Manila is the capital of the Philippines and one of the most crowded cities in the world.
Today, I will take you on a journey through Manila, and more specifically, I will tell you a bit about the ways of getting around the capital of the Philippines. Like most travellers, I like to know where I will land and the route I need to take to find myself in a comfortable bed after hours of more or less tiring flight. So, landing in Manila at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which actually holds the title of the worst airport in the world (but more on that later), you have several transportation options to choose from.
Transportation from Manila Airport
It’s a good idea to take a moment to think about how and what you’ll use to get into the city. Just like near other airports, here in Manila, too, crafty hustlers lie in wait for tired travellers, offering a ride for exorbitant prices. It’s worth staying focused and being cautious.
Manila and Grab at the airport, Asian Uber
Grab is like a kind of Asian Uber, very popular in many Asian countries. You’ll find a Grab station on the right side just after exiting the arrivals’ hall – it’s hard to miss. An employee will ask you for your hotel address, book a ride for you, and tell you exactly how much the trip will cost.
There probably isn’t an easier way to get to your destination. You’ll pay the fare directly to the driver in Philippine pesos, so remember to exchange your currency for Philippine money. From experience, we know that this is most likely the best possible transport, especially when arriving in the city at night. We paid only 350 pesos to get to the Malate district, where we stayed.
Manila and the Yellow Taxis
They are a more expensive option but still acceptable, these are metered airport taxis. The yellow taxi rank is located outside the terminal, look for the sign “Yellow Metered Taxi Entrance.”
Manila and the airport taxi coupon
Coupon taxis are also airport taxis, they are white. They are pricier than yellow taxis, you pay a predetermined price for the ride, and it depends on the zone you are going to.
Manila and white taxis
These are probably the cheapest taxis in Manila, but I wouldn’t recommend them to newcomers. Taxi drivers often don’t turn on the meters, frequently add extra charges, or take longer routes, so the fare may be inflated.
Personally, I generally don’t like taking taxis, especially these kinds. I prefer knowing how much I will pay before the ride, so I don’t have to stress too much during the trip.
Remember to politely ignore the airport touts; you’ll easily find the taxi stand you’re looking for, and the prices won’t be inflated. A Filipina we met told us that tourists typically end up paying as much as 2,000 pesos for a ride to Makati (one of the most well-known districts, just 5 km from the airport). The cost of such a trip shouldn’t exceed 250 pesos.
What if you wanted to take public transport?
NAIA Airport is only 10 km from the city centre, but it is not well-connected to the main districts of the city. While getting to the centre by bus is certainly possible, remember that it will be a time-consuming process. When we discuss public transportation, we mean:
Airport buses named UBE Express Manila
You can find these buses after exiting the arrivals’ hall, but only at Terminals 1, 2, and 3; they are not available at Terminal 4. UBE Express offers 5 routes to different parts of the city. Tickets cost between 100 and 150 pesos, and the travel time ranges from 25 minutes to up to 2 hours.
These buses operate from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM at Terminals 1 and 2, and 24/7 at Terminal 3. Remember that UBE Express buses stop at designated locations. If your hotel is located near the city centre, take the Robinson’s Route. You can find more information about UBE Express buses at this link.
BUS + Metro in Manila
And the cheapest option, although a bit more time-consuming — BUS + metro.
- In Terminal 3 you will find the Route 2 bus which leaves from the station every 20 minutes, this bus will take you to the EDSA LRT / Taft MRT station for only 20 pesos.
- Taking the MRT Train from Taft MRT station will take you to Makati or Ortigas
- If your goal is to get to the city centre (towards the tourist-friendly Intramural), take the train from EDSA LRT station heading towards downtown, tickets cost 20–30 pesos.
I think that travelling by this means makes sense only if you are travelling during the day, are not rushing, have a very limited budget, or simply want to see how public transportation works in Manila. Otherwise, Grab will be the optimal option.
There is also a subway that works quite well
The Metro in Manila is not complicated, you just need to know that in Manila we have LRT stations and MRT stations. The only difference between them is the route and the way they are managed. So the metro consists of 3 lines.
The LRT lines include:
- line 1 also called the green line
- line 2 called the blue line
- belonging to MRT line 3 called the yellows
The Manila metro is very overcrowded during rush hours, and we often encountered situations where travellers were standing in lines that were even several hundred meters long.
Famous Jeepneys on the street
I won’t write about jeepneys. You can find more information in Peter’s article.
Motorized Tricycle in Manila
A Motorized Tricycle is a very popular mode of transport in Asia. It can carry up to 6 passengers at the same time, not including the driver. Don’t ask me how it’s possible to fit 6 people into such a small space — I have no idea. However, in my opinion, Asians are masters of travelling in groups.
When using this mode of transport, remember to agree on the fare in advance. Find out if the price is for the trip for a specific distance or per person. From speaking with Filipinos, we learned that the fare should not be much higher than 10 pesos per kilometre.
I think it’s a good idea to stick to this rule because even if you overpay, the amounts won’t be much higher. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with several drivers. We often had situations where the first driver, for reasons unknown to us, was not interested in our offer.
Walking through Manila’s oldest means of transport
You can also explore the city, just like we do, on foot. We love walking and believe that we don’t have to check off all the attractions from a list during a trip. We used to travel with a list from A to Z, and an unfinished plan would leave us feeling guilty, intensified by fatigue and irritation.
Nowadays, we make conscious choices and spend the remaining time wandering around the area and observing the locals.
Manila Airport One of the Worst in the World
As I mentioned at the beginning, the airport in Manila has been repeatedly named the worst airport in the world. Is it justified? Honestly, when I landed in Manila, I wasn’t quite sure why it had earned that title. We did land at night, but the conversation with the customs officer lasted only a minute or two, and finding the currency exchange, local SIM card stands, or even the Grab counter was straightforward.
Everything went smoothly and stress-free. While having a Filipina we met at Heathrow Airport was an enormous help, the experience didn’t seem as troublesome as at the airport in Cambodia or even in Kuta, Bali.
However, departing from Manila didn’t look as rosy. When flying out, you need to remember that if you arrive at the airport well before the check-in counters open, you’ll have to wait in a hall with a limited number of seats. If you arrive hungry, I assure you that your level of happiness will be equivalent to waking up on a Monday morning.
I’ll also add that it was the first time I encountered that food stands and even regular shops are only available after passing through security. There isn’t even a water stand.
And that’s all I can advise you before your visit to the Philippine capital, Manila. I’d be happy to hear your opinions about this city.
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