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 — also called Ninoy Aquino International 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 because 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 for different airlines like Philippine Airlines (PR), Japan Airlines (JL), Korean Air (KE), Saudia (SV), Asiana Airlines (OZ), and others.

Terminal 2: This is the main hub for the country’s official flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PR) and its subsidiary, PAL Express (2P) — but only for domestic flights. Also flying out of Terminal 2 are AirAsia Philippines (Z2) and RoyalAir Philippines (RW).

Terminal 3: Terminal 3 houses international carriers, such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Thai Airways, and others not served at Terminal 1. Cebu Pacific’s domestic flights (with the 5J code) also operate here.

Terminal 4: As of May 2025, Terminal 4 is temporarily closed for safety upgrades. Airlines that usually operate here — like AirSWIFT (T6), CebGO (DG), and Sunlight Air (2R) — have moved to Terminal 2.

How to transfer between Manila Airport terminals

If you have to travel from one terminal to another, there is a free shuttle bus that makes a loop around the Manila Airport terminals every 15 minutes, 24/7. Note that this is available only for those who have a connecting flight in another terminal. You’ll have to show your flight details.

UBE Express also operates shuttle buses, which cover transfers between terminals for only 50 PHP ($0.80). Take the UBE Express Parañaque bus. Be aware, though, that this option doesn’t gave a definite schedule and tends to get very crowded.

If you don’t have a connecting flight and are short on time, we recommend booking a Grab taxi instead. Note that there are designated pick-up points at each terminal, they can’t just pick you up anywhere. If you don’t have a data connection or are feeling lost, just find the Grab booth located at each terminal’s arrival hall. Rates start from 200 PHP ($3.30).

There are 2 ways to travel the 5 kilometre (3 miles) distance 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 ($2.50).

Air21 offers a premium airport bus service called UBE Express, which operates between Manila Airport and various transport hubs in Metro Manila. These buses drop off passengers only at specific stops. So, knowing where your hotel is will help you decide if the shuttle bus is a convenient option.

From Manila Airport, the nearest routes are to Victory Liner – Pasay, Parañaque and Robinsons Manila. If you’re heading north towards Quezon City, you can take the Araneta City bus. If you’re going south of Metro Manila, you have a couple of options: the Vista Terminal Exchange bus to Alabang or the Laguna bus if you’re heading even further.

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

You can buy your ticket from the UBE Express booth, which is available outside the arrival hall of every Manila Airport terminal.

Another option is to pay using a Beep Card — a reloadable travel card that some locals use. But if you’re a foreign traveller spending just a few days in Metro Manila, a Beep Card might not be cost efficient. Pay by cash instead.

UBE Express ticket prices:

• 150 PHP ($2.50) – Pasay, Parañaque, and Manila routes
• 200 PHP ($3.30) – Araneta City and Alabang routes
• 300 PHP ($5) – Laguna

Departure and arrival stations

UBE Express buses offer P2P (Point-2-Point) pick-up only at NAIA Terminal 3, specifically at Bay 12, where you’ll also find the ticket booth.

If your flight lands at Terminals 1, 2, or 4, you’ll need to go to Terminal 3 to take the UBE Express bus to your next stop. To get to Terminal 3, you can hop on the UBE Express Parañaque bus, which covers transfers between terminals for only 50 PHP ($0.80). Note that some of their trips get cancelled, which they announce on the UBE Express Facebook page.

There is a free shuttle bus operating between Manila Airport terminals, but this is only available for travellers with a connecting flight in a different terminal. You’ll need to show your boarding pass and flight ticket to get on.

See the schedule for different routes of UBE Express bus 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)

You can order a Grab straight from Manila Airport. There’s a Grab booth outside every airport terminal where you could ask for assistance in booking your ride. This is usually the cheapest private transfer you can get here.

Grab rates depend on your destination, but they typically start at 280 PHP ($4.70) if you’re heading to Makati.

Wi-Fi 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. We’re sure you won’t regret getting one!

Private Transfer via Klook

You can also look for private transport on Klook. Rates start at 1,260 PHP ($21) for a 4-seater car. It’s a good choice if you’re after comfort and convenience right after landing, because your ride will be ready and waiting as soon as you arrive.

Coupon Taxi

Coupon taxis are white with 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 to the driver only 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 400 PHP ($6.70), 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 most affordable among all the taxis available at Manila Airport. The flag down rate is 50 PHP ($0.80). Fares going to Metro Manila cities start from 300 PHP ($5), depending on the traffic and your destination.

Regular metered taxis aren’t officially part of the airport service, so make sure the meter’s on to avoid paying more than you should.

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 3,350 PHP ($56) for a 5-seater private transfer.