What is the best tourist destination in the Philippines? If someone claims to know the definitive answer, they have probably never been to the country or have spent the entire vacation lounging by the hotel pool and googling other options.
In many ways, the Philippines is a fantastic country for travelers. But the reality of tourism here tends to divide opinions more sharply than in most places – some see it as paradise, others, as a chaotic mess.
The country offers stunning beaches, breathtaking mountains, great weather, friendly people, world-class diving and golf, extreme sports, vibrant nightlife… And as a bonus, English is widely spoken everywhere.
It all sounds perfect on paper. But like many things in the Philippines, the execution is often creative and occasionally just a bit off. Think of a chair with three sturdy legs and one that’s always slightly wobbly. When that leg gives way, your reaction will shape your experience: do you curse the whole thing as a disaster, or do you laugh it off and enjoy the adventure, balancing on the other three legs?
While the Philippines offers a wide range of experiences and emotions, it doesn’t have the kind of globally iconic landmarks or major events that draw millions of tourists on name recognition alone. There’s no Eiffel Tower, no Angkor Wat, no Louvre. No Super Bowl or Oktoberfest. Nothing people fly in for just to check off a bucket list item.
Travel Experience Generator
The charm of traveling in the Philippines lies in an old saying: It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. What happens along the way – whether things fall into place or fall apart – often determines whether your trip turns into the adventure of a lifetime or a complete disaster.
Travel experiences here are made up of many moving parts, calculated using a unusual formula that blends luck, improvisation, and a pinch of travel-induced stress. This is not a country for travelers who thrive on strict schedules and carefully crafted itineraries. In the Philippines, timetables are more like works of art – subject to interpretation. Plans evolve in real time or get canceled just as you arrive at the airport.
Another key feature of traveling in the Philippines is that no one’s experience can be used as a reliable recommendation for others. One person’s paradise is another’s nightmare. There are simply too many unpredictable variables, and they can change overnight. Just because someone had a perfect week on a remote island doesn’t mean you won’t return from the same place with a collection of emotional bruises. In the Philippines, things shift in the blink of an eye – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
My Personal Top Three
I won’t give you a list of must-see tourist spots – you can find those in countless travel blogs and guidebooks. Instead, in this first part of my series on Philippine tourist destinations, I’ll focus on three places that hold personal significance for me.
As with life in general, first love in travel leaves lasting impressions and shapes our expectations for future destinations. That was certainly true for me. From the moment I set foot in the Philippines, I felt at home. When that feeling blended with a love story and the endless possibilities of youth, life in Europe began to feel distant. My first experiences in the Philippines left an emotional mark on me that I can’t get rid of (and don’t want to).
No matter how much I try to rationalize it – and I’ve had three decades to do so – some places simply feel more special than others. Why? Because of the powerful emotions and unforgettable experiences that refuse to fade from memory.
This kind of attachment to travel destinations is rarely about the places themselves. It’s about the moments, situations, and feelings experienced there – and how they interact with our expectations, dreams, and the local reality. That’s the magic formula that keeps reigniting the original enchantment, again and again.
When I think of the most meaningful places I’ve visited in the Philippines, my top three align perfectly with where I’ve fallen in love and experienced on great adventures. While the locations themselves were just the backdrop to life’s defining moments, they have become deeply intertwined with my perception of the places themselves.
Palawan – The World’s Most Beautiful Island?
As a travel destination, Palawan is the most diverse in the Philippines. It appeals to all kinds of travelers, from budget-conscious backpackers to luxury tourists enjoying the country’s most exclusive resorts. It also offers three world-class attractions: the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea, the sunken Japanese warships off the coast of Busuanga, and the dramatic limestone lagoons and hidden coves of El Nido and Coron – arguably among the most stunning places on Earth.
My love affair with the Philippines began on the island of Palawan. It was love at first sight, and for nearly the entire 1990s, it was my home. Back then, places like El Nido, Port Barton, Sabang, and Busuanga were reachable only by boat, and everyday life felt like a mix between Indiana Jones and a Tarzan movie.
Since then, I’ve maintained my relationship with Palawan by visiting at least once a month – until COVID briefly forced us apart. It has been a fascinating and eventful ride, witnessing Palawan’s transformation from a remote backpacker’s “Last Frontier” to one of the Philippines’ most promising tourism hotspots.
Because my connection to Palawan is so deeply personal, I’m probably the worst person to give unbiased travel recommendations. Every village and island evoke memories of adventures, stories and emotions, so any advice I give would be hopelessly subjective – nostalgic at best and at worst would leave you stranded in the jungle without supplies or a clue where you are.
Since 2013, the prestigious New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure has consistently ranked Palawan among the world’s most beautiful islands, based on traveler experiences. Meanwhile, Condé Nast Traveler readers have frequently voted it one of Asia’s top destinations in recent years.
Palawan is on its way to becoming a major Asian tourist destination – though it’s not there yet – but I’m convinced that in the future, Bali will have to hand over the metaphorical keys of paradise to Palawan. With direct flights from China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea expected to increase, the flow of mass tourism in Asia will inevitably shift to Palawan, which is far closer than Bali.
With mass tourism, however, comes an inevitable paradox. Alongside its pleasant climate, Palawan’s greatest assets are its pristine nature and breathtaking landscapes. In overpopulated Asia, they are a strong currency whose value is not eroded by inflation but is nullified by excessive use.
The Cordillera Mountains – From the Tropics to the Fireplace
Sometimes, the urge strikes to escape the tropics and immerse yourself in a completely different environment. That escape exists in the northern part of Luzon, where the Cordillera Mountains stand in stark contrast to the Philippines’ usual postcard image. No coconut trees, no sandy beaches, no heatwaves, no traffic, no pollution, and no suffocating crowds. Instead, you’ll find breathtaking mountain landscapes, crisp pine-scented air, picturesque rice terraces, and refreshing waterfalls.
I first visited the region’s most famous villages – Sagada, Maligcong, and Bauko – back in 1993. Today, there are more guesthouses, more restaurants, and better-paved trails catering to tourists, yet these mountain villages have miraculously retained their charming, isolated atmosphere. It’s as if they have accepted progress, but only on their own terms.
Even after all these years, I still can’t fully explain why these villages captivate me the way they do. Perhaps it’s some deep, unspoken yearning for a simpler, more profound existence. This is a place where being in a rush feels unnatural and where every breath feels fresher than the last.
Reaching these mountain villages takes time, regardless of the mode of transport. But the journey itself is so scenic that being in a hurry would be a mistake. The rapidly shifting mountain weather is another factor to consider – sudden downpours, winding roads, and impatience do not mix well. Even in ideal conditions, it’s wise to keep a safe distance from the road’s edge.
Tucked away in pine forests, these idyllic highland towns defy the tropical stereotype of the Philippines. Their mountain trails and panoramic views resemble the Alps more than a tropical archipelago. After a day of hiking, there’s nothing quite like settling by the fireplace with a glass of locally made bugnay wine, accompanied by a hearty homemade meal – perhaps a steaming bowl of miki abra noodle soup or pinalatan chicken with mashed potatoes.
Historically, the Ifugao tribes of the Cordilleras cultivated marijuana for personal use, a practice once tolerated as part of their indigenous culture. During the hippie era, this drew a wave of backpacking stoners, particularly to Sagada. Today, however, there’s no need to go searching for a “magic carpet ride” – the region is mind-altering enough on its own, simply by being so profoundly different from the rest of the country.
For Filipino travelers, Sagada is also known as the filming location of the beloved romantic comedy That Thing Called Tadhana.
Manila – For the Love of Concrete and Chaos
They say Metro Manila is hard to love. Even Wikipedia tries to be diplomatic, calling it a ”highly urbanized city.” But the truth? This megacity of over 20 million people feels like a poorly designed Tetris game – intense, chaotic, and always on the verge of running out of space.
Dan Brown’s novel Inferno famously described Manila as the “gates of hell,” but that seems a bit unfair. After all, what did Dan Brown know about riding a jeepney during rush hour? For many travelers, Manila is just a gateway to paradise – a stopover on the way to the Philippines’ pristine islands. But for me, Metro Manila is far more than a transit point; it’s one of the country’s most fascinating destinations.
When we talk about Manila, we’re actually referring to Metro Manila, a sprawling urban area made up of 17 cities, but unless you’re scrutinizing a map, the entire metropolis tends to blend into a single, chaotic urban sprawl. It’s a patchwork of crumbling infrastructure, gridlocked traffic, and islands of gleaming high-rises where the wealthy live in air-conditioned isolation from the city’s daily grind.
Yes, Metro Manila is easy to hate. But it’s also possible to love – if you know where to look. Even though it’s home for my family, I also see it as a destination worth exploring. Just stepping outside my own neighborhood can feel like an adventure. The physical distance may only be a few kilometers, but mentally, I might as well be a tourist exploring foreign land.
My relationship with Metro Manila has swung between frustration and affection, but over time, the latter is winning. It’s not just because new nice residential areas and massive shopping malls have sprouted across the city – those can be found in any major Asian metropolis. What truly defines Manila is its ability to let you live multiple lives at once.
These different “lives” make the city endlessly interesting, layered with contradictions, surprises, and unexpected encounters – assuming, of course, you’re not stuck in the same expat bar every night, hearing the same tired opinions about the Philippines.
The longer you live, work, and navigate Metro Manila, the more you find yourself moving between distinct social and functional circles that rarely intersect. These circles cut across social classes – from the country’s influential elite to the street beggars in your neighborhood. You don’t just coexist with these extremes; you live in the complex realities that lie between them.
Metro Manila is a true Asian megacity – both sleepy and electrifying, a chaotic whirlwind of inequality where every possible version of human existence is on display. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is dull. And something is always happening somewhere.
More on the topic:
The Philippines as a Tourist Destination (part 2)
The Philippines as a Tourist Destination (part 3)
