Manila first trip: how do you get from the airport, and how many days do you need?

How many days for Manila? 3 to 4 days

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It pairs the Spanish-era walled city of Intramuros with the gleaming towers of Makati and BGC, and it is a good place for giant malls, Filipino food and Manila Bay sunsets. The guide suggests 3 to 4 days.

Many travellers also stop here before or after islands like Boracay, Palawan or Cebu. Manila traffic is severe, so group sights by area each day.

• Day 1: Intramuros and Fort Santiago → San Agustin Church → National Museum → Manila Bay sunset
• Day 2: Binondo food crawl → Makati malls → Poblacion bar scene
• Day 3: Tagaytay day trip (Taal Volcano views, bulalo lunch) → BGC High Street
• Day 4: Brunch and shopping near your hotel → leave early for the airport to allow for traffic

• Full Manila travel guide →
• Incheon → Manila flights →
• Airport to city: which option to choose →

Airport to the city: ride-hailing app, airport metered taxi, coupon taxi

Manila's airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). The ride to the city takes about 30-90 minutes depending on traffic. Local SIMs or eSIMs are sold at the airport.

Ride-hailing apps such as Grab use designated pickup areas at each terminal; at Terminal 3 you board at the ride-hailing and taxi hub inside the parking building. The fare is fixed in the app, and the airport operator says rates are comparable to coupon taxis.

Yellow airport metered taxis leave from the official arrivals rank. Their flag-down is slightly higher than regular cabs, so make sure the meter is on. Coupon taxis work by prepaying a fixed fare by destination at the counter: no haggling, but on the pricier side.

• Ride-hailing app (Grab): designated pickup areas; fare shown in the app
• Yellow airport metered taxi: official arrivals rank; metered fare (check official)
• Coupon taxi: fixed by destination (check at the counter / official)
• Journey time: about 30-90 min depending on traffic

Where to stay: Makati, BGC, Pasay or Malate

For a first visit, Makati (including Poblacion) is an easy base. It is the business district with hotels, malls and restaurants, and relatively safe; Poblacion is the bar and nightlife hub.

BGC (Bonifacio Global City) is a clean, walkable planned district, but it has no rail station, so you rely on Grab. Pasay and the Bay Area are close to the airport, good for stopovers or early flights. Malate and Ermita are near Intramuros and Rizal Park with cheaper stays, but take more care at night than in other areas.

• Makati (incl. Poblacion): first visit, dining and nightlife
• BGC: clean modern city, families
• Pasay / Bay Area: airport access, resort hotels
• Malate / Ermita: budget, historic sights

Day 1: from Intramuros to the Manila Bay sunset

Intramuros is the Spanish-era walled city with cobbled streets and old buildings. A kalesa (horse carriage) or bike tour makes it easy. Fort Santiago inside is where national hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned; entry is paid, and the morning is cooler.

San Agustin Church is a UNESCO-listed baroque church, among the oldest stone churches in the country. Be quiet during Mass. In the afternoon, head to the National Museum beside Rizal Park, a free complex of fine arts, anthropology and natural history museums. It is officially open Monday to Sunday, but check hours and booking on the official site before you go.

In the evening, watch the red Manila Bay sunset from the Baywalk or the Pasay bayside promenade. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset.

• Intramuros: kalesa (horse carriage) or bike tour
• Fort Santiago: paid entry, go in the morning
• San Agustin Church: be quiet during Mass
• National Museum: free; check hours and booking officially
• Manila Bay sunset: arrive 30 minutes before

Getting around: Grab, LRT/MRT, jeepneys and regular taxis

Grab cars are scarce and pricier at rush hour and in the rain. LRT-1 serves Intramuros and the Manila Bay side; MRT-3 runs along EDSA through Makati and Ortigas. Avoid rush hours, when trains are packed.

The jeepney is the iconic shared ride and very cheap, but routes are hard to decode, so keep it to a short hop. Regular taxis are easy to hail, but some drivers refuse the meter and try to haggle.

Bag checks and security screening at malls, hotels and rail stations are routine, so don't be alarmed. Jeepneys, street stalls and small eateries are cash only, so carry plenty of 20, 50 and 100 PHP notes.

• Grab: scarce and pricier at rush hour and in the rain
• LRT-1: Intramuros and the Manila Bay side
• MRT-3: along EDSA (Makati, Ortigas)
• Jeepney: very cheap; try a short hop
• Regular taxi: make sure the meter is on

When to go: December-April dry season, June-October wet season

According to the guide, the December to April dry season is the best time, though March to May is very hot. June to October brings typhoons and flooding, so build in buffer days. Holy Week and the Christmas season bring heavy traffic.

By the normals, monthly rainfall from January to April is low at 19-23 mm, and average highs from December to February are 30-31°C. From March to May highs climb to 32-34°C. From June to October monthly rainfall is heavy at 221-493 mm, and night-time lows stay at 24-27°C all year.

The climate figures are 1991–2020 normals for the Port Area, Manila station, submitted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to the WMO normals collection (published by NOAA NCEI).

• January-April: monthly rainfall 19-23 mm
• December-February: highs 30-31°C
• March-May: highs 32-34°C, very hot
• June-October: monthly rainfall 221-493 mm, typhoons and flooding possible

Money, safety and entry: what to check before you go

The guide's budget levels are about 2,000 PHP (guesthouse, local eateries, rail), about 6,000 PHP (4-star hotel, mall restaurants, Grab) and about 15,000 PHP+ (5-star hotel, fine dining, private car tours). Adobo is about 150-300 PHP at local eateries, sisig about 200-400 PHP and halo-halo about 100-250 PHP.

Use ATMs inside bank branches. Tipping is not required, but about 5-10% is common where no service charge is added. Do not drink tap water; drink bottled water.

Keep phones and wallets in front and avoid quiet streets at night. Watch for pickpockets in Binondo. On your last day, leave for the airport at least 3-4 hours before your flight. Check entry requirements and arrival and departure steps such as eTravel registration on the official site (etravel.gov.ph) before you travel, and beware of fake sites that charge fees.

• Budget: about 2,000 PHP / about 6,000 PHP / about 15,000 PHP+
• Cash: 20, 50 and 100 PHP notes; ATMs inside bank branches
• Tips: about 5-10% where no service charge is added
• Airport: leave at least 3-4 hours before your flight
• Entry requirements and eTravel: check official info

• Paying abroad: cash vs card vs travel card →

FAQ

Related reading

ComparisonAirport to City: Train, Bus, Taxi or Transfer? A Practical ComparisonCompare the five ways to get from the airport into town, with tips for late-night…ComparisonPaying Abroad: Cash vs Credit Card vs Travel Money Card — What's Cheapest?How exchange rates and card fees really work abroad, when cash still matters, and how to…ComparisoneSIM vs Pocket Wi-Fi vs Roaming vs Local SIM: Which Travel Data Option Wins?Compare the four ways to get mobile data abroad by cost, setup and trade-offs, plus how…

All articles →