Best time
to visit
Manila
Manila has a dry season from December to May and a wet season from June to November. The best two months are January and February: the amihan northeast monsoon keeps them dry (about 20mm of rain a month) and the coolest of the year, with average highs near 30°C. March to May is the hot season — April's average high is 33.8°C, but humidity pushes the heat index past 40°C on bad days. The habagat southwest monsoon brings the rain from June, peaking in August at about 476mm over 19 rain days, and July to October is typhoon peak. Ranked: Jan ≈ Feb > Dec > Mar > Nov > Apr > Oct > May > Jun > Sep > Jul > Aug.
Manila weather, month by month
Thirty-year averages from the Philippine weather service. Read the heat as worse than the thermometer: humidity runs 66–82% all year, so the felt temperature is several degrees above the air temperature from March to October.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rain days | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.9°C | 23.9°C | 19mm | 4 | Dry (amihan) |
| February | 30.7°C | 24.3°C | 22mm | 3 | Dry (amihan) |
| March | 32.1°C | 25.3°C | 22mm | 3 | Dry, hot |
| April | 33.8°C | 26.7°C | 23mm | 3 | Dry, hottest |
| May | 33.6°C | 27.0°C | 159mm | 9 | Hot, first storms |
| June | 32.8°C | 26.5°C | 253mm | 14 | Wet (habagat) |
| July | 31.5°C | 25.9°C | 432mm | 19 | Wet, typhoon peak |
| August | 31.0°C | 25.9°C | 476mm | 19 | Wettest, typhoon peak |
| September | 31.2°C | 25.7°C | 396mm | 18 | Wet, typhoon peak |
| October | 31.4°C | 25.7°C | 221mm | 14 | Drying out, typhoons possible |
| November | 31.3°C | 25.3°C | 120mm | 10 | Amihan arrives |
| December | 30.3°C | 24.6°C | 99mm | 8 | Dry (amihan) |
Source: PAGASA climatological normals, 1991–2020, Port Area station (Manila). Year total 2,243mm over 124 rain days. The NAIA airport station's published normals are incomplete and are not used here.
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Every month in Manila, scored out of 10
Scores weigh heat, rain, typhoon risk and crowds together. The bar shows how hard the month is going to be on you.
December is the paradox month: the weather is excellent and the traffic is the worst of the year. If you come then, halve your daily ambitions and use rail and the EDSA Busway rather than the roads.
Events worth planning around — or avoiding
| When | What | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 9 January | Traslación — the Black Nazarene procession through Quiapo. Millions of devotees; the 2026 procession ran a record 30 hours 50 minutes | DEPENDS |
| 6 February 2027 | Chinese New Year in Binondo — dragon dances on Ongpin, tikoy | WORTH IT |
| February | Art Fair Philippines in Makati (Circuit Makati in 2026); Pasinaya open house at the CCP | WORTH IT |
| 25–28 March 2027 | Holy Week — the one week Manila empties. Malls and many restaurants shut on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday | DEPENDS |
| Late June | Pride at UP Diliman — an estimated 250,000–300,000 in 2026 | WORTH IT |
| 24 June | Wattah Wattah in San Juan — citywide water dousing. Bag your electronics | DEPENDS |
| 1 September | The “ber months” begin. Malls play carols from the 1st | WORTH IT |
| 1–2 November | Undas — All Saints' and All Souls'. Families head to cemeteries and the roads out of the city jam | DEPENDS |
| Early December | Grand Marian Procession through Intramuros | WORTH IT |
| 16–24 December | Simbang Gabi — nine dawn masses, bibingka and puto bumbong outside churches | WORTH IT |
| Mid-December Saturday | Giant Lantern Festival, San Fernando, Pampanga — the best Christmas excursion | WORTH IT |
| 31 December | New Year — fireworks over Manila Bay, and a genuine midnight smog blanket | DEPENDS |
One 2026 warning: the Philippines chairs ASEAN this year, and summit weeks bring motorcades, road closures and hotel compression — check before fixing dates. The barangay and SK elections once set for 2 November 2026 were moved to November 2028 (Republic Act 12326), so there is no election liquor ban this year.
Best time to visit Manila FAQ
What is the best month to visit Manila?
January or February. The amihan northeast monsoon brings the driest, coolest weather of the year, typhoon risk is minimal, and the heat is manageable. December has similar weather but the worst traffic of the year on top of it.
What is the worst time to visit Manila?
August, which is the wettest month at around 476mm, in the middle of the July-to-October typhoon peak. April is the other one to avoid — the hottest month, with a 33.8°C average high and a heat index that regularly passes 40°C.
When is the dry season in Manila?
December to May. January to April are the driest months — around 20mm of rain each on PAGASA's 1991–2020 averages, against 476mm in August. The wet season runs June to November, with the heaviest rain from July to September.
What is the weather like in Manila in December?
Pleasant: an average high of about 30°C, a low near 25°C, and around 99mm of rain over eight days, as the amihan monsoon sets in. It is the busiest month on the roads, though, with Christmas shopping and Simbang Gabi from the 16th.
Is it worth visiting Manila during the rainy season?
It works if you plan for it. Rain usually arrives as heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day drizzle, so mornings are often usable. Build a spare day into the itinerary, book a hotel in Makati, BGC, Ortigas or Newport which drain well, and take insurance covering disruption.
When is typhoon season in the Philippines?
July to October is the peak, though the season runs wider and November has historically produced some of the worst storms to hit Manila. Direct hits on the capital are rarer than near-passes, but a near-pass still floods streets, grounds ferries and cancels flights in dozens.
What is Holy Week like in Manila?
It is the one week the city empties — 25–28 March in 2027. Malls and most restaurants close on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, transport runs on a skeleton service, and the roads are gloriously empty. If you want to see Manila without traffic, this is the week — as long as you have somewhere to eat.