What to Do in Makati, Philippines: A Guide

If you look at the concrete structures and numerous hotels in Makati, Philippines like Guijo Suites, it is hard to imagine the country's central business district existed once upon a time as an airport runway surrounded by swampland. These days, the streets are filled with people, are lined with buildings that stretch up to the sky, and packed with upscale malls, restaurants, and all the other usual business and pleasure suspects that one can think of. It truly has gone a very long way and is now undeniably urban from head to foot.

As such, for tourists coming to the city, this means there is no shortage of fun things to do and places to discover while you stay. It doesn't matter what you fancy doing because there is something for everyone for sure.

Here is a shortlist of what to do in Makati to get you started:

Visit the Ayala Museum in Greenbelt

Do you like things golden and shiny? Head to the Ayala Museum, the one place that houses the best gold collections in the entire archipelago. Soak in some culture while marveling at the beauty of ancient artifacts such as sashes, earrings, and masks that belonged to early Filipinos. There is truly nothing like it. How can it be when you are talking about stuff that were around for the past 700 years? You can find items made of gold similar to the drawings in the Boxer Codex. The codex refers to a 16^th century book containing drawings of ancient Filipinos across the country. Do you want to know the best part of all this? The museum is inside a mall so there is no hassle in getting there.

Get ready to shop

Speaking of malls, what is an urban metropolis without a mall? It seems Filipinos are fond of shopping, the huge concentration of malls around a given area attesting to the fact. It is no different in Makati; it is a shopping paradise, with one mall connected to another, and another, and another. Try going to Greenbelt, Landmark, Glorietta, and SM Makati to find a variety of items from the branded ones to the more affordable stuff. As mentioned, these malls are connected via bridges, so shoppers easily move from one place to another. You better come in comfortable footwear.

Hit the weekend markets

They say you really get to know a place and its people by visiting its market. If this saying is true then Makati is undoubtedly a real fantastic place. Its two weekend Markets, the Salcedo and Legazpi weekend markets offer the best in the metro. Brimming with good food, fresh and organic produce, homemade crafts, international cuisine and more, these markets definitely hit the spot. Make sure to stop by if you are staying in hotels around the area like GuijoSuites Makati.