Ideas
Open to Intramuros history walk
About Spanish colonial history
Meet like-minded people in Manila
On your own in Manila? Check in for the days you're there, say what you're open to, and other travellers and locals who chose to be seen can ask to join. They see your city, never your exact spot.
Manila is a gateway to the Philippines' islands, but solo travellers who stay a few days find a warm, English-speaking city with a strong food and nightlife scene. Filipinos are famously friendly, which makes striking up conversations easy. Travellers gather in Poblacion in Makati for bars and hostels, in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for its parks and restaurants, and in historic Intramuros.
Meeting people in Manila: what works
- Base yourself in Poblacion, Makati, where social hostels and small bars make it easy to meet travellers.
- Join a walking tour of Intramuros, the walled Spanish-era city, to learn the history and meet others.
- Find run clubs and weekend activities in BGC, which is walkable and has plenty of public parks.
- Use Grab to get around and to plan meetups, since traffic and distances can be large.
Stay safe
Use Grab rather than hailing taxis, keep phones and valuables out of sight in crowded areas, and allow plenty of time for traffic.
Meet in public places, tell a friend where you’re going, and never send money to someone you met online.
Cards people might post in Manila
Examples of what you could be open to. Post your own in a minute.
Friends
Open to Bar hopping in Poblacion
About Meeting people on a night out
Date
Open to Dinner in BGC
About Filipino food beyond adobo
Friends
Open to Sunset at Manila Bay
About Island-hopping travel plans
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