Things to do in the Philippines - 30 sights and experiences

What to see and do in the Philippines? This Asian country offers everything from exotic sandy beaches with swaying palm trees to boat trips, caves and festivals. We present all our top tips.

What to do in the Philippines - our top tips

We have visited the Philippines twice. The first time we travelled around for a few weeks, and the second time for three months. Now we thought it was time to share our collective tips - on what to see and do in the Philippines.

1. sunbathing and swimming

One thing most tourists want to do in the Philippines is sunbathe and swim. The climate is warm and there are plenty of great sandy beaches, as well as the possibility of boat trips where you can swim directly from the boat. You can sunbathe and swim almost everywhere, including Boracay, Mindoro, Malapascua, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan and Coron.

2. Holiday on the island of Boracay

Known for its long tropical paradise beaches, the island of Boracay is today a place that attracts many tourists. This is the place to go if you want to sunbathe and swim, and if you appreciate that there are plenty of restaurants, bars, shops and activities for tourists.

3. Sailing at sunset

One thing you can do in Boracay, but not in many other places in the Philippines, is to sail on traditional boats with sails. The most popular is to head out just before sunset for a 'sunset sail'.

4. Try paragliding by boat

Boracay is also home to all kinds of fast-paced activities on the water, from jet skiing to banana boating. One of the most popular activities is parasailing after a boat.

5. Live city life in the capital Manila

As a tourist, the hectic metropolises of the Philippines are rarely visited, but the capital, Manila, is an interesting place to visit. Here you can shop in large shopping complexes, try the restaurants and stay in hotels among the high-rise buildings.

6. Discover the big island of Mindoro

Mindoro is a large island that can be reached by bus and boat from Manila. Here you can discover, for example, the resort of Puerto Galera, which is very popular with divers. You can also discover beautiful nature with waterfalls.

7. Shopping in Cebu City

Cebu City is a major city on the island of Cebu, and is a place from which you can travel by plane or boat. There are a few sights in the city that might be interesting to check out, and there are also plenty of large shopping centres.

8. Experience the Sinulog festival

The Sinulog Festival, or Santo Niño Festival as it is also called, is a cultural and religious festival held in Cebu City every January. Expect music, dance and colourful costumes! The photo and story below is from a smaller version of the festival, on the island of Malapascua.

9. Hang out on the urban island of Mactan

The island of Mactan is connected to Cebu City by several bridges and consists mainly of the town of Lapu-Lapu City, where you will also find Mactan-Cebu International Airport. This is an island filled with high-rise buildings, where it may be appropriate to stay for a night or two on the way to or from the airport.

10. Go on an excursion to Pandanon island

Pandanon is a tiny island located between Cebu City and the big island of Bohol, to which you can take boat trips. At one end of the island is a small village and at the other end you'll find a nice sandy beach, and the two parts are connected by a narrow spit of land, which is flooded by the sea during high tide.

11. Relax on the island of Malapascua

Malapascua is a small, relaxed island located just north of the large island of Cebu. Here you can sunbathe and swim, hang out at cosy beach restaurants or maybe go diving with thresher sharks, which are popular here.

12. snorkelling or diving

Snorkelling and diving is a very popular thing to do in the Philippines, because of the clear waters and the opportunity to see everything from colourful fish to shipwrecks. You can snorkel and dive in many places, such as Mindoro, Malapascua, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan.

13. Take an excursion to Kalanggaman Island

Kalanggaman is a stunning little paradise island in the Philippines, with white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and swaying palm trees. The island is uninhabited, but there is a small kiosk for tourists, and you can make day trips here from Malapascua or Leyte. 

14. Discover the Camotes Islands archipelago

The Camotes Islands archipelago consists of three islands: Pacijan, Poro and Ponson, located between the larger islands of Cebu and Leyte. Off Pacijan you will also find the charming little island of Tulang Diot. The islands have fine sandy beaches, as well as a number of exciting caves.

15. swimming in caves

There are several caves in the Philippines that you can visit, many of which also allow you to swim. Two examples are Timubo Cave on the island of Pacijan and Hinagdanan Cave on the island of Panglao.

16. Visit the Cuatro Islas archipelago

If you want to discover some islands where very few foreign tourists go, you can go to the Cuatro Islas archipelago, which consists of four islands: Apid, Digyo, Himokilan and Mahaba. Here you can find beautiful beaches, small villages, caves and coconut crabs, among other things.

17. Travelling around the island of Bohol

Bohol is a large island with a lot to offer. Here you can sunbathe and swim, but also experience sights such as the Chocolate Hills and cities such as Tagbilaran City. You can also get to the holiday island of Panglao.

18. Climb one of the Chocolate hills

The Chocolate Hills are an odd geological phenomenon of over a thousand spiky hills on the island of Bohol. There is a visitor centre near the town of Carmen, and you can climb one of the hills via stairs.

19. familiarise yourself with Philippine ghost animals

The Philippine ghost, or tarsier, is a tiny animal with huge eyes that lives in the Philippines. There are two places on the island of Bohol where you can see these fascinating creatures.

20. Cruising on the Loboc River

A slightly different thing to do in the Philippines is to cruise the Loboc River on the island of Bohol. The cruise boats act as floating restaurants, and you eat a buffet while travelling along the river.

21. Relax on the island of Panglao

Panglao is a popular Philippine holiday island located on the larger island of Bohol. Here you can sunbathe and swim on beautiful sandy beaches, dine in restaurants serving food from around the world, and relax in fine resorts.

22. Rent a scooter and go on an adventure

Almost everywhere in the Philippines you can rent a moped, and this is often a great way to get around on your own. With a moped, you can make day trips and discover things like towns, beaches, waterfalls and caves in your neighbourhood.

23. Fascinated by the dramatic nature of Palawan?

Palawan offers dramatic scenery, with towering fabulous mountains, dreamy lagoons and crystal clear green waters. Nature can be experienced in Port Barton, El Nido and Coron.

24. See the underground river in Puerto Princesa

One of the biggest attractions in Palawan is an underground river in Puerto Princesa. The river, which is 8.2 kilometres long, is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and, together with the national park it is located in, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

25. Hike to waterfalls

Waterfalls can be found in many parts of the Philippines, including the islands of Cebu, Luzon, Siquijor and Palawan. The waterfalls are often surrounded by beautiful scenery and may require a small hike to reach them, which can make for an enjoyable excursion.

26. Try "island hopping" in El Nido

A very popular activity in El Nido, Palawan, is island hopping between islands in the surrounding archipelago. These full-day tours typically make around five stops at stunning islands, beaches and lagoons, where you can swim, snorkel and perhaps kayak.

27. Kayaking in lagoons

In the Palawan archipelago, including off El Nido and Coron, there are many stunningly beautiful lagoons where kayaking is fantastic. Often you can join a boat tour, then rent a kayak and paddle around in the stunning surroundings.

28. Swimming in lakes in Coron

Coron is located in the northern part of Palawan, just north of the main island. Here you'll find a stunning landscape of dramatic cliffs and beautiful lagoons, and it's common to go on various boat trips. There are also lakes here with brackish water, such as Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake, where you can swim.

29. try Filipino food

When travelling, it is always interesting to try the local food. In the Philippines, you may want to eat seafood and try local dishes such as pancit (noodle dish), chicken adobo (chicken dish), lechon baboy (whole roasted pig) and lumpia (spring rolls).

30. Enjoy a spa and massage

One thing you can do in the Philippines if you want to is enjoy a spa and massage. Since the prices are low, you can treat yourself to this luxury at a completely different price than what is possible at home.

More suggestions on what to see and do in the Philippines?

Do you have more suggestions on what to see and do in the Philippines? Please leave a comment in the comments section!