Manila

Manila has a certain ‘rough diamond’ quality about it. The Filipino capital can seem chaotic, with an eclectic mix of buildings that range from Spanish colonial styles to ultra-modern skyscrapers. The city is actually a conglomeration of 12 cities and 5 municipalities, together forming Metro Manila, so there’s no shortage of things to see and do.

The most Americanised of all Southeast Asian cities is a dynamic, charming and hugely cosmopolitan place, often visited by business and island-bound travellers. It’s a city of contrasts – gleaming shopping malls stand proudly next to slums, while street food vendors ply their wares outside 5-star hotels. Manila is an eyeopener and a showcase for the integration of the old and the new.