2021 • 03 • 10

The Intramuros Administration announced through their Facebook page that Fort Santiago, Casa Manila Museum, and Baluarte de San Diego will open their doors to guests again. San Agustin Church Museum and Cultural Center also announced its reopening soon. These sites will allow visitors from ages 15 to 65.

If you’re planning to visit, here are the details you need to know including the schedule of the reopened sites and the guidelines to be followed during your visit.

But before that, you need to download StaySafe.PH app, a contact tracing app required for Intramuros visitors. The establishments are using the digital logbook feature for contact tracing. You will find a step-by-step guide on how to download and register on StaySafe.Ph app here: How to Download StaySafe.PH App

Note: Museo ni Rizal, the Dungeons, and ASEAN Gardens remain closed until further notice. Please check the official Facebook page of Intramuros (Intramuros Administration) and each site’s official Facebook page for updates and announcements before you visit.

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Fort Santiago

Located along the Pasig River, Fort Santiago is a 16th-century bastioned citadel commissioned by the Spanish governor and navigator Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It was built in the northwest corner of the then newly established Intramuros, Manila’s walled city, in 1593. It is one of the most significant historical sites in Manila.

It served as a military base of Spanish and other foreign colonizers. The fort houses a dungeon where many political and war prisoners perished especially during the Spanish regime and World War II. The most prominent historical figure imprisoned here is the country’s national hero Jose P. Rizal.

At present, Fort Santiago also houses a museum dedicated to the Rizal. Visitors will also notice on the ground the bronze footsteps symbolizing Rizal’s final steps from his prison cell to his execution site.

Regular Operating Hours: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Daily; Last entry at 7 PM)
Maximum Capacity: 100 pax at a time
Entrance Fee: P75 (Adults), P50 (Students & PWDs)
Payment Options: Cash, Beep, PayMaya

We created a separate and more detailed article here: FORT SANTIAGO TRAVEL GUIDE!

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Baluarte de San Diego

Constructed in the southwest corner of Intramuros, Baluarte de San Diego was originally a circular fort built by the Jesuits led by Fr. Antonio Sedeño in 1587. It was formerly named Nuestra Señora de Guia. It was then incorporated into the newly established walled city Intramuros by Governor-General Benedick Santos in 1593.

After its destruction during World War II, particularly the Battle of Manila in 1945, the restoration only began in 1979 and lasted until 1992. Bagumpayan Park and Pamantasan ng LUngsod ng Maynila are located close to Baluarte de San Diego.

Regular Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Saturday & Sunday)
Maximum Capacity: 100 pax at a time
Entrance Fee: P75 (Adults), P50 (Students & PWDs)
Payment Options: Cash, Beep, PayMaya

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Casa Manila Museum

Located just across San Agustin Church, Casa Manila is a replica of San Nicolas House, a Bahay na Bato mansion back in the 1850s. The structure was designed by architect Ramon Faustmann, and the construction was completed in the 1980s. It functions as a museum showcasing items that give us a glimpse of the lifestyle during the Spanish colonial period.

Regular Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Tuesday to Sunday, CLOSED on Mondays)
Maximum Capacity: 15 pax at a time; 5 pax in a group
Entrance Fee: P75 (Adults), P50 (Students & PWDs)
Payment Options: Cash, Beep, PayMaya

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San Agustin Museum & Cultural Center

The San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines, triumphed over natural disasters and wars. The church, although unassuming when you look at it from the outside, serves as a library of historical events and architectural wonders. Its structural design was inspired by the churches in Mexico, but simpler.

It was hailed as a National Historical Landmark in 1976 and listed as a World Heritage Site along with three other Baroque churches in the Philippines in 1993.

Regular Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Wednesday to Sunday, CLOSED on Mondays & Tuesdays; Last entry at 5 PM)
Maximum Capacity: 100 pax at a time
Entrance Fee: P200 (Adults), P160 (Students, PWDs, Seniors, & Frontliners)

For more info, read a separate article here: SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH TRAVEL GUIDE!

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Guidelines for Intramuros Visitors

1. No Mask, No Entry. When leaving your house, make sure that you’re wearing a face mask properly. Your face mask should be covering your nose and reaches the bottom of your chin. Some establishments also require the wearing of face shields.
2. Maintain physical distancing. Keep a 1-meter distance between you and others at all times.
3. Observe proper hand hygiene. If soap and water are available, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. If not, use an alcohol-based sanitizer to sanitize.
4. Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth especially if your hands are not sanitized.
5. Practice respiratory etiquette at all times. If you’re sneezing or coughing, make sure to use a tissue or the inner portion of your elbow to cover your nose and mouth. Then, dispose of the tissue properly and wash your hands.
6. A limited number of people is allowed inside establishments. Each establishment has a maximum capacity at any given time. Queue properly and follow provided floor markings and physical barriers to maintain physical distancing.
7. Mandatory temperature and symptoms screening. All guests must undergo a temperature check and fill out a health declaration form at the entrance. Those with fever or flu-like symptoms and a history of exposure shall be refused entry.
8. Follow mandatory sanitizing protocols at entrances. Hand sanitation and footwear disinfection stations are available at the entrance of establishments. Make sure to follow these protocols before entering.
9. Observe the maximum allowed passengers. Only 1 person is allowed in the front passenger seat and there’s a maximum of 2 per row for front-facing seats.
10. Download StaySafe.PH app and sign up before entering the sites. Guests are required to register their visit on the StaySafe.PH app before entering the sites for contact tracing purposes.

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Top Manila Hotels

Here are some of the top hotels in the city of Manila, as scored by Agoda customers:

• Red Planet Manila Binondo. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• OYO 152 Sangco Condotel. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Heroes Hotel. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Red Planet Manila Bay. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Sheraton Manila Bay. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• Winford Manila Resort. Check Rates & Photos! ✅
• The Luneta Hotel. Check Rates & Photos! ✅

Search for more Manila Hotels!

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With additional words from Mariah Cruz