7 Best Places to Visit in the Philippines

The Philippines is a nation of more than 7,000 islands, and picking where to go depends entirely on what you're after — powder-white beaches, rice terraces carved into mountainsides, or surf breaks that draw travelers from across the world. Here are seven places that show the range.

1. Boracay

Boracay's White Beach is a 4-kilometer stretch of powder-fine sand on a small island in Aklan province, repeatedly ranked among the best beaches in the world. The island underwent a six-month government-ordered closure and rehabilitation in 2018 to address overdevelopment, and now caps daily tourist numbers to keep the water and sand in the condition that made it famous.

2. El Nido, Palawan

El Nido sits at the northern tip of Palawan and is the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, a cluster of limestone karst islands surrounding lagoons, hidden beaches, and coral reefs. Island-hopping tours (labeled A through D by route) are the standard way to see highlights like the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, both accessible only by paddling in through narrow limestone gaps.

3. Chocolate Hills

Bohol's Chocolate Hills are a formation of more than 1,000 grass-covered karst mounds spread across roughly 50 square kilometers, each nearly identical in size and shape. During the dry season the grass turns brown, giving the hills their name; the Carmen viewpoint and Sagbayan Peak are the two main lookout points for the classic panoramic photo.

4. Banaue Rice Terraces

Carved into the mountainsides of Ifugao province by the ancestors of the Ifugao people, the Banaue Rice Terraces are part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. Often called the "Stairway to the Sky," the terraces are still farmed using traditional methods, and follow the natural contours of the mountains rather than being cut into geometric shapes.

5. Intramuros

Intramuros is Manila's walled city, built by Spanish colonizers starting in the 16th century as the seat of colonial government. Fort Santiago and the baroque San Agustin Church — itself a separate UNESCO World Heritage Site — are the two best-preserved landmarks inside the walls, and horse-drawn calesas still carry visitors along the old streets.

6. Mayon Volcano

Mayon, in Albay province in the Bicol region, is known for having one of the most symmetrical cone shapes of any volcano in the world. It remains active — the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology monitors it continuously — and the view from Legazpi City or the nearby Cagsawa Ruins, a bell tower partially buried by a 19th-century eruption, is one of the most photographed sights in the country.

7. Siargao

Siargao, in Surigao del Norte, is widely known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, built around the Cloud 9 break — a powerful reef wave that hosts international surfing competitions. Beyond surfing, the island has a laid-back, low-rise feel, with lagoons, rock pools, and palm-lined roads that keep drawing travelers back after they've left the water.

Staying connected while you travel

The Philippines' main mobile networks (Globe and Smart) cover all seven of these destinations, including more remote spots like Siargao and El Nido. An eSIM lets you land with data already active instead of hunting for airport Wi-Fi — compare current Philippines eSIM plans below.

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For more on how eSIMs work before your trip, see our beginner's guide to eSIMs. You can also browse the full list of Philippines eSIM plans sorted by price.