Manila adjudged as one of world’s best cities

Among the “must-see and visit” places in the city include Intramuros, also known as the Walled City, with its cobblestoned streets, towering churches, and colonial-style villas that lend a European atmosphere to visitors. (File Photo: Aela Mataverde/Unsplash)

MANILA – The City of Manila was adjudged as one of the 53 best cities in the world, landing on the 34th spot, according to the data of the Time Out Index 2022.

Time Out said that despite the chaos caused by overpopulation as well as the capital city’s epic traffic jams, Manila boasts of rich art and culture.

“The legacy of Chinese, Spanish, and American influences makes Manila an underrated hub for art and culture, with unique customs and cuisine to boot,” Time Out’s description of Manila reads.

Among the “must-see and visit” places in the city include Intramuros, also known as the Walled City, with its cobblestoned streets, towering churches, and colonial-style villas that lend a European atmosphere to visitors.

The San Agustin church and museum, also found in Intramuros, is one of the most important religious sites in the country with its adjoined museum that has impressive halls, decorative ceilings, courtyard gardens, and a treasure trove of ornate religious objects and paintings.

A visit to the historic Fort Santiago, built in the 14th century by the Spanish “conquistadors” and occupied by the British, Americans, and the Japanese, strongly focused on the country’s national hero Jose Rizal, who was incarcerated there before he was executed, must not be missed.

Other must-see places are the Manila Ocean Park, the Baywalk, and the dolomite beach.

Time Out said the city’s strong vaccination drive helped Manila stay afloat amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Manila was voted the third most resilient in this year’s survey, and not a single respondent described the city as rude –instead, it was admired by many for the welcoming and infectious smiles of its people,” Time Out said.

Manila once again thrives with its high-end shopping malls, eclectic contemporary art galleries, and edgy music venues.

“One hundred percent of respondents in Manila didn’t describe locals as rude, making it the least rude city in this year’s index. Sixty percent said that the city was resilient, while 78 percent raved about its nightlife and party scene,” the listing reads.

With the economy slowly opening up in most countries, Time Out suggested a quick visit to Manila before heading out to the country’s other famous tourist destinations.

Meanwhile, Time Out’s top 10 best cities are Edinburgh in Scotland, Chicago in the US, Medellin in Colombia, Glasgow also in Scotland, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, Marrakech in Morocco, Berlin in Germany, Montreal in Canada, and Copenhagen in Denmark.

It said a total of 20,000 city dwellers worldwide were quizzed to rank the best cities around the globe.