Places to Visit in Philippines

Choosing where to go in the Philippines depends on what you want from a trip. Each region has its own focus, and travel between regions takes time, so most plans work best in one or two places. This page covers the main regions in our research, with notes on what each is known for.

Places at a glance

• Palawan: El Nido, Coron and the underground river area.
• Boracay: beaches.
• Cebu: waterfalls and access to diving.
• Bohol: the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers.
• Manila: history and culture.
• Siargao: surfing.
• Banaue Rice Terraces: mountain scenery and indigenous heritage.

Palawan: El Nido, Coron and the underground river area

Palawan covers El Nido, Coron and the underground river area. Its coast and bays suit a slower trip with one hotel base. Coron and the underground river are separate parts of the island, so check the travel options with your planner before you combine them. Our Palawan El Nido 5N package stays in El Nido for five nights and offers the underground river visit as an optional day.

Boracay: beaches

Boracay is known for its beaches, so it suits travellers who want sun, sand and time by the sea. Island travel can be affected by schedules and weather, so allow extra time for transfers. Our research does not give Boracay's transfer times, so confirm them with your planner before you book.

Cebu: waterfalls and diving access

Cebu is known for waterfalls and access to diving. Mactan-Cebu International Airport is a common gateway for some itineraries. Our Philippines Islands 6N package uses Cebu for three nights, with a waterfall day and an optional diving day. Book diving only with a reputable operator, and confirm the costs and the weather first.

Bohol: the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers

Bohol is known for the Chocolate Hills and for tarsiers, small primates found on the island. It works well as a second stop after Cebu. Travel between Cebu and Bohol is by ferry or domestic flight, so allow buffer time. The Philippines Islands package spends three nights in Bohol.

Manila: history and culture

Manila is known for history and culture. It is also the main international entry airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, so many trips start or end here. Our current packages do not include a Manila stay. Ask your planner if you want to add one.

Siargao: surfing

Siargao is known for surfing, so it suits travellers who want an active coastal trip. Our research does not cover surf conditions, seasons or transfers, so check them with a local operator before you book. Our current packages do not include Siargao.

Banaue Rice Terraces: mountain scenery

The Banaue Rice Terraces offer mountain scenery and indigenous heritage. This is a different kind of trip from the coast and islands, and it suits travellers who want landscapes and culture. Our research does not give travel times to Banaue, so confirm access with your planner before you plan a visit.

How to combine regions

Keep to one or two regions per trip. Between islands, the practical options are domestic flights and ferries, and schedules can be unpredictable, so allow buffer time. Our two packages show two practical combinations: a single-island El Nido stay, and a Cebu and Bohol trip.

How was this guide compiled?

This guide is compiled from published tourism, weather and transport information and was last checked on 2 November 2026. Where our research does not give a detail, such as transfer times or travel times, we say so and ask you to confirm it with your planner.

Where to go next

Read the Philippines travel guide for the full overview. Then check best time to visit the Philippines, things to do, trip cost and how to reach the Philippines. You can also compare our Philippines tour packages.