🇵🇭Philippines·Asia
Philippines
El Nido, Chocolate Hills, and 7,641 Islands of Paradise
dest.flightsFrom
£710
dest.hotelsFrom
£25/per night
dest.budgetPerDay
£55
dest.avgTemp
28°C
dest.bestTime
November to May
dest.safety
7.8/10
dest.about Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands scattered across the western Pacific — and it contains some of the most spectacular island scenery on earth. El Nido's turquoise lagoons and limestone cliffs, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the whale sharks of Oslob, and the rice terraces of Banaue are among Asia's greatest natural wonders. The Philippines is also home to some of the world's finest diving, warmest people, and most pristine beaches.
dest.topHighlights
El Nido, Palawan
Turquoise lagoons enclosed by towering limestone karsts — the most beautiful island scenery in Southeast Asia
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills that turn chocolate brown in the dry season — a geological wonder
Tubbataha Reef
UNESCO World Heritage dive site in the Sulu Sea — pristine coral walls, hammerhead sharks, and manta rays
Banaue Rice Terraces
2,000-year-old Ifugao rice terraces carved into the Cordillera mountains — the Eighth Wonder of the World
Coron, Palawan
World War II Japanese shipwrecks, crystal-clear lakes, and dramatic limestone scenery
Siargao Island
The surf capital of the Philippines — Cloud 9 wave, coconut road, and the most laid-back island vibe in Asia
dest.thingsToDo Philippines
- Island hopping tours in El Nido (Tours A, B, C, D)
- Snorkel with whale sharks in Oslob
- Dive the WWII wrecks of Coron
- See the Chocolate Hills from the viewing deck
- Trek to Banaue Rice Terraces
- Surf Cloud 9 in Siargao
- Visit the Tubbataha Reef by liveaboard
- Explore Intramuros, Manila's Spanish walled city
dest.weather Philippines
dest.bestMonthsToVisit November to May
5-dest.day Philippines dest.itinerary
Manila Arrival
- ·Arrive Manila
- ·Intramuros walled city
- ·Rizal Park
- ·BGC rooftop dinner
El Nido, Palawan
- ·Fly to El Nido
- ·Tour A island hopping
- ·Secret Lagoon
- ·Big Lagoon kayaking
Palawan Paradise
- ·Tour C — Shimizu Island
- ·Helicopter Island
- ·Snorkelling coral gardens
- ·Sunset at Las Cabanas
Bohol
- ·Fly to Bohol
- ·Chocolate Hills
- ·Tarsier sanctuary
- ·Loboc River cruise
Departure
- ·Panglao Island beach
- ·Balicasag Island diving
- ·Return to Manila
- ·Departure
dest.whereToEat Philippines
Altrove
Italian-Filipino · El Nido · $$$
Canto Bogchi
Filipino · Manila · $$
Lantaw Native Restaurant
Filipino Seafood · Cebu · $$
Kasa Palma
Filipino · Siargao · $$
dest.practicalInformation
dest.visaRequirements
Visa-free for 30 days for EU, UK, US, and most Western passport holders (extendable to 59 days at Bureau of Immigration). No visa required on arrival.
dest.gettingAround
Domestic flights (essential for island hopping — cheap with Cebu Pacific and AirAsia), bangka boats between islands, tricycles and jeepneys locally.
dest.currency
PHP (Philippine Peso)
dest.timezoneLanguage
GMT+8 · Filipino / English
dest.frequentlyAskedQuestions
Which island should I visit in the Philippines?
Palawan (El Nido, Coron) for scenery; Bohol for culture and nature; Siargao for surf and vibe; Cebu for diving and accessibility.
Is the Philippines safe to visit?
Most tourist areas are safe. Avoid Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, and Siargao are all considered safe for tourists.
What is the best time to visit?
November to May is the dry season for most islands. The Philippines has a complex weather pattern — different islands have different best seasons.