What to do on your day off – Manila

What to do on your day off – Manila

What to do on your day off in Manila. Some people just want to rest, catch up with friends, or window shop in one of the hundreds of Malls in Manila.

But if you’re looking for fun or interesting experiences to do on your day off in Manila check out our suggestions for things to do.

Art In Island, 175, 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City

9.30am-9.30pm Every day except Mondays | P500 Entrance

A fun interactive art museum, where you can literally be part of the Art is the perfect activity on your day off. 100 + Painted exhibitions, which you can insert yourself in to and have fun with. Wear bright clothes and take along some fun accessories to help create some great images for your facebook or Instagram.

After: Pop along to Cubao Expo, the old shoe-making quarter which is now a hip, fun area full of restaurants, bars such as Tacio’s, and cool, funky shops. Or head on over to the Marikina Shoe Museum (see below in the list)

Bamboo Bike Tour of Intramuros, Plaza San Luis Complex, Real Street corner of General Luna Street, Intramuros

10am & 3pm Tues-Sunday | 2.5hrs Tour: P1,200 (minimum of 2 people) | 1hr Tour: P600 (minimum of 2 people) Bambike Tours

This 2.5hrs guided tour will take you on a tour of Intramuros; Manila’s Old Walled City, on the back of bamboo bikes, taking in up to 10 significant or beautiful Intramuros locations.  A one hour express version of the tour is also available covering 4-5 of the following sites. Plaza San Luis Complex, San Agustin Church (built in 1607), Galeria de los Presendentes de la Republica Pilipinas, Site of Japanese Cannons, Puerta Real Gardens, Puerta del Parian, Aduana, Maeztranza, Plaza Roma (The Main Square, located in front of Manila Cathedral), Fort Santiago

Carriedo Flea Market, 678 Carriedo St, Quiapo, Manila

This market opened in 1957 and continues to be a great place to find designer clothes, chocolate, Perfumes etc including genuine brands.  It’s also a great place for picking up books

Dangwa Flower Market, 1650 Dimasalang Road. 

Dangwa Market is the biggest source of fresh flowers in Manila.  Feast your eyes on more than 50 stalls selling flowers from different parts of the Philippines and imported flowers from countries China, Ecuador, and Holland.  Flowers are often bought here, at Dangwa, at half the price of flowers bought at shops or in the malls.

Escolta Street Flea Market, First United Building.

Great area for Vintage and Antique Finds, as well as modern art finds.  Open every Saturday with thrift shops, garage sales, and art galleries.

Flying Carnival 2020: A weekend of Almost Everything That Flies, San Lazaro Leisure Park, Carmona, Cavite

6-8 March 2020 | General Entry Tickets: P500

Starting out in 1994 as the annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Clark Freeport Zone.  The International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, has a new name and a new venue.  Now touted as The Flying Carnival 2020, it celebrates all thing flying; Hot Air Balloons, Airplane Exhibitions and Radio-controlled aircraft.

Ticket can be purchase via ticketnet.com or philballoonfest.net.  General Entry Tickets are also available at the gates at 500Php.

Great World of Fun – Walk of Wonders! 4/F, Phase 3 Sta. Lucia Mall, Marcos Highway Cor. Felix Avenue, Dela Paz, Green Park, 1612 Pasig City

Entrance Packages can be found on the World of Fun website

“Seeing the world and making lasting memories of togetherness”. 4000sqm of replicas of world-renowned landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, and Leaning Tower of Pisa.  There are themed rides such as the Horror Tunnel, Twist N’ Shout and Smash Bump Cars Xtreme and added street performer attractions.

Other World of Fun branches can be found at SM City North EDSA – 3rd Floor | SM Megamall – Basement Tunnel |SM City Fairview – Upper Ground Floor (Annex Bldg. 2)NEW LOCATION ICON |SM City Sta. Mesa – 3rd Floor | SM City Manila – 5th Floor | SM City San Lazaro – Lower Ground Floor

Lakbay Museo, Level 1, S Maison, Marina Way, MOA Complex, Pasay City

10am-10PM (last tour starts at 9pm) | Entrance (Online Rate): P699 for a 2 hour tour | Entrance (On Door): P799

Dedicated to all that is the Philippines. Eat, Play and Dance as you travel 1,000 steps around 7,641 Philippine Islands.  There are 14 different ‘experiences’ and a cultural show.  Each entrance fee gives you 12 ‘chips’ to buy snacks and goodies at the Palengke.  Try on local traditional costumes and snap away for your Instagram account. This museum offers Birthday, School and Team Building packages too

Learn to Surf, Philippine Surf Academy, Club Manila East, Taytay, Rizal

Saturdays: 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm | Entrance: P1,500 (Includes an All Day Pass to Club Manila East’s Water Park Facilities)

Learn to surf in Manila!  Yes really.  Club Manila East hosts the Philippine Surf Academy’s surf school.  Take a 2 hour surf lesson with fully qualified PSA Instructors covering Safety and Basic Surfing Fundamentals before hitting the safe, enclosed wave pool on a soft board. 

Learn how to ‘paddle out’, catch a wave and stand on the board.  Photos of your lesson are included. If you want to take your surfing further you can sign up with the Academy for a 6 week course, completing with a surf safari in Real Quezon

Legazpi Sunday Market, Legazpi Park, V. A. Rufino St, 1229 Makati

Legazpi Market is a “Farmers Market” so think, lots of home-grown, home-made, home-crafted items on sale.  There are jewellery stalls, health food stalls, hand-cured meat and sausage stalls, baked goods stalls and stalls direct from local Farmers, and accompanying all this is live music and bands.  Legazpi Market recently had to change venues after the original grounds were to be developed.

Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival, La Meso Eco Park, Quezon City

29 Feb-1 March 2020

Originally held in Puerto Galera, Malasimbo the event will take place in La Meso Eco Park, which also features an amphitheatre where the performers will play. Top Billing Artists include: Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles | Mike Love |Laneous | Anomalie | Jesus Molina Quartet | Matteo Mancuso | Uncomfortable Science | Brigada | Project Yazz | Talata Ni Tala

Tickets bought between 1  January to 1 February are 4,500P for a 1-day pass and 8,000P for a 2-day pass.  Tickets bought between 2-29 February are 4,500P for a 1-day pass and 9,000P for a 2-day pass. Tickets bought on the door are 5,500P for a 1-day Pass or 10,000P for a 2-day pass

Manila Ocean Park, Quirino Grandstand, Ermita, Luneta Manila, Philippines

10am-6pm Monday-Friday | 9am-6pm Public Holidays & Weekends | Tickets range from P595-P995 depending on choice of included attractions

Manila Ocean Park was the very first marine theme park in the Philippines and remains a firm attraction.  Marvel at the Oceanarium, full of sharks, fish, rays and corals.  Enjoy the interactive exhibitions, shows and scheduled feeding times.  Check out the reptile and bird exhibits too.

Marikina Shoe Museum, J.P. Rizal Street, Marikina City

8am-12noon or 1pm-5pm Every Day | Entrance: P50

If you have a thing for shoes this is the museum for you.  You will have to settle for looking only; this is very definitely not an interactive museum.  Showcasing shoes of the rich and famous including some of the infamous shoe-lover Imelda Marcos, you can while away an hour gawking at footwear.  The museum building has its own history, having been a detention cell during the Filipino-american war and an arsenal during the Spanish Colonial era

Museo Filipino – A Tribute to Filipino Heroes, 6^th Floor, JS Contractor Building, 423 Magallanes Street, Intramuros

Open Daily 9am-5pm – 100Php entrance

Discover Philippine History in 30 minutes.  Audio-visual presentations and infographics, Art Work covering Philippine history all under one roof.  The museum condenses the Philippines story into  a bite-sized gallery walk-thru with the Spanish influence on Phililppine culture, WWII, the American occupation, Martial Law and People Power Revolution, Julian Felipe, Gabirela Silang and General Miguel Malvar.  At the end of your visit sit down and relax in the beautifully bright and airy Intramuros Rooftop Café.

Museo de Intramuros, San Ignacio Church, Intramuros

9am-5pm Wednesday-Sunday | Entrance is Free

Museo de Intramuros can be found in the rebuilt 1889 San Ignacio Church, which suffered heavy destruction during the Battle of Manila. Over 500 Religious Artifacts were retrieved from the ruins of the church and stored until they could be displayed again. The museum features 3 floors of religious paintings, saints and wood carvings from the Spanish colonial period.  It showcases Filipino artistry and craftsmanship, and the Spanish Influence on Philippine Culture.

Museo de La Salle, Dasmariñas, Cavite

9am-3.30PM (except Saturdays) | Entrance P100

A cultural museum dedicated to the Spanish era this is a must visit for understanding Philipine History and the influence of the Spanish colonists. This impressive looking museum acts as a showcase of common household objects found in the homes of a 19^th Century ilustrados (  ).  Packed full with antique furniture, chandeliers, art work, ceramics and luxurious materials

Museo Pambata, Roxa Boulevard cor. South Drive, Manila

9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm Tuesday through to Saturday | 1pm-5pm Sundays

 Another interactive museum, this one is aimed at children.  But don’t let that put you off; embrace your inner child. There’s a human body tunnel maze, a herbal garden and a number of other exhibits

Museum of Miniatures and Dolls Houses, 2/F E-Com Building, 84a, Bonifacio Avenue, Riverbanks Center, Marikina City

8am-5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday only | Entrance: P75

One of Manila’s older museums but still worth a visit, this is dedicated to Dolls Houses and miniature rooms.   Much of the collection belonged to the artist Aleli Vengua.  Much of the collection is based on rooms and furniture that would have been found in a European Mansion.  Each item was handmade from scrap materials.

Pintô Art Museum, 1 Sierra Madre Street, Grand Heights Subdivision, San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal

Opening Hours: 9am-6pm every day, except Mondays.

Listed as one of the World’s Most Instragrammed Museums by ArtNet and hosting several galleries, linked by doors. This gallery features conceptual and contemporary artists, with sculptural installations inside and out the building.

Quiapo Market, 1001 Palma Street, St Quiapo

Quiapo is said to be the largest market in the Philippines.  It’s a lively outdoor market offering everything from exotic fruit & snacks, electronics, latest fashions and traditional handicrafts.  There are elders selling herbal tinctures and concoctions, as well as Fortune Tellers.  Quiapo’s specialty though, is jewelry making and costume accessories.

Salcedo Saturday Market, Jaime C. Velasquez Park, Makati

Similar to Legazpi, Salcedo is a Farmers or Community Market with jewellery stalls, health food stalls, hand-cured meat and sausage stalls, baked goods stalls and stalls direct from local Farmers.  A great place for a lunch date with friends.  Buy some snacks to go and wander through the varied selection of stalls.

Sidcor Weekend Market, Centris Walk, Quezon City

Best tip is to get there early before the crowds and heat arrive.  This market is a hodge podge of food stalls, toy stalls, antique stalls, handicraft stalls and household goods stalls.   You will find imported as well as local goods at this market.  Grab some street food and eat as you wander through the various sections of the market.

The Dessert Museum, Coral Way, S’Maison, Conrad Hotel Manila, MOA, Pasay

10am-10pm Every Day | Entrance (online) P699 or P799 walk-in, covers a 2-hour tour and six free desserts

 Fun, colourful and dedicated to desserts, what’s not to love?!  Let’s face it this museum is dedicated not just to desserts but the Philippines status as the number one social media users. 

Charge up your phones and get some cool, fun photos. 8 Dessert Rooms, entered via a slide, you’ll learn all about desserts; how they were created, who created them.  But the best bit is you get to sample them!! Then pop along to Lakbay Museo for more fun!

The Mind Museum, J.Y. Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, BGC

9am-6pm Every Day except Mondays | P750 All-Day Pass | P625 3-Hour Pass

Science is boring right?  Wrong!  Not when it’s interactive! The Mind Museum has over 250 interactive exhibits, across 5 different galleries.  Each gallery focuses on a particular area of science. The Atom Gallery probably has the most interactive displays and the best chances for funny Instagram photos or tiktok videos.  Embrace your inner geek!

Upside Down Museum, Cultural Center Philippines Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay

11am-9pm Every day, except Mondays | Entrance P450

Another Instagram worthy museum; 15 separate exhibits where you and your friends can take some crazy funny photos. 

Don’t forget your accessories and bright clothing to make your photos really stand out.

So, next time you have a day off Manila take yourself off to enjoy some of the many attractions the city has to offer.

Watch out for our next Things to do on your Day Off article.