15hr Stopover in the Philippines — Is it worth it?
Have you ever contemplated booking the cheaper flight with the lengthy layover in the Philippines? Do you wonder if it’s worth it?
I vote yes, it is!
Here we reveal our itinerary, recommendations, tips, tricks and revelations as we discover Manila During a 15-Hour Airport Stopover.
If you’re someone who loves exploring history, culture, and the essence of a new city, then these extended stopovers are an exciting, action-packed adventure.
During our 15-hour layover in Manila, we discovered something that exceeded all our expectations — the warmth of the Filipino people.
From the moment we set foot in the Philippines, everyone we encountered, from airport staff to baristas, shopkeepers, and people on the streets, were incredibly kind, welcoming and happy.
Each person we met welcomed us with open arms and took immense pride in introducing us to their beautiful country and rich culture.
Itinerary…
Our adventure began at Manila airport at 4:50 am.
We were very surprised about the immediate assistance offered as soon as we stepped off the plane. Airport staff approached us, eager to help us find our way and answer any questions.
Storing baggage —
Our checked baggage was automatically transferred to our next flight. But we wanted to leave our other baggage behind so we could explore freely.
As you enter the arrival and baggage carousel area, you’ll find a baggage counter and an ‘Interline Baggage Room,’ where you can safely store your luggage for just $5 AUD.
Transport —
We ordered a car through Grab and waited in the Grab pick-up/drop-off area which is marked with a green sign.
I suggest using ride-sharing services like Grab or Gojek over hailing cabs, as you can pre-pay for your ride through the app without international fees. The drivers have police checks, so you can feel a lot safer knowing it’s a regulated service.
Like Uber, the app allows you to track your journey’s location and estimated travel.
Plus, it helps you avoid being overcharged.
Both Gojek and Grab are very cheap. When traveling in Asia, we often paid just $2 AUD for a 15-minute ride so we always liked to give the driver a cash tip. They don’t ask for it or expect it but it but a few dollars for us can go a long way for locals and they really appreciate it.
The Walled City —
In about 20 minutes, we reached the Walled City of Intramuros. This historic city was constructed by the Spanish colonial government as a defence against foreign invaders.
It’s cobblestone streets, stunning Spanish architecture, numerous cathedrals, old fort, war statues, and tribute to Jose Rizal is beyond beautiful, rich with culture and very well maintained.
It completely contrasted what we expected in the Philippines.
Our first stop was COFFEE. We had saved some coffee shops that looked funky and had great reviews because after only 3–4 hours sleep, coffee was definitely a priority.
We strolled through the quiet streets and took beautiful pictures of the architecture as the sun was rising.
After arriving at the third coffee shop we saved, our hearts broke a little bit because everything was closed.
We asked a local and he told us that most shops don’t open until 8 am, so we decided to walk to Starbucks that was apparently open — Funnily, our tour guide later told us that the students go here to get their Instagram shots. Apparently Starbucks is Instagram-able in the Philippines.
(Note — There is no wifi in Starbucks)
Free walking tour —
By 9:30 am, we met at The Manila Cathedral to begin a free history walking tour of the city.
We had two guides that were Uni students studying tourism. They told us stories about the Japanese invasion, Spanish colonisation, modern culture, food, the education system, their love for music, dance and romance, as well as recommendations for must-visit places.
The Tour provider we went with was Abraham Tours and we would highly reccomend. They were very friendly, professional and also had a bit of fun and jokes with us too.
Lunch —
After the tour, we were hungry, so we went to Barbara’s for lunch with live music.
Diego got a traditional dish called Philippine adobo, he looooved it.
I got an eggplant omelette thinking it would be something light, turns out it was just a deep-fried eggplant. I was a bit disappointed but we spotted guanabana juice (called guyabano in Filipino) on the menu which I was so excited about because I fell in love with guanabana when Diego introduced me to it in South America.
Barbara’s was located in Plaza San Luis Complex which is a beautiful colonial building with courtyards in the centre. There is another good coffee shop here called Café Intramuros and a cute shop called The Paper Tole Shop where we got some cute handmade gifts.
Fort Santiago —
Our exploration continued at Fort Santiago.
We had to pay just a few dollars for entry.
Fort Santiago is an old fort filled with beautiful architecture, old abandoned buildings reclaimed by nature, historic dungeons and toilets without toilet paper (the reason the lack of toilet paper was so memorable, was because I was still getting over Bali belly and all of a sudden, I had to go, and we went to three different bathrooms before we found one with paper. It was also 100000 degrees. Kill me now).
The museum commemorating Jose Rizal’s life and contributions was very interesting and inspiring.
Within the fort, we visited Papakape Coffee Shop. It had a dimly lit underground bunker vibe and sells specialty coffees, including one with a unique twist — with cheese in it!
Back to the airport —
Before heading back to the airport, we ordered a Grab to Resorts World Manila, a casino located conveniently close to the airport.
(Note- you can ask the staff at the entrance of Fort Santiago to connect to wifi. We had to do this to order transport)
The casino has lots of shops, restaurants, bars, air-conditioning and toilets with toilet paper. Whooo! We even went into the fancy bathrooms in the casino/gambling area, so it was a luxury bathroom experience which I think I deserved. A good final stop to freshen up before heading back to the airport.
Here are some additional insights and tips for exploring Manila:
Cleanliness: Manila’s Walled City’s cleanliness is very impressive. They promote recycling and sustainability and we even saw volunteer clean up teams collecting rubbish.
Opening Hours: Most shops don’t open before 8 am, so if you’re a coffee enthusiast, you might need to try Starbucks, often open 24/7. Prices are a lot cheaper than home, but they have no Wi-Fi.
Language: English is widely spoken, making it easy to get around. The language has a lot of Spanish influence, but we didn’t come across anyone who spoke Spanish — our tour guide said it’s not common for locals to speak Spanish.
Warmth and Kindness: The people of Manila are incredibly welcoming and kind. We even got chatting to people on the street in their shops and outside of their homes.
Safety: Despite the poverty in some areas, we felt safe the whole time.
Street Vendors: There are lots of people on the streets offering bike rides and city tours, they are very persistent.
Offline Maps: Pre-download Maps.Me if you don’t have a SIM card. On Maps Me, you pre-download regions and save the places that you want to visit so you can use it offline.
Beach Resorts: Beach resorts like Solaire Restore and The Lime Resort are a good place to relax, sunbath, swim, enjoy the bar and have a shower and freshen up before your next flight. Or even a place to have a nap on the sunlounges instead of paying for a hotel to rest during a shorter stopover.
Other places to visit: Star City Amusement park, SM Mall of Asia (a great place to also see the sunset), National Museum of Natural History, San Andres Market (great place to get fruit and veg — be aware that shop tellers will try to overcharge you), Manila Zoo (apparently this a quite a small zoo and their website is hard to navigate), Rizal Park.
Whether you’re traveling around the Philipines and Manila or are squeezing in some adventure time during a stopover, the Philippines will be a whirlwind of history, culture, and heart-warming hospitality from the locals.
We thoroughly enjoyed our short time here. It is a vibrant, beautiful city that has left us excited to come back and explore further!
