Where to Stay in Manila: Best Areas for Visitors

Choosing where to stay can make a big difference to your Manila visit. Metro Manila is enormous, so the best area depends on what you want to see, how you plan to spend your time, and whether you prefer historic Manila, nightlife, modern business districts or easy access to the airport.

Night view across Rizal Park in Manila, with illuminated roads, trees and high-rise buildings in the distance

There is no single neighbourhood that is best for everyone.

Staying close to the places you expect to visit can save considerable travelling time, particularly when traffic is heavy. It is therefore worth choosing your base according to your plans rather than simply choosing a hotel because it looks central on a map.

Ermita

Ermita is one of the most convenient areas for visitors primarily interested in the historic sights of Manila.

Rizal Park, the National Museum complex and Manila Ocean Park are nearby, while Intramuros is within easy reach.

The area has hotels across several price ranges together with restaurants, shops and Robinsons Place Manila.

Ermita is a practical choice if sightseeing in the City of Manila is your priority.

Malate

Immediately south of Ermita, Malate offers another convenient base in central Manila.

The district has a long history as an entertainment and dining area and provides access to Manila Bay and the Baywalk.

Malate can suit visitors who want to combine sightseeing during the day with restaurants and a livelier atmosphere in the evening.

Makati

Makati is one of the easiest areas to recommend to first-time visitors who prefer a modern urban environment.

The central business district offers a large selection of hotels, restaurants, cafés and shopping centres. Greenbelt and the wider Ayala area make it possible to walk between many shops, restaurants and hotels without constantly needing transport.

Makati is also well positioned for exploring other parts of Metro Manila, although reaching historic Manila can still take time in traffic.

Choose Makati if restaurants, shopping, nightlife and a polished city environment are important to you.

Makati skyline with densely packed office towers, hotels and residential high-rise buildings during the day

Bonifacio Global City

Bonifacio Global City, usually called BGC, provides one of Metro Manila’s most modern environments.

Wide pedestrian areas, contemporary buildings, restaurants, cafés, parks and Bonifacio High Street give the district a different atmosphere from older parts of Manila.

BGC is particularly attractive to visitors who value modern surroundings, restaurants and evening activities.

Its main disadvantage for sightseeing is distance from attractions such as Intramuros and Rizal Park, so it works best when historic Manila isn’t the main focus of your trip.

Daytime skyline of Bonifacio Global City with modern high-rise buildings and a pedestrian overpass in the foreground

Pasay and the Bay Area

Pasay and the Manila Bay entertainment district can be convenient for travellers who want to stay closer to Ninoy Aquino International Airport while still having easy access to shopping and entertainment.

SM Mall of Asia is located here, together with large hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and newer developments around the bay.

This area can work particularly well for shorter visits, stopovers, conferences and travellers whose plans include Mall of Asia or nearby entertainment complexes.

Intramuros

Staying in or close to Intramuros puts you at the heart of historic Manila.

Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral and the walls and streets of the old city are immediately accessible.

Hotel choices are more limited than in Makati or the Bay Area, but the location can be rewarding if Manila’s history is the main reason for your visit.

Early mornings and evenings also provide an opportunity to experience the historic district when fewer day visitors are around.

Quezon City

Quezon City covers a huge part of Metro Manila and offers hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and entertainment areas of its own.

It can make sense if you have a particular reason to be in northern Metro Manila or plan to spend substantial time around Quezon City.

For a visitor concentrating mainly on Intramuros, Manila Bay, Makati and the major central attractions, however, choosing a more centrally positioned base will usually reduce travel time.

Which Area Is Best for First-Time Visitors?

For many first-time visitors, Makati provides a comfortable balance of hotels, restaurants, shopping and access to other parts of Metro Manila.

For travellers primarily interested in historic Manila, Ermita or Malate may be more practical.

Choose BGC for a modern, pedestrian-friendly district with plenty of restaurants and evening activity.

Choose Pasay and the Bay Area for convenient access to Mall of Asia, entertainment and the airport.

And consider Intramuros when history and atmosphere matter more than having a huge choice of hotels.

If you’re visiting Manila for the first time, our guide Is Manila Safe for Tourists? offers practical advice on staying safe while exploring different parts of Metro Manila.

Think About Traffic Before Booking

Distances on a map can be deceptive in Metro Manila.

A hotel may appear only a few kilometres from an attraction, but travelling between the two can take considerably longer during busy periods.

Before booking, look at the places you expect to visit most often and choose an area that reduces unnecessary journeys across the metropolitan area.

Before choosing your accommodation, read our guide to getting around Manila to understand the transportation options and how traffic can affect your plans.

Sometimes paying a little more for the right location can improve your trip more than choosing a better hotel in an inconvenient one.

Staying Near the Airport

If you have an early departure, late arrival or short stopover, staying closer to Ninoy Aquino International Airport can be practical.

Pasay and areas around the airport offer numerous accommodation options.

For a longer sightseeing visit, however, airport proximity is usually only one factor. Choose a location that also works for what you intend to do during your stay.

Choose the Area Before the Hotel

With thousands of accommodation options across Metro Manila, searching for a hotel can quickly become overwhelming.

Start by deciding which part of the city fits your trip. Then compare hotels within that area according to your budget, preferred level of comfort and facilities.

Choosing the right part of Manila first makes choosing the right hotel much easier.

Once you have decided which part of Metro Manila suits your trip, see how to choose a hotel in Manila for the next step: comparing location, transport, facilities, reviews and total cost.

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