---
type: Place
title: Intramuros
description: Manila's Spanish walled city, built in the 1500s and once the whole of Manila — cobbled streets, colonial balconies, and the city's touristic heart.
tags: [intramuros, manila, philippines, colonial, history, walled-city]
coordinates: {lat: 14.5910, lng: 120.9747}
timestamp: 2026-08-04T12:00:00Z
---

# Intramuros

The Spanish colonial quarter of [Manila](/places/manila.md) in the
[Philippines](/countries/philippines.md), and the touristic heart of the city.
Its defensive walls, built by the Spanish in the 1500s, run the whole way
around — which is where the name comes from. Harry is told that Intramuros was
once the entirety of Manila, a city that now holds around 25 million people,
and that the Spanish built seven churches in this small area as part of
spreading Catholicism. Walking in, he describes it as being transported back
to the time of Spanish rule: cobbled streets, colonial balconies, and old
churches, one of which he's told dates to 1571.

Just outside sits Rizal Park, named for Jose Rizal, the nationalist who fought
for independence from Spain.

## What Harry did

Walked in from the Manila Post Office — gutted by fire a week or two before
filming — and staged a gag attempt to enrol at the University of the
Philippines. He then met John, a local guide offering an hour's pedicab tour
for 100 pesos, took the tour, and ended up driving the pedicab himself and
touting for passengers at 100 pesos a lift.

## Practical facts

- A pedicab tour of the quarter runs about 100 pesos for an hour.
- The pedicabs have improvised brakes — the one Harry drove braked with a foot
  lever.
- This is the tourist district, and the contrast with the settlements
  elsewhere in the city is stark.
- Churches are the main sights; one Harry visited is dated 1571.

## Harry's tips

- Take the pedicab tour. It's cheap, and the guides will tell you the history
  as you go.
- Do it as part of crossing the city rather than as a standalone stop — the
  jump from the dense districts into colonial cobbles is the point.

## Source

- [Looking For Love in the Philippines! 🇵🇭](/videos/ToCePYZJ_q8.md) —
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToCePYZJ_q8