The Purple Tree Hostel
At a glance: 3-star · 1 rooms
Near: Rizal Park · 4 min walk
Rizal Park
300 m away · Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines
(30,696 reviews)
National Museum of Natural History
600 m away · Teodoro F. Valencia Cir, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines
(6,342 reviews)
Manila Ocean Park
650 m away · 666 Behind, Quirino Grandstand, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines
(18,379 reviews)
Baluarte de San Diego
650 m away · Sta. Lucia St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila, Philippines
(857 reviews)
Manila Old and New: Sightseeing Tour Including Intramuros and Fort Santiago
4 hr
(430 reviews)
From $70
Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
(242 reviews)
From $85
Taal Volcano Experience: Scenic Countryside and Volcano Tour
(131 reviews)
From $140
Manila Historical Highlights Private Half Day Tour
4 hr
(50 reviews)
From $90
The best time to visit Manila is from January to March, when rain is least frequent and temperatures are milder. April and May are the hottest months, with highs around 34°C. The rainy season runs from June through October, with the heaviest downpours in July and September. November and December offer a transition with fewer rain days and comfortable weather.
Stay in Makati for central convenience, with The Peninsula Manila, Fairmont Makati, and Raffles Makati nearby. Ermita suits first-timers near Rizal Park and the National Museum. For a resort-style stay, Entertainment City along Manila Bay has Solaire and Okada Manila. Ortigas Center is a solid choice, with Edsa Shangri-La and Marco Polo Ortigas.
Rizal Park is the city's historic heart, with monuments and gardens. Fort Santiago is a walled citadel where José Rizal was imprisoned, rich in colonial history. Manila Ocean Park offers marine life exhibits and a large oceanarium. The National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Natural History are both in the same complex, showcasing Filipino art and the country's biodiversity. Paco Park is a peaceful circular cemetery and park with a storied past.
Full-day tours from Manila go to Tagaytay for Taal Volcano and Pagsanjan Falls, Corregidor and Bataan War Memorial, Hidden Valley Springs, and the Bataan Death March memorial. These cover volcanic views, waterfalls, a historic island fortress, and World War II sites. If you prefer a classic escape, nearby destinations like Batangas or Laguna are also common day trips.
Plan 3 days for Manila: one for Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, and the National Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History; another for Manila Ocean Park, Paco Park, and Casa Manila; and a third for Manila Zoological & Botanical Garden, Star City, or Arroceros Forest Park. If you add a day trip to Corregidor, Tagaytay, or Hidden Valley Springs, plan an extra day.
