Philippines
Manila in December
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Warm, humid and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · quick-dry fabrics · sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.5
- ✓Warm (30°C highs / 25°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 23.3°C)
- !Wet: ~99 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.1
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~17 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.1 Very good | 8.7 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 30° / 25° | 30° / 24° |
| Rain | 99 mm | 19 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 23° | dew pt 22° |
| PM2.5 | 17 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Manila Port Area weather-station normals. Rainfall: Port Area, Manila weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- Christmas 24–27 Dec · 4 days off in a row
- New Year 30 Dec – 3 Jan · 5 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Immaculate Conception (8 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ManilaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyThe Philippines' capital on Manila Bay, visited for Spanish-era Intramuros, churches, museums and a lively food scene.
Christmas seasonDate variesFrom September to early January
Filipinos famously begin Christmas decorating in September, with lights, lanterns (parol) and Simbang Gabi dawn masses from 16 December.
Why go: Malls and roads are very busy in December.
Where: Citywide
Coming up later
Feast of the Black Nazarene (Traslación)Every year9 January every year
Huge crowds of barefoot devotees accompany a revered statue of Christ through the streets for many hours.
Why go: Crowds are enormous and crushes have happened; watch from a safe distance and avoid Quiapo if you are not attending.
Where: Quiapo Church and nearby streets
Holy WeekDate variesMoves each year, usually March or April
Church visits, processions and passion plays.
Why go: Many businesses close from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday and traffic is unusually light.
Where: Citywide
Independence DayEvery year12 June every year
A national holiday with flag-raising ceremonies.
Why go: Expect official events at Rizal Park.
Where: Rizal Park and nationwide
Intramuros
The Spanish-era walled city with churches, plazas and Fort Santiago.
San Agustin Church
A UNESCO-listed baroque church, the oldest stone church in the country.
Rizal Park
A large park honouring national hero José Rizal.
National Museum of the Philippines
Museums of fine arts, anthropology and natural history.
Binondo
Manila's Chinatown, one of the oldest in the world, known for food walks.
Manila Bay sunset
The bay is known for its colourful sunsets.
💡 Best seen from the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard.
Adobo
Meat stewed in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic.
💡 Filipino restaurants
Sinigang
A sour tamarind soup with pork or seafood.
💡 Filipino restaurants
Lechon
Roast pig with crisp skin.
💡 Restaurants and celebrations
Halo-halo
Shaved ice with fruit, beans, jelly and ice cream.
💡 Dessert shops
Chinese-Filipino food
Dumplings, hopia pastries and noodle dishes.
💡 Binondo
Dried mangoes
Sweet dried Philippine mangoes.
💡 Supermarkets
Barong Tagalog
The embroidered, sheer national formal shirt.
💡 Specialty shops and malls
Woven crafts
Baskets, bags and mats in rattan and native fibres.
💡 Craft shops and malls