Chinese New Year is just around the corner, which means people will be flocking to Manila's Chinatown for Binondo food trips, heritage tours, and festivities once again. The oldest Chinatown in the world is known for its great food and architectural gems. However, the traffic and terrible parking conditions for car owners can be a deterrent on normal weekdays, let alone weekends and holidays.
If you’re going here solo on normal days, it’s better to take a scooter than a car, since it’ll be easier to find streetside parking. Like cars, bigger motorcycles can get stuck in the gridlock in the narrow, one-way streets and have difficulties finding secure parking spots.
Biking is an option if you plan to swing by, but finding a place to park safely to eat can also be very challenging. Binondo is best explored on foot.
My recommendation is to take city trains to get here or use ride-hailing services to drop you off nearby, then walk. Alternatively, you can consider parking in other areas near the LRT lines or the Pasig River Ferry.
But if you’re willing to deal with the traffic and don’t mind circling to find those elusive spots in Binondo, here are some parking options for your consideration.
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Lucky Chinatown
Lucky Chinatown, located along Reina Regente Street corner Dela Reina Street in Binondo, Manila, has been one of the default spots near Binondo often recommended for those with cars. Car owners head to this lifestyle mall development of Megaworld to park their vehicles if they can’t find street parking, as it's secured and covered.
However, many car owners now advise against parking here because it's always full and hard to exit. While it’s generally safer than parking on the street, be warned, you may get stuck for hours trying to exit. The mall also charges higher rates if you park before mall hours. Most stores and restaurants in the mall are open daily, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm (Mon-Sun), but some open earlier and close late. The car park operates from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Parking rates for cars
- Before Mall Hours: P100 for the first three (3) hours plus P50 for every succeeding hour
- During Mall Hours: P60 for the first three (3) hours plus P30 for every succeeding hour
- Valet Parking: P150 + Accumulated Parking Fee
- Valet Overnight Charges (Starts from 9 pm - 7 am): P500
- Valet Lost Ticket or Damaged Card: P500
Parking rates for motorcycles
- P50 for the first 3 hours
- P10 per succeeding hour
Escolta Car Park
A better option if you arrive before mall hours is the Escolta Car Park, a 5-story parking building completed in 2020. The multi-level carpark is located at 220a Escolta Street, near the corner of Yuchengco Street and close to the Escolta River Ferry Station. Just look for the building with a Union Bank on the ground floor. From here, it’s around a 5-10 min walk from Binondo. Nearby establishments include Po Chuan Am Temple, Calvo Museum, UNO Seafood Restaurant and Ying Ying Tea House.
According to the website FlySpaces, which lists various offices and coworking spaces, the Escolta Parking Building has a total of 250 parking spaces, including 200 for cars and 50 for motorcycles. The building is equipped with CCTV cameras and security guards to ensure the safety of your vehicle. The car park also comes with a waiting area, a comfort room, and an elevator. It shares the building with a few banks like Unionbank and other commercial establishments on the ground floor.
If you’re parking here, you'll want to wrap up your food trips before dinner. The Escolta Car Park closes relatively early. You’ll have to pay an overnight fee and claim your car the next day if you don’t exit in time. Drivers must also exit within 15 minutes after paying to avoid any additional fees. The Escolta Car Park is open daily from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Parking rates:
- P60 for cars for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour.
- P130: max rate 7 hours and above
- P30: for motorcycles (flat-rate)
- P300: Overnight fee + parking fee
Street parking and other small carparks
Another option is to hunt for small carparks and street parking in the side streets near Binondo Church and Sta. Cruz.
HUB: Make Lab, a creative community housed in the First United Building in Escolta, shared a handy map showing where visitors can park near their building. Aside from Escolta Car Park, there’s a car park near the intersection of Muelle Del Banco Nacional Bridge and MacArthur Bridge.
In an Instagram reel, food content creator GoraTayoPH shared several recommendations, including secret spots in Sto. Cristo in front of BDO near Binondo Church, along Veronica Street (close to LCM and Binondo), Soler Street, and Yuchengco cor. Sabino Padilla Street.
In the video reel, it’s seen that most of the small car parks charge P60-P70 per hour. The smaller streetside parking usually charges 50 pesos for parking. You may be asked to leave your key behind, so don't leave any valuables inside your car.
Other malls
If you don’t mind using public transport or taking short cab rides, you can park in other malls a bit further from the heart of Chinatown and take a jeep or taxi to Binondo. Some other relatively near parking options include 168 Shopping Mall, Tutuban Center or Quinta Market in Quiapo, though these streets tend to get congested.
You can also opt to park in SM Manila and take a jeepney (or Grab) to Binondo. Or if you’re coming from the North, you can park at SM Sta. Mesa, then ride the LRT 2 to Recto and walk to Binondo. Any mall where you can transfer to the LRT-1 or LRT-2 station might be a less stressful option.
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How to get to Binondo by public transport
LRT
The fastest and cheapest way to get to Binondo is to make use of the Light Rail Transit (LRT). This way you can bypass traffic on the ground and avoid any parking problems once you get there.
When traveling via the LRT line 1, get off at the Carriedo Station. If using the LRT line 2, you can get off at the Recto Station. Binondo is roughly a 10 to 15-minute walk from either station.
Pasig River Ferry
If you want a different experience, you might want to try parking your cars somewhere near a Ferry Station and take the Pasig River Ferry going to Binondo. Get down at the Escolta River Ferry station and walk to Binondo.
Is it worth driving a car and parking in Binondo or would you rather use public transport? Share your parking woes and other insider tips in the comments section.
