Intramuros

Background and History

Also known as the “Walled City”, Intramuros is located in Manila, Philippines. The
reason it’s called Intramuros is that it came from the Latin word which means inside the
walls. In short, it is a city within the walls. It is situated at the site of the former palace of
Rajah Sulayman during the late fifteenth century and was built by the Spaniards some
400 years ago as their political and military base in Asia.

According to its illustrious history, Intramuros was planned and built by Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi in the year 1571 during the start of the Spanish colonial period in the
Philippines. The Spaniards constructed a series of six meters high stone walls and
fortifications which are bounded by moats on a very crucial piece of land on the south
bank of the Pasig River which is known today as Fort Santiago. It is bordered by Pasig
River in the north and Manila Bay in the west. Apart from the stone walls, other
defensive structures used to surround the city, like moats, cannons, bulwarks, and
javelins. Not only did it protect Intramuros from man-made disasters, but it also fended
off threats from Chinese pirates, Dutch forces, and other invaders. Intramuros is known
as the Walled City because it was mainly built as a defensive curtain to defend the
occupant from outside aggression.

As the years go by, Intramuros is home to several churches, parks, schools, plazas,
monasteries, and grand government offices. Furthermore, Intramuros accommodate the
Philippines’ prosperous families, brilliant students, and most authoritative churchly
orders during the sixteenth century.

As the place of Spanish dominion in the Philippines, Intramuros seized the scrutiny of
every major industrialized country such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the
United States, and Japan to conquer the Philippines during the Industrial Revolution
era. Moreover, the Spanish officials command that the Chinese could not own houses
inside Intramuros, so a growing community of Filipino-Chinese was established outside
the walls in a place known as the Parian de Arroceros, on the other hand, despite being
heavily influenced by Spanish architecture, renovations made also revealed its Chinese
influences. . For the past 374 years, Intramuros still stood despite a series of fires and
earthquakes, however, some structures were not restored after the destruction of
multiple wars and remained today as ruins.

The history behind the ruins is what made Intramuros a must-see destination in Manila
today, despite the modernization it has since undergone.

Personal Trip to Intramuros

Since Intramuros is quite near and easy to travel into, it has been one of our bonding
places with my friends. Everytime we have free time, we always find the need to spend
it by strolling to Intramuros. The place is always jam packed with people. The
vintage-style buildings make it very picturesque and a crowd-favorite. Teenagers also
love to take pictures and do photoshoots at the place since it is very beautiful and
instagrammable. There are also shops here and there matched with the beautiful
scenery of the old town. But not just strolling and eating, Intramuros also has
educational options for people to participate in. You can purchase tickets for visiting
sites with the historical information of the place, mostly it highlights the life of Rizal, the
national hero, during the Spanish settlement. Strolling around the area, you can notice a
lot of underground prisons, the canons, and the graves. It is also advisable to bring your
student I.D. to have a discount when entering Fort Santiago.

That's not all, Intramuros is also close to Luneta Park (also known as Rizal Park). It is a
very famous hangout spot in the area. Usually families are strolling through the area to
introduce the history of the place to their kids. Luneta Park has a monument of when
Rizal died, it also has a pond where the map of the Philippines is floating. But not just
Luneta Park, you can also go to the National Museums just around the place. You can
hire a pedicab or ride a kalesa to get to the famous archeological sites. There are 3
museums: National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Anthropology, and
National Museum of Natural History. You can visit all of them in a day or visit once each
day.

Local’s Advice when Visiting Intramuros

Always use sunscreen, wear comfortable clothes, sneakers, or footwear, bring an

umbrella and a hand fan, student or valid ID, bottled water, handkerchief or face towel,
don’t forget your face mask, bring extra pocket money, of course your smartphone.

What to Eat and Drink in Intramuros

Local Cusine

There’s no harm in going beyond the walls and trying the Chinese favorites through a
Binondo food trip if you’re bent on having a journey for your taste buds in Manila.

Intramuros restaurants offering traditional Spanish and Filipino dishes

Barbara's Heritage Restaurant - located in Casa Manila, the restaurant offers traditional
Filipino and Spanish recipes, as well as European-inspired dishes. Meanwhile, its
ground floor houses an outdoor coffee shop serving sandwiches and other snacks.

Ilustrado Restaurant - opened in 1989, Ilustrado has been regarded as one of the best
restaurants in Intramuros. It is set in an old, restored Spanish-era house with an Old
Manila setting, is lauded for their take on what some may call the Philippine national
dish, adobo.

Recommended Best Restaurants and Bars

Ristorante Delle Mitre - named after the tall headdress worn by bishops and senior
abbots, the restaurant offers the favorite dishes of priests and bishops across the
country—and even named the food after them!

9 Spoons - offering a chic and casual dining experience and a panoramic view of the
Manila skyline and Intramuros Golf Course.

Sky Deck - located at the rooftop of the hotel, its setting gives diners a 360-degree view
of the city of Manila. Needless to say, the best time to get a table here is at sundown,
when you can watch the majestic Manila sunset.

Coco Bango Café - is a favorite among the locals. The menu is quite extensive, with
Filipino, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and European-inspired dishes.

Itinerary

Sample 1-Day Itinerary to Intramuros (by Jervis Ergino)

07:00 AM - Departure going to Intramuros

08:30 AM - Arrive at Baluarte De San Diego
10:00 AM - Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church
11:30 AM - Lunchtime at Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant
01:00 PM - Silahis Center
02:00 PM - Casa Manila
03:00 PM - Museo de Intramuros
04:00 PM - Fort Santiago
05:30 PM - Going back home

Sample 2-Day Itinerary to Intramuros (by Jervis Ergino)

Day 1
08:00 AM - Explore Fort Santiago
09:30 AM - Visit Manila Cathedral, Plaza Roma, and Palacio del Gobernador
11:20 AM - Lunchtime at Coco Bango Cafe
01:00 PM - Baluarte de San Diego
02:30 PM - Visit Casa Manila and San Agustin Church
04:30 PM - Bamboo bike tour with sunset viewing at Sky Deck View Bar – The Bayleaf
Intramuros
07:00 PM - Dinner Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant

Day 2
09:00 AM - Intramuros and Rizal Bagumbayan Light and Sound Museum
11:30 AM - Lunch
01:00 PM - National Museum of Natural History/National Museum of Fine Arts/National
Museum of Anthropology
03:00 PM - Explore Rizal Park
05:15 PM - Sunset viewing at Manila Bay
07:00 PM - Dinner

Sample 3-Day Itinerary to Intramuros (by Myjel Alinea Guevarra)

Day 1
08:00 AM - Fort Santiago and Rizal Shrine
10:00 AM - Plaza Roma: Manila Cathedral, Ayuntamiento, and Palacio del Gobernador
12:00 PM - Lunch at Coco Bango Café
01:00 PM - Casa Manila
02:00 PM - Bahay Tsinoy
04:00 PM - San Agustin Church and Museum
07:00 PM - Dinner at Barbara’s

Day 2
08:00 AM - Plazuela de Santa Isabel
08:30 AM - Puerta de San Lucia
09:00 AM - Light and Sound Museum
11:00 AM - Baluartillo de San Jose
12:00 PM - Lunch at Ilustrado
01:00 PM - Baluartillo de San Diego and Puerta Real
02:30 PM - Baluarte de San Andres
03:30 PM - Puerta del Parian
04:00 PM - Puerta de San Isabela II
05:00 PM - Bamboo Bike tour with sunset viewing at Sky Deck

Day 3
08:00 AM - Rizal Park
10:00 AM - National Museum tour
01:00 PM - Lunch, walking tour, and souvenir shopping at Binondo
04:00 PM - Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)
06:00 PM - Dinner and bar-hopping at Malate

How to Go to Intramuros

Option 1:
From Mall of Asia in Pasay City, ride a bus or jeep with signage of Lawton.
From Lawton, walk for thirty minutes towards Intramuros.
Option 2:
From Makati City, ride an MRT (Metro Rail Transit) train going to Taft Avenue station.
From Taft Avenue station, ride an LRT (Light Rail Transit System) train going to Central
station.
Then from Central station, walk your way towards Intramuros.

Option 3:
From Recto Manila, ride a passenger jeep that has signage of Intramuros.
Alight at exactly at Intramuros arch.

Option 4:
From LRT 2 Katipunan Station, ride a train going to LRT 2 Recto Station
Then from LRT Line 2 Recto Station goes straight towards LRT Line 1 Doroteo Jose
Station and after that go over to the overpass bridge (a shortcut way to get in Line 1).
From Line 1, ride a southbound train from Doroteo Jose Station going to Baclaran. Then
go down to the selected station either Central Terminal station or United Nations station.
depending on where you are comfortable.
Note: If you choose to go down in Central Terminal station, then you may ride an electric
tricycle or also known as e-trikes, and tell the driver to take you to Intramuros. On the
other hand, if you choose to go down to the United Nations station, walk towards Kalaw
Avenue (formerly T.M. Kalaw Street)-Southern Boundary of Rizal Park. From Rizal Park,
you can walk diligently to Intramuros.

Option 5:
If individual - book Angkas or Joyride and just pin the destination to wherever in
Intramuros you want to be.
If group - book Grab and just pin the destination to wherever in Intramuros you want to
be.
Note: If you have a private vehicle then you can pin the Intramuros on your Waze app or
Google Maps on your smartphone. You can also use the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge for
convenience and faster travel time. In addition, there’s a pay parking area within
Intramuros.

Reminders and Tips:

- Intramuros is open to the public during the night.

- Pedicabs fares usually cost more than 100 pesos.
- If you have your own bike then you can bring it to Fort Santiago while having a
tour but you can also rent a bike there.
- There’s a parking area for motorcycles and cars for a minimal amount so you
don’t need to worry. You may park your car at the San Agustin Church.
- Fort Santiago entrance fee is 50 pesos for students and 75 pesos for adults. Fort
Santiago is open daily from 8 am until 7 pm. Meanwhile, Rizal Shrine is open
from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am up to 6 pm. On the other hand, the Casa
Manila museum is open every weekend.
- The entrance fee in Baluarte de San Diego is 75 pesos per head for adults and
50 pesos per head for students.
- Calesa tour or horse-drawn carriage tour is around 300-1000 pesos for every
hour of the tour. It’s a good old-fashioned and perfect way to get around
Intramuros and to experience the golden years of the calesa as a mode of
transport without breaking a sweat. Presently, calesa is mainly used for tourism
purposes only. The horse-drawn carriage can accommodate up to 2 passengers
(formerly 5 but due to safety protocols it was reduced). Calesa was first used on
the streets of Manila during the eighteenth century.
- Be aware of the tricycle drivers who overcharge the commuter. For example, he
was charging your group 100 pesos per person for just a three-minute trip going
to Casa Manila. In case you encounter this kind of tricycle driver just reach out
and report it to your tour guide or to the guards that are near to your area.
 - Guides are available mostly at Casa Manila. Also, there are DOT (Department of
Tourism) accredited tour guides that are fluent in Filipino and English language.
- The entrance fee in Intramuros is 75 pesos and visitors can visit all the
attractions in Intramuros in half-day around three to four hours.
- Make sure to always allot time allowance for every destination you’re visiting.
- Always put your garbage or trash in a proper way.
- There are many hotels and accommodations near Intramuros where you can
stay overnight such as Casa Bocobo Hotel, Hotel H2O, The Luneta Hotel Manila,
The Bayleaf Intramuros, The Manila Hotel, and White Knight Hotel Intramuros.
- Many local travelers go around Intramuros by bamboo bikes. Bambike tours
provide tourists with a one-of-a-kind bamboo bike tour in Intramuros that is both
compelling and informational. Bambike headquarters is located at Real Street
corner General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. Bambike’s operating hours are
Monday to Saturday from 9 am up to 5 pm.

Safety Tips
- Avoid being deceived into losing something essential to you and use smart
judgment when dealing with people.
- Petty crimes are rampant in the city, so always mind your belongings anywhere
you go. If you need help, the best people to ask are the police and security
guards, if available.
- In terms of environmental dangers, always check the news for weather updates
before planning your activities to avoid falling victim to inclement weather.

Public Transportation Tips

 - The horrible traffic congestion in the Philippines is no secret. Although there’s not
much road congestion within Intramuros, you can still experience it once you go
beyond the walls.
- The best way to keep calm in such situations is to allot at least an hour for land
travel if you want to go around Manila.
- If you’re taking any train lines, be also warned that it gets really crowded during
rush hour or between 7 AM to 9 AM, and 5 PM to 9 PM. Try to travel during
off-peak hours, instead.

References:

Ergino, J. (2022, December 18). Intramuros Manila (history and facts). Hike To
Mountains. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://hiketomountains.com/intramuros/

Guevarra, M. A. (n.d.). Intramuros Manila Travel Guide: Historic walled city. Guide to the
Philippines. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/intramuros-manila-travel-guide#