🏝️ Philippines

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Recent disaster alerts (UN/EU GDACS)

Updated 4 Nov 2026. Alerts change quickly: check GDACS and your government's advice before you travel.

Costs

Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Every foreign passenger arriving must sign up on the free eTravel system, doing so in the 72 hours before arrival; some travellers must also register when departing. Each trip needs its own new registration. Most nationalities can stay visa-free for short periods, usually 30 days, so check the official site. Fake paid 'eTravel' websites exist, so watch out for them.

Culture - take note

People are mostly Catholic and very hospitable, and English is widely spoken. Showing respect to elders matters, and people express it in speech with 'po' and 'opo'. Wear modest clothing in churches. Though 'Filipino time' is relaxed, arrive punctually yourself. Many cities ban smoking in public places. Typhoon season runs roughly June-November, so follow PAGASA weather warnings.

Emergency

911 (police, fire, ambulance).

Good to know

Peso, ATMs and card fraud

The currency is the Philippine peso, says Canadian advice. Cash machines are available in larger cities but may be scarce in rural areas, so it recommends having access to local-currency cash when travelling outside larger urban areas. Card and cash machine fraud occurs frequently, and illegal devices are sometimes attached to card readers to record PINs; the advice is to use machines in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business, and to cover the keypad.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, affection, protests and Boracay

UK advice says possessing even a small amount of any illicit drug leads to a mandatory prison sentence on conviction, and Canadian advice says cannabis is illegal whatever the amount or purpose. UK advice says overt public displays of affection may be treated as a grave scandal under the Revised Penal Code. Foreigners are barred from political activity, and joining a protest can lead to detention and deportation. On Boracay, drinking and smoking are banned in public places.

Taxis and scams

Reputable taxis and apps

Passengers have been robbed by some taxi drivers and their accomplices, UK travel advice warns, so use only taxis from a reputable company, airport trips included. Canadian advice adds that only metered taxis from a reliable company should be used, with the meter switched on. Its preferred options are a ridesharing app, official airport taxis or hotel transport, and it says never to share taxis with strangers.

Friendship extortion

A friendship offered to a single man travelling alone can turn into extortion, according to both Canadian and UK advice. Canada says locals with children may befriend single male tourists and then claim they abused a child, aiming to get money from them. The UK describes women, sometimes with children, who make friends with such men and then threaten to report rape or abuse, as a way to extort money; it says to be cautious about strangers offering friendship.

Online romance scams

Scammers often use fake profiles to go after Westerners and steal from them, says Canadian travel advice; people caught by this kind of scam have lost thousands of dollars. The same advice reports that fraud involving credit cards and ATMs is frequent.

Who can help

ngo

Philippine Red Cross

Helps with: The Philippines' national Red Cross society. Its website describes disaster response, a national blood service, and first aid and CPR training. Its contact page lists an emergency hotline and a head-office address.

Who qualifies: People in the Philippines who need its disaster, blood or first aid services.

Phone: 143

Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Barangka-Ilaya, Mandaluyong City 1550

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines

Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its country office is in Makati City; use the email address to ask about its work with migrants.

Who qualifies: Migrants and others in its migration programmes. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Email: [email protected]

Address: 28th Floor Citibank Tower Condominium, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City, Philippines

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)

Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 911

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Manila ManilaThe capital doubles as the main gateway, and has big malls, museums, a lively food scene and the walled district of Intramuros.Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0 Cebu CebuThis major hub has its own international airport, along with Spanish-era history, island beaches and trips for whale sharks and diving.Photo: DisRaptor18, CC0 Boracay BoracaySunset sailing, water sports and White Beach with its powdery sand are the reasons this small island is famous.Photo: Tuderna, CC BY 3.0 Bohol BoholThe Chocolate Hills, cruises on the Loboc River, beaches on Panglao Island and tiny tarsier primates are all found here.Photo: Philip Nalangan, CC BY-SA 4.0 Palawan (El Nido and Coron) Palawan (El Nido and Coron)Limestone cliffs, lagoons and shipwreck dives shape the island scenery here, along with the underground river at Puerto Princesa.Photo: Theglennpalacio, CC BY-SA 4.0 Siargao SiargaoA relaxed island, it is known for island-hopping, lagoons, rock pools and surfing at Cloud 9.Photo: ChaasPrime, CC BY-SA 4.0

City selection based on: Philippine Department of Tourism arrival data by destination; Agoda 2025 destination data; Condé Nast reader awards 2025

Festivals and events

festival

Sinulog Festival

8-17 Jan 2027 · Cebu

Expect higher prices and hotels filling up at one of the country's biggest annual events; plan early.

festival

Ati-Atihan Festival

15-17 Jan 2027 · Kalibo (Aklan)

Near Boracay, dancers with painted faces fill the streets at a festival nicknamed 'mother of all Philippine festivals'.

festival

Dinagyang Festival

22-24 Jan 2027 · Iloilo

Iloilo City hosts a large competition of tribal dancing.

festival

Panagbenga Flower Festival

around Feb-Mar 2027 · Baguio

Baguio, a city in the mountains, stages street dancing and floats made of flowers.

religious

Holy Week (Semana Santa)

21-28 Mar 2027 · Manila

Resorts are full and many offices shut, while processions take place.

festival

MassKara Festival

around Oct 2027 · Bacolod

Bacolod hosts a street party where people wear smiling masks.

festival

Sinulog Festival

7-16 Jan 2028 · Cebu

Expect higher prices and hotels filling up at one of the country's biggest annual events; plan early.

festival

Ati-Atihan Festival

14-16 Jan 2028 · Kalibo (Aklan)

Near Boracay, dancers with painted faces fill the streets at a festival nicknamed 'mother of all Philippine festivals'.

festival

Dinagyang Festival

21-23 Jan 2028 · Iloilo

Iloilo City hosts a large competition of tribal dancing.

festival

Panagbenga Flower Festival

around Feb-Mar 2028 · Baguio

Baguio, a city in the mountains, stages street dancing and floats made of flowers.