How to do a day trip via taxi: Manila, Cebu, and Davao

Michaela Romulo

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How to do a day trip via taxi: Manila, Cebu, and Davao
Getting around Manila, Cebu, and Davao is now less of a hassle with GrabTaxi. So here’s a list of places to visit for an atypical day
 

MANILA, Philippines Ever wanted to explore other parts of a city rather than the typical slew of malls, cineplexes, and commercial establishments? 

Sadly, these charming little places are usually located outside of the city center, and a very common deterrent is access. 

With the traffic situation getting worse, the weather becoming more unpredictable, and commuting becoming more challenging, we miss out on exploring other parts of the city that give Manila, Cebu, and Davao its historical and eclectic charm. 

But with the popularity of commuter apps such as GrabTaxi, you no longer have to worry about getting to where you want to go.  

Heres a list of places to visit during your days off or on the weekend.

Manila 

  • Intramuros Taking a stroll or renting a bike (eco-friendly bike company, Bambike offers bike tours around the city) to explore the walled Spanish colonial city proves a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the Manila City Center. You may also want to take the famous walking tour of Carlos Celdran for an entertaining and witty take on the city’s history. For sunset sessions, visit the rooftop bar of Bayleaf boutique hotel and enjoy a beautiful view of the city and golf course while sipping on your cocktail of choice.
  • The Pinto Art Museum Up the hills of Antipolo sits this home-turned-museum. It houses a collection of Filipino art, a mix of classic and contemporary. The architecture is a work of art in its own right. Explore the different rooms and installations, relax on one of the garden day beds, and enjoy a meal and a cup of coffee at the museum’s cafe. Better yet, take your coffee up to the roof deck and enjoy a 360-degree view of the distant Manila skyline. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
  • The CCP complex Year-round, the different resident companies of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), as well as other arts groups and performers, offer a variety of shows. Check their website for a full list of season shows and visiting international productions. But you don’t need to wait for a performance or occasion to visit the complex. A favorite leisure activity of locals and residents nearby is to hang out and jog around the vast driveway, fountain, and front lawn. 
  • Cubao Expo For an eclectic mix of all things hip, kitschy, and artsy, visit Cubao Expo or simply called Cubao X. Check out stores like Vinyl Dump for new and used records; Mark “R” Shoes for classic Marikina-made shoes; Post Gallery for artsy finds; The Twelfth house for fashionable finds; or Green Halo for a little taste of vegan cuisine. Art exhibits and gigs are staple events on weekends and even weekdays. Here you can check out the local artists and get your fill of local indie music.

Cebu

  • Crossroads For a one-stop shop of restaurants, cafes, and even nightlife options, Crossroads has a variety of establishments that will cater to your needs. Got a sweet tooth? Visit La Marea for pastries and coffee (their brownie cups are a must try!). For Mexican food, try Maya; for Vietnamese go to Phat Pho; and for a bowl of ramen, try Banri Noodle House. For drinks and a bit of nightlife fun, hit up Vudu, The Distillery, and Gilt.  
  • Tops Situated on top of Mt. Busay and accessible through a steep and winding road is Tops. A great place to check out the sunrise, sunset, and topography of Cebu City. When you reach the top, there are a variety of stalls that sell snacks and drinks so you can enjoy the view and fresh mountain air with good company. 
  • Mactan Take a short cab ride across the bridge that connects Cebu City to Mactan and relax in one of the many beaches and seaside resorts. There you can find resorts like Shangri-La, Movenpick, and BE resort in Punta Egano. You can also visit public beaches like Hudson and eat in the many sutukils – restaurants where customers can choose fresh seafood and decide how it’s prepared. 
  • Mabolo This area near the city center offers a variety of interesting and offbeat places for you to spend the day. Visit the Qube Art Gallery to get inspired and La Vie Parisienne for some French cuisine and wine. Circa 1990 is an 18th-century home that was restored and turned into a restaurant, piano bar, and function venue. 

Davao

DAVAO DESTINATIONS. Try these nearby locations outside Davao city proper.
  • Samal Island For a quick getaway from the city, take a quick cab ride to the dock then take a 20-minute boat ride to nearby Samal Island. It is a 116km strip of beach, only a stone’s throw away form Davao City. This island has over 70 different resorts. One of the most popular is Pearl Farm. The island also offers nature lovers a chance to visit waterfalls and bat caves such as the Hagimit Falls and the Monfort Bat Caves (known to have the largest colony of fruit bats in the world). 
  • Hijo Estates Resort For something a bit further out of the city but still within a 45-min cab ride, you can visit Hijo Estates Resort. It is supposedly the world’s only beach within a banana plantation and it offers a lot of outdoor activities like safari tours, a shooting range, paddle boards and of course, banana boats. 
  • D’Bone Collector Museum Hidden in the busy, narrow streets of Davao City is this unusual museum that features bones from animals around the world. It houses the bones of over 650 specimens which include animals like whales and dolphins. The museum is registered as an NGO. It is committed to educating the young and old alike on the importance of the environment. 
  • Lon Wa Temple Did you know that Davao City houses one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Philippines and the biggest in Mindanao? It is well-preserved and is located only a few kilometers away from the city center. Definitely a sight to see regardless of your religious affiliations. 

Take a break from the typical metropolitan city hotspots and soak in some culture. Theres so much more to explore and there is no reason to be deterred by a lack of access.

Many of the places listed are a bit out of the way which can make commuting quite a challenge.

However, GrabTaxi offers a safe, reliable, and convenient way to get you where you need to go. Just download the app, book a taxi, and go. 

No more worries about choosy cab drivers, overcharging, or the worst getting stuck in the rain and competing with other commuters in the race to hail down the first available cab. 

We’ve all been there before, but thanks to GrabTaxi, a city and its hidden charms are just a tap away. Rappler.com

GrabTaxi is a free app that can be downloaded on Android, Blackberry World and IOs.

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