Manila Transport

Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, located seven miles from the city centre, is the main entry point for travellers to the Philippines. The airport’s two terminals may be in need of upgrading, but all essential facilities are available upon arrival. ATMs, currency exchange kiosks, shops, restaurants and a tourist information office are present to assist passengers. International travellers fly into Terminal 2, which is the base of the national carrier Philippine Airlines. Most major airlines have regular service into Manila.

There are a couple of transportation options to get from the airport into Manila. Taxis offer the most convenient means, but visitors should be sure to use a Department of Tourism (DOT) registered taxi. The private taxis outside the airport can be expensive and dangerous. Jeepneys also provide transport to neighbouring Baclaran, from where you can get a Metro train into the city. Travel into the city can take between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.

Since Manila is on the coast, it is easily accessed by boat from regional countries. Ferries run regularly from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei to the city’s port area called Pier Port. International schedules are more irregular than inter-island boats, which can take you to just about anywhere in the Philippines. Safety standards on boats are questionable so be careful.

Train travel is possible from Manila to Legaspi in southern Luzon. Philippine National Railways operates the line, with trains featuring comfortable seats for reasonable prices. Manila’s train station is called Tutuban. Buses provide more reliable and extensive coverage, with service from the capital to virtually every town in the country. Buses can be a bit rugged sometimes, and with no bus terminal in Manila each private operator must maintain their own locations around the city.

It is possible to rent a car and drive yourself around Manila and the Philippines, but it isn’t recommended as driving conditions in the city are chaotic. If you have experience driving in such conditions, all you need is a foreign driving license and a passport to rent a car.

Manila’s public transportation network supplements the private sector, adding to the already chaotic scene in the city. There are Light Rail Transit and Mass Rail Transit systems in Manila, but they are in their development phases. A mass of private bus companies provide service around the city from 05:00 to 23:30 every day, but they all follow their own schedules.

Taxis can be flagged down anywhere, and there are no taxi ranks in the city. Meters are rarely used unless you insist, which you should. Garishly colourful jeepneys are the other taxi-style transport in Manila. They run 24 hours and can be flagged down for a ride. The destination of the jeepney will be posted on the window.