Binondo Church
Binondo Church
4
About
The altar's replica of St. Peter's dome impresses visitors to this historic church.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
How to get there
- Carriedo - Quiapo • 10 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
861 within 5 kms
Attractions
325 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
203 reviews
Excellent
64
Very good
96
Average
36
Poor
4
Terrible
3
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
ybo7000
Zamboanga City, Philippines286 contributions
Jan 2020
binondo church is located in binondo, manila, fronting plaza san lorenzo ruiz. this church is founded by dominican priests to serve chinese converts to christianity. the church is newly renovated, its roof beatifully painted, the church is big and spacious, its clean and solemn, people living and working nearby usually drop by to pray early in the morning before they go to work.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brymla16
Hitachinaka, Japan622 contributions
Jan 2024 • Business
This is an old church in Chinatown. The murals on the ceiling were magnificent. The exterior of the church was also unique and worth seeing. Unfortunately, the sidewalks were narrow and the roads were very busy, so I couldn't take my time to take photos of the exterior.
Written January 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Traveling_Expat
Chicago, IL408 contributions
Dec 2022
The church is very large and is a very easy walk from Intramuros. However, be aware that there are a lot of beggars and homeless people around, but during the day it should be OK. The church itself is quite beautiful inside with many large paintings and a high altar resembling St. Peter's Basilica.
Written December 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Atiyadlc
Makati, Philippines276 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
Lots of beggars outside. Church management should help them. not condone them. Its just sad how much of a Hypocrite. the church management is. preaching about helping your fellow men when alot of them are standing right on their doorstep..talk about irony
Written January 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MariaDuncan
San Francisco, CA35 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
Not only does one get to pray, nearby are the old Cantonese restaurants much-loved by the locals, as well as new airconditioned malls -Lucky Chinatown, 168 Mall, and many, many curio and jewelry shops!
Written March 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eayle8
Dubai, United Arab Emirates140 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
This was part of our Visita Iglesia, and i was very happy to be able to visit the place. It was very crowded, and lots of beggars inside the church. I was very sad and disappointed to see that outside the place is very dirty, full of garbage and the smell is horrible. The fountain just outside the church used to have lots of people waiting to take photos and now you will run away from the smell and garbage inside the water. If you will visit the place, be very alert as i feel it is not safe anymore, which of course will distract from the solemnity of the place.
Written May 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WillOneill_London
London, UK126 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
This place is officially known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, or locally as Bindono Church.
I was staying in a hotel literally across the road from it, so felt I absolutely had to have a look. It's absolutely jam-packed busy outside, however don't let that put you off - once you go into the building its calm, serene and the architecture is stunning.
I visited on 2 occasions, once was during the morning and it was fairly quiet so I got a good chance to have a look around. The 2nd time I went was in the evening and there was a mass on and the place was absolutely packed - easily over 1000 people inside.
Be warned it's absolutely super-hot inside, like a furnace but very much worth a visit.
I was staying in a hotel literally across the road from it, so felt I absolutely had to have a look. It's absolutely jam-packed busy outside, however don't let that put you off - once you go into the building its calm, serene and the architecture is stunning.
I visited on 2 occasions, once was during the morning and it was fairly quiet so I got a good chance to have a look around. The 2nd time I went was in the evening and there was a mass on and the place was absolutely packed - easily over 1000 people inside.
Be warned it's absolutely super-hot inside, like a furnace but very much worth a visit.
Written December 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore9,555 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
We walked from Intramorus, crossed the bridge into Manila Chinatown. Chinatown did not impress me much. I found the buildings old, alley dim, vagabonds sleeping on the street and traffic heavy and congested.
The red octagonal shaped of the Bell tower of the Church attracted my attention. There was a fire engine stationed at the rear of the Church run by the Chinese community. A few vagrants slept on the pavement beside the church.
We walked to the front of the church and saw a sculpture of Jesus on the cross with biblical phrases. The wall of the church is painted red and with the octagonal belfry, the character reflects the auspicious color and architectural style of the Chinese culture.
The Church was built in the early years by the Spaniards to serve the spiritual needs of the Chinese Roman catholic converts and the local Filipinos. I noticed that one of the mass gathering is conducted in Hokken, a dialect of the southern Chinese.
I took a seat inside the church admiring the beautiful architectural designs of the arches and pendentives. It was a pity that this Church went through a tumultuous period, damaged by earthquakes , bombarded by the British in 1762 and destroyed in 1852 during World War II. The main buildings were virtually damaged and rebuilt but the octagonal belfry surprising survived and remained intact. The current building is made of granite.
The Church appears to me one of the most beautiful church in Manila but the surrounding setting looks untidy and not so orderly.
If you are in Chinatown, this is a must visit as it is unique from the rest of the cathedrals and churches I visited in Manila. Further down the road are the Lucky Chinatown, 168 and 999 malls and the Walking Street. You can visit them all in one trip.
The red octagonal shaped of the Bell tower of the Church attracted my attention. There was a fire engine stationed at the rear of the Church run by the Chinese community. A few vagrants slept on the pavement beside the church.
We walked to the front of the church and saw a sculpture of Jesus on the cross with biblical phrases. The wall of the church is painted red and with the octagonal belfry, the character reflects the auspicious color and architectural style of the Chinese culture.
The Church was built in the early years by the Spaniards to serve the spiritual needs of the Chinese Roman catholic converts and the local Filipinos. I noticed that one of the mass gathering is conducted in Hokken, a dialect of the southern Chinese.
I took a seat inside the church admiring the beautiful architectural designs of the arches and pendentives. It was a pity that this Church went through a tumultuous period, damaged by earthquakes , bombarded by the British in 1762 and destroyed in 1852 during World War II. The main buildings were virtually damaged and rebuilt but the octagonal belfry surprising survived and remained intact. The current building is made of granite.
The Church appears to me one of the most beautiful church in Manila but the surrounding setting looks untidy and not so orderly.
If you are in Chinatown, this is a must visit as it is unique from the rest of the cathedrals and churches I visited in Manila. Further down the road are the Lucky Chinatown, 168 and 999 malls and the Walking Street. You can visit them all in one trip.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shin555Mikan
Hakata, Japan1,613 contributions
Aug 2015
Solemn atmosphere of the church in Binondo(Chinatown) .
30-40 min from Manila by car.
This church, also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish.
A lot of Catholics are praying in chapel.
30-40 min from Manila by car.
This church, also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish.
A lot of Catholics are praying in chapel.
Written November 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amalia346
Las Vegas, NV25 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
The old Binondo Church is now known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. In this church Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was trained here and then went to Japan as missionary.
Last time I was here was 25years ago so I was surprised of the amazing changes. Very solemn inside. Do not forget to go around the church. There is separate adoration place. Very solemn
Last time I was here was 25years ago so I was surprised of the amazing changes. Very solemn inside. Do not forget to go around the church. There is separate adoration place. Very solemn
Written November 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
from Ayala Center, can I take LRT line to get to Chinatown and the Church ? How far from the LRT ?
Written December 12, 2015
It's 10 min walk from the nearest LRT stop, direction already mentioned by Combat66. Another option if you are in Makati is you go to Park Square which is just in front of Dusit Hotel, in Park Square there are vans to almost every part of Metro Manila, alternatively you can take a jeepney (also starts at Park square) to Libertad there you can take another jeepney to Binondo (chinatown).I really dont suggest LRT it is not as comfortable as in Bangkok and tends to be congested. Have a great stay here in the Philippines
Written December 13, 2015
I would like to know or see pics of saints Inside the church. I remember the wall with diff. Saints in it and one is empty. Coz when we were small my Dad always took us there for visita Eglesia every Holy week. Just curious to see that wall with empty space. I am intersted to Donate an old jesus that we had for so many years. If it will fit that space.
Written June 2, 2015
I do not see empty space inside the church... before you enter inside there's one big cross and across to it was a store where u can buy some oil, rosaries, booklets and many more. It was 12 noon when we went there so I stand beside San Lorenzo Ruiz Statue and saw every corner in it. It was such a beautiful church and I like the octagonal design made, the facade was very nice and you will love the altar of the church.
I suggest you will visit binondo church so that you will see the difference.
Written June 4, 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing