MANILA, Philippines — NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) Lakbay Norte expanded beyond North and Central Luzon with NLEX Lakbay Manila — a special trip into the heart of the country’s lively capital.

Partnering with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila, this curated experience gathered media including Philstar.com and content creators to rediscover Manila’s rich history, culture and flavors.

The adventure proved that one doesn’t need to travel far to enjoy an exciting getaway as historical attractions, culinary delights, and tranquil green spaces are more accessible because of the NLEX Connector.

The eight-kilometer elevated expressway extends NLEX southward from the Harbor Link Segment 10 in Caloocan City to Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

With convenient exits at España and Magsaysay, the Connector provides seamless access to key destinations within the city.

The group began their exploration in Intramuros, Manila’s storied walled city, where each stop offered a deeper understanding of the city’s layered history:

• The newly opened Centro de Turismo
• Museo de Intramuros, featuring sacred art collections
• The iconic Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Fort Santiago, a historic military fortress
• Casa Manila, showcasing Spanish-era life
• The Destileria Limtuaco Museum, chronicling the legacy of one of the Philippines’ oldest distilleries

The visit to Intramuros ended with a classic Filipino lunch at Ilustrado Restaurant, offering timeless flavors in an elegant heritage setting.

The next stop was the Manila Clock Tower Museum inside Manila City Hall, where participants explored exhibits that highlighted both the city”s colorful history and its contemporary art.

In Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, participants went on a flavorful food crawl through authentic Chinese-Filipino cuisine. Stops included:

• Eng Bee Tin, famous for its wide range of hopia and other Chinese delicacies
• 1919 Grand Café, housed in a beautifully restored 1920s neoclassical building, that serves a fusion of Filipino and international dishes paired with excellent coffee and desserts
• Xin Xiang Seafood Restaurant, known for its bold, fresh seafood flavors
• Vegeselect, offering plant-based street food option that adds a refreshing twist to the food crawl

The tour also explored Manila’s refreshing green and creative spaces:

• A walk along the Pasig River Esplanade, with scenic views of the city skyline
• A visit to Arroceros Forest Park, a green sanctuary known as “Manila’s last lung”
• Stops at the Philippine Biodome, Manila Ocean Park, and the Digital Art Museum, which offered fun, educational, and interactive experiences

NLEX Lakbay Manila was more than just a tour — it was a celebration of the Philippine capital’s ever-evolving stories, heart, and flavors.