Looking for free things to do this weekend? Let's go to this historical places in Manila!
Planning to go to Intramuros soon? You might be thinking of things to do and places to visit inside the walled city. You're not alone. I, myself haven't explored most of Intramuros' spots and attraction given that I have already visited here for a few times. The fact that this piece of land in Manila is so wide, it would take you a whole day to tour around the district.
That's why I created this list for you to know the right spots perfect for selfies and update your Instagram feed without even touching your wallet!
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WHAT TO BRING FOR MANILA
Here are some things you might consider bringing with you for your day tour / adventure:
- Stylish face mask
- Water container/tumbler to rehydrate
- Sunscreen for skin protection
- Travel backpack / luggage
- Reusable vacuum storage packs
- Selfie stick
- Acion cam
- WiFi kit
- Power bank
Shopee is my go-to app for things I needed like the ones above. If you'd like discounts and vouchers, you may get the best offers here:
Here's a list of best selfie spots in Intramuros:
Manila Cathedral
The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, making it one of the most important churches in the country.
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| Manila Cathedral |
Since its inception in 1581, the church has been renovated and restored multiple times (most remarkably after the 1945 Battle of Manila), with the current style being Neo-Romanesque. It was consecrated in 1958.
Best Selfie Spot: Facade of Manila Cathedral
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: Cabildo, 132 Beaterio St, Intramuros, Manila
Plaza Roma
Plaza Roma is bound by other notable destinations such as the Manila Cathedral, Palacio del Gobernador, and Ayuntamiento. It’s considered as the city’s plaza mayor or main square, where many public events like bullfights were held.
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| Plaza Roma |
Plaza Roma was turned into a garden in 1797, with a monument of King Carlos IV of Spain at the center. The king was regarded for having dispatched a shipment of smallpox vaccine to the Philippines.
Best Selfie Spot: near the fountain
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: In front of Manila Cathedral
Aduana Ruins
The Aduana Building, also known as the Intendencia, was a Spanish colonial structure in Manila, Philippines that housed several government offices through the years.
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| Aduana Ruins |
Best Selfie Spot: façade of the building
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: Magallanes Dr, Intramuros, Manila
Ayuntamiento de Manila
The Ayuntamiento de Manila (Manila City Hall) is a building located at the corner of Andrés Soriano Avenue (formerly, Calle Aduana) and Cabildo Street, fronting Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, Manila.
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| Ayuntamiento de Manila |
Also known as the Casas Consistoriales and also nicknamed as the Marble Palace, the Ayuntamiento was the seat of the Manila City Council, which consisted of two alcaldes (city leaders), eight oidores (judges), a clerk, and a chief constable. Destroyed in World War II and reconstructed thereafter, the building now houses the offices of the Bureau of the Treasury.
Best Selfie Spot: façade of the building
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: near Plaza Roma
Palacio Del Gobernador
The Palacio del Gobernador (transl. Governor's Palace) is a government building located in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It is located southwest from Plaza de Roma and built in its current form in 1976. The building's exterior was used in the Chuck Norris film Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection for a scene set in Rio de Janeiro during a Brazilian Carnaval parade.
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| Palacio Del Gobernador |
At present, the building houses the Intramuros Administration, the Commission on Elections and the Home Development Mutual Fund National Capital Region Office. It also previously housed the Bureau of the Treasury until it relocated across Plaza de Roma to the Ayuntamiento de Manila.
Best Selfie Spot: façade of the building
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: near Plaza Roma
Baluarte de Dilao
Built in 1592 by the Spanish government to deter threats and invasion by other countries. Renovated in 1622. The area was much larger than what it is right now, the area that you'll see is the restored structure, for the whole area was destroyed during the American liberation of Manila from the Japanese occupation in 1845.
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| Baluarte de Dilao |
Best Selfie Spot: near the canons
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 10am to 5pm
Location: east part of Intramuros
Intramuros Walls
I haven't known it for a long time but yes, you can actually walk on the walls of Intramuros.
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| Intramuros Walls |
These walkways are about 2 meters wide and barricaded with bricks. Due to its oldness, most of the pathways are hard to walk on.
Best Selfie Spot: walkway on the walls
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 9am to 6pm
Location: several parts of Intramuros
Muralla Street
Muralla Street is one of the longest roads in Intramuros. It runs from the south end through the east part of the walls until the north end near Plaza Espana.
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| Muralla Street |
Just like Muralla, streets in the district are generally narrow as they were designed at a time when there were no motor vehicles like automobiles, jeepneys, buses or trucks. Today, Muralla Street is nicely paved with asphalt.
Best Selfie Spot: near the fountain
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: east side of the wall
Real Street
Because of its cobblestones, Real is the most visited street in Intramuros. Real St. runs through the heart of Intramuros and connects the eastern (Puerta del Parian) and western walls (Puerta de Santa Lucia).
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| Real Street |
Famous landmarks located along Real St. are Casa Manila and San Agustin Church.
Best Selfie Spot: near Casa Manila
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 8am to 6pm
Location: mid part of Intramuros
ALSO IN MANILA
San Agustin Church
Completed in 1607, San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the country. The church, together with the monastery nearby, was the only structure left standing after World War II. The current structure is actually the third version of the church which survived several natural disasters through time.
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| San Agustin Church |
In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It was named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.
Best Selfie Spot: façade of the church
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 10am to 5pm
Location: General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila
ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA
Klook.comPuerta del Parian
Puerta Del Parian is among the eight gates that serve as an entrance to the Walled City of Intramuros. The gates were called Puerta, which is the original Spanish word for "gate." Hence, the name Puerta del Parian means "Gate of the Market," signifying its crucial role in Philippine history.
From the Spanish colonial times to the British occupation is 1762-1764, as this was the place where many enterprising Chinese traded goods. Today, you can enter the gate for free to access the ASEAN Gardens from Muralla St.
Baluarte de San Gabriel is situated nearby to the park Plazuela Madre Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes and the garden Boy & Girl Scouts Memorial Triangle.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please let us know by leaving a message in the comment box below.
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| Puerta del Parian |
Best Selfie Spot: façade of the gate
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 9am to 5pm
Location: west part of the wall
ASEAN Garden
The ASEAN Garden was inaugurated in 1993 as an expression of the Philippines' solid commitment to ASEAN. Located near the Parian Gate, at the corner of P. Burgos Drive and Victoria Street, the Garden remind us that peace and prosperity thrives among these ASEAN nations.
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| ASEAN Garden |
The garden is also a home to the busts of the founding fathers, from Southeast Asian nations. It features an assortment of trees and shrubs from the ten participating nations.
Best Selfie Spot: near the bridge and trees
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 10am to 5pm
Location: north east of Intramuros walls
Baluarte de San Gabriel
Another entrance free bastion in Intramuros is the Baluarte de San Gabriel. This area is one of the 7 bastions in the wall city.
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| Baluarte de San Gabriel |
Baluarte de San Gabriel is situated nearby to the park Plazuela Madre Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes and the garden Boy & Girl Scouts Memorial Triangle.
Best Selfie Spot: the open field
Entrance: FREE
Best Time to Visit: 9am to 5pm
Location: north east of Intramuros walls
Intramuros Walking Tour Map
Here's a map guide for Intramuros:
You can also download a copy of any of the following maps for your Intramuros tour:
For hassle-free and more educational tour, I suggest that you get a DOT Accredited tour guide for your visit to Intramuros. Or you can visit my complete DIY guide to the walled city.
If want to see more, check out my list of 20+ Most Famous Tourist Spots in Manila
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA
How to get to Intramuros
Since Intramuros is in the heart of the bustling city of Manila, land transportation is the most convenient means of getting there. But if you’ll be coming from locations outside Metro Manila or another country, don’t fret, it is still very accessible thanks to its proximity to airports and terminals.
There are two international and domestic airports near Intramuros: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque (for Terminal 1) and Pasay (for Terminals 2, 3, and 4) and Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
Read my complete Commuting Guide to Intramuros
Where to Stay in Intramuros
Here's a list of hotels and accommodation inside and nearby Intramuros:
- Octagon Mansion Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Bayview Park Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Go Hotels Ermita - Check Rates and Availability!
- City Garden Suites Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Pearl Manila Hotel - Check Rates and Availability!
- Sunny Bay Suites - Check Rates and Availability!
MANILA TOUR
Some other attractions to see and things to do near Intramuros:
- Visit Arroceros Forest Park
- Food crawl in Binondo
- Visit the Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay
- Have fun at Star City
- Have a relaxing staycation at SMDC Breeze Residences
- Go shopping in Divisoria
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please let us know by leaving a message in the comment box below.
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