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| Manila | ||
| region | Metro Manila | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1.780.148 (2015) | |
| height | 7 m | |
| Tourist info web | http://www.manila.gov.ph | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Manila is the capital of Philippines.
Districts
- Intramuros - Historic downtown with the oldest buildings in the city.
- Malates - Trendy nightlife district near the sea.
background
getting there
By plane
Seven kilometers outside the core city, but still in the middle of the metropolitan area of Manila, is the (still) largest airport in the Philippines, the 1 Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(IATA: MNL) (NAIA). The airport's range of shops is not very well developed. A peculiarity of the airport is its taxi system: Immediately at the exit of the arrivals area there are numerous taxis, to which you are escorted by an employee who determines the taxi price based on a fictitious list - that can be ten times the regular taximeter price. Possible approaches:
- Pay the asking price - 1500 to 3000 pesos depending on the destination.
- Negotiate the price - half of it is doable.
- Take a flight of stairs up to the departure area and take a taxi there, the prices are lower there.
- The airport is in the middle of the city, so after a 300 meter walk you can stand on one of the inner city highways and flag a taxi where you can request the use of the taximeter - within the city center you pay 100 to 350 pesos.
- Use the Uber or Grab app instead of a taxi. Grab is more common in the Philippines than Uber, which is also reflected in the number of drivers to be found. In addition, as with the bus, the price is clearly defined and very inexpensive.
- There are also bus trips to the city center. As with Grab and Uber, you are dealing with clearly defined, previously known fares. https://mnlairport.ph/guide/transport
By bus
By train
In the street
By boat
Manila disposes of the Port Manila (officially: Pantalan ng Maynila) via the largest port in the Philippines. It is divided by the Pasig River:
- The North Harbor seaport has 7 berths (numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14). Cruise ships usually dock on 2 Pier 4 at.
- The South Harbor has 5 piers (numbers 3, 5, 9, 13, 15), the passenger terminal 3 Eva Macapagal Super Terminal lies between piers 13 and 15.
mobility
Manila has an inadequate system of main thoroughfares, so extensive traffic jams can be expected in the city all day, especially during the morning and evening rush hour. These must be taken into account for flights or intercity buses to be reached.
There are four ways to get from A to B within Manila: tricycles, jeepneys, buses and taxis.
Tricycles are motorcycles with welded-on sidecars, which are the cheapest way of getting around in built-up areas all over the Philippines. They offer regular space for one to two people, depending on the equipment (luggage rack, rear seat) and comfort requirements, three people plus luggage can also be transported. Tricycles only run short distances and cost 50 to 300 pesos in Manila, the price has to be negotiated. It is helpful to ask a trusted source for approximate prices for the route you want. Long tours in distant parts of the city are refused by the driver. The driver's knowledge of English is usually very limited, as is the level of seating comfort.
Jeepneys are brightly colored, jeep-based minibuses that travel on fixed routes painted on the body and can be stopped with a hand signal. It is difficult for the tourist to determine whether the desired destination is on the route of the vehicle; it is helpful to make inquiries in advance. But jeepneys are unbeatably cheap.
Buses, like jeepneys, run on set routes, but (often) only stop at set stops and sometimes have air conditioning. As a rule, a sign with the final stop is attached to the windshield. There are numerous bus companies in Manila, each with their own terminals, so there is no central bus station as a point of contact.
The easiest way to get around Manila is Taxis. As long as you are out and about in Manila, taxis are the most convenient way of getting around, as they are usually air-conditioned. The taxis in front of hotels or the airport sometimes have higher prices (and often identify themselves as hotel taxis). If you can't find a taxi, the policemen will often help you flag down a taxi. Generally, taxis stop everywhere, even in the middle of four lanes to pick up a passenger. In some areas there are special taxi entry points where you have to queue to get a taxi, e.g. at the Landmark Mall. When getting in you should make sure that the driver turns on the taximeter, otherwise the final price can be a bit astronomical. The trip starts at 40 peso and costs another peso for 500 meters. The fare in the city seldom exceeds 150 pesos, the journey from Makati to the airport costs around 120 pesos (assuming that there is moderate traffic). Tipping is optional, but ten percent is welcome.
The Jeepneys originated from the legacies of the US Army and have long since become a symbol of Manila. The abandoned jeeps were converted and used as public transport. The jeepneys are practically omnipresent in the cityscape and look like elongated jeeps and are usually brightly painted, often with religious motifs. The routes of the jeepneys are posted on the sides. Usually they only drive relatively short distances. The vehicles are not air-conditioned and are often overcrowded, so that a trip can definitely be an experience. To stop a jeepney, you just hit the roof.
Manila also has two Lanes: The Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MTR). The former runs between five in the morning and nine in the evening between Baclaran (near the airport) along Taft and Rizal avenues to Monumento. The MTR runs along the EDSA from Taft Avenue to Quezon City to North Avenue.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
- 1 San Agustin, Intramuros, General Luna Street.
The Church of San Augustin is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. Construction work on the church began in 1587 under the supervision of various Ausgustin monks and was completed in 1607. The Church has defied all the adversities of the centuries: the countless earthquakes, the British invasion of 1762, the Spanish-American war and the Japanese invasion. The church choir consists of 68 chairs carved from Molave wood. In passing, be sure to take a look at the church to see if a wedding is taking place. The church was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993.
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- 2 cathedral, Intramuros, General Luna Street.Today's cathedral is the sixth building on this site and was built between 1953 and 1958 with the help of the Vatican. The first church stood here as early as 1581 and was still made of mangrove wood and bamboo. The fifth cathedral lost its bell tower in an earthquake in 1880, just a year after construction was completed. In the Second World War in the fighting for Manila in 1945, the church was then finally destroyed. The church was raised to the rank of Papal Basilica (Basilica Minore) in 1981 by Pope John Paul II.
Castles, chateaux and palaces
- 3 Fuerza de Santiago (Fuerte de Santiago (Manila)), Intramuros, General Luna Street.The historic Fort Santiago is located in the city center on the Pasig River. In the fort there are former Spanish barracks, which were converted by the Japanese occupiers as a prison for prisoners of war. The Filipino folk hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned here in the days before his execution. Today an exhibition in one of the buildings (Rizal Shrine) commemorates him. The view over the river is somewhat disturbed by its stench. The Pasig is still used as a main sewer.
- 4 Coconut Palace (Coconut Palace).(Coconut Palace).
Monuments
- Lapu Lapu statue
- Rizal Monument. In the southeast of the Rizal Park is the Rizal Monument above the grave of the Filipino folk hero Jose Rizal. At this point, Rizal was executed by the Spanish military in 1896. The monument consists of an obelisk with several bronze statues and is guarded by an honor guard. Rizal Park.
Museums
- 5 Ayala Museum, Makati avenue cor. De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Ayala Center, Makati City. Tel.: 63 757 7117.
The core of the exhibition are 60 hand-made dioramas (artistically painted wallpaper), which depict the history of the Philippines. In addition, miniature models of various ships from different eras are exhibited.Open: Tue - Fri 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sat Sun 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.Price: Entry PHP 350 (reduced PHP 250).
- 6 Casa Manila. Tel.: 63 527 4084.Restored Spanish merchant's house from the late 19th century, which gives a good insight into life at that time. The museum is opposite the San Augustin Church on General Luna Street in Intramuros.
Parks
various
- 10 China Town (Binondo)
activities
shop
- 1 Mall of Asia (SM Mall of Asia).The Mall of Asia is one of the largest shopping malls in the Philippines with 500 stores (and restaurants).
kitchen
The various American ones are very cheap Fast food chainwhich can be found practically everywhere in Manila. McDonald's, Burger King and KFC are very cheap, with a menu costing around 120 PHP. Star Bucks is also very well established in Manila and is very common. There are also other chains (e.g. tokyo tokyo) and street stalls where you can get traditional Filipino dishes and fresh juice (be sure to try green mango juice) for very little money.
Eating out in the Philippines is generally very cheap, even if it's not limited to fast food. As a rule, you will have difficulty eating for more than 15 euros. A very good selection of restaurants in the middle price range can be found in Fort Bonifacio, for example, that mostly only The fort is called. This is a very pleasant restaurant with Filipino cuisine Pier One, in which you can sit outside and try curry or sizzler - a kind of fried minced meat -. The many other restaurants in The Fort also offer international cuisine.
You can also go on a culinary trip around the world in Greenbelt experience in Makati, where there are not only many bars but also restaurants from all over the world. Unfortunately, the quality of the food varies a lot from restaurant to restaurant.
nightlife
Makati
- 1 SaGuijo, 7612 Guijo Street. Legendary club for live music from the alternative sector. The scene in Manila is small, as is the club. With 50 people grouped in an L-shape around the small stage, it is well filled.
accommodation
Makati
- 1 Guijo Suites (Upper middle class. Only accessible by taxi, but Makati's shopping malls are only a short drive away. The well-known alternative club SaGuijo is only a few meters away.), 7644 Guijo Street (San Antonio Village, between Kamagong Street and Pasong Tamo). Tel.: 63-2-5538998, Email: [email protected]. Price: double room € 60.
- Makati Shangri-La, Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City. Tel.: (0)2 813 8888. Currently the best hotel in town. Unbeatable service, well-equipped fitness center, swimming pool, sauna, tennis courts, cafes, restaurants and night club with live music. The rooms are large and well equipped with a bathroom with shower and bathtub, large-screen TV, desk, telephone, fax machine and minibar. Every day you get two newspapers and fresh fruit and water. For whom the rooms (from 160 USD) are too expensive, you should still pay a visit to the hotel. The lobby is very impressive and the night club is also open to the public and frequented by many locals.
Paco
- 2 Oasis Paco Park Hotel (Upper middle class. Relatively convenient to attractions (Intramuros, Ocean Park) and the airport. There is nothing in the immediate walking area.), 1032 Belen Street (Paco Park). Tel.: 632 521 2371. Price: 50-100 EUR.
Pasay
- Midas Hotel and Casino (Upper middle class, therefore quite expensive, but conveniently located to the airport and the Mall of Asia.), 1501 Roxas Boulevard, 2702 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila (Edsa, Pasay). Tel.: 63 2 902 0100, Email: [email protected]. Price: from 130 EUR.
miscellaneous
- Prince plaza ii, 101 Dela Rosa St., Legaspi Village Makati City. Generously proportioned rooms with kitchen facilities, TV and lots of storage space. The hotel is located in Makati in close proximity to Greenbelt. Business center, gym, sauna and swimming pool are available. Safe only at the reception.Price: Double rooms are available for around 40-50 USD per room per night.
- Bayview Park Hotel, 118 Roxas Boulevard corner United Nations Avenue, Ermita. Tel.: (0)2 526 1555. The Bayview Park Hotel is opposite the American Embassy. The view of the bay is better on the upper floors. The hotel has a fitness center and a small swimming pool.Price: Price for a room starts at 60-70 USD.
security
Standard security measures for large cities: keep your wallet safe from access, deposit unneeded documents and amounts of money in your hotel room, avoid sparsely busy streets.
health
Manila is a long way from German-speaking areas, so it is hardly surprising that other germs and bacteria dominate than at home, and the climate also requires getting used to. For European visitors, food, mosquitoes and sun exposure are the main causes of problems. Idle street stalls should be avoided, and anti-mosquito repellants containing DEET should also be used during the day. In addition to Anopheles mosquitoes (malaria, active in the evening), tiger mosquitoes (dengue fever, active during the day) can also be found in Manila. State hospitals are efficient; Treatments have to be paid for in cash, a simple consultation with diagnosis costs 50-100 euros.
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
- http://manila.gov.ph - Manila Official Website
