Manila

Manila

The teeming city of Manila is the center of the Philippines; 7,000 sun-drenched islands. Colorful jeepneys carry citizens up and down the boulevards past cricket fields, yacht harbors, historic forts, impressive statues, and lively neighborhood marketplaces. Not far from Manila are excellent snorkel and scuba opportunities.

Attractions

Manila Cathedral - Dating from 1571, this is the sixth cathedral on this site and the only church to be rebuilt in intramuros after the war. The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Main features are the octagonal dome and the impressive stained-glass windows. The Coconut Palace This former Marcos guesthouse is now open to the public. Notable is the mother-of-pearl furniture in the Visayas Room. The National Museum The museum collection totals more than one million items from the fields of anthropology, art, botany, geology and zoology. As the museum is in the process of being relocated, only a limited amount of the collection is on display.

Shopping

There are shopping malls everywhere in Metro Manila and hardly anything you can buy in London or New York that you can't buy here, at least as far as chic designer labels and trinkets are concerned. However, the first stop for tourists looking for indigenous gifts and handicrafts is usually Balikbayan Handicrafts, which has five branches and sells an inspiring range of products.

Food

The diversity of eating establishments in Manila is endless. A tantalizing choice of food includes delicious seafood, Philippine dishes and a wide range of ethnic cuisine ranging from Oriental to European. The Ermita-Malate area is known for their many small restaurants and bistros. Everything is available, from fast food outlets to buffet and full-course meals in more formal settings. Don't forget the hotel restaurants which have their own specialties.

Currency

The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP).

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