First-time visitors
First-time visitors often focus on El Nido’s island-hopping tours featuring lagoons and beaches, the Puerto Princesa Underground River trip, and Cebu’s highland guided tour covering temples and gardens.
See suggested experiences
Preview travel guide
Things to do in Philippines
The Philippines offers extensive opportunities for beach tours, island hopping, and natural attractions such as the Underground River. Below are bookable options from GetYourGuide and others, along with a brief overview while the full guide is developed.
- Live partner inventory
- Updated daily
- Part of Visit Network
Editor’s preview picks
Bookable experiences in Philippines
A short list of bookable tours and tickets in the Philippines — El Nido island hopping, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Bohol whale shark snorkeling.
4.4(1849)
via GetYourGuide
El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
Book →
4.8(514)
via GetYourGuide
El Nido to Coron: 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition
Book →
4.8(116)
via GetYourGuide
Coron to El Nido: 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition
Book →
3.9(67)
via GetYourGuide
Bohol: Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience
Book →
4.8(206)
via GetYourGuide
Cebu's Best: Highlands Guided Tour Temples, Gardens & Views
Book →
4.4(1640)
via GetYourGuide
From Puerto Princesa: Underground River Full-Day Trip
Book →
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Plan by travel style
How are you travelling?
A starting point for shaping the trip around the way you actually travel — not a fixed itinerary.
Families
Families can engage with the Bohol whale shark snorkeling experience and the approachable full-day Underground River tour from Puerto Princesa, both suitable for older children and teens.
See suggested experiencesCouples
Couples might prefer the multi-day island-hopping expeditions between El Nido and Coron, which allow for secluded beaches and quiet evenings, plus Cebu’s scenic garden and temple tours.
See suggested experiencesCulture lovers
Culture-focused visitors should consider tours in Cebu that include temples and garden sites, as well as visits to historic areas in Manila, although these require separate booking beyond the current inventory.
See suggested experiencesFood & local flavour
Food-oriented travelers should explore markets and street food stalls in Manila and Cebu for local dishes such as lechon and kinilaw, though these experiences are not currently bookable through the main platforms.
See suggested experiencesEasy wins / short stays
For a short 2-3 day trip, focus on El Nido island hopping tours or the Puerto Princesa Underground River full-day trip, which can be completed within a day and provide a clear snapshot of the country’s coastal highlights.
See suggested experiencesTop experiences by type
Browse by what you want to do
Landmark tickets
Look for tickets to the Puerto Princesa Underground River and access to known lagoons in El Nido’s island-hopping tours.
See optionsMuseums & culture
Cebu’s museums and heritage sites offer cultural insight, though museum tickets are less commonly pre-booked than tours.
See optionsWalking tours
Walking tours in Cebu’s highland neighborhoods and historic districts provide structured ways to see temples and gardens.
See optionsFood & wine
Food tours in Cebu and Manila, plus market visits, highlight regional dishes, though currently not the focus of the main booking platforms.
See optionsRiver & boat tours
Boat tours include island hopping around El Nido and Coron, plus river trips such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
See optionsDay trips
Popular day trips include the Puerto Princesa Underground River full-day tour and island hopping around El Nido.
See optionsFamily activities
Family activities include whale shark snorkeling in Bohol and nature-based tours in Cebu’s highlands.
See optionsTransfers & practical travel
Transfers primarily focus on airport to city or resort transport in Manila, Cebu, and Palawan, with multiple options available depending on arrival points.
See optionsTrip-planning notes
A short guide to Philippines
What should you book ahead in Philippines?
Island-hopping tours in El Nido, such as the Lagoon and Beaches tour, and the 3-day Coron to El Nido or El Nido to Coron expeditions, often sell out during the dry season from November to May. The Puerto Princesa Underground River full-day trip is another popular activity that requires advance booking, especially during holidays and weekends. Booking weeks in advance ensures availability for these tours, which have limited daily permits and capacity.
What can usually wait until you arrive?
Casual activities like visiting street markets, local eateries, and neighborhood walks in cities such as Manila and Cebu generally don’t require advance booking. These provide flexibility in your schedule and allow you to adjust plans based on weather and local events. Similarly, spontaneous visits to beaches outside of guided tours or informal boat rides can typically be arranged on the spot.
Tickets, guided tours or passes?
Single tickets are common for landmark entries like the Puerto Princesa Underground River but can be combined with guided tours for more structured experiences, such as El Nido’s island hopping. Guided tours add context and convenience, especially for multi-day expeditions between El Nido and Coron. Combo passes are less prevalent but can be useful in urban areas for museums or transport. Assess your comfort with independent travel to decide which suits you.
A simple first-trip plan
Start with a morning island-hopping tour in El Nido to see lagoons and beaches, followed by lunch in the town proper. In the afternoon, relax or visit local shops. On day two, consider the Puerto Princesa Underground River full-day trip, departing early. Evenings can be spent dining in Palawan’s town or Cebu’s city center. For the third day, a guided highlands tour in Cebu offers temples and gardens before departure.
Quick answers
The short version
Direct answers to the questions most travellers actually ask before they book.
- Best things to do in Philippines for first-time visitors
- First-time visitors should prioritize El Nido island hopping tours, the Puerto Princesa Underground River trip, Cebu’s highland guided temple and garden tours, and the Bohol whale shark snorkeling experience.
- What should you book ahead in Philippines?
- Book El Nido island-hopping tours, the 3-day Coron to El Nido expeditions, and the Puerto Princesa Underground River full-day tour well in advance, especially during the November to May dry season.
- Best Philippines experiences by travel style
- Families benefit from whale shark snorkeling in Bohol and the Underground River tour; couples may prefer multi-day island hopping between El Nido and Coron; culture lovers should seek temple and garden tours in Cebu; food enthusiasts should plan informal market visits and street food sampling.
- How to choose tours and tickets in Philippines
- Guided tours are recommended for complex multi-day island expeditions offering local insights, while single tickets suffice for landmark visits like the Underground River. Choose based on desired depth and convenience.
- Simple first-trip plan for Philippines
- Spend day one doing El Nido island hopping by morning and relaxing in town by afternoon; day two is a full-day Underground River tour from Puerto Princesa; day three includes Cebu highlands guided tours before departure.
Compare booking partners
Compare more Philippines tours and tickets
Each partner has a different sweet spot. Use this as a shortcut to the right catalogue for what you're trying to book.
Headout
Best for city tours and transfers
Headout offers straightforward booking for city-based tours and airport transfers in Manila and Cebu.
Browse HeadoutGetYourGuide
Best for island hopping and nature tours
GetYourGuide provides extensive options for El Nido island hopping, Coron expeditions, and Puerto Princesa tours.
Browse GetYourGuideTiqets
Best for museums and timed entries
Tiqets specializes in timed-entry tickets and museum visits in urban centers like Manila and Cebu.
Browse TiqetsViator
Best for day trips and tour breadth
Viator offers a broad range of day trips and multi-day tours across the Philippines, including less common destinations.
Browse ViatorFAQ
Frequently asked questions about Philippines
- Key activities include El Nido island hopping tours, the Puerto Princesa Underground River trip, and whale shark snorkeling in Bohol. Cebu’s highland garden and temple tours also provide cultural context.
Contact
Get in touch about VisitPhilippines.com
Are you a hotel, tour operator, local guide, contributor, or potential partner? We're expanding the Philippines guide and would like to hear from you. Send us a note and we'll reply personally.
- → Direct reply, no auto-responder
- → Typical response within 1–2 business days
- → Partnerships, listings and offers reviewed personally