Stand on the breakwater at the CCP Complex as the light drops behind Manila Bay and the Roxas Boulevard skyline starts to glow, and you have the version of Pasay most visitors never plan for. The city wraps around the airport and the bay, so a day here moves between performance halls, waterfront esplanades and a Ferris wheel that turns until midnight.
Pasay suits travellers with a long layover, a concert or game to attend, or a free afternoon before flying out. It also works for families who want rides and sweets in one stretch of reclaimed shoreline. This guide covers the sights and experiences the city is known for, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Pasay
1. Cultural Center of the Philippines
The CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard straddles the boundary with Manila and showcases Filipino performing arts and culture. Even without a ticket, the grounds are worth the walk: the area is popular for jogging, and families often have picnics here, especially on weekends.
Come on a weekend if you want the picnic-and-jogging atmosphere rather than an empty plaza, and treat the complex as the anchor for the rest of the bayfront sights nearby.
2. Tanghalang Pambansa
This giant Brutalist theater building is the center of the CCP complex, built in 1969 to a design by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin. It houses four theatres for different performance genres, so what you see inside depends on what is playing.
Pair it with the rest of the CCP Complex in a single visit, since the building sits within the same grounds you are already walking.
3. Harbour Square
Harbour Square is surrounded by a variety of dining shops, offering a diverse culinary experience. Visitors can enjoy a view of yachts from the Manila Yacht Club against the backdrop of the Manila skyline.
It is a good spot for relaxation and for taking in the city's charm, and it works best as a meal stop between the CCP Complex and the bayfront.
4. GSIS Building
The GSIS Building on Jose W. Diokno Boulevard is a significant landmark hosting both the Senate of the Philippines and the Senate Museum. Art enthusiasts can see the GSIS Museo ng Sining, which showcases a collection of artworks by Filipino artists from the colonial to contemporary period.
The museum also serves as an exhibition space for contemporary Filipino artists, so check what is on before you commit an afternoon to it.
5. Philippine International Convention Center
The PICC Complex is the venue of the 1994 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Manila, and it remains one of the country's main convention addresses.
It sits in the same cluster as the Coconut Palace and the CCP Complex, so combine the three rather than making separate trips.
6. Coconut Palace
Also known as Tahanang Pilipino, this octagonal government building on F. Ma Guerrero Street in the PICC Complex was built using coconut lumber and shells, a material also used for some of its furniture.
Visit it as part of a PICC Complex walk, since it is within the same grounds as the convention center.
7. Manila Film Center
The Manila Film Center on Atang Dela Rama Street hosts an Amazing Theater Show. The show runs from 8PM to 9PM, with tickets at ₱1,500 for foreigners and ₱700 for locals.
Because the show is a fixed evening slot, build your day so that you are already in the CCP area by early evening rather than crossing town for it.
8. SM By the Bay
This amusement park at the Mall of Asia Complex offers a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and other rides. Adjacent to it is an esplanade overlooking Manila Bay, which provides a view for witnessing the sunsets, and along the area you will find a range of dining options.
Rides run ₱50–200, so it suits a family afternoon that turns into dinner by the water. Time your visit so the esplanade stretch lands at sunset.
9. SM MOA Eye
This large Mall of Asia Ferris wheel on Seaside Boulevard has night lighting, and riders can take in city and bay views. It operates from 4PM to midnight.
Go after dark for the lighting and the skyline rather than in the middle of the afternoon, and pair it with the SM By the Bay esplanade next door.
10. SM Mall of Asia Globe
The SM Mall of Asia Globe, also listed as MoA Globamaze at Globe Rotunda, is open 24 hours.
Because it never closes, it is an easy stop to slot in before or after the Ferris wheel when the rest of the bayfront is winding down.
11. Mall of Asia Arena
The MOA Arena on Jose W. Diokno Boulevard is a large outdoor arena that serves as an alternative venue for Philippine Basketball Association games, most concerts and theatrical performances.
If your trip coincides with a game or a concert, plan the rest of the day around the bayfront so you are not travelling far to reach the arena.
12. Star City
Star City, in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, is the only indoor, air-conditioned amusement park in the Philippines, with over 30 attractions and rides including rollercoasters such as the Star Flyer, the first inverted coaster in the country. It also has Snow World, the country's largest permanent ice entertainment area, and within the complex you will find the Aliw and Star Theatres.
It opens Thursday, Friday and Monday until 10PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 1PM to 10PM. A ride pass with Snow World is ₱859, and a ride pass alone is ₱699. You can alight at LRT-1 Vito Cruz station to reach it.
13. Manila Bay Breakwater
The Manila Bay Breakwater at the CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard is open 24 hours and free, with a view of Manila Bay, the Roxas Boulevard skyline and Bataan Province.
It is the natural end point of a CCP Complex walk, and the view holds from morning through late afternoon.
14. J.W. Roadway Bridge
The J.W. Roadway Bridge, also listed as J.W. Diokno Bridge, crosses the Libertad Channel and is open 24 hours. It is free to walk.
Go in the morning or the afternoon for the view of the area, rather than saving it for the end of the night.
15. Two E-Com Center
Two E-Com Center sits at Harbor Drive corner Bayshore Avenue and is open 24 hours, free to visit. It is regarded as one of the beautiful buildings in the Philippines.
It fits neatly into a bayfront walk, since it is in the same Harbor Drive area as the Mall of Asia Complex sights.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, walking the grounds while it is still cool, then continue to Tanghalang Pambansa in the same complex. Walk out to the Manila Bay Breakwater for the bay and skyline view, and cross the J.W. Roadway Bridge on the way.
Afternoon. Move to the PICC Complex for the Philippine International Convention Center and the Coconut Palace, then head to the GSIS Building on Jose W. Diokno Boulevard for the Senate Museum and the GSIS Museo ng Sining. If you are travelling with children, swap this block for Star City, which opens at 1PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Evening. Settle in at Harbour Square for dinner and the yacht-and-skyline view, then ride the SM MOA Eye after dark. Finish with the SM Mall of Asia Globe, which stays open around the clock, or take in the Manila Film Center's 8PM to 9PM show if the timing suits you.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Manila Bay waterfront?
The Manila Bay Breakwater and the J.W. Roadway Bridge are open 24 hours and free, and the bridge is best in the morning or afternoon. For the sunset over the bay, the SM By the Bay esplanade is the spot, and the SM MOA Eye runs from 4PM to midnight if you want the view after dark.
Which Pasay sights are free to visit?
The Manila Bay Breakwater, the J.W. Roadway Bridge and Two E-Com Center are all free and open 24 hours. The SM Mall of Asia Globe is also open 24 hours.
What can I do in Pasay with children?
SM By the Bay offers a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and other rides, with prices from ₱50 to ₱200, plus an esplanade and dining along the waterfront. Star City, in the CCP Complex, has over 30 attractions and rides and the Snow World ice area, with a ride pass and Snow World at ₱859 or a ride pass alone at ₱699.
Where can I see Filipino art and performance in Pasay?
The Cultural Center of the Philippines showcases Filipino performing arts and culture, and Tanghalang Pambansa houses four theatres for different performance genres. For visual art, the GSIS Building hosts the Senate Museum and the GSIS Museo ng Sining, with works by Filipino artists from the colonial to contemporary period.
Decide which bayfront stretch you want to build your day around, check the Star City and Manila Film Center schedules, and start mapping your Pasay itinerary.