EKTA
Gold
2k$36.48 AUD
Philippines highlights on a budget
Doing Philippines on a budget means the cheapest third of what is worth doing: Dangwa flower market, Bataan National Park. Activities in this plan start from about $7.
Your 5-day highlights plan for Philippines
Where you stayManila 3 nightsMalay 2 nightsabout 315 km between them
5 days · packed · 9 of 16 bookable now · activities from about $169
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Day 1 Manila
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morning
Dangwa flower market
Fresh flower market in the Philippines.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Bataan National Park
National park. Dates from 1945.
Just turn up -
evening
Luljetta's Hanging Gardens Spa Day Pass
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evening
Camaya Coast Day Pass
Where to eat
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Breakfast
Makati Street Meet @ Leviste
A daily market, open 8am to 8pm.
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Lunch
New Toho Food Center
The To Ho Panciteria Antigua is a historic Chinese food restaurant in Manila, Philippines, established in the 19th century that claims to be the oldest in the country.
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Dinner
Silingan Coffee
The cafe also serves as a venue for the victims to tell their stories to customers, thus keeping their narrative about the drug war alive.
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Day 2 Manila
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morning
Pamitinan Protected Landscape
Protected area in Philippines. Dates from 1996.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Asian Massage Experience in Manila
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evening
Mount Purro Nature Reserve Day Tour in Antipolo
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evening
Mont Albo Massage Hut Spa Experience in Manila
Where to eat
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Breakfast
Legazpi Sunday Market
A morning market, open 7am to 2pm.
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Lunch
Helm is known for its multi-course tasting menus served in an intimate setting, and it has garnered international recognition for its innovative cuisine.
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Dinner
HangOut Market McKinley West
Kitchens under one roof, open 9am to 4am.
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Day 3 Manila
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morning
Manila Metropolitan Theatre
Theater in Manila, Philippines. National Historical Landmark.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Rizal Park
Historic urban park in Manila, Philippines. Dates from 1955.
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evening
Hinulugang Taktak
Waterfall. Dates from 2000.
Just turn up -
evening
White Knight Electric Chariot Intramuros Day Tour
Where to eat
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Breakfast
Ayala Alabang Saturday Market
Fruit, vegetable, fish, food, coffee, some crafts.
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Lunch
Northeast Greenhills Sunday Market
A morning market, open 6am to 12pm.
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Day 4 Malay
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Travel day
Manila to Malay
Journey time is an estimate rather than a timetable - check the operator before you book anything tight on either side of it.
Book direct -
afternoon
Station X Experience at Hue Hotel Boracay
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evening
Upperhouse Spa Experience at The District Boracay
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Day 5 Malay
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morning
Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park
Protected area in the Philippines. Dates from 2002.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Boracay Helmet Dive Experience
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Prices are indicative and in Australian dollars. Flights and accommodation are not included. Distances between stops are straight-line, so a walking or driving route will be longer, and they are shown only where both stops have a known location. Items marked also worth doing sit outside the highlights theme and are there because they are among the best things to do in Philippines.
Before you fly to Philippines
The part an itinerary app leaves out. These are Philippines's rules for Australian passport holders, re-read from the official source and dated below.
Entry
No - Australian passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 30 days.
Passport
Philippines wants 6 months of validity beyond the day you arrive. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.
Your checklist
21 things to sort for Philippines, built from these same rules, 3 of them essential.
- Passport valid - at least 6 months from your date of arrival
- Complete the eTravel
- Take out travel insurance
Last reviewed 2026-10-04. Entry requirements change without notice. Always confirm with the official sources below before you book or fly.
Sort these before you go
The two things worth having arranged before a highlights trip to Philippines, compared on price.
Philippines travel insurance
Klook
Travel insurance
Set at quote
Fast Cover Best value
Standard Saver
9k$20.90 AUD
Compare only
Philippines eSIM plans
Airalo
1GB · 7 days
32k$6.50 AUD
Saily Cheapest 10GB
10GB · 15 days
6k$11.50 AUD
Airalo Recommended
10GB · 15 days
32k$13 AUD
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Budget highlights questions
What counts as budget here?
The lowest-priced third of everything worth doing in that country, measured against that country's own prices rather than a fixed dollar figure. A budget day in Norway and a budget day in Vietnam are not the same number, and pretending otherwise would just describe the exchange rate.
Does a cheaper plan mean a worse one?
No, and the ordering is the same either way: everything is ranked on its review score first, so a budget plan is the best-reviewed cheap things rather than the cheapest things. Flights and accommodation are not included in any of these figures.
What goes into a highlights plan?
It rotates between wellness, sightseeing and food items rather than clustering them, so no single day is three museums or three meals. If you would rather lean one way, switch the theme at the top of the page and the plan rebuilds.
Can I change the plan once it is built?
Yes. Pace and length are controls on the page, and changing either rebuilds the plan instantly. The itinerary is deterministic, so the same choices always produce the same plan - you can send someone the link and they will see what you see.
Other ways to do Philippines
Philippines wellness itinerary
Hot springs and spa days, but also gyms, yoga, hiking and open water. Rest and movement, not one or the other.
Philippines sightseeing itinerary
Coastlines, lookouts, day trips and the landmarks that are actually worth the queue.
Philippines food itinerary
Markets, cooking classes, wine regions and the places worth planning a day around.
Highlights trips in other countries
Still deciding where to go? These are built the same way - real activities, in an order that works, with the entry rules for Australians attached.
🇯🇵 Japan highlights itinerary
Visa-free, cash-friendly, and worth over-preparing for.
🇮🇩 Indonesia highlights itinerary
Visa on arrival, plus two fees most Australians don't budget for.
🇹🇭 Thailand highlights itinerary
60 days visa-free - but the arrival card is now compulsory.
🇻🇳 Vietnam highlights itinerary
E-visa required - and Australians legally can't drive here.