Manila Ocean Park, Biodome and Hotel H2O Guide

Destinations

Manila Ocean Park: Not Just for the Kids

Manila Ocean Park is one of Manila’s better-known attractions, located behind the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park. It’s a pretty impressive oceanarium, particularly by Philippine standards, and there’s enough to see and do to keep the kids entertained for a few hours.

I’ve been there a couple of times over the years, the first time being sometime before 2010. Having visited some of the bigger ocean parks in Hong Kong and Australia’s Gold Coast, I wouldn’t put Manila Ocean Park in quite the same league. Still, I thought it was pretty good, and the family certainly enjoyed it.

There’s also more to the place than just the oceanarium. You’ve got the Philippine Biodome, Hotel H2O, where you can literally sleep with the fishes, and one of my favourite restaurants in Manila, Harbor View, just a short walk away.

So, whether you’re taking the kids out for the afternoon or looking for somewhere a little different to spend a night in Manila, it’s worth checking out.

: Fountain show

Best Time to Visit Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is open year-round, so the weather isn’t a major consideration.

Personally, I’d recommend visiting between December and February, when Manila is generally a bit cooler and less humid. March to May can be bloody hot, while June to November is the rainy season, although most of the attractions are indoors or undercover anyway.

I’d also suggest going on a weekday if you can. It gets absolutely packed on weekends and school holidays, so expect bigger crowds if you dare.

Things to Do at Manila Ocean Park

The main attraction is obviously the oceanarium, which has a pretty decent collection of marine life, including tropical fish, sharks, rays and jellyfish.

One of my favourite parts was the underwater tunnel. You’re basically walking through a huge aquarium, with fish swimming all around you, including directly overhead. I remember being quite impressed by that.

The jellyfish exhibit was another highlight. Watching them float around in tanks with all the different coloured lighting was actually pretty spectacular. I also remember watching the sea lion show, which was good fun, particularly for the kids.

: Underwater tunnel

: Jellyfish exhibit

There are various other exhibits, animal encounters and presentations, although these can change over time. Have a look at the Manila Ocean Park website for the current attractions and ticket packages.

You could probably see the main attractions in a couple of hours, although allow a bit longer if you want to catch the shows.

Hotel H2O: Sleeping with the Fishes

Now, this is something a bit different.

Hotel H2O is located within the Manila Ocean Park complex, and what makes it unique is that some of the rooms have enormous aquariums built into the walls.

I’ve stayed here once, and I specifically booked one of these aquarium rooms. I originally wanted a Saturday night, but they’d already booked out, so I ended up staying on Sunday instead. And I must say, it was pretty bloody impressive.

Imagine lying in bed with a massive aquarium stretching from about waist height almost to the ceiling, full of tropical fish swimming around amongst decorative coral gardens. I’ve stayed in plenty of hotels over the years, but never anything quite like this.

The room itself was clean, comfortable and reasonably priced, at least for what I paid through Agoda. It’s not some extravagant five-star hotel, but that’s not really why you’d stay here anyway.

One thing I also appreciated was their effort to reduce plastic waste. Rather than providing endless plastic water bottles, they had reusable carafes that you could refill from drinking-water dispensers in the hallway. A small thing, perhaps, but a nice touch considering the hotel’s marine theme.

There are restaurants and places to grab a drink around the complex, although when I stayed, it didn’t have the usual room service setup you’d expect from a conventional hotel. That didn’t bother me. I was there to sleep with the fishes, and that’s exactly what I did!

Would I stay again? Absolutely. If you’re looking for somewhere a little different to spend a night in Manila, I’d definitely recommend one of the aquarium rooms.

Philippine Biodome

The Philippine Biodome is another attraction within the Manila Ocean Park complex, although it has a separate admission ticket.

I visited around 2025, and while it’s nowhere near the scale of some of the big nature attractions in Singapore, I actually quite enjoyed it.

It’s basically a tropical environment with birds, reptiles and other animals. I remember seeing plenty of colourful parrots and other birds, along with a couple of crocodiles. There were also some interactive activities advertised, although the timing didn’t work out for us, so we didn’t get involved in those.

It’s not particularly big, and you could probably walk through it in around an hour.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, particularly if you’ve got kids. It’s quite different from Manila Ocean Park, so you’re not just doubling up on the same experience. One focuses on marine life, while the other is more about birds, reptiles and a tropical environment.

If you’re travelling around Manila as a couple and you’re short on time, I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute must. However, if you’re already at Ocean Park with the family, it’s definitely worth having a look.

Harbor View Restaurant: One of My Manila Favourites

Now, if there’s one place around here I’d absolutely recommend, it’s Harbor View Restaurant.

I’ve eaten here dozens of times over the years, and it’s always been one of my favourite places to take visitors in Manila. The restaurant sits right on Manila Bay, with a covered jetty extending out over the water where you can sit and enjoy your meal. It’s a fantastic spot, particularly at night when the buildings along the waterfront are all lit up.

And the food? Sensational. Before I became vegetarian, some of my favourites were the chilli prawns, fresh steamed lapu-lapu, calamari and sushi. The chilli prawns in particular were absolutely beautiful.

: Harbor View

I’ve been there for lunch as well, but I much prefer going in the evening. It’s cooler, the atmosphere is better and if you arrive around sunset, even better. It’s only a short walk from Manila Ocean Park, so if you’re visiting the area, do yourself a favour and check it out.

How Long Do You Need?

It really depends on what you want to do. For Manila Ocean Park itself, I’d allow around two to four hours, depending on how many attractions and shows you want to see. The Biodome probably needs another hour.

If you’ve got kids, you could easily make an afternoon of it, then head over to Harbor View for dinner. Alternatively, book a night at Hotel H2O and take your time. Everything is within easy walking distance, so there’s no need to organise transport between the attractions.

And if you’ve got some extra time, Rizal Park and Intramuros are also nearby.

How to Get to Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is behind the Quirino Grandstand at the western end of Rizal Park in Ermita, Manila.

If you’re coming from Makati, BGC or the airport, the easiest option is generally a Grab or taxi. Depending on traffic, allow roughly 30 minutes to over an hour. If you’re already staying around Ermita or Malate, you’re much closer, and some hotels are within walking distance.

There’s parking available at the complex, and when I stayed at Hotel H2O, parking was complimentary for hotel guests. Just confirm that’s still the arrangement when booking.

Good to Know Before You Go

Visit on a weekday if possible to avoid the bigger crowds.
Check ticket packages, as some attractions have separate admission fees.
Book Hotel H2O aquarium rooms early, especially for weekend stays.
Check show schedules before visiting so you don’t miss anything.
Save Harbor View for sunset or dinner rather than lunchtime.

Dezza’s Tip

If you’ve got kids, Manila Ocean Park and the Philippine Biodome are a pretty good combination for an afternoon out.

And if you’re looking for something a bit different, spend a night at Hotel H2O in one of the aquarium rooms. It’s a genuinely unique experience, and one I really enjoyed.

Whatever you decide, I’d definitely recommend finishing the day with dinner at Harbor View. I’ve been going there for years, and it’s still one of my favourite waterfront restaurants in Manila.