Best Time to Visit Philippines

Dry season: January to April

For most of the country, the sweet spot is the dry months. Manila, Caloocan, Quezon City and Taguig are best in January and February, or February and March. Skies are clearer and the air feels lighter. Puerto Princesa, Davao, Zamboanga and Cebu City also do well from February to April.

It gets hotter as spring goes on. Cebu City and Manila peak in May, and the Manila area feels sticky by then. Puerto Princesa, Davao and the southern spots peak in April. If you want island hopping around Palawan, where Puerto Princesa is the gateway, February and March give you the calmest, sunniest days.

Wet season: June to December

Rain doesn't hit everywhere in the same month. Manila and its neighbours are wettest in December, at 415 mm. That's heavy, so expect flooded streets and slow traffic. Cebu City, Davao and Zamboanga are wettest in October. Puerto Princesa peaks in July. Budta and Malingao in the south peak in June, at 341 mm.

So the "rainy season" is really several. If your plans are flexible, check which part of the country you're heading to before you pick a month. Typhoons are most likely in the second half of the year, so keep an eye on forecasts if you're flying between islands.

Holidays, crowds and prices

The busiest times are not always the best weather. Holy Week, the days before Easter, is a big deal. Many Filipinos travel home to the provinces, buses and ferries fill up, and beach resorts are packed. Manila itself goes quiet. Christmas is also huge. The Filipino Christmas season starts early, and flights and ferries are crowded around the holiday.

The Sinulog festival in Cebu City, held in January, draws big crowds and fills hotels. If you love street parties and drumming, it's worth planning around. If you hate crowds, skip it.

Low season runs roughly from June to October. You'll find quieter beaches and easier bookings, but more rain and rougher seas. For the best mix of good weather and fewer people, try late January to early March, before the Holy Week rush.