Manila hasn't always been the easiest city to explore, something Coldplay would attest to. In January 2024, when the band performed here, lead singer Chris Martin was so shocked by Manila's traffic that he sang an impromptu ditty about its congested roads.
It's true, Manila can seem chaotic, particularly in neighbourhoods like Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown – a place where jeepneys (beautifully painted buses cobbled together using leftover parts from vehicles abandoned by US soldiers) dodge wooden handcarts being pulled through its streets, but that's part of its charm.
In reality, there are cities with worse traffic, and Manila is also becoming much more accessible these days. The Philippines Department of Tourism introduced Manila's first Hop-On-Hop-Off (HOHO) bus in 2023. Stops include the National Museum, Binondo and Intramuros, and there's a slick dedicated website () and app. There are also plans for a new Philippine national railway service, which will connect downtown Manila with Laguna, Quezon and Camarines Sur, known for its palm-fringed beaches.
