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Overview
Makati City sits at the heart of Metro Manila and serves as the country's primary financial centre. Its skyline of glass towers houses the headquarters of major Philippine corporations, multinational offices, and the Philippine Stock Exchange. Despite its corporate identity, Makati offers a surprisingly varied experience for visitors — from air-conditioned mega-malls and Michelin-recognised restaurants to gritty bar streets and century-old churches.
The city divides broadly into distinct zones. The Central Business District (CBD) is polished and walkable by Metro Manila standards, with wide pavements linking hotels, malls, and office towers along Ayala Avenue. A short ride south brings you to Poblacion, a former residential barangay that has evolved into one of Metro Manila's most talked-about dining and nightlife strips. Greenbelt, Glorietta, and the broader Ayala Center complex anchor the retail and leisure scene in between.
Makati is compact enough that many CBD attractions are reachable on foot or via the short BGC (Bonifacio Global City) connector. It rewards slow exploration — ducking into gallery spaces, neighbourhood cafés, and the occasional heritage site — rather than a rigid checklist approach.
Before You Go
Visas
Entry requirements for the Philippines depend on your nationality, intended length of stay, and other factors that can change. Check TravelerPulse's Visas section for a current overview, and always verify the latest rules with the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (immigration.gov.ph) or your nearest Philippine embassy or consulate before travel.
Health
No vaccinations are universally mandated for entry, but routine vaccines should be up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for travellers to the Philippines — consult a travel health clinic well before departure. Dengue is present in Metro Manila; use mosquito repellent, particularly at dawn and dusk. Tap water is generally not considered safe to drink; bottled or filtered water is widely available and inexpensive.
Money
ATMs are plentiful throughout the CBD and malls. International cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at most hotels, malls, and established restaurants, but smaller eateries, street vendors, and tricycle drivers typically expect cash. Currency exchange counters in malls often offer competitive rates — compare before exchanging. Inform your bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks.
Climate
Makati follows Metro Manila's tropical climate: hot and humid year-round, with a dry season roughly November through April and a wet season from May through October. Typhoons occasionally affect Metro Manila between June and November. Even in the dry season, afternoon temperatures regularly exceed 33 °C (91 °F), so light, breathable clothing is practical.
Getting There
By Air
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the primary gateway, with four terminals handling domestic and international flights. Makati is served most conveniently from Terminal 3, which is roughly 5–10 km from the CBD depending on traffic — but Metro Manila traffic can make that journey take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour. Confirm which terminal your airline uses before travel.
Airport to Makati
Metered taxis are available from all NAIA terminals; use the official taxi queues and insist the meter is used to avoid overcharging. Ride-hailing apps (Grab is dominant in Metro Manila) offer a predictable fare and are widely considered more convenient. Some hotels provide airport transfers — verify availability and cost directly with your accommodation. There is no direct rail link between NAIA and Makati at the time of writing; verify locally whether any new transport links have opened.
By Road
Makati is accessible from all parts of Metro Manila via expressways and major arterial roads. From provinces north of Manila (e.g., Pampanga, Batangas), long-distance bus terminals in Pasay and Cubao serve as interchange points, with onward travel by taxi or ride-hail into Makati.
Getting Around
Within Makati CBD
The CBD core around Ayala Avenue and the Ayala Center mall complex is walkable, with covered pedestrian walkways (skywalks) connecting key buildings. Outside this zone, footpaths become less consistent and midday heat can make walking uncomfortable for long stretches.
Ride-Hailing
Grab is the dominant ride-hailing platform in Metro Manila and is generally reliable within Makati and for trips to neighbouring cities such as BGC (Taguig), Pasay, or Mandaluyong. Surge pricing applies during peak hours (roughly 7–9 a.m. and 5–8 p.m. on weekdays).
MRT-3
The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 runs along EDSA, Metro Manila's main north-south artery. The Ayala Station and Buendia Station serve Makati. The MRT is inexpensive and avoids road traffic but can be very crowded during rush hours. Verify current operating hours and fares locally, as these are subject to change.
Jeepneys and Tricycles
Jeepneys (the iconic shared minibuses) ply fixed routes through and around Makati at low fares. Traditional jeepneys are being phased out in favour of modern PUV units — routes and availability vary. Tricycles (motorcycle-and-sidecar combos) operate within barangay limits and are useful for short hops in Poblacion and residential areas.
To BGC (Bonifacio Global City)
BGC in Taguig directly borders Makati and is a common destination for visitors. The BGC Bus (a point-to-point air-conditioned service) is a practical option; verify current routes and fares at myBGC.ph or locally.
Where to Stay
Makati's accommodation ranges from international five-star hotels clustered around Ayala Avenue and Salcedo Village to mid-range business hotels and budget guesthouses in Poblacion. The CBD and Legazpi/Salcedo Village areas are convenient for first-time visitors: central, relatively safe, and well-served by dining and transport. Poblacion suits travellers prioritising nightlife proximity.
When selecting accommodation, check the exact address relative to where you plan to spend most of your time — Makati's blocks can feel short on a map but long in practice during peak-hour traffic. Verify current rates directly with hotels or through reputable booking platforms, as prices fluctuate significantly with season and events.
Some long-stay travellers and slow tourists opt for serviced apartments in Makati, which can offer better value and kitchen facilities for stays of a week or more. These are concentrated in Salcedo Village and Rockwell. Verify amenities and cancellation policies before booking.
Things to See & Do
Ayala Museum
Located within the Greenbelt mall complex, Ayala Museum presents Philippine history, pre-colonial gold artefacts, and rotating contemporary art exhibitions. It is one of the more thoughtfully curated museums in Metro Manila. Check the museum's official website for current opening hours and admission fees before visiting.
Greenbelt and Ayala Center
The Greenbelt complex is a lifestyle mall built around open-air gardens and a park, making it one of the more pleasant retail environments in Metro Manila. The adjacent Glorietta and SM Makati malls extend the complex considerably. Beyond shopping, the Greenbelt park area is a genuine green space used by office workers for lunch breaks.
Poblacion
The barangay of Poblacion (centred roughly on P. Burgos Street and Kalayaan Avenue) has become a dense concentration of independent bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and small live music venues. It is liveliest Thursday through Sunday evenings. The area rewards wandering — many of the more interesting spots are in side streets and upper floors.
Legazpi and Salcedo Weekend Markets
Both Legazpi Village (Sunday) and Salcedo Village (Saturday) host popular weekend markets where local vendors sell artisanal food, produce, crafts, and prepared meals. They are well-attended by both residents and visitors and provide a more neighbourhood-scale experience than the malls. Verify current schedules locally.
Rizal Park (Luneta) – Day Trip
Although technically in Manila rather than Makati, Rizal Park is approximately 20–30 minutes away by car (traffic permitting) and is a foundational heritage site for understanding Philippine history. The national monument to José Rizal stands here. Worth combining with a visit to Intramuros, the walled colonial city immediately adjacent.
Food & Drink
Makati offers one of the most diverse dining landscapes in Southeast Asia within a compact area. Filipino cuisine anchors the scene — from humble tapsilogan breakfast joints (tapsilog: cured beef, garlic rice, fried egg) to upscale modern Filipino restaurants reinterpreting regional dishes. International cuisines — Japanese, Korean, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian — are all well represented, particularly around Greenbelt, Rockwell Center, and Poblacion.
Notable Areas
- Poblacion / P. Burgos area: Independent restaurants and bars; strong representation of natural wine bars, craft cocktail spots, and casual Filipino-international fusion.
- Legazpi Village: Daytime café culture, brunch spots, and mid-range restaurants popular with the expat and creative communities.
- Rockwell Power Plant Mall: Quieter, slightly upscale dining options; popular with Makati residents.
- Greenbelt 3 and 5: Concentration of established restaurant chains and some independent fine-dining options.
Practical Notes
Street food (fish balls, kwek-kwek, isaw) is available on many pavements and is a genuine part of local food culture; exercise your own judgement on vendor hygiene. Bottled water is safer than tap. Alcohol is widely available; the legal drinking age in the Philippines is 18. Tipping is customary in restaurants — around 10% is common where service charge is not already included, though this is at your discretion.
Shopping
Makati's retail offer is anchored by the Ayala Center complex, which encompasses Glorietta (four interconnected malls), Greenbelt (five linked wings), SM Makati, and the Landmark department store. Together they cover virtually every category from international luxury brands to Filipino fashion designers and local souvenir goods.
For more curated or independent retail, the weekend markets in Legazpi and Salcedo Villages (see Things To Do) carry locally made food products, homewares, and crafts. Rockwell Center's Power Plant Mall skews toward established mid-to-high-end local and international brands in a less crowded environment than Ayala Center.
Bargaining is not customary in malls or fixed-price stores. At weekend markets, gentle negotiation is sometimes possible but is not expected. Keep receipts — tourist refund schemes for VAT exist in the Philippines but applicability and procedures should be verified with individual retailers or the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Practical Information
Emergency Contacts
For police, fire, and medical emergencies, the national emergency hotline in the Philippines is 911. Makati City also maintains its own local emergency lines — verify current numbers through the Makati City government website (makati.gov.ph) or at your hotel's front desk upon arrival.
Connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is available in most malls, many cafés, and hotel lobbies. For reliable mobile data, purchasing a local prepaid SIM card (Globe or Smart are the two main providers) at the airport or any convenience store is straightforward and inexpensive. Bring your passport, as registration may be required.
Electricity
The Philippines uses 220V / 60Hz. Outlet types are predominantly Type A (two flat pins, US-style) and Type B (three flat pins). Adaptors for Type C and other European-style plugs are useful. Power outages (brownouts) are uncommon in Makati but can occur; major hotels have generator backup.
Business Hours
Government offices generally operate Monday–Friday, roughly 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Malls typically open around 10 a.m. and close between 9 p.m. and midnight. Banks are generally open Monday–Friday with some Saturday hours; verify with specific branches. Restaurants in Poblacion often do not open until late afternoon or evening.
Safety
Makati's CBD and the areas around Ayala Center, Salcedo, and Legazpi Village are among the more managed urban environments in Metro Manila and are generally considered safe for visitors exercising normal urban precautions. The city has a visible police presence in commercial zones.
Petty theft — pickpocketing and bag snatching — occurs, particularly in crowded areas and at night in busier entertainment strips. Keep bags closed and in front of you in crowds, avoid displaying expensive jewellery or electronics unnecessarily, and be attentive when using your phone on the street.
Exercise additional caution late at night, particularly in areas adjacent to the P. Burgos entertainment strip, where scams targeting foreigners (such as card game scams or overcharging at certain establishments) have been reported historically. When taking taxis, use metered cabs from official queues or, preferably, book via Grab for a fixed, recorded fare.
Always check current travel advisories from your home country's foreign affairs ministry before and during your trip, as conditions can change.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Makati is a cosmopolitan city where Filipino, Chinese-Filipino, expat, and international communities intersect, producing a culture that is outward-looking but rooted in Filipino hospitality and Catholic tradition. The majority of the population is Catholic, and church attendance remains significant; the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish (Poblacion church) is a functioning place of worship and a neighbourhood landmark.
Dress codes in Makati are generally relaxed in casual settings, though upscale restaurants, some clubs, and religious sites may have specific requirements — confirm in advance. Filipinos tend to value politeness and indirect communication; patience and a good-natured manner go a long way in any interaction.
Makati observes all Philippine national holidays, during which malls remain open but government offices, banks, and some businesses close. Holy Week (Semana Santa), typically in March or April, sees significant closures and altered hours — plan accordingly if visiting during this period.
