The name of the Philippines came by, in honor of King Philip II of Spain. (Felipe II). Eventually the name "Las Islas Filipinas" would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. Manila, the capital of the Philippines has a very rich history, as the influence of the Spanish conquerors is present in much of the old city.

It's a vibrant metropolis, compacted with many apartment blocks, shopping centres, markets and residential areas extending for miles out of the city. It has a big traffic congestion problem, this meaning dense pollution and fumes are often unpleasant in some areas of the city.Nevertheless Manilla has a unique charm, very interesting places to visit, friendly locals and dozens of places where to eat authentic local food.

Manila is generally very hot throughout the year, this is also increased by the high pollution that the city suffers with heavy traffic jams and compacted streets and districts. Most likely, the weather in Manila is sunny and with high humidity. Temperatures hover around 28-33°C most of the time. Humidity levels can be high for much of the year in Manila, although do noticeably fall during February, March and April.

By the end of April, rainy weather begins to make more of an appearance in Manila, followed by the typhoon season, predictably falling between June and November. The climate remains hot throughout this period and even in July and August, when precipitation is high, but the sun always comes up soon enough.

When the rain is torrential in Manila, an umbrella really is pretty pointless and you will need to find cover. The arrival of November sees a very obvious change in the climate, marking the beginning of the welcomed dry season.

The improved weather from November through April means that these really are the best months to visit Manila, although May and June remain fairly popular months also.

Manila's public transportation system is far behind from many big Asian cities by comparison to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala-Lumpur or Taipei. However the city is building up its metro system and now has 3 major lines.

Travelling from the airport is still not possible by metro. However the most reasonable transport is to take the Premium Bus Service, recently introduced in 2016, from any terminal to Central Manila. There are 5 lines, but the most popular is the Robinsons line which leaves you in Malate, the last stop being the Robinson's Mall, which is a great location for Hotels, entertainment area and close to the metro station of Pedro Gil. The cost of a one way ticket is 200Php. Trip duration is up to one hour depending on traffic conditions. 

The bus has an irregular schedule so it's worth checking online for the times at UBE Express. 

Another option, not that more expensive and travel faster is by taxi. If you use applications such as Uber or Grab, you can get private taxis costing about 250 Php to your hotel door. Normal taxis will cost round 250 to 400 Php on normal traffic conditions, though be aware they might charge more with luggage. When travelling by taxi from the airport, be sure they switch on the meter. They often charge foreign passengers much higher prices than locals.

❗Attention: There are many companies offering private transport service to your hotel as soon as you come out of the arrivals hall. For a set price. (700-1000 Php) they are quite expensive considering the options mentioned above. 

Travelling in the city is good by metro or LRT (Light Metro) if you are in walking distance to the stops. The Metro does get very crowded at peak times and very long queues are to be expected. Trains are equipped with air-conditioning but again they get very full at busy times. The feeling of being "packed like sardines" will cross your mind for sure!
Below you will find a transit map for Greater Manila.

If you are able to get the Jeepney, this is a very popular mode of transport and cheap, though not many tourists are able to find the ways to their destination. However in the tourist areas, Malate and Intramuros it's enough to go walking or you can get into a Tuk-Tuk style bike ( one or two passengers with a bike or scooter).

Around Manila there are also busses which connect the different districts, yet again these busses are not easy to tell where they travel to unless travelling with a local, or asking around. It's advised to travel with locals rather than on the busses alone in case of pickpockets. 

✔️Tip: A fun way to travel in the congested city is by motorbike, many drivers will often offer you a seat on their bike or scooter. Be sure to negotiate the price before starting the trip and make sure they provide you with a helmet!

Staying in Manila a few days would be enough to see the basic sites of the old city and explore around Intramuros. However its very recommended you take a few tours out of the city. Tours are possible from your hotel often or from local street travel agencies. (cheaper than buying online).
If you are travelling solo, tours are much more expensive unfortunately, so try to join with more people and prices will drop considerably.

The best tours and places to check out are:

• Tagaytay and Taal Volcano: About 2 hours away from Manila, spectacular views, crossing a lake by bamboo boat, a Donkey ride amongst other activities. 
• Corregidor Island: A historical island, where two battles between the Japanese and US took place.
  

✔️Tip: Be aware than many extra costs are not included in the basic tour package. Be sure to know what is you are getting inside the tours and take enough cash to pay for extra activities. 

Tagaytay and Taal Volcano Photo Gallery:

Manila has one of the most vibrant and exciting nightlife scenes in Southeast Asia. Visitors will find bars, strip clubs and everything in between.

Morato Avenue in Quezon City is a good place to start. Travellers may want to begin with dinner at one of the area's many restaurants before hitting a local bar or comedy club. 
Or, they could head to the Pasay City and Makati region for a visit to the upscale girlie bars. Manila's Malate District offers everything from bars, and nightclubs to 🌈gay clubs, lounges, live music venues and karaoke clubs. 

Eastwood City in Quezon City features a great selection of bars, clubs and cocktail lounges as well, while Quezon Avenue's strip is brightly lit up after dark, and almost always bustling with expats and tourists.

Manila has literally hundreds of shopping malls scattered across the city. With three large signature shopping malls in the Metro Manila area numbering among the world's top 10 largest malls, it's easy to see why Filipinos are passionate about their shopping. 

The majestic Mall of Asia on Roxas Boulevard offers the ultimate shopping experience. Visitors will find an IMAX theatre, science museum and a massive entertainment centre. Other shopping malls worth visiting are The Podium, Shangri-La Plaza, the SM Megamall, and Robinsons Galleria.

A trip to Southeast Asia wouldn't be complete without a little bargain-shopping and haggling. In light of this, travellers should pay a visit to the Divisoria Market, where anything from cookware and handicrafts, to toys and clothing can be bought at astonishingly low prices. St. Francis Square, Tiendesitas, and Greenhills Shopping Centre also have interesting markets.

Hotels are very cheap, and for a budget conscious traveller staying in Manila is worth paying a little more for that extra comfort and convenience. Most recommended locations to stay are Intramuros and Malate which are in the heart of the tourism and entertainment areas.

Hotels range from basic 1 star to top chains, but be sure to check the reviews of the hotel as often it seems that Hotels in Manila are not renovated enough and are in a bad condition. Having Wifi in the room can be difficult if you choose very basic hotels (even they say they offer Wifi).
Noise can also be a problem staying in Manila, try to stay away from main streets, ground floors or facing any local hen farms.

❗Attention: Regarding safety, Hotels and accommodations in Manila often have a security guard day and night, but its not advised leaving personal belongings around in the room. (keep them locked up in your case or in a safe).

Visiting Manila can be ideal for only 2 nights if you plan to only visit the old city (intramuros). But if you prefer to explore a little more and get to know the other districts of the city plus enjoy a couple of tours out of Manila then its recommended you stay 5 night or up to a week.