Practical information about Manila

Long been seen as a stopover destination on the way to other Philippine islands and regions, Manila is, at last, coming into its own as a tourist destination. It has a rich culture and history along with a buzzing nightlife. This is a large and sprawling city with a hard shell that once removed, reveals this 'Pearl of the Orient' to be warm and welcoming.

The city has seen hard times and this is evidenced in the way contemporary skyscrapers soar upwards while shanties nestle at their feet. The roads are busy and the shopping centres are large, but Manila can certainly charm. And, the coffee is wonderful.

For several centuries of its recent history, Manila has been colonised by Spain, Britain and the United States. Much of its architecture of churches, forts and grand houses reflect a strong Spanish influence. Because of its history, Manila keeps its eye on American and European trends and blends them into its own historic story. To help you enjoy a safe visit, check out the overview below on the things every traveller should know when travelling to Manila!

Essential Manila information for visitors

Emergency numbers: If you require any of the emergency services in Manila, dial 117.

Government and tourist offices: Embassies and consulates of many countries can be found in Manila. The Canadian Embassy is located in RCBC Plaza while the main tourist office is on Sen Gil Puyat Avenue.

Temperature and weather: Manila lies within the Tropics giving a climate of few seasonal variations and high year-round humidity. Temperatures rarely fall below 14°C or go above 38°C. The wet season runs from May until November with hurricanes prevalent from June to September. The dry season is between December and April.

Currency: Manila's unit of currency is the Peso (₱). ATMs are widely available throughout the city and in all four terminals of the airport. There are also many currency exchange bureaus.

Local time: The time zone in Manila is ASEAN common time (GMT/UTC plus eight hours). The city is seven hours ahead of London, 12 hours ahead of New York and Ottawa and two hours behind Sydney.

Electricity: In Manila and the rest of the Philippines, power plugs and sockets are types A, B and C with a standard voltage of 220V and a standard frequency of 60Hz. When travelling from other countries such as the UK, Canada and the States you will need a power adapter and, possibly, a voltage converter.

**Language: **Tagalog is the official spoken language of Manila and the Philippines while Filipino is the language of education. Most children also learn English which is quite widely spoken.

Required travel documents: Visitors from most countries can stay in Manila for up to 30 days without a visa. For stays of up to 60 days, a visa can be obtained from your nearest Philippine Embassy. You must also have evidence of onward or return travel as well as a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay. Vaccination advice changes depending on your country of origin but a yellow fever certificate is mandatory if you have travelled from a country where the disease is endemic.

Health: Manila has several large hospitals that offer excellent care so it is no surprise that it is becoming a bit of a destination for medical tourism. Health care is not state-funded and is very expensive so it is vital that you have adequate travel insurance before visiting Manila.

Tipping and taxes: Tipping is not expected in the Philippines and no one would be upset or offended if you spent an entire holiday without doing so. If you feel you have received excellent service and want to recognise it with a tip we recommend the following: 10% of the bill in restaurants (check if a service charge has not already been added), 20 to 50 pesos if you visit a hairdresser and round up to the nearest 50 pesos for taxi journeys. Give your hotel porter up to 40 pesos if they help you with your luggage.

The drier months of January until April are peak tourist season in Manila. From the end of April, temperatures rise but are still comfortable. During this dry season, hotel prices and flights go up but at BudgetAir we find you our best deals on Manila flights and hotels at any time of the year.