• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Manila? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Manila!

Destination

Manila, Philippines

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Deutsch, العربية, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack or Drink
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 6 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at By the monument of San Juan De Bautista - Manila to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See from Manila Cathedral, Quiapo Church, Manila City Hall, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Manila so unique

4. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

5. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

6. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Lourdes🇺🇸 United States

(About local Rodolfo)

13 May 2025

Rodolfo customized our tour to include only certain spots in Manila that I was interested in seeing and to show us around Quezon City, where I was trying to assess the neighborhood of a childhood home I hope to recover. He was accommodating when I accidentally booked the tour for the wrong date. He suggested we hire a car and driver at very reasonable rate and they picked us up at our hotel in QC. He was knowledgeable and was able to alter the tour when it started to rain. Rodolfo was also very good about communicating before the tour date so that we knew our special requests would be accommmodated. Cannot recommend him enough.Very knowledgeable and accommodating

Radu🇷🇴 Romania

(About local Greg)

21 April 2025

A remarkable tour organized and sustained by Greg. He knows a lot about the history of Philippines and he was happy to share us as much he could do in 4 hours only. It was a pleasant surprise to be invited in his house which could be considered a remarkable example of a colonial house in Manila. Thank you very much and we hope we will meet again!Manila Flavour

RAVIN🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Rodolfo)

1 April 2025

I did not use Rodolfo because of a double booking. I used his friend Greg who was EXCELLENT.

Kerry and Jan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Greg)

27 March 2025

We arrived in the Philippines for a few weeks of birding but realized we needed some historic grounding to appreciate where we were. Greg was able to fill in the gap with a few hours chock full of information that helped give our visit historic context as well insight into current day life in the Philippines. Just what we needed

Mona🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Rodolfo)

24 March 2025

We enjoyed our time with Rodolfo in Manila. He presents well, gives details when and where needed and always added local flair and insights into the buildings, area and places we visited. He took us into spots the larger tour groups did not get to and managed to get us into the church that was closing for lunch. He’s a charmer. He moved to our pace of walking and we thoroughly enjoyed the day: especially a cold beer after our long walk at the Manila Hotel. Such a wonderful spot. Our Bar server at the Manila Hotel (Andy) was a wonderful host too. Great tour guide

Ria🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Rodolfo)

24 March 2025

We were a group of seven. I had done a tour of Intramuros with the flamboyant Carlos Celdran many years ago but this came as a great refresher with new nuggets of information. In spite of his technical background, Rudolfo dug deep into his passion for history and the arts and we were all brought into the world of the tumultuous times of Manila under the Spaniards, Americans and the Japanese. It was a leisurely pace and we did not feel rushed. I had seen a Manila that is often under-appreciated for the exciting mix of cultures. Recommended for those who love history!An educational tour of a pre-indept Manila

Greg

(About local Rodolfo)

20 March 2025

Enjoyed our time. Rodolfo was a great guide. knowledgeable and easy to understand. He was flexible when we asked. Highly recommendedHad a great morning with Rodolfo

Victor

(About local Rodolfo)

19 March 2025

In brief, Rodolfo excelled in everything and anything. Personable? Extremely knowledgeable, nothing was too much. Took us on request to areas not on the tourist map. Picked us up earlier than contracted and simply kept going. Above all his honesty, I had a brain freeze , counted out 10 times the amount agreed in pesos and he stopped me and corrected the amount. Could have taken 10 times the agreed amount. Cannot speak highly enough of this man , Do not hesitate to engage Rodolfo. Amazing local guide.

sterlibarbara

(About local Rodolfo)

6 March 2025

Ian

(About local Rodolfo)

6 March 2025

We enjoyed our visit to a very hot Manila (42 degrees in the shade) with Rodolfo. He is kind, generous, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable about his home town. We particularly liked our authentic and reasonably priced lunch which Rodolfo helped us choose. Other memorable moments included giving ice-creams to street children; the museum of José Rizal; the dungeon with which Rodolfo has a personal connection; the Cathedral where Christians were queuing to go in; the view from the top of the hotel; the ride in a jeepney, and many more. We would recommend Rodolfo as a perfect host and guide when visiting Manila.A hot day in Manila

Thomas

(About local Greg)

20 February 2025

I booked the tour for my parents in law and Greg was super quick in getting back to me during the booking process and also afterwards to my in laws. They were super happy with the tour and said it was the best during their trip in South East Asia, hence I can only recommend doing a tour with Greg. Great communication and great tour

Unknown

(About local Greg)

19 February 2025

Greg hat uns die verschiedenen facetten von Manila näher gebracht . Gut strukturiert und mit einem unfangreichen Wissen. Als Deutsche haben wir sein Englisch sehr gut verstanden . Wir haben uns gut unterhalten und ausgetauscht .Eine entspannte und interessante Tour

Kim🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Greg)

18 February 2025

We (family of four plus Grandparents) had an excellent time in our short stay in Manila with Greg leading our half-day tour of the city. Greg was very knowledgeable about the interesting history of the city of Manila and the Philippines and took us to some cool spots of the city. Even though we had very limited time (4 hours roughly), I feel Greg was able to give us a good feel for the city, in particular the history that shaped the city. Very unique customized Manila Experience

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Rodolfo)

8 February 2025

Rodolfo was well organised and we had no problem meeting him when our cruise docked. In Manila. He checked with us about what we wanted to and adapted his tour accordingly. He was very informative and we had a great walking tour. We would highly recommend him.Rodolfo is an informative tour guide

Erich🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rodolfo)

6 February 2025

Wir hatten das große Vergnügen, mit Rodolpho die Altstadt von Manila zu erkunden, und es war einfach fantastisch! Rodolpho spricht nicht nur ausgezeichnet Deutsch und Englisch, sondern überzeugt auch mit tiefgehendem Wissen über die Geschichte, Kultur und Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt. Unsere Kleingruppe von sieben Personen wurde durch die faszinierenden Straßen von Intramuros geführt, wo wir bedeutende historische Orte besuchten und spannende Hintergründe erfuhren. Besonders beeindruckt hat uns Rodolphos lebendige Art, mit der er Geschichte zum Leben erweckt. Ein weiteres Highlight war die kulinarische Erfahrung: Wir durften verschiedene lokale Spezialitäten probieren – ein absolutes Muss für alle, die authentische philippinische Küche entdecken möchten. Wer Manila besucht, sollte sich diese Tour mit Rodolpho auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen. Eine rundum empfehlenswerte und bereichernde Erfahrung! Outstanding City Tour with Rodolpho in Manila! We had the great pleasure of exploring Manila’s old town with Rodolpho, and it was simply fantastic! Rodolpho not only speaks excellent German and English but also impresses with his deep knowledge of the city’s history, culture, and landmarks. Our small group of seven was guided through the fascinating streets of Intramuros, where we visited significant historical sites and learned captivating background stories. What stood out the most was Rodolpho’s engaging way of bringing history to life. Another highlight was the culinary experience: we had the chance to try various local specialties – an absolute must for anyone wanting to discover authentic Filipino cuisine. If you’re visiting Manila, you should definitely not miss this tour with Rodolpho. A thoroughly recommendable and enriching experience! Herausragende Stadtführung

Luc

(About local Greg)

3 February 2025

Le guide fait toujours la différence. Greg avait un bon plan pour nous faire découvrir sa ville et malgré le lourd traffic il a réussi à nous donner le goût de revenir. Très connaissant du passé et du présent de sa ville. Très bon communicateur. Intéressé et intéressant

Elin

(About local Greg)

27 January 2025

We had a fantastic time seeing Manila and learning about its history with Greg. We really appreciated Greg’s suggestions for what to see and do as well as his tips. His knowledge is amazing! It was the perfect was to spend a port day! Highly recommended! Excellent day with Greg

Chris🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Rodolfo)

5 January 2025

We were very happy with Rodolfo's tour. He catered to our personal wishes and is very knowledgeable about Manila's past and present. He showed us places, food and drinks we would not have found ourselves and even took us to a specific store in Chinatown to find a product we were looking for. Would definitely recommend spending a morning or day with Rodolfo. Thank you! Captivating storyteller & personal touch

Drazen🇭🇷 Croatia

(About local Greg)

30 December 2024

Better from Manila you can not imagine… Correct,lot of expirience and knowledge about history and politic ,more then correct and friendly… If we come back he is only one solution.. Thanks a lot Best Manila expiriens

Aleksandra🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Rodolfo)

29 December 2024

Do not hesitate to book your tour with Rodolfo. He is very accommodating ( our ship arrival was delayed ) . Rodolfo is very knowledgeable and he shares many details with you . It was a pleasure to have such a guide . He knows the facts and tries his best to introduce his country . 5/5 .Absolutely fantastic guide and person

Jennifer🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Joemarie)

19 December 2024

I was in Manila for work and had a free afternoon where I could squeeze in a little time to see the city. Joem was the perfect choice for an afternoon walking tour getting the highlights and history of Manila. He's a wealth of knowledge and a tonne of fun. I couldn't have been happier.Afternoon highlights

Jackie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Rodolfo)

20 November 2024

The tour was perfect in length and the places we visited. Rodolfo was very knowledgeable, friendly and a very good guide. I would highly recommend. A great tour

REBECCA🇺🇸 United States

(About local Rodolfo)

8 November 2024

Rudolph went above and beyond with local tour. He even brought his car upon learning about a walking problem…saving much time and energy in the heat of Manila. It was a pleasure to have his knowledge and assistance. He even had some small souvenirs for purchase-saving us from the marketplace!! Well done Rudolph!10 Excellent!

Jon

(About local Greg)

17 October 2024

Greg was excellent, informative, and made the tour highly enjoyable. We spent three hours with him, and he kept our attention the entire time. We highly recommend Greg.Superb historical tour

Rachel🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Greg)

22 July 2024

Greg was fantastic, knew his stuff back to front and provided as a interesting and detailed look into Manila's history. We really enjoyed our time with Greg and would definitely book another tour with him when we come back

Sarina🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Rodolfo)

14 June 2024

We had a great time with Rodolfo exploring the city. His knowloge about the history, local areas and sights is excellent. We loved his food recommendations and the hidden gems. Rodolfo is more than happy to tailor the tour to your interests. His english and german is spot-on. He makes you feeling comfortable from the first minute. We wish him all the best and would go on a tour with him anytime again. History and hidden gems

Andi🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Rodolfo)

24 May 2024

Rodolfo gave us a fantastic introduction to Manila. During the tour, we learned a lot about history and culture. And are now traveling home with a great impression of Manila. We are very experienced when it comes to guided tours. Rodolfo's is clearly one of the best, if not the best ever. Thank you Rodolfo.Thanks Rodolfo!

Elisa🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Rodolfo)

11 May 2024

Thank you Rodolfo, We had a very interesting and personalized Half day tour with you. You are very passionate about the history of your country and we really enjoyed spending our last day with you! I will recommend you 😁 Elisa and LucaAmazing and interesting Manila day tour

2xr8wxn4sz🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Joemarie)

22 April 2024

Hat von Anfang an alles super geklappt. Vor Buchung abgesprochen, dass wir uns bei mir im Hotel treffen und von dort die Tour starten. Gesagt - getan. Pünktlich und am Tag selbst via WhatsApp kommuniziert, top. Tour vor Ort nich abgestimmt, was will man mehr. 5***** Sterne von mir. Sehr netter und flexibeler Guide

gracegbautista.777

(About local Rodolfo)

31 March 2024

Rodolfo is an excellent guide. He met my expectations of what the tour would be. It was nice to have a local perspective. He is also a pleasant companion for the three plus hours tour. I learned additional historical facts while on this tour. Among the many highlights of the tour was finding freshly baked hopia to take home and to snack on. Highly recommend. Old Manila/Intramuros/Binondo/Escolta Tour

Günter🇹🇭 Thailand

(About local Rodolfo)

27 March 2024

Informativ und interessant

Carsten🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rodolfo)

3 March 2024

Tolle Stadtführund mit Rudolpho

Micheal

(About local Rodolfo)

23 February 2024

Rodolfo was great. I did zero research on my last minute trip Manila and booked him 1 day prior. His response time was quick and precise. The tour itself was very fun and educational. I was amazed by his knowledge and his ACTUAL family ties that are a part of Manila’s history. I suggest touring with Rodolfo! Great experience!

Lal🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Rodolfo)

15 February 2024

Thanks for recommending us a good Halal restaurant which suits our children's taste bud and also for showing us around various options for Halal food at Quaipo. I strongly recommend this tour with Rodolfo for his vast knowledge on local food. Thanks Rodolfo for the great service.Food tasting with Rodolfo

Inga🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Rodolfo)

9 February 2024

Nachdem wir pünktlich am Treffpunkt waren, ging es auch schon los. Eine Reise durch die Geschichte Manilas. Nach dem Fort Santiago und einer kurzen Erfrischung sind wir mit einem Grab nach Chinatown. Für uns als Europäer war es unfassbar, kurz vor dem chinesischen Neuen Jahr, ein Treiben wie auf einem Ameisenhaufen. Rodolfo wusste allerlei zu erzählen und hat uns sicher durch das Treiben gelotst. Auch hat er zum Schluss geschaut, dass wir ein Taxi bekommen, was zu der Uhrzeit eine Herausforderung war. Vielen Dank Rodolfo!Interessante Führung durch das alte Manila

Diane🇺🇸 United States

(About local Rodolfo)

8 February 2024

The walking tour with Rodolfo is a must! We had limited time in Mania and our tour was the perfect overview. He’s kind, patient, and knowledgeable and took us to the best parts of Manila. I would highly recommend!You must book this tour with Rodolfo!

Norbert🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Greg)

29 December 2023

Greg is an excellent guide, living in Manila for more than 35 years. He provided a very insightful tour with a lot of historical perspective. He is very knowledgeable on every aspect (culture, food,…) of Philippines’ life. Highly recommended! Very insightful historical Manila

Dominik🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Bernadette)

20 November 2023

I was able to discover the real Manila where there is no mass tourism and where real life takes place, it was an experience that I can recommend to everyone.The real Manila

Simon

(About local Rodolfo)

6 May 2025

Really enjoyed our food tour with Rodolfo. The various foods we tried were memorable and we definitely saw a side of Manila that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Frogs legs were lovely as was the Lechon. Rodolfo was very knowledgeable and interesting Rodolfo was great

Alex

(About local Rodolfo)

23 April 2025

We had a wonderful time on our tour with Rodolfo. He was so informative and pleasant - it felt like we were on a food and history tour which was really cool. We would definitely recommend his tour! Great food tour with Rodolfo!

Fieke

(About local Joemarie)

22 April 2025

Joemarie is an amazing tour guide, extremely knowledgeable on the turbulent history of the Philippines. It was great to visit the different neighborhoods in Manila with him and understand how they were developed and how they have changed over time; all with some local food tasting breaks in between and with a good dose of humor and entertainment. I would highly recommend going on a tour with Joemarie!Amazing knowledge

Alexander

(About local Rodolfo)

19 April 2025

Wir hatten einen tollen Tag in Manila mit Rodolfo. Angefangen mit einer Sightseeingtour rund um das Fort, durch Museen und Kirchen hat uns Rodolfo viel interessantes über die Geschichte Manilas und der Philippinen erzählt. Er ist auch auf unsere Wünsche und Interessen eingegangen. Anschließend haben wir die street Food Tour durch Chinatown gemacht. Auch hier hat er die besten Restaurant, Shops und marktstände gefunden. Alles in allem ein super Tag mit fast 7 Stunden tollen Eindrücken Tolle Tour

Robert🇺🇸 United States

(About local Greg)

16 April 2025

I had excellent time with Greg. He filled me in with so much information. My head was about to explode. Lol 😆 he is very formative. very educated on everything here about the philippines. Our time together was pleasant excellent and very informative. I really appreciated his time and his knowledge. The best historical tour i've never had.

Christian 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rodolfo)

15 April 2025

Hilfsbereit und AuskunftgebendFreundlich

Tanja🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rodolfo)

5 April 2025

Wer etwas über die Geschichte und die Menschen von Manila, , wer Einblicke in das tägliche Leben und die vielfältige Essenskultur in dieser Stadt haben möchte, der ist bei Rudolfo genau richtig Er hat alles getan damit ich einen unverwechselbaren Tag erlebe. Unglaublich abwechslungsreich, eine tolle Mischung aus Kultur Foodtour. Genau so hatte ich es mir gewünscht. Ein Tag ohne Rodolfo in Manila ist ein verschwendete Tag.Ein toller Tag mit einem großartigen Guide

Beatrice

(About local Marie Jane)

3 April 2025

When booking this tour, we were interested in local foods of course but also in learning more about Filippino culture. Jane took us to the favorite places, locals go to. I told her of my interest in local fruits. I was able to buy delicious mangoes, passion fruits and even mangousteen that were not on display! She was a great resource and offered a lot of insights in the life of filippino people. I strongly recommend Jane as your tour guideA great cultural experience

newadrian81

(About local Bernadette)

1 April 2025

Our tour with Bernadette was without a doubt the highlight of our trip! Thanks to her, we were able to experience the real Manila – beyond the usual tourist spots, with authentic and eye-opening insights. With her knowledge, enthusiasm, and warm personality, she showed us the city in a way that goes far beyond what you’ll find in any travel guide. What impressed us the most was how she took us behind the scenes and introduced us to places that truly reflect the soul of Manila. This tour was not only informative but also deeply moving and inspiring. We are incredibly grateful for this experience and can highly recommend Bernadette to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable tour. A huge thank you!Experiencing the Real Manila – A Must-Do

Michelle

(About local Rodolfo)

14 March 2025

He asked immediately if we had dietary restrictions. My daughter is a pescatarian. He walked us through some areas that Anthony Bourdain did on his show which was very cool since one of my daughters was a big fan. Definitely bring your appetite. He feeds you well. We started out with fried chicken and duck noodle soup. Then we took a quick walk to talk about a little bit about the history of the place where we were, which was in Chinatown, and then we went and ate some more food. Then after that, we took a bit of a walk to have a nightcap and more food which we had to turn down and just have a tasting, because we were stuffed, bring your appetite, as you will be definitely fed with amazing food.Rodolfo was great.

Leann

(About local Joemarie)

2 March 2025

Joemarie was great. We did the full day tour and street food today - both were flexible and tailored to us. I’d recommend Joemarie - knowledgeable, prompt, safe & fun tours! Knowledgeable and Fun!!

Gina

(About local Joemarie)

24 February 2025

My 12 year old son and I really enjoyed our walking tour around Fort Santiago and Intramuros. Joemarie was knowledgeable, kind, patient and very flexible. He also didn’t rush us at all and let us take our time while still showing us everything on the initinerary. I highly recommend this tour with Joemarie!Highly Walking Tour w Joemarie!