See the rice terraces of Banaue and Batad
Hand-carved into mountainsides some 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people, often called the eighth wonder of the world.
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Southeast Asia
Things to do in the Philippines
Over 7,000 islands of white-sand beaches, some of the world's best diving, and a warmth toward visitors that consistently surprises first-timers.
Explore Philippines on the map →Budget$
Best for10-14 days
CapitalManila
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 30 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, extendable at immigration offices within the country.
CurrencyPhilippine peso (PHP)
LanguagesFilipino and English (both official)
InternetGood in cities and resorts, patchy on remote islands
Typical lodging$20–$50/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage220V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC+7 to UTC+8
Emergency numberVaries by country. Save the local number on arrival.
Dialing code+63
★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Food
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not customary. Rounding up is common.
No country on earth has more islands accessible to travelers, the Philippines' 7,641 islands include world-class dive sites, rice terraces carved by hand 2,000 years ago, and volcanoes still active enough to watch smoke rise. It's also Asia's largest English-speaking country, a legacy that makes it unusually easy to navigate for first-time visitors to the region.
When to go
Dry season (peak)December–February
Cool and dry across most of the country, the most popular and crowded window for island-hopping.
Dry season (hot)March–May
Hot and increasingly humid before the rains, still good beach weather but more intense sun.
Wet season (early)June–September
Regular afternoon rain and higher typhoon risk, especially in the north, Palawan and the south fare better.
Wet season (typhoon)October–November
Peak typhoon season nationally; monitor forecasts closely and keep itineraries flexible.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
3Wander the Spanish colonial old town of Vigan
Cobblestone streets and preserved Spanish-Chinese colonial architecture, still traveled by horse-drawn calesa carriages.
Explore the historic walled city of Intramuros, Manila
The old Spanish colonial core of Manila, with Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church among the few structures to survive WWII.
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Adventure & outdoors
10Island-hop through El Nido's lagoons
Limestone karst islands, hidden lagoons, and beaches reachable only by boat, typically explored on a set-route day tour with four options (Tour A-D).
Dive or snorkel Tubbataha Reef
A remote UNESCO marine park accessible only by liveaboard boat, with some of the best-preserved coral and shark diving in Southeast Asia.
Swim with whale sharks in Oslob or Donsol
Responsible operators allow snorkeling alongside whale sharks in shallow water: choose operators that follow no-touch, feeding-limit guidelines.
Hike an active volcano at Mount Pinatubo
A crater lake formed after the catastrophic 1991 eruption, reached by 4x4 and a moderate hike through an ash-carved canyon.
Surf at Cloud 9 in Siargao
A world-famous reef break that put the 'surfing capital of the Philippines' on the map, with a laid-back island scene around it.
Dive the wrecks of Coron Bay
Japanese WWII shipwrecks sitting in clear, shallow water, accessible to both wreck-diving specialists and confident snorkelers.
Chase waterfalls in Cebu's Kawasan Falls area
Turquoise cascading pools reachable by a short hike, with canyoneering routes for those wanting a more adrenaline-heavy version.
Freedive with jellyfish at Jellyfish Lake, Palawan
A saltwater lake with a jellyfish population that lost its sting over thousands of years of isolation from predators, allowing safe swimming among them.
Ride a habal-habal motorbike through rural Siargao or Bohol
Motorbike taxis are the fastest way to reach hidden lagoons and viewpoints most tour vans can't access.
Swim with sea turtles at Apo Island
A small marine sanctuary island where green and hawksbill turtles feed close to shore in protected waters.
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Beaches
1Relax on White Beach, Boracay
Four kilometres of powder-white sand that made Boracay internationally famous, now managed under stricter environmental rules after a 2018 rehabilitation.
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Food & drink
4Eat at a Filipino street food night market
Isaw (grilled skewers), balut, and halo-halo dessert, Manila's Mercato Centrale or Cebu's night markets are the classic starting points.
Try lechon, the Philippines' whole roast pig
Cebu is considered the lechon capital: crackling skin and smoky, herb-stuffed meat, traditionally the centerpiece of any fiesta.
Eat halo-halo, the Philippines' iconic shaved-ice dessert
Shaved ice layered with sweet beans, jellies, ube, and leche flan: best at an old-school Manila or Cebu institution, not a mall chain.
Visit a coffee farm and try civet coffee in the Cordillera highlands
Highland farms growing arabica and the controversial civet-processed kape alamid, with cooler mountain air a relief from lowland heat.
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Nature & scenery
2Kayak through the Puerto Princesa Underground River
A navigable subterranean river through limestone caves, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, with permits required and capped daily.
See the Chocolate Hills of Bohol
Over a thousand near-identical grass-covered mounds that turn brown in the dry season, giving the hills their name.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for the Philippines?
Most Western passport holders, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, extendable at immigration offices for longer stays.
▾Is it easy to island-hop in the Philippines?
Yes, though it takes planning: domestic flights connect major hubs like Manila, Cebu, and Palawan, while smaller inter-island transfers rely on ferries and outrigger bancas. Build buffer days into any multi-island itinerary in case of weather delays.
▾When should I avoid visiting because of typhoons?
July through November carries the highest typhoon risk, especially in Luzon and the Visayas; Palawan and Mindanao in the south are somewhat more sheltered. December through May is the safer, drier window.
▾Is diving in the Philippines really world-class?
Yes. Tubbataha Reef, Apo Island, and Malapascua consistently rank among the world's top dive destinations, with whale shark, thresher shark, and coral wall diving all within reach.
▾How's the language barrier for travelers?
Minimal: English is an official language and widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, making the Philippines one of the more navigable first-time destinations in Southeast Asia.
▾How much is El Nido's environmental fee?
El Nido's Eco-Tourism Development Fee runs PHP 400 (about $7) for a 10-day pass, rising to PHP 500 for longer stays: a modest, one-time charge that funds conservation across the area's lagoons and islands rather than a per-site fee. It's collected once at the start of your stay, not repeatedly at each island stop.
