This Palace rests on the bank of the Pasig River as the house of government where the Philippine president lives. Malacanang will forever be associated with the excesses of the Marcoses. When Cory Aquino became President she didn't want to associate herself with her profligate predecessors and refused to use the palace as a home, keeping it only for official functions. She opened parts of it as a museum for Marcos memorabilia, but when Fidel Ramos took over he severed the Marcos connection and asked that the museum focus only on Philippine presidential history, although the Marcos Room does contain some of the late dictator's personal belongings. Current president Gloria Arroyo uses about two-thirds of the palace for her official functions and duties, while the museum takes up about one-third. Malacanang Museum (Mon-Fri 9am-3pm; tel 02/733 3721 or 734 7421) is in JP Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila. A guided tour costs P200 and a non-guided tour P40.

The Rizal Shrine is a small museum in Fort Santiago that exhibits the work and belongings of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. It contains his manuscripts, artwork, and some pieces of furniture from his hometown of Calamba, Laguna. Apart from its grassy expanse, the park also has a planetarium, dozens of fountains, an amphitheatre, a children's playground, skating rink and Chinese and Japanese gardens. At the bay end of the park, close to the Manila Hotel, is the Rizal memorial and Rizal's execution site, where you can walk in his final footsteps - literally - just follow the painted footsteps on the path. At the Taft Avenue end is a gigantic pond with a three-dimensional map of the Philippines.

Manila Bay is considered the finest and most beautiful harbor in the far east. The famous mock-battle of Manila Bay was fought here between the Americans and the Spaniards in 1898. Many tourists come here to watch the sunset and dine on the several restaurants surrounding the bay.

Behind Rizal Park in the Old Congress Building on Padre Burgos Street is the National Museum (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; tel 02/527 1215 or 527 1242; P30), with some dusty but fascinating archeological, botanical and anthropological displays and a priceless selection of Filipino masters, including the renowned Spolarium by Juan Luna, an immense oil painting that shows fallen gladiators being dragged from a Roman arena. Another museum in the area is the Metropolitan , usually known as the Met, at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard (Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; P50). This fine arts museum, a Filipino mini-Guggenheim, also houses the Central Bank's collection of prehistoric jewellery and coins. Roxas Boulevard ends at the Manila Hotel, home from home in Manila for the likes of General Douglas MacArthur (who has a suite named after him), Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton

The San Agustin Church is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in the Philippines. Inside is a small museum managed by the Augustinian friars. The museum contains collections of art and antiques that have historical value. Visitors can also see small dungeons where native Filipino prisoners were held captive.

Lined with mosaic artwork on its walls, the Manila Cathedral is one of the most decorated churches in the Philippines. It has been the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila since 1581.