Exploring the Philippines | Best Things To Do In The Philippines Islands

A photo of a hut by the beach in one of the Philippine islands.

Discover more of the Philippines by finding out the 6 best things to do across the Philippine islands.

There are so many wonderful and noteworthy tourist spots in the Philippines that it is nearly impossible to keep count of them all. The Philippine islands are so rich and beautiful that each will have something to offer to different kinds of travelers. Be it holiday makers, backpackers and all other kinds of enthusiasts, there’s always something for you to enjoy within the archipelago.

The Philippines is divided into 3 different geographical island groups. Luzon, the northern part of the country, Visayas, comprises the middle part of the archipelago, and Mindanao at the southern end. Each of these divisions has its own story to tell. Each is important in Philippine culture and history. And most importantly, for the sake of this list, each has its own unique places for a wide array of different activities. Activities such as the following:

Surfing. Surfing is one of the most popular things to do in the country. There are wave breaks for beginners and professionals alike all over the country. La Union, Baler, and Siargao are some of the most popular surfing spots in the country, with Siargao being considered the surfing capital of the Philippines.

Trekking/Mountain Climbing. Aside from the beach, there is one other thing about the Philippines that could be a place of great adventure: the mountains. These mountains have amazing trail paths and most of all, it will reward you with incredible, jaw-dropping panoramic views. Mount Kitanglan, Pinatubo, Taal, and Mayon Volcano are some of the most frequently trekked places.
Scuba Diving. White sand beaches aren’t the only thing that the Philippines can be proud of. What lies beneath its turquoise blue waters is equally mesmerizing, if not more. The Philippines has some of the most popular scuba diving locations in the world, a few of them are even UNESCO Heritage Sites. Tubbatha Reefs, Malapascua, Coron, and Balicasag are all worthy diving spots.

Nightlife. The nightlife in the Philippines has been blossoming over the past decades. If you want to party with style and luxury, try out the big cities like Manila and Cebu. There are also parties held on beach sides, like in Siargao, Boracay, and Palawan. You would also find it a lot easier to socialize in the Philippines because the people are warm and friendly. Plus most of the Filipino people speak average to good English, so you really wouldn’t find it hard to get around and make friends.

Seeing the Old Architectures. There are a lot of buildings, churches, and cultural homes in the Philippines that have stood for decades, some even centuries. You will surely learn a thing or two about the country by visiting these places. Vigan, Bohol, Dapitan, and Baguio all have excellent old architecture for you to check out.

Relax. Perhaps the thing a lot of us want the most is to relax. As mentioned, there are thousands of islands in the Philippines. A lot of them provide perfect places for relaxation. The beach, mini-islands, waterfalls, mountains, springs, you name it. There are relaxing resorts in these places for you to relax in for a few days. These places are even perfect honeymoon destinations.

You can stay for years in this country and still never run out of things to do and places to see. What’s great is that it caters to everyone. If you love the sea, the mountains, the wilderness, or city life, the Philippines has a great place for you. A piece of good travel advice for visiting the Philippines is to visit it more than once. More than twice, even. The official slogan for the tourism in the Philippines is “It’s more fun in the Philippines”, fly to the country and you will see that it is.