Top 10 Check-in Spots in Manila

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Once a famous red-light district, Poblacion in the heart of Manila emerged as a stylish and vibrant community for travelers, backpackers, entrepreneurs, and artists after a complete facelift in the early 2000s.

Poblacion is now Manila’s arts and culture center, with lots of galleries, studios, and performance venues. Here, you may find contemporary art galleries showcasing the works of local and international artists. There are also some theaters and performance venues, often hosting concerts, dance performances, and dramas, attracting visitors who love arts and culture. Poblacion is also known for its bustling nightlife. The district is home to many stylish bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, offering a variety of musical styles and entertainment options. Whether you prefer a relaxed bar vibe or a crazy dance floor, Poblacion has you covered.

Other than the many visits paid by expats and tourists, it is also a popular check-in spot for young people and trendy cultural followers alike, due to its many emerging bars, rooftop bars, restaurants, and arts venues.

The Dessert Museum is an interactive experience venue based on the theme dessert, featuring museums, theme parks, candy shops, etc. It provides guests with a sweet and magical experience. Each of the museum’s exhibition areas features a variety of desserts, such as marshmallows, chocolates, candies, and more. The exhibition space is full of colorful decorations and visuals that mimic an enormous world of desserts, satisfying dessert lovers’ fantasy about candy.

The Dessert Museum offers a number of interactive experiences where visitors can engage and interact with the exhibition. This includes decorating and tasting giant marshmallows, taking pictures under a chocolate waterfall, strolling through a rainbow room, playing in a candy rain, and more. These interactive experiences allow visitors to participate in exhibitions, creating unique photos and memories. It also offers an extensive dessert experience. Inside of the museum, visitors can enjoy a variety of delicious desserts and candies. It is both a visual and literal feast of sweetness.

Art in Island is an interactive art museum located in Cubao of Quezon City. It attracts visitors with its unique 3D art exhibition and interactive experience. Known as Asia’s largest 3D museum, Art in Island makes use of illusional visual effects to make 2D works look 3D, thereby creating a space for visitors to interact with the art. You can become part of the artwork here. Standing at a specific location or taking a picture at a specific angle with the painting could create a surprising and interesting visual effect. The museum offers limitless creativity and photo-worthy moments so you may create unique art pieces of your own.

Art in Island also hosts exhibitions that are full of creativity and fantasy, inspiring visitors alike. Visitors can explore a variety of scenes and scenarios, such as the underwater world, dreamy forests, magical castles, and more. These exhibitions are often humorous and fun, allowing visitors to unleash their imagination and create fun and quirky photos.

Upside Down Museum is a museum that questions your basic perception. When in Manila, you are certainly to try the mind-blowing visual impact and fun experiences. In this museum, you may find a variety of home scenes, cityscapes, and everyday scenes completely upside down. You can “stand on the ceiling” just as your ordinary world is being reversed. Visitors can take unique and interesting photos here to create memories with family and friends. Whether you are standing on a ceiling for dinner, walking on a ceiling road, or floating in the air, these interactive displays allow you to unleash your creativity and imagination.

Upside Down Museum is a great place for visitors to create unique and interesting photos. You can work with friends and family to find the best angles to shoot for creative and amazing photos. The museum’s unique creativity will keep you busy.

Opened in 2018, the National Museum of Natural History in Manila is dedicated to exhibiting the Philippines’ natural habitats and biodiversity. The key exhibits include a 6.17-meter-long crocodile skeleton, prehistoric remains of rhinoceros butchered by humans, and more.

The museum itself is a stunning building known for its green roof and spiral-shaped building design. A charming lobby and a large skeleton welcome you to the museum. The aesthetic and design of the architecture are one of the great highlights. The museum showcases the country’s natural resources and biodiversity by displaying specimens collected and preserved from various parts of the Philippines on animals, geology, and plants. You may also enjoy dinosaur bones, specimens, and artworks; and learn about the natural history of the Philippines. The museum combines education with entertainment, with interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience scientific experiments and natural phenomena firsthand.

Intramuros is an ancient town in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, with its rich history and inspiring stories. Intramuros dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish colonists established the city as their base in Southeast Asia. In 1896, the Philippines’ revolutionist army declared independence from Spain. They held the first national plenary session at the San Juan de Dios Chapel in Intramuros.

During World War II, the Japanese occupied Manila in 1941 and used Intramuros as the command center. In 1945, the United States and the Philippines launched an attack to liberate Manila and reclaimed Intramuros. However, the city was severely destroyed in battles. Many historical buildings and cultural heritage were destroyed. After the war, Intramuros went through extensive reconstruction to repair the damaged buildings and ruins.

Today, Intramuros is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manila, attracting many tourists and local residents. Visitors can visit Fort Santiago, an ancient Spanish fortress where Filipino national hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned and executed.

One of the most famous parks in the Philippines, Rizal Park is located next to Roxas Boulevard and adjacent to Manila Bay. It is famous for the monument to the Filipino national hero Jose Rizal. In 1896, Rizal fought for the Philippines to be liberated from the Spanish colonial rule. The Park is where he was buried after being executed. You may walk, picnic, and relax in this expansive park with beautiful gardens, fountains, and sculptures.

Rizal Park is the site of historic events and important gatherings in the Philippines. It is also an important venue for official ceremonies in the Philippines. It is an important part of the Philippines’ revolution, where Filipinos hosted gatherings and protests and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Spanish colonial rule and their desire for freedom.

Binondo is one of the oldest, most historical and culturally valuable Chinese communities in the Philippines. Built in 1594, it is also the oldest Chinatown in the world. At that time, many Chinese immigrants came to the Philippines and settled in Binondo. Here, they created a business and social community that became an important driver of industrial and cultural development in the Philippines.

There are plenty of Chinese restaurants, shops, temples, and Chinese community organizations. Visitors can experience the rich Chinese culture, savor authentic Chinese cuisine, and visit the Chinese Temple in Binondo. During the Chinese New Year, Binondo also hosts an enormous celebration of the spring festival, attracting a large number of visitors.

Binondo also has many ancient temples and historical buildings, such as the Binondo Church and the Seng Guan Temple. In addition, there are many ancient buildings on Elcolta Street. You can shop, savor, and learn about the history of Filipino ethnic Chinese.

The National Museum of the Philippines is one of the most important art institutions in the Philippines, with an extensive collection of Filipino and international art. There are five types of exhibits in the museum: Art, Botanicals, Zoology, Geology, and Anthropology. Home to a wide range of cultural and historical collections, the museum showcases the Philippines’ diverse culture and rich history. The museum’s exhibits include archaeological relics, cultural art pieces, traditional clothing, art pieces, ancient goldware, precious books, and documents, etc. From these exhibits, visitors can learn about the past of the Philippines and the development of different cultures and ethnic groups.

National Museum of the Philippines showcases the fine pieces of the arts and sculptures of the Philippines. These works include paintings, sculptures, and handicrafts by traditional and modern artists. Visitors can see the works of numerous Filipino artists, different art genres and styles, and learn about the development and evolution of Filipino arts. The displays most loved by the nationals also include relics and treasures recovered from the large sailboat in San Diego, Spain, which sunk in Filipino waters in 1600.

The Alley at Karrivin is an arts and creative center in Manila that attracts visitors with its unique design, diverse art exhibitions, and fascinating dining experiences. The Alley at Karrivin is a hybrid space that blends art with design. There are many art studios, galleries, and design studios, showcasing the works of local and international artists. Visitors can enjoy art in all its forms, including painting, photography, sculpture, and installation arts. The exhibitions are constantly changing. This means that each time you visit, the place could bring new surprises and inspiration for you.

It also hosts creative workshops, art performances, and community events, attracting visitors interested in art and creativity. These events include art workshops, musical performances, dance performances, lectures, and exhibition openings. Visitors can participate in these activities, interact with artists and creatives, and experience the fun and attractiveness of artistic creations.

The Alley at Karrivin is more than just an arts and creative center, it is also a community and cultural hub. It attracts people from all backgrounds and fields, including artists, designers, creative work practitioners, and cultural enthusiasts. The community atmosphere makes The Alley at Karrivin a unique and fun place to visit and engage in.