Flight Destinations
Flights to Manila
Places in Philippines
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Flights to Asia
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Flights to Central America
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Flights to Indian Ocean
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Flights to Pacific Islands
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The cosmopolitan city of Manila is the capital of the Philippines and a very popular destination for its history, culture, and vibrant atmosphere. While many visitors come to the Philippines to enjoy the beaches, Manila is definitely a worthwhile stay, either at the beginning or end of a holiday here.
Flights to Manila
In Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (airport code: MNL) is the main hub for tourists and for flights to Manila and the Philippines as a whole. Airlines from around the world service this airport, offering many options when traveling from London though none of them have direct flights to Manila. Routes and stop-over points vary widely from airline to airline, though the trip will take around 20 hours regardless. KLM will go through Amsterdam, and Thai Airways will stop in Bangkok. Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways and British Airways all make their connections in Hong Kong.Manila Tourist Attractions
Manila is a vast and bustling city that’s part of an even larger metropolitan area – it is ranked the 5th largest urban area, and the 11th largest metropolitan area in the world, as well as being one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Despite the swarms of people everywhere Manila is a wonderful city to visit and has plenty to offer, including over 100 city parks so it’s not all concrete here!Intramuros
Even though much of Manila was flattened during the Second World War there are still historic parts of this city that remain standing to this day. Intramuros is the old town that was built by the Spanish in the 16th century and is contained within the old city walls. The name ‘Intramuros’ is obviously Spanish, and it basically means ‘within the walls’.
Inside the walls the old city has been relatively untouched by modernism. The walls themselves are of interest, as are the gates that open into the old city, some of which are intricately carved in stone and remain impressive despite their age. Intramuros is a great place to wander around and take in the numerous buildings ad the atmosphere. Some of the main sights to look out for include its churches such as Manila Cathedral, and the UNESCO World Heritage listed San Agustin Church. There’s a good selection of museums here too, including Casa Manila which is a reconstructed house that shows visitors what life was like for the wealthy families during the Spanish occupation.
Many monuments and plazas grace the streets of Manila and you’ll also see ruins of buildings that were destroyed during the war, as unfortunately not everything survived in Intramuros.
A wonderful way to make your way around the old city of Manila is by ‘calesa’. These are historic horse-drawn carriages that have been used as a form of transport in Manila since the 18th century and are ideal if you want to give your feet a rest for a while!