A city within a city
Take a bamboo bike ride through the city of Manila to see the historic walled area of Intramuros as well as contemporary aspects of the city. The urban ‘Walled City’ was created and fortified by the Spaniards and still stands, transporting you to a different time. Sit beside the ruins and people watch or try some delicious Filipino dishes. Try some fun street foods like Puto, a steamed rice cake topped with butter, coconut or cheese, or Halo-halo, a mix of shaved ice and evaporated milk, mixed up with any combination of sweet fruits. This isn’t all that a cheap flight to the Philippines will open up to you. Visit the many museums and monuments dedicated to the arts and the Philippines’ complex history. As a favourite pastime, it is traditional to test your vocals at a local Filipino KTV karaoke spot. When it’s time for some fresh air, step outside the city and head north. You can travel by bus or ferry to Malolos for some history or Bataan for the beaches and sporting activities.
Paradise beyond the city
From Manila take the main highway south until you reach Southern Luzon. Now you’re in for a treat because here you’ll find whale sharks, tropical fish, marvellous beaches, and gorgeous clusters of islands. For awesome landscapes peppered with volcanoes, check out the Bicol region. You’ll find two large volcanoes, Mount Bulusan and Mount Mayon, as well as exquisite beaches. Masbate is known as the ‘wild east’ for its annual rodeo in May and cattle raising. The Marinduque province is a heart-shaped island famous for its Easter Festival where everyone dresses up to tell the Easter story. Southern Luzon is also a hotspot for surfers and divers.
The Philippine’s prized possession
Visayas is an archipelago of breathtaking islands both great and small. This is a major tourist and holiday destination. From Manila you can fly in and take a ferry to the island of your choice and enjoy feasting on fresh seafood and just sitting back and relaxing. The small island of Guimaras is most famous for its sweet mangoes, adventurous hiking trails, and gorgeous resorts. Cebu is the largest island group and the easiest to access by plane from Manila. Enjoy the Chocolate Hills, ancient Spanish coral-constructed churches, and the immaculate beaches of Panglao Island.
When to go
Visiting the Philippines during the beginning of the dry season, November through February, is ideal. This means that all parts of the country are accessible and the weather is comfortable.
Once the dry season comes to an end in March and April, the temperatures begin to rise and can become uncomfortable.
The wet seasons lasts from May to October and can make travelling around difficult. On the other hand, the wet season brings pleasant temperatures, fun festivals, and it is possible to find good deals on Philippines flights from May through November.
Airports and airlines
After you search for cheap flights to the Philippines, check out the Best Price by Airline feature to find the best deals. Get price alerts sent to your email so you know exactly when to buy and when to fly.
Fly into Manila for the cheapest Philippines flights and even direct flights from London with Philippine Airlines. Select your preferred Inbound or outbound departure schedule so you have optimal airport arrival time for a great start and finish to your holiday.
Other carriers which typically have stopovers are Air China, KLM, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines. Check out one of the refuelling cities and get an added holiday bonus by adding an additional city to your itinerary. Typical stopover cities on flights to the Philippines are Doha, Singapore, Farwaniya and Hong Kong.