Country Guide: Philippines
Your Family Guide:
The Philippines with Kids
From turquoise island-hopping to ancient rice terraces and some of the warmest people you'll meet anywhere, the Philippines rewards family travel if you plan for the weather.
Kumusta!
Over 7,000 islands means genuine variety
The Philippines is one of those destinations that sounds complicated on paper and turns out to be surprisingly manageable once you’re there. Beach days, jungle walks, wildlife encounters, underwater adventures, and city food markets, often within a few days of each other. Filipinos are famously warm and family-focused, kids are welcomed practically everywhere, and strangers will want to feed yours. The honest challenges are real though: distances between islands take time and planning, the typhoon season from June to November adds uncertainty, and tap water is not safe to drink. Get those things sorted in advance and you’re set up for a trip that most families rate as genuinely worth the effort.
need to know:
AT A GLANCE
Regions
Best Regions & Cities for Families
The Philippines is an archipelago, so regional travel means boats and planes rather than motorway drives. That's part of the appeal, but it also means you need to choose your base carefully and not try to cover too much ground in one trip.
Palawan The Philippines’ standout region for families who want beach, nature, and wildlife in one place. Island-hopping by bangka boat around El Nido’s limestone cliffs, paddle-boat rides through the underground river at Sabang, and clear shallow snorkelling water make this genuinely excellent for kids old enough to be active outdoors.
Bohol A compact, manageable island that packs a lot in: the world’s smallest primate (tarsiers) in a proper sanctuary, the surreal Chocolate Hills, river cruises, and excellent snorkelling and turtle-spotting off nearby Panglao Island. Transfers are easy from Cebu.
Cebu & the Central Visayas The Visayas are the easiest part of the Philippines to navigate, with well-connected ferry and flight links. Cebu has family attractions in the city (Cebu Ocean Park, WaterWorld) plus easy day trips to snorkelling sites, waterfalls, and whale-watching at Moalboal.
Metro Manila & Around Manila itself is chaotic but rewards a day or two: interactive museums, the walled historic city of Intramuros, and the MOA Eye Ferris wheel and amusement rides around Mall of Asia. Tagaytay, an hour south, offers cooler air and views of Taal Volcano that children find genuinely impressive.
North Luzon (Banaue & Sagada) A different Philippines entirely. The UNESCO rice terraces of Banaue and Batad are genuinely awe-inspiring and give kids a real sense of a living landscape shaped over centuries. The mountain town of Sagada adds caves and waterfalls. Slower-paced and cooler, a counterweight to beach-heavy itineraries.
Southeast Luzon (Bicol) Home to Mayon Volcano, one of the most photogenic sights in Southeast Asia, plus whale-shark encounters at Donsol, one of the most ethical wildlife experiences in the region. Less visited than Palawan or Boracay, which makes it feel more genuine.
Attractions
Must see attractions
Attractions
Family favourites you really shouldn't miss.
The Philippines is sprawling enough that no single trip covers everything, but a handful of sights genuinely live up to the advance billing with kids in mind, and not all of them involve beaches.
Mind Museum, Manila
Kawasan Falls, Cebu
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Bohol
Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao Province
Whale-Shark Watching, Donsol
Intramuros, Manila
El Nido Island-Hopping, Palawan
Tips
Practical Tips for Practical Parents
Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Use Supermarkets
Book Transport Early
Avoid Holy Week
Activities
Popular activities For kids
Activities
Adventures they'll be sure to remember
Australia is basically an outdoor playground. Expect beach time, wildlife spotting, and water based adventures, plus city days that are surprisingly kid friendly thanks to parks, ferries, and solid museums. Just pace it: heat, jet lag, and long drives can turn even the best plan into a snack emergency.
Impress a Local
Quick Phrases For Kids
| English | Filipino (Tagalog) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Kumusta | koo-MOO-stah |
| Thank You | Salamat | sah-LAH-mat |
| Where is the toilet? | Nasaan ang CR? | nah-SAH-an ang see-AR |
| I’m hungry | Gutom na ako | GOO-tom na AH-ko |
| Let’s play | Maglaro tayo | mag-LAH-ro TAH-yo |
| Goodbye | Paalam | pah-AH-lam |
More than Manila
Cities you'll love exploring together
Dumaguete, Negros Oriental
Legazpi, Albay Province
General Santos, South Cotabato
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Cebu City, Cebu
Tagaytay, Cavite Province
Family Travel Itineraries:
Kid-Friendly Plans for Every Trip Length
5 Days – Manila & Palawan Introduction
Day 1: Arrive Manila. Intramuros by kalesa, Rizal Park, MOA Eye Ferris wheel in the evening.
Day 2: Morning at Mind Museum in BGC. Afternoon flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Day 3: Guided paddle-boat tour of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. Afternoon at leisure on Sabang Beach.
Day 4: Honda Bay island-hopping by bangka, snorkelling and lunch stop on a sandbar.
Day 5: Morning food market visit, fly back to Manila for onward connections.
7 Days – Bohol & Cebu Family Loop
Day 1: Fly into Cebu. Afternoon at Mactan beach resort, settle in.
Day 2: Early ferry to Bohol. Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and Chocolate Hills ATV tour.
Day 3: Loboc River cruise for lunch. Panglao Island in the afternoon for beach time.
Day 4: Snorkelling off Balicasag Island, turtle spotting in calm, clear water.
Day 5: Ferry back to Cebu. Afternoon at Cebu Ocean Park or WaterWorld Cebu.
Day 6: Drive south to Moalboal. Kawasan Falls hike and swim.
Day 7: Morning at Mactan beach, afternoon fly home from Cebu International.
10 Days – Palawan & Bohol with a Manila Stop
Days 1–2: Manila. Intramuros, Mind Museum, Tagaytay day trip for Taal Volcano views.
Day 3: Fly to Coron. Afternoon settle-in, sunset walk around Coron town.
Day 4: Coron Island lake tour. Kayangan and Twin Lagoon by bangka, crystal-clear freshwater swimming.
Day 5: Full-day island-hopping around the Calamian Islands.
Day 6: Fly or fast-boat to El Nido. Afternoon beach walk on Nacpan Beach.
Day 7: El Nido Tour A. Small and Big Lagoon, snorkelling stops, beach picnic lunch.
Days 8–9: Fly to Bohol. Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills, Loboc River cruise, Panglao beach day.
Day 10: Morning snorkel trip off Panglao. Fly home via Cebu or Manila.
