Review of Manila
Manila
Flights to Manila uncover Spanish colonial history and pristine beaches in the heart of Southeast Asia.
Things to do
The stone walls of Manila’s 16th-century fortified city, Intramuros, summon up days of Spanish colonial rule. Walk atop the ramparts on your Manila city break, or wander Anda Street, where shop names are still etched on medieval Spanish tiles.
Shopping
Before return flights from Manila, travel by jeepney to Chinatown, where colourful mounds of red chilli peppers and coconuts mark the labyrinthine route to translucent pearls, coral jewellery and silk scarves, perfect souvenirs of a Manila holiday.
Restaurants
Succulent lechón (slow-roasted pork) melts in your mouth after hours on the spit, and the flavours of fresh Filipino seafood meld with sweet-and-sour tamarinds in sinigang stew. Finish off with the sweet tastes of tropical fruit – mangos, bananas and guavas.
Nightlife
An evening in Malate, Manila’s trendy nightlife district, forms the perfect nightcap. Energetic DJs accompany dancers who sip tropical cocktails of mango or papaya juice. You might also cool off with a locally-brewed San Miguel beer (serbesa).
When to go
KLM has frequent flights to Manila. Book a holiday during a Manila fiesta – Lunar New Year in January or February or the December Christmas season – when the city’s streets fill with dancing, colourful parades and street musicians.
