Is The Philippines Worth Visiting? 15 Reasons to Visit!

Want to know “Is the Philippines worth visiting”?

I used to live in Manila for almost a year and had to chance to travel around the Philippines and make some really good Filipino friends.

If you are wondering whether it’s worth visiting the Philippines, the answer is that yes, it is definitely worth visiting!

The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands and it has some of the best beaches and water sports activities.

The weather is pretty warm all year around, making December to February the best time to visit, as the temperature is a little bit lower at that time (but still warm enough to wear shorts and T-Shirts!)

Some of the main reasons to visit the Philippines is try water sports, go island hopping, relax by the beach, go hiking, meet Filipino people and try Filipino food.

Here are the 15 best reasons to visit the Philippines!

Is The Philippines Worth Visiting?

Yes, the Philippines is definitely worth visiting!

The Philippines has 7,641 islands and is famous for its beaches, island hopping and water sports.

If you prefer mountains to beaches, there are also some great hiking routes in the Philippines, and you can even hike up to volcanoes.

Is Manila Worth Visiting?

While Metro Manila is the busy capital of the Philippines, it is totally worth visiting!

The traffic jams in Manila can take hours and most travellers only stay in Manila for a day before going off to one of the islands. Nevertheless, there are still so many things to do!

Manila has the feeling of a big capital city, people commuting to and from work, but it also has many amenities, museums, restaurants, bars and many activities to do.

If you are in Asia, and want to do some shopping, Manila has massive shopping malls and the mall culture is real. Many people hang out at malls and it is also a place to socialize.

Most travellers don’t come to the Philippines for the shopping malls, but you don’t have to worry, there are so many other things to do.

Some of the best things to do in Manila is to explore Intramuros, visit Binondo (Chinatown), watch the sunset over Manila, visit museums, hang out in Poblacion, and eat Filipino food.

Why Visit the Philippines

If you are wondering why visit the Philippines, the main reasons to visit is to explore its islands, go island hopping, try water sports (scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing), go hiking, explore volcanoes, and to try Filipino food.

15 Reasons to Visit the Philippines

1. Relax at the Beaches

If you are dreaming of a beach holiday in a scenic location, the Philippines has some of the nicest beaches!

The most popular beaches are in Boracay, Palawan (including El Nido and Coron) and Bohol.

They are great for relaxing, exploring the islands or to try water sports, like snorkeling or scuba diving.

✅ Book an Underground River Trip in Palawan here!

2. Go Island Hopping

With so many islands in the Philippines, island hopping is a great way to enjoy a sunny day and see as many places as possible.

Palawan has many islands and beaches that you can hop in-between. To see all of Palawan, it is easy to spend at least a week here but most people spend around 2 weeks exploring the islands.

You can sign up for island hopping tours that usually also include snorkeling, sightseeing, swimming in lagoons and exploring underground rivers.

✅ Don’t miss Island Hopping in Palawan!

3. Go Surfing

The Philippines is also a great spot for surfing!

The best places for surfing in the Philippines is in Siargao and La Union. They are really chill places with good beaches and facilities catering to travellers and surfers.

It is possible to surf in the Philippines all year around but the best time is from August to November when you have the best waves.

Before going surfing, you should also check the weather forecast as the Philippines is highly prone to typhoons and you should not be out surfing if there is a typhoon coming.

4. Meet the World’s Nicest People: Filipinos!

They say that Filipino people are the nicest people in the world. I can say that while I lived in the Philippines, it was true for me.

Filipinos are very friendly and welcoming. Also, the Philippines is safe for travel but you have exercise general precautions.

While the Philippines is safe, you should avoid dark streets late at night and if you go out at night, stay with your friends.

Filipinos also speak really good English, so you can actually make proper jokes in English and everyone will get it. Funnily, their English is so good that if you make any mistakes in English, they look at you like you don’t know how to speak English.

Some of my former Filipino colleagues are still some of my closest friends to this day even though we haven’t met for a long time. Philippines will always be one of the places I call home and it is thanks to the welcoming Filipinos.

5. Go Scuba Diving

With around 7,641 islands in the Philippines, it is a heaven for water sports! If you just want to dive a little bit and not get a certificate, you can do so, although you will not get to dive too deep.

The best places to dive in the Philippines are in Palawan (Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Coron Bay), Batangas (Anilao), Mindoro and Cebu.

The PADI diving courses usually cost around USD 300-500 and take a couple of days to complete.

6. Go Snorkelling

Snorkeling is great if you don’t want to go deep underwater as with scuba diving but you still want to see underwater.

For snorkeling, you don’t need a training like for scuba diving and you just have to swim face down and breathe through the snorkel.

For the best snorkeling places in the Philippines, check out Palawan, Bohol or Batangas.

7. Go Hiking

If you prefer the mountains to beaches, you don’t have to worry. The Philippines is not only about beaches and water sports, you can also go hiking!

Some of the best hikes in the Philippines:

• Mount Pulag in Luzon
• Mount Batulao in Batangas
• Mount Pinatubo

For day hikes from Manila, check out the Masungi Georeserve, Mt. Purro and Mt. Batulao.

8. Have Filipino Food

Filipino food is known for dishes made of various meat items, so if you are a vegan or vegetarian, you might struggle a bit for vegan options.

I eat meat but I remember the first time I arrived in the Philippines, I struggled with the food. All the spices felt so different to what I am used to. I had to try many different Filipino dishes to say that I found my favourites.

Some of the most popular Filipino food is Chicken Adobo (chicken marinated in vinegar), Sisig (minced pork with onion and chilli), Daing na Bangus (fried fish). After one year in the Philippines, these dishes ended up being my and my foreign friends’ favourites.

9. Dare to Eat Filipino Street Food

Filipino street food takes things to a whole new level. Apart from the chicken and pork barbecue, Filipino street food is also known for fried intestines and balut (egg with chicken embryo inside).

If you are not used to eating intestines, then honestly, sometimes it is best to not know what food you are eating in the Philippines.

✅ Join a Filipino Street Food Tour in Manila here!

10. Learn about Filipino History and Culture

When visiting a country, it is always important to learn about its history and culture.

The Philippines was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, from 1521 to 1898. Then, it was under the American colonial period from 1898 to 1946. Due to the Spanish and American influence, the Philippines now has a very westernized feel to it.

The best way to learn about Filipino history is through exploring the historical sites, visiting museums, making Filipino friends and learning about the Philippines history from them

11. Celebrate the Longest Christmas in the World

People don’t just celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, they have the longest Christmas celebration in the world.

The Christmas celebrations start early, and you can see Christmas decorations from September onwards. Christmas is a major holiday and once December begins, you can feel that everyone is in proper Christmas mood.

If you are in Manila during Christmas, they usually have a Christmas light show at the Ayala Garden. It runs from November to January every year and it is a pretty nice place to get into the Christmas festive mood.

12. Go Off the Beaten Path

Apart from the famous and popular beaches of Palawan, Boracay or Bohol, there are so many other places in the Philippines to visit.

Some less visited and great places in the Philippines are Batanes, Iloilo, Zambales, Marinduque, and Romblon.

If you go to a less touristy place, people may not speak as good English as in big cities or touristy places, but overall, people will have some level of knowledge of English even in small villages.

13. Eat Strawberries in Baguio

Baguio is located 245 km north of Manila and takes about 4 hours to get there. Baguio is famous for its strawberry farms and if you love strawberry, it is definitely worth a visit!

The Baguio strawberry season runs from November to May but to be there when strawberry is ready to be harvested, you should visit between February to April.

14. Hike up to Volcanoes

There are currently 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines and while visiting a volcano is a unique activity, you should also follow safety precautions.

I happened to be in the Philippines when the Taal Volcano erupted in 2020 and I did a day hike to it just a few weeks before the eruption. I still remember the ash fall reached as far as Manila, so if there are any warnings, do not go to any of the volcanoes.

Two of the best volcanoes to visit in the Philippines now are the Mount Pinatubo and Mount Mayon.

15. Visit Museum Exhibitions

Visiting museums are a great way to learn about the culture and history of a country. There are many museums in Manila that you can explore and better understand the Filipino history.

Some of the best museums in Manila are the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, Ayala Museum, and the Pinto Art Museum.

FAQs: Is the Philippines Worth Visiting?

What are the main reasons to visit the Philippines?

The main reasons to visit is to explore its islands, go island hopping, try water sports (scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing), go hiking, explore volcanoes, and to try Filipino food.

Is the Philippines worth going?

Yes, the Philippines is definitely worth visiting!

The Philippines has around 7,641 islands and is famous for its beaches, island hopping and water sports.

If you prefer mountains to beaches, there are also some great hiking routes in the Philippines, and you can even hike up to volcanoes.

Is Philippines friendly to tourists?

Yes, the Philippines is friendly to tourists. They say that Filipinos are the nicest people in the world and you will feel safe and welcomed while travelling in the Philippines.

The Philippines is safe for everyone, including solo female travellers, expats, and families with kids.

People in the Philippines also speak good English, so you will be able to get by speaking English easily during your travels.

Is the Philippines a good place to go on a vacation?

Yes, the Philippines is a great place to go on a vacation!

In the Philippines you can relax by the beach, go island hopping, try water sports (snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving), go hiking, get full on Filipino food, see museum exhibitions or party it up in Manila.

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, the Philippines is definitely worth visiting!

The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands and it has some of the best beaches and water sports activities.

The weather is pretty warm all year around, making December to February the best time to visit, as the temperature is a little bit lower at that time (but still warm enough to wear shorts and T-Shirts!)

Some of the main reasons to visit the Philippines is try water sports, go island hopping, relax by the beach, go hiking, meet Filipino people and try Filipino food.