# Things to Do in Manila

Manila's essential sights, from a walled Spanish-colonial fort and a neoclassical fine-arts museum to a baroque UNESCO church. · community starter list

Looking for things to do in Manila? This list of 10 includes National Museum of Fine Arts (Ermita, Manila). The order here is where we started — no votes have been cast yet, so voting decides it from here.

**Where:** [Third Platz](/.md) / [Philippines](/philippines.md) / Manila
**Updated:** 2026-09-05 22:00:46

1. **[National Museum of Fine Arts](/e/national-museum-of-fine-arts---1949.md)** (attraction) — Neoclassical former Legislative Building of 1921, largely destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt in the 1940s; turned over to the National Museum in 1998, home to Juan Luna's Spoliarium. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Fine_Arts_(Manila), https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/242449/national-museum-of-fine-arts-a-rebirth/
2. **[Fort Santiago](/e/fort-santiago---1950.md)** (attraction) — Spanish citadel begun in 1571 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, rebuilt in stone from 1590; now a park and the Museo ni Rizal, marking the cell where Jose Rizal was held before his 1896 execution. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Santiago, https://intramuros.gov.ph/fs/
3. **[San Agustin Church](/e/san-agustin-church---1951.md)** (attraction) — All-stone Baroque church completed January 19, 1607; a UNESCO "Baroque Church of the Philippines" since 1993 and the only Intramuros church to survive 1945's Battle of Manila. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2204964/the-lost-heart-of-devotion, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Agustin_Church_(Manila)
4. **[Manila Cathedral](/e/manila-cathedral---1952.md)** (attraction) — First built in 1571 and rebuilt eight times after earthquakes, fire and war; the current structure was consecrated on December 7, 1958 and remains the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Cathedral, https://manilacathedral.com.ph/eight.aspx
5. **[Binondo](/e/binondo---1953.md)** (attraction) — District founded in 1594 by Spanish governor Luis Perez Dasmarinas as a settlement for Catholic Chinese traders across the Pasig from Intramuros; widely cited as the world's oldest Chinatown. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/02/16/2508221/president-marcos-pinoys-visit-rediscover-binondo, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binondo
6. **[Ayala Museum](/e/ayala-museum---1954.md)** (attraction) — Ayala Foundation art and history museum founded in 1967; its current building was dedicated September 28, 2004 and reopened in December 2021 after a two-year renovation. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayala_Museum, https://ayalamuseum.org/
7. **[Manila Ocean Park](/e/manila-ocean-park---1955.md)** (attraction) — Oceanarium behind the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park, opened March 1, 2008, housing about 14,000 marine creatures from 277 species; open daily with penguin and sea lion shows. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://manilaoceanpark.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Ocean_Park
8. **[Casa Manila](/e/casa-manila---1956.md)** (attraction) — Bahay-na-bato "living museum" at Plaza San Luis, reconstructed in the 1980s modeled on a 1850s Binondo house, recreating a wealthy Filipino family's home under Spanish rule; open Tuesday-Sunday. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Manila, https://intramuros.gov.ph/cmm/
9. **[The Mind Museum](/e/the-mind-museum---1957.md)** (attraction) — Science museum at J.Y. Campos Park in BGC, developed by the Bonifacio Art Foundation and opened March 16, 2012; five galleries with 250-plus mostly Filipino-made interactive exhibits. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/124547/first-class-science-museum-opens-in-taguig, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mind_Museum
10. **[Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach](/e/manila-baywalk-dolomite-beach---1958.md)** (attraction) — Artificial dolomite-sand beach along Roxas Boulevard on Manila Bay, built from 2020 and declared complete in October 2022; a promenade for sunset views where swimming is discouraged. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1507001/dolomite-beach-now-rated-pg-12, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Dolomite_Beach

## Related lists

### More in Manila
- [Best Cafes in Manila](/philippines-manila/best-cafes---287.md) — Manila
- [Top 10 Restaurants in Manila](/philippines-manila/top-10-restaurants---288.md) — Manila
- [Best Parks in Manila](/philippines-manila/best-parks---290.md) — Manila

### Same topic, elsewhere
- [Things to Do in Istanbul](/turkey-istanbul/things-to-do---140.md) — Istanbul
- [Things to Do in Mumbai](/india-mumbai/things-to-do---142.md) — Mumbai
- [Things to Do in Toronto](/canada-toronto/things-to-do---144.md) — Toronto

---
JSON: /api/v1/lists/philippines-manila/things-to-do---289
HTML: /philippines-manila/things-to-do---289
Cite as: Third Platz — https://thirdplatz.com/philippines-manila/things-to-do---289 · what we ask: https://thirdplatz.com/llms.txt