How to get from Manila Airport to the city centre

Why visit Manila?

Manila is the capital of the Philippines — an old city often disregarded by travellers who use it only as a gateway to the country’s more visually appealing islands. But if you have an extra day in your itinerary, we think Manila’s colourful history is a great way to kick off your trip.

Explore the walled city of Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church — all of which were first built in the late 1500s. Art and anthropology also attract many locals to Manila. You will find here the National Museum, a complex of three museum buildings that tell the story of the Filipinos.

Manila Airport Terminals

Manila Airport has 4 terminals, each with its own separate building. It’s important to be aware of which terminal you will land in or depart from, as the roads around the airport tend to be very busy. If you go to the wrong terminal, you’ll end up losing some time.

Terminal 1: This terminal serves international flights from different airlines such as Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates and others.

Terminal 2: This terminal is the main hub for the country’s official flag carrier – Philippine Airlines or PAL. The North Wing is used for international flights, while the South Wing is used for domestic flights. However, PAL also has flights that park at or depart from Terminal 3.

Terminal 3: Terminal 3 houses international flights not served at Terminal 1. Aside from this, there are also a few domestic flights. Cebu Pacific, Tiger Air, and Silk Air use this terminal.

Terminal 4: PAL and Cebu Pacific flights that use propeller planes for domestic routes use this small and old terminal. There are also other airlines that utilize Terminal 4 for domestic flights.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to travel between the terminals, it’s easiest to book a Grab taxi, costing around 200 PHP ($3.60). Although there is a free shuttle bus operating each hour, there is no set departure time and they tend to get very crowded.

There are 2 ways to travel the 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Manila Airport to the city centre. You can choose between the Airport Shuttle and taxi. The journey takes 30 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and the quickest way is by airport shuttle. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by airport shuttle with tickets starting at 150 PHP ($2.70).

Air21 operates a premium airport bus service called UBE Express. These buses drop off passengers only at specific stops. Thus, knowing where your hotel is will help you decide if the shuttle bus is a convenient option.

UBE Express offers various routes in Metro Manila. The nearer routes are Makati and Manila. If you’re heading north towards Quezon City, you can take the Araneta City bus. The South Park bus goes south in Alabang.

You can buy your ticket from the UBE Express booth or pay using a beep card (reloadable card). Tickets start from 150 PHP ($2.70) for the Makati and Manila routes and 200 PHP ($3.60) for the Araneta City and Alabang routes.

Travel time is usually 30 minutes to 1 hour, but it will still depend on road and traffic conditions.

Departure and arrival station

UBE Express buses offer pick-up only at NAIA Terminal 3. If your flight lands at Terminals 1, 2, or 4, you still need to go to Terminal 3 to take the airport shuttle.

The buses are parked in Bays 11 and 12 at Terminal 3, and the booth where you can buy your tickets is in Bay 10. You can look around for their signboard or ask the airport staff to direct you.

If you’re taking the shuttle to the airport for your flight, the bus can drop you off at any NAIA terminal. Note that some of their trips get cancelled, which they announce on the UBE Express Facebook page.

See the schedule for different routes below:

A taxi is the most convenient way to get to and from Manila Airport. Taxis are hard to miss, as they are usually parked outside of the arrivals hall.

There are three types of taxis you can book from the airport to Manila city centre. There is the coupon taxi, the metered airport taxi, and the metered regular taxi. We explain them all below, but first, we would like to highlight booking a taxi with Grab.

Grab (Asian Uber)

If you have a mobile sim card, you can order a Grab straight from Manila Airport. This is the cheapest and most convenient private transfer you can get here. If you don’t have a sim card, we recommend considering getting one.

WiFi is pretty bad in the Philippines and a sim card can save you a lot of hassle and frustration. You can buy your sim card as soon as you arrive and already save part of the costs with the taxi ride to your hotel. I’m sure you won’t regret getting one!

There’s a Grab booth located outside the airport terminal where you could ask for assistance in booking your ride. Grab rates depend on your destination, but they typically start at 245 PHP ($4.40) if you’re heading to Makati.

Coupon Taxi

Coupon taxis are white with a blue and yellow labels on each side of the car. The fares for coupon taxis are fixed, depending on which area your destination belongs to.

If you prefer this kind of taxi, just approach the coupon taxi counter at Manila Airport. Tell them where you want to be dropped off, and the staff will hand you a slip with the quoted price. Another member of the staff will guide you to the taxi.

Make sure to keep your coupon for the entire journey and hand it only to the driver upon arrival at your destination.

Note that coupon taxis are only available from Manila Airport. Coupon taxis do not pick up passengers on the way back to the airport.

Metered Airport Taxis

These are yellow taxis that are operated by the airport. They have a flag down rate of 70 PHP ($1.20), which makes them more expensive than regular taxis. Yellow metered taxi fares to areas in Metro Manila start from 300 PHP ($5.30), but it still depends on your destination and the traffic.

Yellow taxis heading back to the airport can be hailed from the streets.

Metered Regular Taxis

Regular metered taxis are the cheapest among all the taxis available at Manila Airport. The flag down rate is 45 PHP ($0.80). Fares going to Metro Manila cities start from 2,260 PHP ($40), depending on the traffic and your destination.

Keep in mind that regular metered taxis are usually parked outside of the departure area, not the arrival area. They are not affiliated with airport services, so always exercise caution and ask for a metre reading.

TIP: Always ask for a metered taxi so you end up paying the right price!

Private Cars via BookAway

For trusted drivers and excellent customer service, you can also book your ride online through BookAway.

This can be a convenient option if you are travelling in large groups. Rates start from 2,260 PHP ($40) for a 2-seater private transfer and 3,350 PHP ($60) for a 5-seater private transfer.