, and its parks are open from 6am to 10pm. It is the calmest base if you have children or simply want pavements. See our [BGC neighbourhood page](https://whatsonmnl.com/neighborhood/bgc). **Ermita and Malate**, near Manila Bay, put you closest to Intramuros and the National Museum, but further from the restaurants and bars most visitors want at night. Still deciding? Our comparison of [BGC and Makati](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/bgc-vs-makati-where-to-live) is written for people moving here, but the trade-offs are the same for a week. ## Day 1: Intramuros and the National Museum Start early. Intramuros is the walled city the Spanish built where the Pasig River meets Manila Bay, and it is best before the midday heat. Wear shoes for uneven stone and carry water. **Fort Santiago** is the place to begin. Walk the walls and gardens, then visit the Museo ni Rizal inside, a museum on the national hero José Rizal. On weekends the gates open at 6am, which is the coolest and quietest time of day to be there. Santa Clara Street, Intramuros. ₱75 regular, ₱50 for students, senior citizens and PWDs (persons with disabilities). Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, last entry 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 6am to 10pm, last entry 8:30pm. Museo ni Rizal: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm. **San Agustin Museum** sits on General Luna Street, a short walk from the fort. Plan around its lunch break. General Luna Street, Intramuros. Open daily, 8am to 12 noon and 1pm to 5pm. **Casa Manila** is a house museum on the corner of General Luna and Real streets, across from San Agustin, so it is easy to see both in one stop. It is closed on Mondays. General Luna Street corner Real Street, Intramuros. Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, last entry 5pm; closed Monday. [**Bahay Tsinoy**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/bahay-tsinoy) is the museum of the Chinese in Philippine life, and a good bridge to tomorrow's walk through Binondo. Anda Street corner Cabildo Street, Intramuros. After lunch, take a short ride south to Rizal Park. [**National Museum of Fine Arts**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/national-museum-of-fine-arts) occupies the old Legislative Building and holds 29 galleries of Filipino painting and sculpture. The National Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of Natural History are across the way, so you can stay all afternoon in air conditioning without paying a peso. Padre Burgos Avenue, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Free. Open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, except select religious holidays. End the day by the water. Manila Bay is a few minutes west of Rizal Park along Roxas Boulevard, and watching the sun go down over the bay costs nothing. For more museums, see our guide to [museums in Manila](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/museums-in-manila). ## Day 2: Binondo, Escolta, then Makati Binondo, across the river from Intramuros, is Manila's Chinatown and the place to eat your way through a morning. Go hungry and graze: dumplings, noodles, hopia (flaky filled pastries) and tikoy from the bakeries along Ongpin Street and the lanes around it. Arrive with cash in small notes and share plates so you can try more. [**Escolta Street**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/escolta-street-and-the-first-united-building), near the river in Binondo, is lined with old buildings that now house small creative businesses. The First United Building is the anchor, and inside it HUB Make Lab gathers shops run by local artists and makers. First United Building, 413 Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila. HUB Make Lab: Monday to Thursday 10am to 6pm, Friday to Sunday 10am to 7pm. From Escolta, the [**Pasig River Esplanade**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/pasig-river-esplanade) gives you a riverside walk back towards Intramuros, a good way to see the two old towns face each other across the water. In the afternoon, move to Makati. The traffic between the two is the main cost of this day, so leave after lunch rather than at 5pm. [**Ayala Museum**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/ayala-museum) is where to spend the hottest part of the afternoon, with Philippine history and art over several floors. Buy a single floor if you are short on time, or the whole museum if you are not. Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati. All floors: ₱850 for foreign visitors, ₱500 local rate, ₱350 discounted with valid ID. Book a timed slot online. [**Ayala Triangle Gardens**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/ayala-triangle-gardens) is a few minutes' walk away, a green block between Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue where office workers sit out at dusk. It is a good place to slow down before dinner. For the evening, go to Poblacion. Our guide to the [best bars in Poblacion](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/best-bars-in-poblacion) groups them by the kind of night you want, from serious cocktails to natural wine and records on a proper sound system, with dinner picks to start. ## Day 3: BGC, art and a slower pace Use your last day to see the newer city. BGC has wide pavements, parks between towers, bike lanes and a main street, Bonifacio High Street, made for walking. [**Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M)**](https://whatsonmnl.com/place/metropolitan-museum-of-manila-the-m) is the anchor for a late morning, since it opens at 11am on weekdays. It shows contemporary art in rotating exhibitions, in a building next to Two Parkade near High Street. If your trip falls between 20 October and 7 November 2026, skip it: the museum is closed while it prepares two major exhibitions. MK Tan Centre, 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tuesday to Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm, entry cut-off 5:30pm. General admission ₱300 at the museum's current special rate (₱550 standard); children 4 and under free. Closed Monday. After the museum, walk the length of Bonifacio High Street and its park, which BGC lists among its open spaces with seating and art installations. Stop for lunch wherever looks good; the district is built for wandering. In the evening, choose between staying in BGC or heading back to Makati. For a last night with a view, see our guide to [rooftop bars in Manila](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/rooftop-bars-in-manila). ## Getting between the stops For a first visit, use Grab for anything that crosses the city, such as Makati to Intramuros. It shows the price before you book and saves you negotiating. Within BGC, the BGC Bus runs fixed routes from its main terminal at EDSA Ayala, and you pay with a Beep card or a QR ticket. Avoid crossing the city on weekday mornings and early evenings if you can: the distances are short, but the traffic is not. ## Questions people ask **Is three days enough for Manila?** Yes, for a first visit. Three days covers Intramuros, the National Museum, Binondo, Makati and BGC at a comfortable pace, with time to eat well and go out. **Where should I stay in Manila for the first time?** Makati or BGC. Both are central, walkable and full of restaurants. Stay near Manila Bay only if old Manila is your main reason for coming. **How much is Fort Santiago?** ₱75, or ₱50 for students, senior citizens and PWDs. It opens at 8am on weekdays and 6am on weekends. **Is the National Museum free?** Yes. The National Museum of Fine Arts and its neighbours in Rizal Park are free and open daily from 9am to 6pm, except on select religious holidays. **When is Casa Manila open?** Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, according to the Intramuros Administration. It is closed on Mondays. **What is the best way to get around Manila as a visitor?** Grab, for most trips. Plan your days by area so you spend more time walking than sitting in traffic.