Getting around · Manila · Philippines
Getting around Manila
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Elmer B. Domingo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Metro Manila is large and its traffic is among the worst in the region, so plan sightseeing district by district. Ride-hailing cars are the easiest option for visitors, supplemented by elevated rail lines, jeepneys and walking within districts. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Ride-hailing
- Airports
- MNL, CRK
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Beep card
Ways to get around
Ride-hailing
Grab is the main ride-hailing app for cars, showing the fare upfront; it is the most convenient way between Makati, BGC, Intramuros and the airport.
Book outside rush hours where possible; journeys of a few kilometres can take an hour at peak times.
Metro
The LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT-3 elevated lines avoid road traffic; LRT-1 runs past Intramuros and the bay area, and MRT-3 runs along EDSA through Makati.
Trains are packed at rush hour; use a stored-value Beep card to skip ticket queues.
Taxi
White metered taxis are plentiful; yellow airport taxis charge higher flat-down rates.
Ask for the meter before setting off and decline drivers who quote a fixed price.
Bus
Jeepneys, the colourful shared minibuses, run fixed routes for very low fares, and the EDSA Carousel bus runs in a dedicated lane along the main highway.
Walking
Intramuros, Binondo, Makati's business district and BGC are walkable; elsewhere pavements are uneven and crossings difficult.
Tickets and passes
Beep card
A stored-value contactless card used on the LRT and MRT lines and on some buses.
From the airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is about 7–10 km south of Makati, with terminals that are not connected airside, so check which terminal your airline uses. Grab cars and taxis reach Makati or BGC in about 20–60 minutes depending on traffic, and point-to-point buses run to some districts. Clark International Airport (CRK) is about 90 km north, two hours or more by bus or car.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic and parking are very difficult; use ride-hailing and rail in the city and hire a car with driver for day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Tagaytay and Taal Volcano | About 1.5–2.5 hours by road | Car with driver, ride-hailing car or bus |
| Corregidor Island | About 1–1.5 hours by ferry | Ferry tour from the Manila Bay area |
| Pagsanjan Falls | About 2.5–3 hours by road | Car with driver or tour, then a dugout boat upriver |
| Antipolo and Pinto Art Museum | About 1–1.5 hours by road | Ride-hailing car or car with driver |
| Mount Pinatubo | About 3 hours by road plus a 4x4 ride and hike | Organised tour via Capas, Tarlac, with 4x4 and guide |
| Anilao, Batangas | About 2.5–3.5 hours by road | Car with driver or dive-resort transfer |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Manila?
No. Traffic and parking are very difficult; use ride-hailing and rail in the city and hire a car with driver for day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Manila?
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is about 7–10 km south of Makati, with terminals that are not connected airside, so check which terminal your airline uses. Grab cars and taxis reach Makati or BGC in about 20–60 minutes depending on traffic, and point-to-point buses run to some districts. Clark International Airport (CRK) is about 90 km north, two hours or more by bus or car.
+What is the best way to get around Manila?
Ride-hailing: Grab is the main ride-hailing app for cars, showing the fare upfront; it is the most convenient way between Makati, BGC, Intramuros and the airport.