Best Hotels in Manila for Christmas

Christmas in the Philippines starts early, with decorations and carols from September, and Manila is at its most festive from mid-November. Free light shows run in Makati, Pasay and Taguig, and Simbang Gabi, a series of nine pre-dawn or evening Masses, runs from 16 to 24 December. December is one of the cooler and drier months, though traffic is heavy.

What's on

• Festival of Lights (Makati in Color) — Ayala Triangle Gardens and Ayala Avenue, Makati. 13 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, with synchronised light shows every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 10 pm. Usually mid-November to early January.
• MOA Night of Lights (drone shows, tree and fireworks) — SM Mall of Asia and SM By the Bay, Pasay. 2025: drone shows on four Sundays from 23 November, fireworks every Saturday in December at 7 pm, giant tree through early January. Usually late November to early January.
• Sparks in the Sky fireworks — Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 2025: Saturdays at 7:30 pm in the Christmas season.

Dates and times change from year to year, so check the organiser's listing before you travel.

Where to stay

• Makati (Ayala Triangle and Legazpi Village): The Festival of Lights is on the doorstep, with malls, restaurants and the business district within walking distance.
• Bonifacio Global City (BGC): A planned, walkable district with malls, restaurants and the Saturday fireworks, and less chaotic traffic than older districts.
• Ermita and Malate (near Manila Bay and Rizal Park): Close to Intramuros, museums and the bay, for visitors focused on history rather than malls.

December weather

December in Manila is warm and mostly dry, with highs around 31°C (88°F), lows around 23°C (73°F) and lower humidity than the wet season.

How we picked: the 7 hotels in this guide are 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts in Manila with the strongest Booking.com guest scores, weighted by how many reviews they have. Scores and review counts were checked in October 2026.