Manila For A Day Tours
Manila For A Day Tours
5
City ToursCultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursWalking ToursPrivate Tours
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Full view
About
We specialize in creating unique walking tour experiences that narrate the compelling stories of the Filipino people using historic sites as a visual tapestry of our heritage.
Manila, Philippines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Manila For A Day Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
215 reviews
Excellent
210
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
jam1029
10 contributions
Jan 2020
Dustin, our tour guide, was amazing and what he does and very in depth in explaining the history of the Philippines in depth from Spanish colonisation to today whilst still being very entertaining and engaging. None of the information given can be given without an academic article to source from. Dustin was able to answer all our questions, even some controversial ones, extensively - always asking ‘did that answer your question’ just to be sure. You sign up for a performance here and, although I briefly skimmed the Wikipedia article on the country before arriving, Dustin was far more informative and interesting to learn from. He asks what your names and background is to cater each experience and tour to what you find interesting and relevant. If you have an interest in history, Manila, the Philippines, religion, politics, culture or learning I do highly recommend this intimate, catered history lesson.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This review is one for the books, Jam! Thank you very much! You basically outlined all our quality assurance requirements when running a tour and it has me speechless. I seriously don't know how to thank you!
You hit everything right on the head! Yes, it's our company policy to never say anything on tour without the ability to back it with an academic citation, yes, we always try to expansively answer your questions, and yes, we definitely make it a point to double-check with you if your curiosity has been satiated before moving on—this review is basically a teaser on what to expect from us so thank you so much!
Finally, thank you for saying that we are 100x better than a Wikipedia page. We take pride in the quality of the service that we deliver and you saying this was just pure validation!
Written February 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tim_and_Jai
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
Travelling as a family, our group ranged in age from 69 to 6 months and included several very familiar with the Philippines, some newcomers and a teenager. This tour was the first thing we did on our trip (hours after landing). Initial grumbles about jet-lag (and erupting volcanos...) were immediately forgotten as our guide (Luisito) expertly took our group through the foundations of the Filipino history, culture and mindset in an engaging, personalised manner that even won over the teenager in our group. The tour experience was a great way to start our trip and enabled every member of the group to better understand and appreciate what they saw and experienced in the following two weeks exploring the country. We would highly recommend this tour to tourists and Filipino's alike.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this sweet and wonderful review, Tim and Jai! Please know that you made our week just by this review alone. Luisito is all smiles reading it and it is incredibly uplifting for the rest of our team.
We're happy to have been of great service to you despite the initial grumbles, the uncertainties, and the general weariness (I can only imagine your stress!). I'm also personally very happy to hear that Luisito met and exceeded your expectations—even to the point of winning over your group's teenager! Everyone in our team knows that Luisito is one of our best but to have it continuously validated by clients is truly appreciated. Thanks as well for saying that everyone should take our tours on their first day in the country. We believe so as well because the lessons you learn on our tours will allow you to have a better and experience with our people.
Thank you once again and please allow me to speak on behalf of Luisito in saying that we hope to see you on another unique CQPH-Manila For A Day experience!
Written February 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James Arco
Makati, Philippines1 contribution
Dec 2019
We were able to take the Gold, God and Glory tour and I must say that this is a must for a crash course / refresher in Philippine history! Like a 3 hour history class but more fun. As a local, you have a brief background, so you go in thinking, "what is there to learn that I didn't learn in school or can search on the internet or go around the museum myself? or what's going to be interesting about another tour?". The answer: Dustin, our guide. He was great and very engaging (I encountered one or two guardia sibils saying that he was one of the best!). He interacted with the group in a way that tickled our curiosity, making us ask questions and even follow up questions on topics he discussed. He tested your knowledge and eventually expanded it.
The relationship between the Intramuros and Halo-Halo? Take the tour and find out.
The relationship between the Intramuros and Halo-Halo? Take the tour and find out.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you J! I love how you were able to connect with the tour as a local and how you're able to expand your existing knowledge from school with our 3G tour. Thank you as well for all the compliments, it's always great hearing that I've personally done a good job and nothing makes a day quite as delightful as being called "one of the best" so I really appreciate you saying so.
Finally, thanks so much for the fun hook: indeed the halo-halo has a deeper meaning to us all and taking the 3G or 3GX tour is the only way to find out!
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Inna D
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Went last year actually (sorry for the late review) but Dustin was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. It was a lot of fun for me to re-learn about my country’s history and it was nice being able to share that with my Japanese friends. I had to translate for my friends since they needed a bit of help with English but Dustin gave me time to properly relay the story. He also did a great job deflecting a person from who rudely interrupted our tour and went about whitewashing Philippine history in front of my friends. I would do Manila for a Day tours again as a history refresher.
Written December 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so very much for your kind words! The pandemic has been rough on the tourism industry and we haven't been as active but it's so heartwarming to come back to our Tripadvisor page and read reviews like yours. We look forward to being able to serve you again once tourism in the Philippines has bounced back!
Written October 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RonnieManila
Manila, Philippines1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Business
We only had less than a half day before our visiting CIOs will fly away. We thought doing this tour will be worth their time and it was indeed a success. Dustin will give you ample time to absorb the knowledge and encourages you to ask questions to clear any doubt and further clarification. I would certainly recommend this tour to those who like to have a quick view of our history in the most precise manner. This is my second time to join this same tour and I still learned something.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your kind words continue to encourage us, Ronnie! Thank you for leaving this wonderful review. I'm so happy to hear that you still learned something new despite it being your second time with the same tour program. As mentioned in the tour, there's only so much we can teach in 3-4 hours together and we always try to customize the tour based on your party's interests so every tour is different and fun!
Looking forward to our next tour!--perhaps on a different tour program?
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Denise F
Manila, Philippines1 contribution
Jul 2023
We asked Dustin and his team to guide our group of high school students from overseas through Intramuros, and he did not disappoint. We talked about heritage, history, and the narratives that prevailed during the Spanish colonial period. They were able to engage with our students incredibly well, taking the time to answer all their questions carefully and thoughtfully. I would highly recommend for educational groups!
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is one of the best and most flattering reviews we've had in a long time, D! Thank you for sharing it!
I'm elated that we met your high standards! We may be a small team but we're filled with passionate individuals who love our country's heritage, history, and culture. I'm so proud that you were able to see this during our tour!
We're very proud that we were able to create engaging conversations with your group and answer their questions thoughtfully. You have some of the most intelligent high school students we've had the privilege of having on tour and hearing your positive feedback is simply amazing!
Thank you for the recommendation and we truly hope to see you again soon!
Written August 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Victoria H
San Francisco, CA2 contributions
Dec 2022
We had an incredible half day private tour with our guide, Luisito. We explored Intramuros, the historic walled city in Manila. The tour includes tickets to the San Agustin Church and Casa Manila, where we learned about the Spanish colonial history of the Philippines and the ways of the wealthy! Luisito is a photographer and took excellent pictures throughout. He uses his large body of knowledge, mastery of the English language, and outgoing personality to customize every tour.
The tour ended with halo halo (included in the tour package) and a delicious and affordable lunch at Ristorante delle Mitre.
Yes, one could explore these locations on their own. However, having the lived, historic, and generational knowledge from a local guide is a premium experience you would not want to miss.
The tour ended with halo halo (included in the tour package) and a delicious and affordable lunch at Ristorante delle Mitre.
Yes, one could explore these locations on their own. However, having the lived, historic, and generational knowledge from a local guide is a premium experience you would not want to miss.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, Victoria! It's always heartwarming when clients share their incredible and unique experiences taking our tours! We are thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time exploring the rich history of the Philippines with Luisito.
Luisito is indeed a treasure to our team, and we're proud of the way he goes above and beyond to make each tour a memorable and personalized experience. His passion for photography allows him to capture the beauty of the moments you shared together, making your time even more special.
It warms our hearts to know that you found the insights into Spanish colonial history and the lifestyles of the wealthy both enlightening and captivating. The San Agustin Church and Casa Manila are true gems, and having Luisito as your guide undoubtedly enhances the experience, adding that lived, historic, and generational knowledge that only a local can provide.
Your kind words truly mean the world to us. We are passionate about delivering a premium experience, and knowing that you found value in the insights and knowledge shared makes all our efforts worthwhile.
Once again, thank you for choosing us and for taking the time to share your feedback. Should your travels bring you back to Manila, we would be absolutely thrilled to welcome you for another enriching and unforgettable adventure.
Written July 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jay
3 contributions
Jan 2020
Dustin's 3G tour (God, Gold & Glory) went deep into the complicated history of the Philippines, focusing primarily on the history and effects of Spanish colonization, but also touching on distinct Filipino values, all of it including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I can't think of a better way to start a holiday in the Philippines than immersing yourself in the historical context that provides a backdrop for why the Philippines is the way it is today. Take this tour!
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin, I love how you ended everything with a direct impetus: "Take this tour!". Thank you for that, and thank you for your wonderful review. This was an amazing review to start our work week and our team really appreciates it.
I also love how you mentioned that we don't hold anything back and that we explore everything from the good, the bad, the ugly of our history and culture. This, in our opinion, is the best way that our history should be thought so that everyone can get a more meaningful understanding of who we are as a people.
Thank you once again for taking a unique CQPH-Manila For A Day tour experience and I hope to see more of you in the future!
Written February 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ted20232023
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
When I first met Dustin, I knew this would be a fantastic tour. He provided my group and me with an incredibly interactive and engaging tour of Intramuros, and was able to convey the history of the location in a way that had me interested in every detail. If you're looking for a unique and informativre experience of old Manila, Dustin's your guy.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Ted! Thanks a bunch for sharing your awesome experience with me! I totally get that first impressions matter, and it's fantastic that you felt the tour was going to be a hit right from the start.
We're all about making history come alive and it's our mission to make every tour as engaging and interactive as possible. Thank you so much for recognizing that we were able to accomplish this!
Your review is incredibly flattering and your recommendation means so much to me personally and to the team as a whole. I can't thank you enough!
We hope to see you in the motherland again soon!
Written August 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
heuetproust
1 contribution
Oct 2022
We spent an amazing visit of the Old town of Manilla. First was the long and passionnant moment we spent in the Saint Augustin church, learning the history of the colonisation, the way the monks wrote music and wrote botanic books. We laughed when our guide, Luisito Tayag, sang and made us singing too, and loved to visit the Casa Manila. Each moment was gréât. Thank you a lot.
Stéphane (from Paris)
Stéphane (from Paris)
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Stéphane, thank you so much for taking the time to share your unique Manila For A Day tour with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing visit and that you enjoyed your tour!
The San Agustin Church is indeed a captivating place with its rich history of how our colonization was seeded by the Agustinian monks and how their stories are intertwined with the very fabric of our culture and history. We're also happy to hear that you learned a lot about the monks' music and botanical history. We're glad that Luisito was able to bring those stories to life and engage you in such a unique way. It's always a delight to see our guests laughing and singing along with our cultural navigators!
We're also pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Casa Manila. It's a special place that offers a glimpse into the grandeur of the past, particularly the Filipino mestizos that would eventually lead the Philippine revolution against Spain. Each moment you spent exploring the Intramuros sounds like it was filled with great memories and we can't hear enough of it!
Thank you once again for choosing our unique services! We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Written July 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What are the contact information and also the cost of this tour?
Written January 2, 2020
Also, just google 'Manila for a Day tours 3GX'
Written January 3, 2020
Hello i would like to know if you started a public tour yet wherein less than 5 people may join other group maybe? What is your website for tours?
Written August 14, 2018
Hi Virginia! Thanks for your question and for keeping up with our tours!
We will have our first public tour on 22 September 2018. It will be a Colors of Manila Tour with Nonito Cabrera, one of our best guides.
That said, you can always book a private and exclusive tour if you'd like to have an amazing Manila For A Day experience without waiting for a public schedule.
By the way, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you're kept abreast of special events like public tours. We're more active there than here on TA.
(Tripadvisor restricts our ability to post website addresses here. so I can't put our website but if you google "Manila For A Day Tours" we should come up right on the top of the search results).
Written August 17, 2018
Hi Dustin. I checked your website and the tours are packaged for 5 people or more. I just want to book for 2 people and I'd like to ask if you can combine us with other people who are booking for the same schedule? Perhaps you can inform me of existing bookings that we can join on any of these dates: July 24, 26, 27 or 29?
Thank you very much!
Em :)
Written July 3, 2018
Hi Em! We'd love to have you on a unique Manila For A Day experience but we only run private and exclusive tours. We don't mix groups to preserve the quality of the tour party's experience so joining another tour group would be impossible for us to offer at this time.
We're looking at making a few of our tour programs public so single travelers and couples like you can join a tour without having to meet the 5-person minimum but that's not scheduled to launch until August.
I hope that I was able to answer your inquiry as we would be happy give you a unique Manila For A Day experience! Of course, don't forget that you can easily book a tour with us by filling in our online reservation form. After submitting your form, you will receive an official billing statement within 24 hours.
Written July 3, 2018
Hi Dustin! I am a solo traveller. Would it be possible for you to accommodate me in any of the 3g extended tours on 7th, 8th, or 9th of June?
Written June 3, 2018
Hello Mehul! I apologize for this delayed reply to your question. Tripadvisor's system is a bit harder for us to monitor and I only saw this now. I believe that we answered your queries via email, however, and that this may be a moot point.
Anyway, I know it's too late but for future reference, the fastest way to get a reservation is to go to our website and fill in the online reservation form. We normally reply within 12-24 hours.
Written July 21, 2018
Hi I can't see your website listed here. Can you please tell me what it is? Thanks
Written April 12, 2018
Thanks for answering this question, Elton! We miss a lot of questions here on TA.
For those looking for our site: we're not allowed to post website addresses on Tripadvisor but a quick google search of "Manila For A Day Tours" or "manilaforaday" will get you to our website quickly.
Written August 17, 2018
lbell48
Palm Desert, California
How do I book a trip? I will be in Manila for 3 days. do you have other excursions? How much is the day tour?
Written February 2, 2018
Hi there! Thank you for your interest in a very memorable Manila For A Day experience! You can book a tour by visiting our website and filling in our online reservation form.
We can't post website addresses and hyperlinks when we answer questions here but there should be a button right here on our Trip Advisor listing that will take you to our site.
Hope that helps and we look forward to navigating across cultures with you very soon!
Written February 2, 2018
Hi Dustin,
Can you pls. give your website. My Friends and I would like to join your "Manila For a Day" Tour and curious how much. We'll be in Manila Jan. 24 ( available in the afternoon) or Jan 25 (anytime).
Written November 6, 2017
Hi Amor! Thanks for your interest in a Manila For A Day experience!
Trip Advisor actually makes it hard for us to post website links. Basically, it's our company name with a com at the end.
You can also try googling Manila For A Day 3GX Tour.
Let me know if that helps. Otherwise, I'll have to find another way of getting your more information about our tours.
P.S. lovely name, by the way!
Written November 7, 2017
Hi Dustin, 2 of us will be in Manila this Wed, will you be able to show us around in the morning? Cheers
Written October 2, 2017
Hi, Coach W! I haven't been assigned any tours for this Wednesday 4 October 2017 so it would be a pleasure to navigate across cultures with you!
I don't process reservations, though, so please visit our website and use our online reservation form to book a tour. You can choose either a morning or afternoon schedule for our 3G or 3GX tour program.
I can't post HTML or website links here on Trip Advisor but we're very easy to find online so look us up and you'll be able to book easily.
See you soon!
Written October 2, 2017
hello we are in manila tomorrow afternoon (8 hour stopover between flights) arrival at 13.30 t3 and out at 21.45 at t1. is there any tours leaving tomorrow that we could join or could you organise a private tour for us (2 pax - couple) leaving from and going back to the airport?
hopefully you receive this message in time :-)
thanks
Written April 15, 2017
Hi, Bikey_74! My deepest apologies for not answering your question in time! Unfortunately, we were on break for the Lenten holidays and had limited internet access.
Sorry again for not being able to respond right away and I hope that you had a wonderful short visit to our beautiful islands!
Cheers!
Dustin
Written April 16, 2017
Hello, we (3 persons) are visiting from the US and have 2 days in Manila (staying in Makati), January 11 & 12. We are interested in a city/cultural/heritage tour. What do you recommend and what is the fee? Thank you!
Best Regards,
Mory Matias
Written January 4, 2017
Hello, Mory! Thank you for your interest in a Manila For A Day experience! My name is Dustin and I'm the Lead Guide and Cultural Navigator for the company.
We offer different tours of Manila in the form of unique, experiential walking tour programs. You can learn more about our tour programs on our website. We can't post URLs here at Trip Advisor but you can always easily find us online or get in touch directly via email.
Our best-selling program is the 3GX: God, Gold, & Glory EXTENDED tour. I highly recommend it, especially if you're visiting the Philippines for the first time.
January 11, 2017 is fully booked but we still have guides available for the 12th of January. If you're interested in booking a tour, please head on over to our website and fill in the online reservation form. Once you've accomplished the form, you will receive an official billing statement via email within 12-24 hours which you can settle online via credit card.
I hope that I was able to answer your inquiries but if you need further assistance, please feel free to reply here at Trip Advisor. You can also contact us directly via email.
Thanks, and hope to navigate across cultures with you soon!
Written January 5, 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.