( CNN ) -- Manila often gets a bad rap , derided as dirty , chaotic , and an incoherent mess of unfinished urban areas and slums . Navigate the city 's streets and discover the many faces of Manila . It 's a world away from carefully planned Asian cities like Singapore -- which makes it perfectly suited for visitors who do n't need their lives hermetically sealed in air-conditioned shininess . Manila is alive with a mix of cultures , from Spain , China and the numerous Philippines islands . Sights to gawp at are thin on the ground , but the city streets have enough going on to enthrall even the most disinterested visitor . Though it was bombed to bits during the Second World War , Intramuros is one of the most coherent areas of the city . Worth a morning 's visit , the old walled city 's buildings ( or rather what was left of them ) were left untouched , even when the area was given an update in the 1980s . But it still retains a unique atmosphere in a city where the capital 's expanding population is reflected in its growing sprawl . The Manila Cathedral was one of the buildings pummeled in the war , but the rebuilt version is faithful to the original 16th-century edifice . Fort Santiago , once the guarding fortress of the city and the Pasig River , is now a war memorial . Nearby is Rizal Park , a green spot named after the national hero . What he would have made of the moat outside the old city 's walls being made into a golf course is anybody 's guess . Taxis are the best way to negotiate the city , and they 're cheap and plentiful , but it 's worth jumping into the back of a crazily colorful jeepney at least once , just for the experience . Regardless of the means , head towards the towers of Makati , one of the more central areas that make up Metro Manila . Home to big businesses and major hotels that may make you feel like you 're in Singapore , if you 're there on a Saturday make sure you wander through Salcedo Market . It 's an upmarket affair , relatively speaking , where you can grab some great local food and produce . Those hankering for excellent western food and a glimpse of Manila 's long-lunching business-types should head to Apartment 1B on Lafayette Square . While you 're never far from an urban vignette that contrasts with the central business district 's gloss , it 's best to plunge into another area of the city for more local color and flavor . A taxi ride away is Marikina City , home to some uniquely Manilan attractions . Once the shoe-making capital of the capital , you 'll find Marikina Shoe Museum here . But it does n't house just any old shoes . No , it 's basically a celebration of the shoes of Imelda Marcos , the country 's former first lady , who still deeply divides opinions among Filipinos . A bit kitsch , a bit weird , with over 605 pairs of her footwear ( size eight and a half , if you must know ) and a selection of photos of the former first lady with world leaders , complete with hilariously obsequious captions , it 's a sight to behold . Snap back to reality with a moto-taxi ride to Marikina City 's market . The covered lanes are a hive of stalls and intriguing local life . Heading back towards the central area of the city and Manila Bay , visit Cubao Expo . Located just off General Romulo Street it was formerly Marikina Shoe Expo , a mix of shoe outlets for nearby factories . Now the low-rise complex of boutiques , bars , galleries and antique shops has to be a contender for hippest spot in Manila , a city that does n't bother itself too much with anything so affected . Relaxed and fun , it 's a great place to while away a few hours . When the shops there close you can get some great local , homemade food , down a cocktail or Red Horse lager or two , and wind down away from the chaos of the streets and plot some evening entertainment . Later on , head to Makati , one of the main areas for bars of varying descriptions and clientele . saGuijo Cafe + Bar is one of the city 's best for music . Attracting typically exuberant Manilan crowds , like all good live music venues it 's got a comforting , grimy edge . It hosts bands playing all sorts of music , and , rare for Filipino bands , no covers . To push on through to the morning light , Embassy in Fort Bonifacio is the club with the most in-crowd hipsters queuing to get in . What are your favorite spots in Manila ? Tell us using the Sound Off box below .
Manila 's crazy , chaotic charm is a world away from shiny cities like Singapore . Intramuros , the old walled city , retains its charm despite being bombed in the war . See 605 pairs of Imelda Marcos ' shoes at Marikina Shoe Museum . Head to the bars and boutiques of Cubao Expo , one of the city 's hippest spots .