The older tourist belt along Manila Bay — the famous baywalk sunset, budget hotels and hostels, the giant Mall of Asia nearby, and a faded, lively nightlife. Cheaper and more central to the old city than Makati, if scruffier; the base for bay sunsets, easy sightseeing and a wallet-friendly stay near the water.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€55–120
typical per night in Philippines
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Manila — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Malate & Manila Bay and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Rizal Park (Luneta)17 min walk1.4 km
- National Museum complex21 min walk1.8 km
- San Agustin Church27 min walk2.3 km
- Manila Cathedral8 min taxi2.6 km
- Quiapo Church & market9 min taxi3.0 km
- Intramuros & Fort Santiago9 min taxi3.1 km
- Binondo (Chinatown) food10 min taxi3.4 km
- Filipino food14 min taxi4.5 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.



- 5.Manila Bay sunset — Manila Bay serves up one of the most famous sunsets in Asia — the sky over the water blazing orange and violet behind the silhouetted ships and palms of the baywalk. Grab a spot along Roxas Boulevard, buy a drink or a skewer from a vendor, and watch the whole city pause for it. Simple, free and unforgettable; the classic Manila evening.
- 13.A jeepney ride — No trip to Manila is complete without a ride in a jeepney — the flamboyant, chrome-covered, hand-painted buses descended from WWII US army jeeps, the loud and lovable icon of Philippine roads. Hop on, pass your fare hand-to-hand up to the driver, and rattle through the city with the locals. Cheap, chaotic and pure Manila; a small adventure in itself.
- 15.SM Mall of Asia & the bay — One of the biggest malls in the world, sprawling along the bay — shops and food beyond counting, an Olympic ice rink, an IMAX, a giant Ferris wheel on the seafront and its own sunset-watching esplanade. Air-conditioned respite, a fireworks-and-fun family evening, and a very Filipino love of the mega-mall; combine it with a bayside sunset for the full effect.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Malate & Manila Bay; flights via Google Flights.