How to enjoy Manila with limited time – Make the best of your time in Manila

You get the feeling of a European City Centre away from Europe when you visit the Intramuros. It is everything that was of Manila before the 20th century. This was the capitol from the 16th century to 1989 held by the Spanish East Indies and has a number of beautiful churches, administrative buildings and courtyard palaces that resemble stunning colonial architecture. The Intramuros is not located too far from most of the business hotels. Manila does have a lot to see and look around if you did have time, but if you had to select one place then make sure it is the Intramuros.

The building of the monastery which is attached to the church was destroyed in the Second World War but was rebuilt later on somewhere around the 1970s and some of the rooms which were formerly used as the sacristy, halls and the library have now been converted to a museum. It is intriguing to look at and the beautiful architecture and paintings which are astounding to see. If you are staying at a location such as the Berjaya Makati Hotel you could get more details from the staff as the locals would have more information for you.

This waterfront promenade is a nice location to have a break or a snack as you get to witness the beautiful blue ocean which has been spread out on one side, you witness a line of palm trees waving in the breeze along the promenade and on the opposite side you get to see a long line of sky scrapers reaching up into the sky. The Bay Walk has a special view in display each and every evening when the sun is setting into the horizon. There are some restaurant and road side food stalls that come to life toward the evening making it a great location for the locals and the expats to come and enjoy a good time outdoors.

The Fort Santiago was the military base for the 300 plus yearlong rule of the Spanish. The Battle of Manila made a lot of damage to the building and the area during the Second World War but fortunately most of it was restored in the years to come. The Fort plays an important role in different parts of the history of Philippines. Jose Rizal who is considered a national hero was imprisoned in this fort during the beginning if the Philippine Revolution and when you visit it now you can see the cell he was held in.

The Paco Park is also connected to Jose Rizal as this was where he was initially buried after his execution in 1896. The park used to be a cemetery in the 19th century but was later converted into the beautiful public park it is today. In 1912 the tombs were removed and the remains were delivered to the families. The park is currently a well maintained serene location but you can still see some of the remains of the past.