PHILIPPINES · METRO MANILA
A practical first stop in the Philippines
Manila can feel intense after a long international flight, but a simple base and a realistic plan make the first days much easier. We stayed in Parañaque, spent our evenings around Mall of Asia and Manila Bay, and used the city as a starting point for several onward routes through the Philippines.
Our Manila base in Parañaque
For our first two nights, we chose Avida Towers Sucat near SM City Sucat. The apartment setup gave us more space than a small hotel room and worked well for a slower arrival before continuing our trip.
Why it worked for us
Our apartment had a living area, kitchenette and separate bedroom. The additional space was useful after the flight, and the building’s security service made the arrival feel straightforward.
The trade-off
Parañaque is not within walking distance of every major sight, and street noise can be noticeable. The location works best when you are comfortable using Grab and plan each outing by area.
Getting around
We mainly used Grab for trips across the city. Manila traffic can make short distances take much longer than expected, so we avoided tightly timed plans and allowed a generous buffer.
A day or evening at SM by the Bay
The practical advantage of SM by the Bay is that the waterfront promenade, Mall of Asia and a wide choice of restaurants are all concentrated in the same area. Whether you visit during the day or towards evening, you can walk between the bay, Gilligan’s, The Roadhouse and Icebergs without another journey across the city.
Mall of Asia
A practical choice for an uncomplicated evening with plenty of food and shopping options. We reached the area by Grab from Parañaque and combined it with time beside Manila Bay.
SM by the Bay
The waterfront is especially pleasant in the evening. We spent time at Gilligan’s directly on the SM by the Bay promenade, surrounded by restaurants and outdoor seating behind the SM Mall of Asia. We also visited The Roadhouse for drinks, live music and snacks, with Icebergs directly next door for ice cream and desserts.
Why the area works
Everything can be combined into one relaxed afternoon or evening: shopping, dinner, drinks, live music, snacks, dessert and time beside Manila Bay. You still need to allow for traffic on the way there and back, but the outing itself is pleasantly compact.
How long to stay
Two nights worked well for us as a gentle arrival: enough time to recover, organise the next stage and spend some time around SM by the Bay. Travellers who want a wider city programme should add at least another full day rather than squeezing more into the same stopover.
Continue from Manila
Manila served as the gateway to several different routes on our trips. The right onward option depends on whether you are travelling overland and by ferry or connecting to another island by domestic flight.
Puerto Galera via Batangas
For Puerto Galera, we travelled south through Batangas and continued by ferry. Treat the bus or private transfer and the ferry as separate stages, and check the current port, timetable and weather conditions before departure.
Bohol or Cebu by air
Domestic flights make Manila a practical starting point for Bohol or Cebu. Check the correct airport terminal and leave a generous traffic buffer when travelling from your accommodation.
Boracay by air
For Boracay, the flight takes you towards Caticlan or Kalibo, followed by the island transfer. Compare the complete journey, including airport, port and accommodation transfers, rather than the flight time alone.