Manila
Manila in 2 days: a realistic itinerary
Photo: RhonVelarde01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Two days in Manila is enough to see the old walled city and get a feel for the modern one, without pretending you’ve covered a metro area of over 13 million people.
The split
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | Base | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Intramuros / Makati | Land, settle in, walk Intramuros: Fort Santiago, the museums, a kalesa ride |
| Day 2 | Makati or BGC | Modern Manila: shopping, dining, and a night out in Poblacion, or a calmer afternoon in BGC |
This is a planning split, not a fixed schedule, built from the separate research behind each stop on this site, last checked 12 October 2026.
How the route connects
- IntramurosDay 1, on foot inside the wallsGrab
- MakatiDay 2, Poblacion for a night out, or BGC for a calmer afternoon
Allow 30-50 minutes for the Grab ride, depending on traffic (Intramuros: entrance fees, kalesa rides and tour costs).
Day 1: Intramuros and the old city
Land, get into the city (see NAIA airport to the city for the fare options), and settle in before spending the rest of the day inside Intramuros. Fort Santiago, the San Agustin Museum, Casa Manila and a kalesa ride around the walls fill a full day on foot. Build the day around opening days, not just hours, several of the paid sights close on different weekdays, full hours, fees and tour costs in Intramuros: entrance fees, kalesa rides and tour costs.
Day 2: Makati or BGC
Makati’s Poblacion neighbourhood is the default if you want hostels, bars and late food within walking distance, a genuine night out before moving on. BGC is the calmer alternative: modern, walkable, and a better fit if you’d rather have an easy, quiet afternoon than a loud evening. Both sit a short ride from Intramuros and from each other: a Grab from Intramuros to Makati runs around ₱150-300, and a taxi from Intramuros to BGC around ₱220-270, last checked 12 October 2026. The LRT/MRT combination into Makati is the cheapest option at around ₱13-20 per jeepney or train leg, but takes longer with the walk and transfer between lines.
If neither nightlife nor a shopping district is the point of your second day, Rizal Park and the National Museum complex sit right beside Intramuros. The National Museum of Fine Arts, Natural History and Anthropology are three separate buildings within a five-minute walk of each other, and all three have been free to enter since 2016, last checked 12 October 2026. It’s a half-day option for travelling with kids or on a tight budget, before heading to Makati or BGC for the evening.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Where to stay in Manila compares Makati, BGC, Intramuros and the airport-side hotels, most relevant here is that Makati or BGC keep both days’ destinations within a short ride.
Before you book
This split assumes a short stopover before heading elsewhere in the Philippines. See things to do in Manila beyond Intramuros for the second half-day, and best time to visit and what a stopover costs for the full budget. For help fitting a Manila stopover into a wider trip, talk to Robert.
Questions people ask
Is 2 days enough for Manila?
Enough for a first look: one day for Intramuros and the old city, one day for Makati or BGC and a night out. Manila is huge, so 2 days is a sample, not the whole city.
What shouldn't I skip in 2 days in Manila?
Intramuros, the walled Spanish-era old city. It's the one part of Manila that reads as genuinely different from the rest of the metro, see Intramuros entrance fees and tour costs for what a day inside the walls costs.
Should I spend day 2 in Makati or BGC?
Makati's Poblacion if you want a night out, bars and late food within walking distance. BGC if you'd rather have a calmer, more modern afternoon with less traffic noise. Both are a short ride from each other.
Where should I base myself for this itinerary?
Makati or BGC, both central enough to reach Intramuros in one direction and the airport in the other, see where to stay in Manila for how they compare.
How do I get into the city to start this itinerary?
Grab is the default from NAIA, roughly ₱300-600 depending on your destination, see NAIA airport to the city for the full fare breakdown.
Is 2 days in Manila mostly a stopover before heading elsewhere?
For most visitors, yes. Manila is usually the gateway into the rest of the Philippines rather than the main destination, so this itinerary is built as a stopover, not a full trip on its own.
Is there a free or budget option for day 2?
Rizal Park and the National Museum complex next to Intramuros, free since 2016. See Day 2: Makati or BGC above for the three buildings and sourcing.
How do I get from Intramuros to Makati or BGC?
Grab to Makati runs around ₱150-300 and a taxi to BGC around ₱220-270, about 30-50 minutes depending on traffic. The LRT/MRT plus a short jeepney or walk is cheaper, around ₱13-20 per leg, but takes longer, last checked 12 October 2026.
What are Intramuros' opening hours?
The walled city itself is open 24 hours with no gate fee, but Casa Manila, San Agustin Museum and Bahay Tsinoy each close on different weekdays. See [Intramuros entrance fees and tour costs](/guides/intramuros-manila-walking-tour-cost) for the full hours and which day rules out which sight.
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