Things to see in Philippines

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Philippines Attractions

Many attractions in the Philippines share the dichotomy of their allure and their difficulty to reach. The capital city Manila is an easy place to start. There are marvellous buildings and cathedrals such as the Intramuros and San Agustin Church standing as testament to the history of Spanish colonialism. The Nations Museum and the Malacanang Palace are great attractions to learn about this history.

From Cebu, island attractions and beaches such as Visayas are a chartered flight or ferry away but the city itself has things to do including visiting an important religious site Basilica Minore de Santo Nino or Fort San Pedro. Davao is also a great starting point to visit nearby island attractions such as Camiguin Island and the pristine Lake Sebu. These are best visited between May and July, although any time of year will do, as the attractions never become too busy.

Intramuros

The oldest part of Manila is the medieval Spanish walled enclave of Intramuros on the southern bank of the Pasig River, packed with historic buildings and churches, many of which are being or have been restored. The reconstruction of Intramuros has allowed for... see full details

National Museum of the Philippines

The large and comprehensive National Museum of the Philippines preserves and showcases the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the islands with collections housed in two different buildings (both located within Rizal Park). Exhibits are categorised in five divisions: art, botany, zoology, geology and anthropology.... see full details

Malacanang Palace

The name of the Malacanang Palace, now the seat of government and official residence of the Philippines head of state, comes from the vernacular 'May Lakan Diyan', which means 'there lives a noble man'. This gracious villa has been a noble residence on... see full details

Tagaytay City

Tagaytay is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the Philippines, famous for the Taal Volcano. The volcano is unique in that it sits on an island in a lake, and has another lake within its vast crater. The views from the ridge... see full details

Banaue

This fascinating region in northern Luzon is known for being largely untouched by Western civilisation, and gives a glimpse of the true Philippines. In a string of villages around Banaue people live according to age-old tribal traditions. The main attraction in the area is... see full details

Palawan

The island of Palawan is an elongated stretch of thickly forested landscape bordered by coves, beaches, lagoons and limestone cliffs, stretching from southwest of Luzon towards Malaysia. The island's Tubbataha Reef is extremely ecologically important to the Philippines as a feeding ground and nursery... see full details

Fort San Pedro

Fort San Pedro, located at Cebu City's wharf area, was the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the country. It began as a single triangular bastion, built in 1565, and was not completed for another 200 years. Over the centuries the fort... see full details

Camiguin

The tiny island of Camiguin on the north coast of Mindanao is renowned for the friendliness of its people, epitomised in its lively annual festival dedicated to the humble lanzones fruit, which also happens to be one of the island's major sources of income.... see full details

The Chocolate Hills

The Filipino province of Bohol's most famous tourist attraction, and a regular feature on lists of the top 10 things to see in the Philippines, the area known as the Chocolate Hills is a geological marvel: a vast plain consisting of 1,776 conical... see full details

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in the Filipino province of Palawan, about 30 miles (50km) north of the city of Puerto Princesa. Although it is a little 'off the beaten track', tourists to the Philippines are strongly encouraged to make... see full details

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