Travel Guide – Travel Up

Pinto Art Museum: What’s new in this contemporary art museum in Antipolo?

Pinto Art Museum is an art museum in Antipolo that showcases some of the best of the Philippines’ contemporary artists. This lovely museum is one of the top spots to visit in Antipolo, a hilly city just east of Metro Manila.

With art galleries housed in Mediterranean-inspired villas, sprawling gardens, and modern Filipino art exhibits, Pinto Art Museum offers a unique mix of art and culture in a secluded space just an hour or so from the busy city.

Bahay Modernismo: New museum in Quezon City

Looking for a new museum to visit in Quezon City? Check out Bahay Modernismo, a house museum devoted to Philippine modern heritage inside Quezon Memorial Circle. This unique space offers a glimpse into mid-20th-century Filipino life and architecture.

Where to eat in Intramuros: Classic and new cafes to visit in Manila

Intramuros, the historic walled city of Manila, is one of the country’s top destinations for international tourists and locals alike. While most tourists visit mainly for the churches, museums, and historical sites, some dining spots also offer unique destinations to grab a bite or drink in between all that sightseeing.

Along with classic restaurants serving Filipino-Spanish cuisine, a few new cafes have popped up in the past few years, giving locals a reason to revisit.

Here’s an ultimate guide to the classic and new restaurants in Intramuros currently operational as of May 2025.

VATICAN CITY | St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Vatican City, an enclave surrounded by Rome in Italy, is the smallest sovereign state in the world. With a size of just 0.44 square kilometers, this pilgrimage destination is a unique place that blends art, history and religion. Going around the Vatican felt like visiting one massive museum with a vast collection of masterpieces concentrated in one space.

TAIWAN | Biking around Cijin Island, Kaohsiung

Biking around Cijin Island was one of the highlights of my recent solo trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. For first-time tourists who have half or a whole day to spare, this small island is one place you can easily visit for beach breaks with safe walking and biking trails.

Getting there is a cheap and short ferry ride from the mainland, you can spot some fun art installations along the coast, visit temples, bike through a tunnel, and hike up to a lighthouse overlooking the city.

GUIDE: 2025 Pasig River Ferry Service route map, schedules, timetable & landmarks

The Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) is currently the only water-based transportation in Metro Manila that plies the length of the Pasig River and parts of the Marikina River. As of January 2025, the alternative transport option remains FREE to ride for all passengers. The ferry, similar to a water bus, cruises along Pasig River from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City to Escolta in Manila City.

If you’re looking for a different mode of transport for urban exploration, this commuter ferry has stations in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Manila. While work needs to be done along the riverbanks in many areas, the ferry offers a glimpse of local life and offers a view of notable landmarks from a tourist’s perspective.

Where to drink in Baguio City: Cozy craft beer spots

NOTE: Originally written on October 2023. Last updated on January 2025.

The mere mention of the City of Pines immediately brings to mind images of hot chocolate, brewed coffee, ube jam, strawberry taho, and a lot of other iconic eats. Baguio City is an amazing destination for foodies, with a sheer variety of artistic homegrown restaurants to choose from serving all types of cuisine. In the past few years, Baguio has become a destination for beer lovers as well.

SLOVAKIA | Things to do in Bratislava

After a couple of days in Austria, we passed through Slovakia (the fourth country on our Europe trip), on the way to Czechia. Slovakia is a small landlocked country known for its stunning castles, folkloric traditions, and – surprisingly – cars!

Fun fact: Slovakia is the world’s largest producer of cars per capita with major automotive companies like Volkswagen, PSA (Peugeot and Citroën) and Jaguar operating in the country. We didn’t spot any of those cars though, as the main historic center is pedestrianized, which made walking around very pleasant.

AUSTRIA | Things to do in Vienna

Renowned for its natural landscapes, music, literature and art, Austria is a wonderful destination to visit in Europe. Austria was the third country we visited on our European tour earlier this year. After traveling around Rome and Venice in Italy, we crossed to Austria in Central Europe, which lies in the Eastern Alps. Most of us are familiar with some aspects of Austrian culture having grown up watching the classic 1965 film The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews. The real von Trapp family once lived in Salzburg and the movie was filmed mainly in and around the city.

How to get to and around Intramuros, Manila

Intramuros is one of the top tourist destinations in Manila for good reason. The Old Walled City is the premiere destination for any first-time tourists in transit to Manila and the go-to destination for entertaining balikbayans who might be home for the holidays. There have been a lot of improvements to the area in recent months like the Pasig River Esplanade, new museums like Centro de Turismo Intramuros and new cafes in Intramuros, which might interest the general public.

With the traffic and limited parking in the area, driving a private vehicle and finding a place to park here can feel like a chore. If you plan to revisit Intramuros but are unsure of how to get there and around, here’s a guide to help you out.

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