Fort Santiago: Enjoy Beauty Growing through Ancient Ruins!
by English Guy in Asia
Feb 20, 2025
π« Flights:
	β’	Direct flights: Bangkok (BKK or DMK) β Manila (MNL - NAIA)
	β’	Airlines: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia
	β’	β±οΈ Flight time: ~3.5β4 hours
π Airport to City Center:
	β’	π NAIA to Makati/BGC/Manila area:
	β’	π Taxi or Grab: 30β60 mins depending on traffic
	β’	π‘ Tip: Use Grab app for safe pricing
βΈ»
ποΈ Day 1 β Historic Manila & Intramuros π°π΅π
π Morning:
	β’	π₯ Breakfast at Ilustrado CafΓ© (Intramuros)
	β’	ποΈ Explore Intramuros (Walled City)
	β’	π― Fort Santiago β old Spanish citadel
	β’	βͺ San Agustin Church β oldest stone church in the Philippines (UNESCO)
	β’	π΄βοΈ Option: Take a bamboo bike tour for fun!
βοΈ Afternoon:
	β’	π½οΈ Lunch at Barbaraβs Heritage Restaurant β Filipino-Spanish buffet with cultural flair
	β’	π· Visit Casa Manila (colonial house museum)
	β’	πΆ Walk or ride a kalesa (horse carriage) through cobblestone streets
π Evening:
	β’	π
 Watch the sunset at Manila Bay (Baywalk or Roxas Blvd)
	β’	π² Dinner at Aristocrat Restaurant β iconic Filipino barbecue
	β’	πΆ Optional: Catch a local show at Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
π Transport: Grab car or join an Intramuros walking tour
βΈ»
ποΈ Day 2 β Modern Metro: Shopping & Skylines ποΈποΈ
π Morning:
	β’	π₯ Breakfast at Wildflour CafΓ© (BGC)
	β’	ποΈ Head to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) β clean, walkable business district
	β’	πΈ Visit The Mind Museum (interactive science)
	β’	π§ Great for families or kids
	β’	π¨ Spot cool murals while walking around!
π₯ Afternoon:
	β’	π Shopping & lunch at SM Aura or Market! Market!
	β’	β Coffee at Tobyβs Estate or The Coffee Academics
	β’	πΆ Short visit to Venice Grand Canal Mall (McKinley Hill) β gondola rides + photos
π Evening:
	β’	π£ Dinner at Mecha Uma or Mango Tree BGC (Thai fine dining)
	β’	π Enjoy skyline views from The Peak β Grand Hyatt rooftop bar
π Transport: Taxi or Grab between malls/BGC areas
βΈ»
ποΈ Day 3 β Culture, Parks & Local Flavor π΄π¨
π
 Morning:
	β’	π Filipino breakfast at CafΓ© Adriatico (Malate)
	β’	πΏ Stroll through Rizal Park (Luneta) β monuments, gardens, and local life
	β’	πΌοΈ Visit National Museum Complex (Fine Arts, Anthropology, Natural History β free entrance)
π½οΈ Afternoon:
	β’	π Lunch at Ilustrado or Locavore (Filipino fusion)
	β’	π§΅ Visit Greenhills Shopping Center β bargain shopping & pearls
	β’	π Optional: Relax with a Filipino hilot massage
π Evening:
	β’	π Buy local snacks (dried mangoes, polvoron, ube jam) at Kultura Filipino
	β’	πΉ Dinner & drinks at Bayleaf Hotel β Sky Deck (Intramuros rooftop with 360Β° views)
π Transport: Mix of Grab and walking for close spots
βΈ»
β
 Manila Travel Tips:
	β’	βοΈ Hot & humid β wear light clothes and stay hydrated
	β’	π² Use Grab for safe and easy rides
	β’	π³ Cash preferred in small shops; cards okay in malls
	β’	π Avoid rush hours (7β10am & 5β8pm) to skip traffic
	β’	π‘ English is widely spoken β easy for tourists!
#myitinerary #travel 
Post by A little snap | Jul 30, 2025























