Reimagine your Happiness with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir – A day in Manila
Start Your Day in
Manila
Enjoy the comforts of home when you travel with Singapore Airlines, and fly at your convenience with our four daily flights to Manila. Expect only top-notch service and a delectable spread of tasty treats, including iconic Asian dishes and the Singapore Sling.
Walled City, Intramuros
08:00
EXPLORE THE FAMOUS WALLED CITY
Start your day with a leisurely stroll within Manila’s famed Walled City, also known as the Intramuros, a fortress built by Spanish colonists in 1571 to protect the city from foreign invasion. The Walled City sits on 160 acres of land, with walls about 6.7 metres tall and 2.4 metres thick surrounding it. Today, it is home to a cluster of pre-war buildings and structures including Fort Santiago, the oldest Hispanic stone fortress in the Philippines and a National Historical landmark. You will also find the San Agustin Church and Museum which boasts intricate Baroque architecture and houses historical artefacts. The easiest way to explore the Walled City is on a Bambike, a lightweight and eco-friendly bicycle made from bamboo that you can rent on the premises.
‘Spoliarium’ by Juan Luna Y Novicio, 1884, Oil on canvas
(Photo: Bengy Toda III and the National Museum)
(Photo: Bengy Toda III and the National Museum)
National Museum of Natural History
‘Spoliarium’ by Juan Luna Y Novicio, 1884, Oil on canvas
(Photo: Bengy Toda III and the National Museum)
(Photo: Bengy Toda III and the National Museum)
10:00
DISCOVER MANILA’S RICH HERITAGE
Visit the National Museum of Fine Arts for some magnificent masterpieces by classical Filipino artists. Each piece of art is steeped in history, with its own story to tell. Look for Juan Luna’s ‘Spoliarium’, painted in 1884, and Fernando Amorsolo’s ‘The Burning of Manila’, depicting the destruction caused by World War II. Then, make a pit stop at the newly-opened National Museum of Natural History. Wander the halls and discover Philippines through the massive collection of flora, fauna, and ecosystem exhibits. Marvel at the architecture of the building, and pose at the Instagram-worthy DNA Tree of Life, a stunning double helix structure that soars up to six storeys high. Plus, another highlight display not to be missed: the skeleton of ‘Lolong’ - the largest crocodile in captivity - hanging from the ceiling.
Lumpia, savoury spring rolls
12:30
LUNCH AT CHINATOWN
For a spot of lunch, head to Binondo next, the Chinatown of Manila. You will be spoilt for choice with the wide array of exotic Tsinoy, or Chinese Filipino cuisine. Expect everything from dim sum to lumpia (savoury spring rolls) and pork empanadas. If you are too intimated to sample everything on your own, sign up for the Big Binondo Food Wok for a guided immersive experience of the best street food Binondo has to offer. You will visit hole-in-the-wall restaurants and sample dishes you would never have thought to otherwise. Expect to tuck into treats such as salted egg chips, meat pies, and preserved fruits. How about some fried tofu squares topped with a special sauce, or the iconic peanut ‘pancit’ or Hokkien fried noodles with sate (also known as satay) sauce? Bidondo promises to be an epicurean experience to remember.
‘Kapit Kamay’ wall mural with artist Biskeg Pangasinan
Artist Collective (Photo: Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc)
Artist Collective (Photo: Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc)
‘The Way Home’ wall mural by Solana Perez
(Photo: Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc)
(Photo: Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc)
Left: ‘Kapit Kamay’ wall mural with artist Biskeg Pangasinan Artist Collective Right: ‘The Way Home’ wall mural by Solana Perez (Photo: Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc)
15:00
DO A WALL CRAWL
Walk off your lunch at Bonifacio Global City, Manila’s financial and lifestyle district, while appreciating some street art. Murals in vibrant colours and designs, created by international and local artists, adorn the buildings, gutters and even car parks. Easy on the eyes and evocative, each mural tells a different story, from urbanisation and technology to friendships and some history. Walking through these streets will give you a different perspective of life in Manila. Notable murals include “The Way Home”, a colourful rendition of horses and “Kapit Kamay” featuring sea motifs.
Colourful fountain near Rizal Park
18:00
TAKE A PRE-DINNER STROLL
Catch a spectacular sunset along the bustling seaside promenade of Manila Baywalk. Two kilometres long, the baywalk stretches from the US Embassy near Rizal Park up to the Cultural Center of the Philippines just past the Manila Yacht Club. Peppered with plenty of cafes and restaurants, the baywalk is a very popular spot among locals, who flock here to soak in the golden sun, the calm waters, and the swaying palm trees. Take a slow walk and spot some stunning yachts docked at the harbour. Don’t miss the famous fountain near Malate Church during your walk, a popular meeting point with the perfect backdrop for holiday pictures.
Filipino crab in coconut milk
Fresh seafood at Dampa market
Left: Filipino crab in coconut milk Right: Fresh seafood at Dampa market
19:30
DEVOUR SOME SEAFOOD DAMPA
There is only one way to end your day and it is with a traditional seafood Dampa dinner. Before you tuck in, there are few things you must do first. Head to Macapagal Boulevard and pick your preferred restaurant from an impressive line-up. You will then be escorted to Dampa market, where you will handpick fresh seafood items, to be brought back to the restaurant where they will be cooked according to your liking. Expect to savour delectable delights, like mussels smothered in cheese, steamed fish in soy sauce, prawns in thick coconut curry and the sweet-meets-savoury chilli crabs, always a crowd pleaser. A gastronomic journey to end the day, befitting the exciting adventures you have experienced.
Explore the destination
MANILA
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Shwedagon Pagoda
Kandawgyi Lake
Yangon Central Station
Button 4 Text
Button 5 Text
Illustrative guide is not drawn to scale
Singapore Airlines flies four times daily to Manila. Book your holiday now! 
1Intramuros
Bonifacio Dr & Padre Burgos St, Manila, Luzon 1002, Philippines
24 hours
2ANational Museum of Fine Arts
Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila, Luzon 2004, Philippines
10:00 - 17:00, closed on Monday
2BNational Museum of Natural History
Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Manila, Luzon 1000, Philippines
10:00 - 17:00, closed on Monday
3Chinatown (Binondo)
Bounded by the river | Claro M. Recto Avenue and Avenida Rizal, Manila, Luzon, Philippines
24 hours
4Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Luzon, Philippines
24 hours
5Manila Baywalk
Roxas Blvd, Manila, Luzon, Philippines
24 hours
6Dampa Market (Seaside Dampa)
Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay, Luzon 1309, Philippines
Daily 10:00 - 22:30
