Tips · Philippines
Prepping for Manila in December–February
Manila's December–February normals side by side, December's much higher rain than January–February, what to wear, Christmas traffic, a 4-day route and budget.
Published
Why Manila in December–February?
The December to April dry season is the best time to visit Manila. March to May is very hot, so December to February are the first three months of that good window.
The three months are not identical, though. On the climate normals, December gets far more rain than January and February, and the Christmas season brings heavy traffic. Below is what to plan for in each month.
Getting from the airport and how many days to spend are covered in the Manila first-trip post, so this one focuses on December–February prep.
December, January and February normals side by side
Climate figures are Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Climatological Normals for the Port Area, Manila station, 1991–2020, rounded to whole numbers.
Average highs are 30°C in December, 30°C in January and 31°C in February. Average lows are 25°C in December, 24°C in January and 24°C in February. Temperatures stay hot and nearly the same across all three months. For comparison, March to May highs reach 32–34°C.
The difference is rain. Monthly rainfall is 99 mm in December, 19 mm in January and 22 mm in February, so December gets far more rain than January and February. January has the lowest rainfall of all twelve months.
- December: high 30°C · low 25°C · rain 99 mm
- January: high 30°C · low 24°C · rain 19 mm
- February: high 31°C · low 24°C · rain 22 mm
What to wear: 30–31°C by day, 24–25°C at night
All three months have highs of 30–31°C and lows of 24–25°C. Nights stay warm too, so pack light summer clothes.
If you go in December, bring an umbrella with 99 mm of average rainfall in mind. Ride-hailing cars are scarce and pricier in the rain.
The guide suggests visiting Fort Santiago in the morning to avoid the heat. Be quiet during Mass at San Agustin Church. Tagaytay is described in the guide as a cool highland town.
- Light summer clothes: 30–31°C by day, 24–25°C at night
- December: an umbrella (99 mm average rainfall)
- Outdoor sights such as Fort Santiago: go in the morning
- San Agustin Church: be quiet during Mass
Year-end in Manila: the Christmas season and bookings
The Christmas season brings heavy traffic. Manila traffic is severe even at other times, so group sights by area each day and leave for the airport at least 3–4 hours before your flight.
Check festival and event dates in official information before you go. Bookings can fill up around year-end and Lunar New Year — check early.
Bag checks and security screening at malls, hotels and rail stations are routine.
A 4-day route: the guide's plan in brief
The guide suggests 3 to 4 days in Manila. The Manila first-trip post explains each day, so here is just the outline.
Fort Santiago on Day 1 is paid entry and cooler in the morning. San Agustin Church is a UNESCO-listed baroque church. The National Museum is free, but check hours and booking on the official site. For the Manila Bay sunset, arrive about 30 minutes before sunset.
Tagaytay on Day 3 is about 2 hours south. If your trip is shorter, you can skip this day trip and stay in the city.
- Day 1: Intramuros and Fort Santiago → San Agustin Church → National Museum → Manila Bay sunset
- Day 2: Binondo food crawl → Makati malls → Poblacion bar scene
- Day 3: Tagaytay day trip (Taal Volcano views, bulalo lunch) → BGC High Street
- Day 4: brunch and shopping near your hotel → leave early for the airport to allow for traffic
Getting around and budget
The guide calls ride-hailing apps the safest and easiest way around Manila, but cars are scarce and pricier at rush hour and in the rain. LRT-1 serves Intramuros and the Manila Bay side; MRT-3 runs along EDSA through Makati and Ortigas. Avoid rush hours, when trains are packed.
Jeepneys are very cheap, but routes are hard to decode, so try one for a short hop. Some regular taxi drivers refuse the meter and try to haggle.
The guide's budget levels are about 2,000 PHP (guesthouse, local eateries, rail), about 6,000 PHP (4-star hotel, mall restaurants, ride-hailing) and about 15,000 PHP+ (5-star hotel, fine dining, private car tours). Jeepneys, street stalls and small eateries are cash only, so carry 20, 50 and 100 PHP notes.
- Ride-hailing apps: scarce and pricier at rush hour and in the rain
- LRT-1: Intramuros and Manila Bay side / MRT-3: along EDSA (Makati, Ortigas)
- Budget: about 2,000 PHP / about 6,000 PHP / about 15,000 PHP+
- Cash: 20, 50 and 100 PHP notes; use ATMs inside bank branches
- Tipping: about 5–10% where no service charge is added
Pre-departure checklist
Check these before you go. For other places worth visiting in December, January or February, see the posts below.
- Entry rules and eTravel registration: check the official site (etravel.gov.ph); beware of fake sites that charge fees
- Clothes: light summer wear (30–31°C by day, 24–25°C at night)
- December: an umbrella (99 mm average rainfall)
- Cash: 20, 50 and 100 PHP notes
- Event dates and National Museum hours: check official information
- Airport: leave at least 3–4 hours before your flight
- Safety: keep phones and wallets in front, avoid quiet streets at night
- Water and data: drink bottled water; local SIMs or eSIMs are sold at the airport
Plan your Manila trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
FAQ
Which of December, January and February is best?
On the 1991–2020 normals, temperatures are similar in all three (highs of 30–31°C), while monthly rainfall is 99 mm in December, 19 mm in January and 22 mm in February. If you want to see less rain, January–February is the better pick. Also keep in mind the heavy Christmas-season traffic.
Does it rain in December?
On the normals, December rainfall is 99 mm, more than January–February (19–22 mm). Bring an umbrella, and remember that ride-hailing cars are scarce and pricier in the rain.
What should I pack to wear?
Highs of 30–31°C and lows of 24–25°C call for light summer clothes. Outdoor sights such as Fort Santiago are cooler in the morning.
How much should I budget?
The guide gives three levels: about 2,000 PHP, about 6,000 PHP and about 15,000 PHP+. Jeepneys, street stalls and small eateries are cash only, so carry small notes.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Intramuros · Andrew Martin / CC BY 3.0
- Small island on a coral reef, Maldives · Dr. Ondřej Havelka (cestovatel) / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mt Moiwa observatory · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0