Intramuros Travel Guide: What to See Inside Manila’s Walled City
Intramuros, the historic walled city in the heart of Manila is a unique and fascinating area that offers a glimpse into the Philippines colonial and often times dark past. When visiting Manila, Intramuros is a must-see destination.
Intramuros is a large area with a lot to see to include Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, and so much more. I created this Intramuros travel guide to highlight the must see attractions and maximize your time inside Manila’s walled city.
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Intramuros and Manila in general has a long and complex history. Intramuros was first built by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, in the mid to late 1500’s and was the center of the military power, political rule, and religious practices during the Spanish colonial period.
The walls around Intramuros were built after 1590 to protect the town and structures within. Overtime because of war and occupation, Intramuros was under rule by other countries to include Great Britain, the United States, and Japan.
Jose Rizal
The name Jose Rizal was unknown to me until my trip to Manila. I read a lot about Jose Rizal at the beautiful Rizal Park and during my visit to Intramuros.
For those that don’t know, Jose Rizal was a Filipino nationalist, writer, and revolutionary, who is regarded as a national hero of the Philippines.
Two novels written by Jose Rizal, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” were written to kind of expose the abuses of the Spaniards during the Spanish colonization. In return, this created a movement for reform and independence.
Rizal was then arrested by Spanish authorities as he was deemed a danger and was imprisoned at Fort Santiago in Intramuros.
Rizal was then sentenced to death and was executed in Luneta Park (now Rizal Park) by firing squad on December 30, 1896.
Japanese Occupation During WWII
Another historical tragedy that took place at Intramuros, specifically at Fort Santiago was the Japanese occupation during WWII.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1945, Intramuros was a strategic military center for Japanese forces.
There were some horrendous acts that took places at Fort Santiago. The dungeons which are not that big held 600 prisoners at the time, most dying of starvation, disease, and suffocation.
Inside the dungeon, I learned about the Manila Massacre. From February 3 to March 3, 1945, Manila was the center of a major conflict. Allied forces fought to liberate Manila from the Japanese forces.
According to information at Fort Santiago, the Japanese forces went on a rampage and killed thousands of civilians in Manila. Most of the city was destroyed and over 100,000 civilians lost their lives.
Getting Around Intramuros
Once inside Intramuros, I found it to be very walkable and easy to navigate. I walked from the entrance of Intramuros on General Luna Street to Fort Santiago which is a little over a kilometer and took me 15 minutes.
Walking is not the only way to see Intramuros. You can take a calesa (horse carriage, which I do not recommend), tricycle, or ride around on a Bamboo Bike.
Calesa (Hose-drawn carriage) – The Calesa were parked around some of the popular tourist destinations within Intramuros like the Manila Cathedral.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend the Calesa. From what I witnessed, the poor horses were overworked, in poor health, and not well cared for. I saw one horse struggling to stand up because of the heat and the owner would not let it lie down or rest.
Tricycle – There were plenty of motorized tricycle riders around Intramuros. They all seemed friendly and eager to drive me around, I declined, but hey! It’s an option. Prices are relatively low and they drop you off where you want.
Bamboo Bicycle – One of the best ways to get around Intramuros that is not on foot is by bike. Bambike Ecotours offer tours and rentals.
How to Spend Your Day at Intramuros
Intramuros, Manila’s historic walled city is a must when visiting Manila. You should plan on a half day to full day. In my Intramuros travel guide, below you can find my recommended things to do and how to maximize your time at Intramuros.
Club Intramuros Golf Course
I am not a golfer, but couldn’t help and notice the beautiful golf course tucked around the historic walls of Intramuros.
The Club Intramuros Golf Course is an 18-hole par-66 layout course.
For more information on the course and rates visit the Club Intramuros Golf Course website.
General Luna Street
General Luna Street at Intramuros is an iconic street and the main road in the walled city that has a nice blend of colonial charm, modern day restaurants, and historic churches.
When walking through the main entrance to Intramuros, you are right on General Luna Street. Along this street you can find the San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, and Fort Santiago.
San Agustin Church
San Agustin Church in Intramuros is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Philippines top historical landmarks to visit.
According to the UNESCO plaque, San Agustin Church is one of four Baroque Churches in the Philippines and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
San Agustin Church was founded in 1571 and completed in 1607. Today, visitors can freely enter the church and admire the beautifully decorated interior.
Manila Cathedral
Right down General Luna Street from San Agustin Church is the Manila Cathedral also known as the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
The Manila Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Basilica and was built in 1571 but has been rebuilt several times because of natural disasters and war.
What I liked about the Manila Cathedral was the blend of Romanesque architecture and the somewhat modern interior.
Fort Santiago
One of the most important and significant sites in Intramuros is Fort Santiago. No Intramuros travel guide can be written without mentioning Fort Santiago.
Earlier on in this post, I mentioned Fort Santiago a bit in regards to the history of Intramuros. Fort Santiago was built in the 1500’s by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Fort Santiago served as a fortress and served as a military defense during the Spanish colonial period.
Fort Santiago is also known as being a prison and one of its most famous prisoners was Dr. Jose Rizal, also listed earlier on in this post. When visiting Fort Santiago, you can see Jose Rizal’s prison cell and learn more about his accomplishments, eventual capture, and execution.
During WWII, Fort Santiago was used by Japanese forces as a prison and torture chamber. There are some intense images and descriptions in the prison today.
Today, Fort Santiago is open to the public and a must visit. It stands as a reminder of the Philippines history and resilience.
Conclusion
I wrote this Intramuros travel guide because I want to share everything I learned while visiting Intramuros. If visiting Manila, I highly recommend adding Intramuros to your itinerary.
Intramuros is a fascinating district of Manila that is rich in history and completely different then any other place you will visit while in Manila. Spend a half day to a day walking the old walls, visiting Fort Santiago, and marveling at San Agustin Church.
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