Intramuros, the historic walled city of Manila, is a popular destination for locals and tourists. If you haven’t visited recently, you should know that the area has undergone significant changes in recent years, making it more pedestrian-friendly and pleasant to walk around.
To preserve the heritage sites and improve the visitor experience, several areas have been closed to vehicular traffic. Last year, the space in front of San Agustin Church, which served as a car park, was converted into a patio for open space, and a World Heritage Site Marker was unveiled in the center.
Surrounding streets were overhauled with brick pavers only for pedestrians and light vehicles. Key areas like General Luna Street (near Plaza Roma and Manila Cathedral) have been transformed into pedestrian-only zones. The network of bike lanes has been expanded around the area, making it safer to bike. The Pasig River Esplanade only allows pedestrians and cyclists as well.
Once you get to Intramuros, you’ll find that the key landmarks are walkable, with most sites just five to 10 minutes away from each other. You can also find different public transport and tours inside Intramuros, whether you want to rent a bike, take a kalesa, book an e-trike or pedicab, or tour by tranvia.
ALSO READ:
Parking guide: Where to leave your car in Binondo
Parking guide: Where to park near the National Museums
If you’re planning to drive there from other parts of the metro, you’re probably wondering where the best place to park is to access the key sites on foot. Here are a few options.
Pay parking areas
The Intramuros Administration has outlined specific areas where visitors can park their vehicles in the Walled City. These include pay parking areas near Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, and Museo de Intramuros. Parking in these areas is managed by the Intramuros Administration, which charges a flat rate of Php 50 regardless of how long you leave your car.
The parking lot of Fort Santiago is located on the right side of the entrance. Take note that cars can no longer pass through General Luna going into Fort Santiago, as the street has been pedestrianized. Vehicle owners can access the parking area via Cabildo Street and Santa Clara Street. Based on the map, there’s also a pay parking area behind the row of restaurants (Max’s, Ministop, Chowking) along A. Soriano Avenue (Aduana).
There’s a small pay parking area at the corner of Cabildo Street and Beaterio Street on the left side of Manila Cathedral, but slots here are limited.
Another parking lot can be found along Postigo on the right side of Manila Cathedral and at the back of the Knights of Columbus Gym. To get here, pass Arzobispo Street instead of General Luna.
Based on our visits to Intramuros, certain sites, like Baluarte de San Diego usually has space for a few vehicles to park right outside the entrance.
Private parking areas
In addition to the official parking areas, there’s a private parking area near Puerto Real Gardens, an events venue. There’s also a smaller parking area at the back of CBCP and Ristorante delle Mitre, close to San Agustin Church and Convent and Casa Manila.
One-side street parking
Based on the parking map, street parking is allowed in several areas managed by the barangay and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, as indicated by the blue sections. Motorcycles are usually directed to park along Arzobispo Street beside the ECJ Building.
Restaurants with parking spaces in Intramuros
La Cathedral Cafe, a rooftop cafe across the street from Manila Cathedral, has limited parking areas in front of the building for a few vehicles. Good luck trying to park there, though, as the cafe is pretty popular, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
The entrance of Ilustrado Restaurant is a bit hard to find, but they have a secluded courtyard with a free parking area.
Bayleaf, a boutique hotel with several restaurants including Sky Deck, 9 Spoons, Raffaele, and Cioccolata, has a basement parking area and valet options. However, this is limited to hotel guests and dine-in customers.
Street parking is also available near Cafe y Ruedas, a new bike-friendly cafe with a view of the Intramuros Golf Course.
Parking areas near the Pasig River Esplanade
If you want to visit Phases 1 and 2 of the Pasig River Esplanade near the Central Post Office, Magallanes Drive between Jones Bridge and Plaza Mexico is the closest spot (especially for motorcycles) to park.
Space is limited here, so those with cars might find it easier to park at the Fort Santiago parking area instead. In case you didn’t know, you can enter and exit Fort Santiago through a side gate directly to Phase 3 of the esplanade.
Another possible option in nearby Binondo if you plan to end your visit there is the Escolta Car Park across Pasig River and Jones Bridge. Several pay parking lots are available along Escolta Street and in the Binondo area, approximately a five- to 10-minute walk from Jones Bridge, which leads directly to the esplanade.
Where’s the best spot in Intramuros to get dropped off?
If you don’t want to deal with the parking hassles, you can park elsewhere in a nearby mall, take public transport, or use ride-hailing or taxis from other areas.
Vehicles can still pass some intersecting streets such as Real Street, but traffic tends to build up there. In case you’re taking a taxi or rideshare to Intramuros, we’d recommend getting picked up and dropped off at Soriano Avenue in front of Plaza Roma and Manila Cathedral and walking to the other sites from there. From Plaza Roma, you can easily walk to Casa Manila, San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago, or the Pasig River Esplanade.
Parking map of Intramuros
For a detailed look at all designated parking areas, zoom in on the Intramuros Map provided by the Intramuros Administration.
For more parking concerns, get in touch with the Intramuros Administration’s Urban Planning and Community Development Division at (02) 8527-2811, (0998) 884 9224, or urban@intramuros.gov.ph.
