8 Summer Activities In Metro Manila To Beat The Heat, Including Swimming In An Indoor Beach

Summer activities in Metro Manila

It gets scorching hot in Metro Manila during the summer season that we often feel discouraged to go out. But sooner or later, we’ll get bored at home and start looking for something fun to do.

To make your summer memorable without risking a heatstroke, here are 8 summer activities to do in Metro Manila to cool you down without the hassle and cost of planning an out-of-town trip.

1. Swim at an indoor beach at Okada

Cove Manila.
Image credit: okadamanila.com

If you want to take a dip in the pool but want to avoid overheating under the sun, go to Cove Manila at Okada.

It’s a huge swimming pool in an airconditioned glass dome that minimizes your exposure to the sun. Enjoy a refreshing swim without fear of overheating. There are also loungers and cabanas, making for a beach-like, indoor setting.

Loungers. 
Image credit: okadamanila.com

This indoor beach is open on weekends. Rates start at P1,400 (~USD25.77) for 2 guests for 3.5 hours, inclusive of snacks.

Address: Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 8am-7.30pm Sat-Sun (Closed on Mondays to Fridays)
Contact: 0917 516 0082
Cove Manila’s website | Facebook | Instagram

2. Enjoy Japan vibes at Mitsukoshi Mall

Going to malls is one of our go-to summer activities for free air conditioning. At Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC, you can take malling to the next level. You’ll feel as if you’ve traveled to Japan with the Japanese shops and dining spots around.

Itadaki Food Court is where you can get classic Japanese dishes such as tonkatsu curry (pork cutlet curry) and soba (buckwheat noodles). Meanwhile, matcha lovers can enjoy all the green tea-flavored goodies that they want at Matcha Tokyo.

Fully Booked’s storefront.
Image credit: Fully Booked

For manga fans, English-translated Japanese comics and books are also available at the new Fully Booked branch opened in partnership with the Japanese bookstore chain Kinokuniya.

Address: 8th Avenue corner 36th Street, Grand Central Park, North BGC, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Mitsukoshi BGC’s website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Go museum-hopping in Manila

National Museum of Fine Arts.
Image credit: @ririperez9

It’s hard to resist the temptation of buying new things when you’re at the mall. So if you want an alternative free activity with access to air conditioning, spend a day museum-hopping in Manila.

National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Anthropology, and National Museum of Fine Arts are all free-entry. Not only will you get to stroll in cooler places but you’ll also get to learn a thing or two about our history.

Replica of a butanding or whale shark at the National Museum of Natural History.
Image credit: trickytreck

Plus, the museums are not too far from each other so you won’t have to suffer under the sun for too long when you move from one place to another.

Address: Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 9am-6pm (Closed on Mondays and holidays)
Contact: NM Natural History (02) 8298 1100 | NM Anthropology (02) 8298 1100 | NM Fine Arts (02) 8527 1215
National Museum’s website | Facebook | Instagram

4. Treat yourself to 24K gold shaving halo-halo

Royal Halo-halo.
Image credit: @bebang.halohalo

When you accomplish any task despite the glaring summer heat, you deserve a treat – including 24-karat gold shaving halo-halo.

Bebang Halo Halo in Mandaluyong offers halo-halo with 24-karat edible gold flakes. Besides gold shavings, the Royal Halo-halo (P498, ~USD9.17) has your usual halo-halo add-ons, plus strawberry jam, pistachios, and a toasted marshmallow topping.

Royal Halo-halo’s marshmallow topping.
Image credit: @bebang.halohalo

If you want to enjoy other flavors, the store also offers other elevated halo-halo variants such as Matcharap (P168, ~USD3.09) and Cookie Crumble (P148, ~USD2.72).

They accept walk-in orders, but it’s best to DM them to order ahead for pickup or delivery as wait time can at the store can go up to 2 hours.

Address: Wack-Wack Royal Mansion, Unit B C N E, 574 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-6.30pm, Daily
Bebang HaloHalo’s Facebook | Instagram

5. Take the kids to an indoor water park

Image credit: Wetpark Adventure Lagoon

If you have children in the family, treat them to a refreshing time at Wetpark Adventure Lagoon in Taguig, the first indoor water park in the country.

It has slides, rope courses, and a bucket that surprises you with a refreshing splash of water. Kids will also love their mini zipline.

Rope course.
Image credit: Wetpark Adventure Lagoon

Admission rates at the water park start at P588 (~USD10.82). Each ticket is for kids below 18 and one accompanying adult.

Tickets purchased online are valid for 3 hours while walk-in guests can stay for 1 to 2 hours, depending on available slots.

Address: 3rd Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill Drive, Taguig, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11am-9pm | Fri–Sun 7.30am-9pm
Wetpark Adventure Lagoon’s Facebook | Instagram

6. Cool down with Taiwanese iced desserts and drinks

Pudding & Mochi Milk shaved ice.
Image credit: @meetfreshph

Take the summer season as a chance to try a cold dessert from another country. Meet Fresh offers the popular Taiwanese shaved ice with a variety of toppings.

Pudding & Mochi Milk shaved ice (P330, ~USD6.07) has almond and caramel puddings, melon jelly, mini taro balls, mochi, and ice cream. Since it’s overloaded with toppings, it’s good to share among 4 people.

Iced teas.
Image credit: @meetfreshph

The shop’s menu also includes a variety of milk tea, soy milk drinks, and more.

They have several locations in the metro, including S’Maison, Robinsons Manila, and Robinsons Magnolia. You can also get their iced desserts delivered if you live within 8 kilometers of their branch at The Podium in Ortigas.

Meet Fresh PH’s Facebook | Instagram

For a list of branches, click here.

7. Enjoy Korean cold noodles

Mul naengmyeon.
Image credit: @sariwonph

If you want to eat something cold that’s not dessert, try mul naengmyeon or Korean cold noodles (P392, ~USD7.22) from Sariwon Korean Barbecue in BGC.

It’s a refreshing noodle soup made with thin potato noodles and chilled broth made with beef stock and dongchimi or radish water kimchi. This gives it a savory and tangy flavor.

Haemul pajeon.
Image credit: @sariwonph

Besides this popular Korean summer dish, the restaurant also serve other recipes such as bulgogi (marinated meat), samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), and haemul pajeon (seafood and green onion pancakes).

Address: C2, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9am | Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Contact: (02) 7621 3205
Sariwon Korean Barbecue’s website | Facebook | Instagram

8. Go ice skating with friends

Use a polar bear skating aide to keep your balance.
Image credit: @smskating

Ice skating is a classic summer activity you can do in the metro at SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall’s skating rinks.

If you have no idea how to skate, there are attendants on the rink that can teach you ice skating basics or get a coach there to teach you for 30 minutes. You can also rent a polar bear skate aide to help you stay in balance.

Skating itself costs P399/person (~USD7.34) for 2 hours of skating, inclusive of a pair of ice skating shoes and a helmet. Just make sure to go to the ice skating rink earlier than your desired schedule since lines tend to be long.

Disco ice skating.
Image credit: @smskating

Disco ice skating is also available every Friday at 5.30pm amd 8pm for P400/person (~USD7.36).

SM Mall of Asia
Address: Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Contact: (02) 8556 0469

SM Megamall
Address: Mega Mall D Fashion Hall, EDSA corner Doña Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-9pm, Daily
Contact: (02) 8633 1769

SM Skating’s Facebook | Instagram

Summer activities in Metro Manila to cool you down

You don’t have to travel out of the metro to have a memorable summer. Summer activities in Metro Manila such as the ones above can keep you occupied and  – more importantly – cool.

Now, all there’s left to do is to plan when you’re going to do these summer activities!

More Metro Manila spots to check out:

• Affordable Japanese restaurants
• Self-shoot studios
• Metro Manila markets

Cover image adapted from: okadamanila.com, @bebang.halohalo, Eizen Barleta, @smskating