The central business hub of Metro Manila houses the Philippine Stock Exchange, luxury hotels, and over 60 embassies amid modern skyscrapers and upscale shopping centers.
Makati is the financial heart of Metro Manila. In its Central Business District, you'll walk past glass-walled skyscrapers and through air-conditioned pedestrian walkways. Visit the Ayala Museum to see pre-Hispanic gold artifacts, or spend time in the Greenbelt area's gardens between its shopping centers. The city's streets range from quiet residential areas with Spanish colonial churches to busy commercial zones filled with international restaurants and local food stalls.
Getting Around Makati
You can reach Makati from other parts of Metro Manila using the MRT train line's four stations along EDSA Avenue. Within the Central Business District, you can walk to most destinations through covered sidewalks and pedestrian underpasses. Metered taxis start at PHP40, while ride-hailing apps work throughout the city. Expect heavy traffic between 6-8 AM and 5-8 PM on weekdays.
Weather and When to Visit
Makati has warm temperatures year-round with a tropical monsoon climate. From September through December, you'll see holiday decorations and events across the city. January to May has less rainfall, making it easier to walk between destinations. March to mid-May are the warmest months in Metro Manila.
The Central Business District
Walk along Ayala Avenue to see modern office buildings housing multinational companies and the Philippine Stock Exchange. You can move easily between buildings using interconnected walkways and underground passages. The area includes offices of many foreign embassies and international businesses.
Museums and Art
At the Ayala Museum, you can examine more than one thousand pre-Hispanic gold artifacts in the "Gold of Ancestors" exhibition. The permanent collection includes dioramas of important moments in Philippine history and rotating contemporary art installations. Throughout Makati, small art galleries display works by both established and emerging Filipino artists.
Historical Churches
Three Spanish colonial-era churches remain in Makati. The Saints Peter and Paul Parish and the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church maintain their 18th-century architectural elements, including stone walls and baroque details. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish continues to function as an active religious center.
Shopping and Entertainment
The Ayala Center includes multiple connected malls in central Makati. Greenbelt's five sections contain shops surrounding gardens and water fountains. You'll find international retail brands alongside local boutiques throughout the area. In the evening, restaurants and bars in the Greenbelt area fill with locals and visitors.
