If you only have a short time in Manila, a private city tour is absolutely the way to go. The company reached out a few days before my arrival to confirm my hotel pickup location and timing, which made everything feel organized and stress-free from the start. My guide, Jonas, was punctual, welcoming, and truly delightful. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared Manila’s history in a way that was engaging and easy to follow without ever feeling overwhelming. I was initially worried that a half-day tour wouldn’t cover much, but by the end I felt like I had gained a strong foundation in both the history and the culture of the Philippines and its people. The tour was thoughtfully paced and comprehensive — honestly, I was so happily exhausted afterward that I didn’t even have the energy to continue exploring on my own! Everything about the experience was wonderful. Thank you for showing me your home — salamat po! 🇵🇭
Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros
At a glance
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- Price from
- $160 / person
- Location
- Manila, Philippines
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 26 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc
Description
Explore Old Manila on this private half-day tour! After pickup from your Metro Manila/Makati hotel, you and your party will visit famous highlights such as Rizal Park, St. Agustin Church, among others. This tour is perfect to see the old city's highlights while freeing up your afternoon for other activities.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 8:30 AM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 9
- Adult (ages 11+)
- $160
- Child (ages 3–10)
- $81
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $286.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Rizal Park
Manila’s city tour starts with a visit to Rizal Park, named in honor of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
Intramuros
After a brief picture stop, proceed to the Walled City of Intramuros to visit the remnants of Spain’s conquistadores.
Fort Santiago
Stop at Fort Santiago, an old Spanish fortress located at the mouth of Pasig River, where great moments in Philippine history occurred.
San Agustin Church - Immaculate Conception Parish
Travel through the cobbled streets to San Agustin Church, the country’s oldest stone church, and view its wide collection of ecclesiastical icons, vestments and other religious articles. Cross the street to Casa Manila, a reproduction of a 19th century house equipped with oriental and European décor, as well as Philippine antique furniture.
Binondo
Then board a horse drawn carriage called ‘calesa’ and trot off to Chinatown in Binondo, crossing the Pasig River, and onto an alley that leads you to Binondo Church another historical landmark built by the Spaniards in 1596. Alight at the church’s entrance for a brief stop, and walk towards Ongpin, a street visible by its Chinese-style arches at its entrance. This narrow street leads to a network of alleys and side streets crammed with small shops, Chinese drugstores, restaurants and residential houses. Binondo’s commercial activity ranges from banks to retail and wholesale shops selling a variety of items, from Chinese curios and delicacies to textiles, jewelries and construction materials. A leisurely walk brings you to numerous gold jewelry shops at the other end of Ongpin, whereupon sits an old Spanish fountain near the entrance to Sta. Cruz Church. Stop briefly at St. Cruz Church which was built in 1608 by the Jesuit priests, then move on to Escolta, located a few blocks away. Steeped in history, it was once used as a convoy route by the British Navy from 1762 to 1764, and the shopping center of the elite during the Spanish and American regimes. Today, what is left of what was once known as the “Queen of Streets’ are two notable pre-World War II buildings, the Regina Building and the Perez-Samanillo Building. The former is of neo-Classical architecture while the latter, is of Philippine art deco architecture that was designed by Andres Luna de San Pedro, son of Juan Luna, considered the country’s greatest painter and creator of the ‘Spolarium’. Spend some time exploring the area before returning to your hotel.
What's included
Included
Private tour
Professional guide
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Personal Expenses/Souvenirs
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotels located within Manila/Makati Area only
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
26 reviews
How it compares in Manila
- Rated higher than 87% of 46 reviewed tours in Manila
- No. 27 by number of reviews among 157 tours in Manila
- Starting price $160 is 23% above the typical $130 for tours of similar length in Manila
Excurgo comparison of 157 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros take?
Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros lasts about 4–5 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros cost?
Prices start at $160 per person for this Manila experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $286. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 8:30 AM.
How much does Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros cost for children?
Children aged 3–10 pay from $81, adults from $160.
Can I cancel Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Hotels located within Manila/Makati Area only Pickup points include Belmont Hotel Manila, The Manila Hotel.
What languages is Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 6 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Private Half-Day Makati (Old Manila) with Intramuros worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 26 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc.
Reviews(26)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
K
Perfect Introduction to Manila in a Short Time
A
Great Morning in Manila
Joan and Raul gave us a great private tour of Old Manila and Binondo. Raul was an excellent driver. The van was very clean and comfortable. Joan was a wealth of knowledge and had a great personality as well. We really felt that we learned a lot and saw a ton during our tour. Would highly recommend.
T
Old Manila tour
We had a very good guide. She was friendly and very well explained. Enjoyed visiting Plaza San Luis complex, Fort Santiago, Rizal Park and many churches.
P
Philippine history made real in Manila
My guide Joan was knowledgable, intelligent, a great communicator and very good company. She imparted the information in a conversation rather than a lecture. We covered so much in the tour but it never felt rushed - Rizal, Intramuros, churches, important buildings and architecture, fantastic Spanish merchants house, horse and carriage, Chinatown, all great.
A
Great tour
Our guide, Jezzy, was wonderful., full of interesting facts. A great tour for a half day intro to the history of the city.
J
Must see tour
Tony gave a wonderful tour of Old Manila. His knowledge of the history of The Philippines is excellent, and we learned a lot. He was easy to understand and answered all our questions thoroughly. I highly recommend him!
Y
Good one
Jon was a very professional and knowledgeable guide. Her English waw excellent and she brought nice demeanor and a lovely smile
C
Great introduction to Manila and Philippine history
Great tour to take in most of Manilas sights so you can decide what to revisit at length. Our tour guide Joan was excellent. Very knowledgeable and very interesting in her explanations, we really have a good understanding of Philippines history. JR our driver was amazing with my husband who has a disability, thank you JR
1 people found this helpful
E
Old Manila Tour
The content and pace are just right for 1/2 day tour. Our guide, Ms Joan is such good story teller. She is very professional and kind!
P
Very comprehensive tour...
Very comprehensive tour of old Manila, including fortifications and monuments and then Chinatown. Joan was an excellent guide.
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from$160
5.0(26)