Intramuros is one of the top tourist destinations in Manila for good reason. The Old Walled City is the premiere destination for any first-time tourists in transit to Manila and the go-to destination for entertaining balikbayans who might be home for the holidays. There have been a lot of improvements to the area in recent months like the Pasig River Esplanade, new museums like Centro de Turismo Intramuros and new cafes in Intramuros, which might interest the general public.
With the traffic and limited parking in the area, driving a private vehicle and finding a place to park here can feel like a chore. If you plan to revisit Intramuros but are unsure of how to get there and around, here’s a guide to help you out.
By LRT
- Option 1: Carriedo Station on the LRT-1 line [the train line that travels from FPJ Station (formerly Roosevelt) in Quezon City to Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat) in Paranaque]. While most tourists think that Central Station is the nearest station to Intramuros, according to locals and tour guides, the best station to get down is Carriedo Station, since you can ride jeep from here directly to the tourist spots. Look for jeeps bound for Pier 15. This should take you near Plaza Roma and Manila Cathedral.
- Option 2: It’s still possible to get to Intramuros via the Central Station on the LRT-1 line. From the Central Station terminal itself, pedicabs and tricycles often offer special trips to take you all the way to Intramuros, but these can be expensive. From here, you can walk to Manila City Hall and cross the pedestrian underpass to Padre de Burgos Street. Victoria Street, which goes through the walls, is right after exiting the underpass. You can also cross the underpass near Manila Metropolitan Theater to get to the post office through Mehan Gardens and walk to the Pasig River Esplanade (still under construction), but the roundabout route can be long and tiring.
By River Ferry
By Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Intramuros itself is compact and if you’re not in a rush, you can easily walk to sights that are 10 to 15 minutes away from each other. However, getting from one end to another can be pretty tiring if you plan to visit several different spots in one day, especially in the sweltering heat or rain.
Different forms of public transport are available within the walled city to help take you around or you can charter for private tours. The Intramuros Administration has imposed standard rates for the different forms of public transportation, which you should be aware of, which I’ve compiled for reference.
Kalesa
Kalesas or horse-drawn carriages, popularly used in the 18th century, are the most iconic way to explore Intramuros. This is a classic option for first-time tourists and balikbayans looking for a fun, old-fashioned trip around Intramuros.
The kutsero (kalesa driver or coachman) can also guide and explain the sights you want to visit when you book a kalesa tour in Intramuros. Kalesas can accommodate up to 6 passengers. The rate is good for every hour of the tour (and not per person). Take note that the kalesa drivers must advise passengers that the one-hour period of the tour has lapsed and may not charge for exceeding time without the group’s permission.
- P 1,000 per hour (regular rate)
- P 800 per hour (discounted rate for senior citizens, PWDs and students)
Tranvia
Tranvias or trams were the old streetcar systems that served Manila and its surrounding cities during the early years of the 20th century. If you’re traveling with a large group, you can rent the tranvia for a nostalgia-fueled way to tour the Old Walled City. Reservations for Tranvia rental are are required at least five days before the actual date of use.
The rental fees include the use of the tranvia, driver and fuel only. Tour guides are not included. Clients can decide on the route they want to take (provided they stay within Intramuros), and follow restrictions in case there are any events/functions affected by the suggested route. This would make a fun option for clan gatherings, team-building and group sightseeing tours. The tranvia can accommodate up to 20 passengers (so if you’re in a group of 20, that comes out to just P60 per hour).
- P 1,200 per hour
- P 4,000 for 4 hours
- P 8,000 for 8 hours
TIP: You can spot an old model tranvia on display in Plaza Roma.
Bike
For active travelers, going around Intramuros on a bamboo bicycle can be a fun way to learn about the Walled City’s cultural landmarks and historical sites, especially with the addition of a 9.35-kilometer long dedicated bike lane and the pedestrianization efforts in some streets. Socio-ecological enterprise Bambike Ecotours offers fun and educational bamboo bike tours with their fleet of bikes made by the “Bambuilders” of Gawad Kalinga, a community development organization.
Bambike offers 4 kinds of guided bike tours including a 1.5-hour-long Intramuros Express Tour, the Standard 2.5-hour-long Intramuros Experience that includes Fort Santiago, a Sunset Tour, and a Night Tour. They even launched a couple of After Dark mystery bike hunts for Halloween.
It’s possible to rent bicycles for DIY exploration from their Bambike HQ at the Plaza San Luis Complex and Manila Canvas near the Visitor’s Center inside Fort Santiago (for use within fort grounds only). There’s a bike rental cutoff until 5:00 pm only.
- P50 (student with ID) – P100 (regular) per hour – Bike rental rate for walk-ins + P50 for reservation fee if making advance online reservations (everyday and holidays)
- P999 – Express Tour (9:30 am / 3:00 pm)
- P1,699 – Intramuros Experience (9:30 am / 3:00 pm)
- P1,799 – Sunset Tour (4:30 pm)
- P1,700 Night Tour (5:00 pm)
Read my full guide to Bambike tours here.
It’s possible for cyclists to bring their own bikes and bike all the way here. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can make use of the alternate roads and bike lanes or bring bikes aboard the Pasig River Ferry and LRT if you want to go bimodal.
E-Chariot
If you don’t know how to bike but still want a different way to explore Intramuros, you can rent “e-chariots.” White Knight Hotel inside the Plaza San Luis Complex offers e-Chariot Tours using Electric Chariots (or segways) to explore the historic old walled city.
Pedicabs
If you want a budget-friendly option but don’t want to walk, you can opt for pedicabs. These pedal-operated cycle rickshaws with side compartments attached to one side of the bike that can easily pass through inner, narrower roads. These can fit up to 1-2 people only. You can find pedicab terminals everywhere in Intramuros and many drivers offer sightseeing tours to key spots around the old walled city aside from regular rides.
- P20 (regular trip per passenger)
- Intramuros Tour: P400 (regular), P320 (discounted, only applies if one or both passengers are either students, senior citizens or PWDs) for every hour of the tour
E-trike
Aside from the pedal-powered pedicabs, you can also find modern three-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs) called e-trikes. Aside from regular trips, these modern EVs can also be chartered for customized tours around the historical landmarks of Intramuros with a maximum of 8 passengers per e-trike. Tours come with a dedicated e-trike, driver, and optional tour guide upon request. The pick-up point is at Plaza de Roma in front of Manila Cathedral.
- P 25 per passenger (regular), P20 (students w/ID), P17.50 (seniors)
- P 800 per hour (E-Trike Intramuros Tour)
You can also book e-trike rides through a new Pickapp e-tricycle ride hailing app within Intramuros.
On foot
If you don’t mind the heat, Intramuros is easy enough to walk around. Just open GoogleMaps and figure out how to get from one attraction to another, making use of the pedestrianized-only streets and sidewalks. General Luna Street has been fully pedestrianized with a walkway network, some with accessibility ramps for persons with disabilities (PWDs), amid public clamor for a safe and open space for all.
You can also climb up the perimeter walls for a different vantage point. We’re just hoping that once the Pasig River Esplanade is completed, there will be better pedestrian access to the mass transit hubs directly from Intramuros without having to pass the sketchier areas and underpasses.
I usually take a scooter to get here, because it’s easier to park than a car. Just pin Intramuros on the GoogleMaps and follow the suggested routes. Coming from Quezon City, my route is usually through Quezon Avenue and Quiapo.
In case you don’t want to drive, but don’t want to do multiple transfers, ride public transport, walk and have to find parking, booking a ride-share car like Grab or motorcycle taxi services like MoveIt, Angkas or JoyRide from other key public transport hubs is the best option. I use MoveIt to get to and from LRT or MRT stations or bus hubs when I’m in a rush and don’t want to drive. Read my motorcycle taxi fare guide on Top Gear.
Where to park in Intramuros
Those with private vehicles can park in designated areas including Fort Santiago, Postigo, PC Barracks and Puerta Real. Areas managed by Intramuros Administration charge a parking flat rate of P50.00. Private parking areas can also be found near Puerto Real Gardens and near Ristorante delle Mitre.
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