Plan a sightseeing trip to Philippines

Sightseeing in Philippines is built around its landscapes and landmarks: Rizal Park, Masjid Al-Dahab. Choose laid-back for two things a day, or packed for four.

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Price bands are thirds of what Philippines itself charges, not a fixed dollar figure - the cheapest third in Vietnam and in Norway are nowhere near the same number. Flights and accommodation are not included.

Your 5-day sightseeing plan for Philippines

Where you stayManila 3 nightsIloilo City 2 nightsabout 465 km between them

5 days · packed · 10 of 19 bookable now · activities from about $314

  1. Day 1 Manila

    1. Rizal Park in Paranaque, Philippines

      morning

      Rizal Park

      Paranaque

      Historic urban park in Manila, Philippines. Dates from 1955.

    2. Masjid Al-Dahab in Paranaque, Philippines

      afternoon

      Masjid Al-Dahab

      Paranaque · 1.8 km from Rizal Park

      Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines. Dates from 1976.

      Just turn up
    3. Luljetta's Hanging Gardens Spa Day Pass in Rizal, Philippines

      evening

      Luljetta's Hanging Gardens Spa Day Pass

      4.71,756 reviewsRizal · from $25

    4. Camaya Coast Day Pass in Bataan, Philippines

      evening

      Camaya Coast Day Pass

      4.6402 reviewsBataan · from $7

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Legazpi Sunday Market

      A morning market, open 7am to 2pm.

      Manila · 5.5 km away

    • 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.

      Manila · 0.9 km away

    • Dinner

      Helm

      Helm is known for its multi-course tasting menus served in an intimate setting, and it has garnered international recognition for its innovative cuisine.

      Manila · 5.9 km away

  2. Day 2 Manila

    1. Mount Natib in Bataan, Philippines

      morning

      Mount Natib

      Bataan

      Mountain in Bataan, Philippines.

      Just turn up
    2. San Agustin Church in Manila, Philippines

      afternoon

      San Agustin Church

      Manila · 63.6 km from Mount Natib

      Roman Catholic church in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. Dates from 1571. National Historical Landmark.

    3. Mount Purro Nature Reserve Day Tour in Antipolo in Rizal, Philippines

      evening

      Mount Purro Nature Reserve Day Tour in Antipolo

      4.761 reviewsRizal · from $19

    4. White Knight Electric Chariot Intramuros Day Tour in Manila, Philippines

      evening

      White Knight Electric Chariot Intramuros Day Tour

      4.3291 reviewsManila · from $10

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Makati Street Meet @ Leviste

      A daily market, open 8am to 8pm.

      Manila · 6.2 km away

    • Lunch

      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.

      Manila · 9.5 km away

    • Dinner

      HangOut Market McKinley West

      Kitchens under one roof, open 9am to 4am.

      Paranaque · 9.4 km away

  3. Day 3 Manila

    1. Quezon Memorial Circle in Manila, Philippines

      morning

      Quezon Memorial Circle

      Manila

      National park in Quezon City, Philippines containing the Quezon Memorial Shrine. Dates from 1978.

      Just turn up
    2. Rizal Monument in Manila, Philippines

      afternoon

      Rizal Monument

      Manila · 11.0 km from Quezon Memorial Circle

      Primary monument to José Rizal, located at Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines. Dates from 1908. National Cultural Treasure.

      Just turn up
    3. Co-baking Space in S'Maison by Bakebe in Manila, Philippines

      eveningalso worth doing

      Co-baking Space in S'Maison by Bakebe

      4.680 reviewsManila · from $29

    4. Okada Manila The Sole Retreat Spa Experience in Paranaque, Philippines

      eveningalso worth doing

      Okada Manila The Sole Retreat Spa Experience

      4.735 reviewsParanaque · from $61

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Northeast Greenhills Sunday Market

      A morning market, open 6am to 12pm.

      Manila · 5.6 km away

    • Lunch

      Ayala Alabang Saturday Market

      Fruit, vegetable, fish, food, coffee, some crafts.

      Paranaque · 19.6 km away

  4. Day 4 Iloilo City

    1. Travel day

      Manila to Iloilo City

      About 465 km by air · allow around 4h

      Journey time is an estimate rather than a timetable - check the operator before you book anything tight on either side of it.

      Book direct
    2. San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod, Philippines

      afternoon

      San Sebastian Cathedral

      Bacolod

      Roman Catholic cathedral in Bacolod, Philippines. Dates from 1882.

      Just turn up
    3. Iloilo Mysterious Half-Day City Tour in Iloilo City, Philippines

      evening

      Iloilo Mysterious Half-Day City Tour

      Iloilo City · from $34

    4. Iloilo City with Guimaras Island Full-Day Tour in Iloilo City, Philippines

      evening

      Iloilo City with Guimaras Island Full-Day Tour

      Iloilo City · from $61

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Negros Farmers' Weekend Market

      A morning market, open 7am to 2pm.

      Bacolod · 1.9 km away

  5. Day 5 Iloilo City

    1. Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery in Iloilo City, Philippines

      morning

      Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery

      Iloilo City

      Monastery in the Philippines. Dates from 1972.

      Just turn up
    2. San Diego Pro-cathedral in Bacolod, Philippines

      afternoon

      San Diego Pro-cathedral

      Bacolod · 50.1 km from Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery

      Roman Catholic pro-cathedral in Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Dates from 1927.

      Just turn up
    3. Ilaya Highland Resort Day Tour from Bacolod in Bacolod, Philippines

      evening

      Ilaya Highland Resort Day Tour from Bacolod

      Bacolod · from $38

    4. Flavors of Iloilo Half-Day Food Tour: Batchoy, Pancit Molo, and More in Iloilo City, Philippines

      evening

      Flavors of Iloilo Half-Day Food Tour: Batchoy, Pancit Molo, and More

      Iloilo City · from $30

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Iloilo Central Public Market

      A daily market, open 4am to 10pm.

      Iloilo City · 12.7 km away

    • Lunch

      Camiña Balay Nga Bato

      The heritage house is also now a heritage museum and a restaurant, serving a variety of Ilonggo delicacies and its well-known homemade tsokolate tablea (chocolate tablets).

      Iloilo City · 14.0 km away

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 sightseeing 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.

Philippines visa and entry rules

Passport

Philippines wants 6 months of validity beyond the day you arrive. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.

Check your passport against this rule

Your checklist

21 things to sort for Philippines, built from these same rules, 3 of them essential.

Philippines travel checklist

  • 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 sightseeing trip to Philippines, compared on price.

Philippines airport transfers

Klook

Private transfer

40k
30-120 min24/7Door-to-door
$35 AUD

UBE Express airport bus Cheapest

Air-conditioned coach to Makati and Ermita.

45-90 minHourlyDirect
$8 AUD

Grab Popular

Fixed fare, but surge pricing at peak times is significant.

30-120 min24/7Door-to-door
$12 AUD

Driving in Philippines

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Car hire in Philippines

Search by pick-up datePrices in AUDFree cancellation on many rates
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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.

Sightseeing trip questions

Are the big landmarks worth the queue?

Some are, some are not, and the difference is usually timing rather than the place. Where a timed ticket exists the plan flags it, because the same sight at nine in the morning and at midday are different experiences.

How much sightseeing needs a car?

It depends on the destination, and the plan tells you which items sit outside the main city. If you are driving, check the International Driving Permit rules for the country first - several require one alongside your Australian licence.

Other ways to do Philippines

Sightseeing 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.

All sightseeing itineraries

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