Metro Manila is a mosaic of cities stitched together by history, cuisine, and the constant hum of possibility. Spanish fortifications still guard Manila’s heart at Intramuros, while jeepneys and light rails knit neighborhoods into a living, modern capital. In one week, you can time-travel through centuries, eat your way across Asia’s oldest Chinatown, and watch the sun set over Manila Bay.

The metropolis began as a fortified river port on the Pasig. The Spanish built walls; American urban planners sketched boulevards; postwar Manila rebuilt, and rebuilt again. Today, art spaces, indie bars, and design-forward cafes coexist with centuries-old churches, bustling wet markets, and family-run carinderias serving recipes older than the republic.

Expect warm hospitality, tropical weather, and big-city traffic—plan transfers with buffer time and use Grab for convenience. March sits in the dry season, so pack light layers, sun protection, and a reusable water bottle. Come hungry: from crispy pata to halo-halo, Manila rewards curiosity and appetite in equal measure.

Makati

Makati is Metro Manila’s polished cultural-commercial core: museums and pocket parks by day, Poblacion’s indie bars and inventive Filipino dining by night. It’s walkable by Manila standards, with leafy promenades around Greenbelt and Ayala Triangle.

• Top sights: Ayala Museum (gold collection, precolonial vessels), Greenbelt Chapel, Salcedo and Legazpi weekend markets, BGC’s street art corridor, The Mind Museum (nearby in Taguig).
• Eat & drink: Manam (Filipino classics ‘small/medium/large’), Toyo Eatery (modern Filipino tasting menus), Hapag (neo-Filipino), The Curator and Yardstick (third-wave coffee), Run Rabbit Run and Agimat at Ugat (craft cocktails in Poblacion).
• Fun fact: The Ayala Triangle Gardens sits on a former airport runway; look closely and you’ll sense the old airfield geometry in today’s green lung.

Stay in Makati: Browse apartments and hotels near Greenbelt, Legazpi Village, or Poblacion for easy food-and-nightlife access: VRBO Makati | Hotels.com Makati

Getting to Manila (MNL): Check flights into Ninoy Aquino International Airport with Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: Singapore 3.5h, Hong Kong 2h, Tokyo 4.5h, Sydney 8h, Los Angeles 13h. Roundtrips often range from $120–$250 within Southeast Asia and $800–$1,300 from North America (varies by season).

Manila

“Manila” city is the historic soul of the metro: Intramuros’ cobbles, San Agustin’s baroque stonework, and Luneta’s wide lawns. Across the river, Binondo—founded in 1594—is the world’s oldest Chinatown, where dumplings and lumpia share tables with tikoy and tsokolate.

• Top sights: Intramuros (Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church & Museum), Rizal Park, National Museum Complex, Binondo’s Ongpin Street, Escolta’s heritage buildings.
• Eat & drink: Ilustrado (heritage Filipino-Spanish), Harbor View Restaurant (bayfront seafood), Sincerity (fried chicken legend in Binondo), Lan Zhou La Mien (hand-pulled noodles), La Cathedral Café (views of the cathedral), The Bayleaf Sky Deck (sunset cocktails).
• Fun fact: Jose Rizal’s final footsteps are bronzed into the pavement at Luneta, tracing a solemn path to the monument.

Stay in Manila: Base near Intramuros or Ermita for walkability to museums and the bay: VRBO Manila | Hotels.com Manila

Moving between Makati and Manila: Plan 45–90 minutes by Grab (≈$5–$12) depending on traffic. The MRT/LRT combo is faster off-peak (≈$0.50–$1) but requires transfers and stairs—Grab is simpler with luggage.

Day 1: Arrival, Makati Warm-Up

Afternoon: Land at MNL and Grab to Makati (30–60 minutes off-peak). Stroll Ayala Triangle Gardens to reset your body clock. Coffee at The Curator (speakeasy-style by night) or Yardstick for an expertly pulled flat white.

Evening: Dinner at Manam for a first pass at Filipino flavors—sinigang na beef short rib, crispy kare-kare, and sisig, with portions sized to share. Nightcap at The Penthouse 8747 (1930s-inspired rooftop) or Run Rabbit Run in Poblacion for award-winning cocktails like the Ube Milk Punch.

Day 2: Ayala Museum, BGC Art, Poblacion Nightlife

Morning: Breakfast at Wildflour (pan au chocolat, shakshuka) or The Pantry for Filipino silog plates. Dive into the Ayala Museum—don’t miss the pre-Hispanic gold and diorama history series offering a brisk, visual primer to the archipelago’s past.

Afternoon: Head to Bonifacio Global City (10–20 minutes). Walk the street art trail and visit The Mind Museum’s hands-on galleries. Lunch at Kamameshi Town Hokkaido for comforting rice pots, or try Mendokoro Ramenba’s tonkotsu if the line is manageable.

Evening: A Poblacion food-and-bar hop: start with modern Filipino at Lampara (smoked pampano, kare-kare wings), slip into Agimat at Ugat for foraged-ingredient cocktails in ritual-esque presentations, and end at Alamat Filipino Pub for craft beer with sisig tacos. Grab back to your stay.

Day 3: Intramuros, Old Manila, and Chinatown Eats

Morning: Ride to Intramuros by 9:00 a.m. Join a guided overview to connect neighborhoods and timelines:

Manila Old and New: Sightseeing Tour Including Intramuros and Fort Santiago

Afternoon: Continue on two wheels for a fresh perspective through narrow lanes and bastions:

Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours

Break for lunch at Ilustrado (paella negra, callos, and sampaguita ice cream) tucked inside the walled city. Pop into San Agustin Church & Museum for cloisters and carved choir stalls.

Evening: Cross the river to Binondo for a guided food crawl—dim sum meets Filipino heritage in alleyway gems:

Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown

Supplement with stops at Sincerity (fried chicken), Wai Ying (siomai, congee), and Lan Zhou La Mien (hand-pulled noodles). Finish with hopia (mung bean pastries) to-go.

Day 4: Move to Manila Base, National Museums, Manila Bay Sunset

Morning: Transfer from Makati to your Manila hotel near Intramuros/Ermita (45–90 minutes, traffic dependent). Drop bags and walk Rizal Park’s gardens to decompress.

Afternoon: Explore the National Museum Complex—Fine Arts for Juan Luna’s Spoliarium, Natural History for the soaring “Tree of Life,” and Anthropology for textiles and ritual objects. Coffee at The Den (daytime) near Escolta or at La Cathedral Café for views.

Evening: Time your Manila Bay sunset—either from the Baywalk or a rooftop like The Bayleaf Sky Deck in Intramuros. Dinner at Harbor View Restaurant for grilled pusit (squid), garlic butter prawns, and sinigang by the water.

Day 5: Tagaytay and Taal Volcano Views (Full-Day)

Leave early for Tagaytay’s cool ridge overlooking the iconic Taal Volcano. This guided day trip handles the logistics, scenic viewpoints, and a lake cruise when conditions permit:

Amazing Taal Volcano Island Tour (Boat Included)

Expect sweeping lake views, cool breezes, and countryside fare—bulalo (beef marrow soup) is the regional star. Return to Manila by evening for a mellow dinner at Ilustrado or Casa Reyes for homestyle dishes.

Day 6: Corregidor and Bataan War Heritage (Full-Day)

History deep dive: sail to Corregidor, the “Gibraltar of the East,” and continue to Bataan memorial sites. Tunnels, artillery batteries, and memorials illuminate the Pacific theater’s critical chapter:

Full-Day Tour in Corregidor and Bataan War Memorial from Manila

Back in the city, reward yourself with a relaxed dinner: try Adobo in its many regional styles at Romulo Café, or crispy pata and laing at Mesa. If you still have fuel, a nightcap at The Manila Hotel’s Lobby Lounge is a refined, old-Manila experience.

Day 7: Last Tastes, Market Finds, and Departure

Morning: Return to Intramuros for any missed corners—Fort Santiago’s gardens, Casa Manila’s period rooms, or quiet reflection at San Agustin. Brunch at Ristorante Delle Mitre (Filipino and continental comfort plates) across from the cathedral.

Afternoon: Pick up gifts at Kultura Filipino (SM Mall of Asia or SM Makati earlier in the week): handwoven textiles, local coffee, and calamansi marmalade travel well. Grab to the airport; for international flights, leave central Manila 3.5–4 hours before departure to buffer traffic and security lines.

Where to Book and How to Get Around

• Flights to/from MNL: Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Aim for terminals near your airline alliance; allow extra time when switching terminals by shuttle.
• Local transport: Grab is the simplest; LRT-1/MRT-3 are fast off-peak. Always carry smaller bills; many eateries are cash-preferred though e-wallets are common.
• Stays: Makati for nightlife/museums: VRBO Makati | Hotels.com Makati; Intramuros/Ermita for heritage and bay sunsets: VRBO Manila | Hotels.com Manila.

Optional Swap-Ins (If You Prefer Nature or Food Focus)

• Hidden Valley Springs retreat: Thermal pools and jungle paths, ideal as a spa day from Manila. Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***

• Street food orientation: Guided tasting through approachable stalls and markets to decode isaw, kwek-kwek, and more. Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food

Practical tips: Hydrate and carry sun protection. Dress modestly for churches. Keep valuables zipped; use hotel safes. Manila shines on weekends (markets, live music), but traffic is densest Friday evenings—book dinner near your base. If rain rolls in, pivot to museums, cafes, and malls, which are cultural hubs here.

In one week, you’ll have walked centuries in Intramuros, tasted traditions in Binondo, and felt the metropolis’ pulse from Makati to Manila Bay—plus breathed Tagaytay air and traced wartime stories on Corregidor. Manila rewards the curious; every corner stall and museum corridor adds another thread to the tapestry. You’ll leave with favorite dishes, new friends, and a reason to return.