You are here

  1. Asia
    1. Philippines
      1. Manila

Airport Guide

Airports in Philippines

While most people opt for nearby Thailand or Malaysia, those travelers booking flights to the Philippines have one distinct advantage over other travelers: privacy. The 7,000 or so islands that make up the Philippines are blessed with secluded beaches, friendly people and electric cities seldom explored by tourists. 

Most people book flights to the Philippines for its laidback environment. The locals are friendly, English is widely spoken and there’s always a place to stay. Most flights to the Philippines enter through Manila, the country’s capital and a hotspot for excellent shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Keep traveling on local Philippines flights and you’ll land in the rice fields of Banue, where the mountains line the landscape and tourists line the beaches. 

Cheap flights to the Philippines and discounted hotel and resort rates can be found throughout the year, as the country has yet to develop a tourist industry that rivals its neighboring countries. 

Book a flight to the Philippines to experience a fusion of Spanish and Chinese history.

Back to top

When to Fly to Philippines

Peak season:

The best time to visit the northern and central islands is during the dry season when the days are clear and bright and rainfall is minimal.

The south (Davao) has no distinct wet or dry seasons. Weather is constant year-round and temperatures are about 73-90 degrees (F). There is no bad time to visit this part of the Philippines.

Back to top

Getting Around Philippines

The flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, offers domestic Philippine flights and international flights from the Philippines. It links Manila with 19 destinations including Naga, Cebu, Butuan, Davao, Zamboanga and Puerto Princesa.

Other airlines offering domestic Philippine flights include Air Philippines, South East Asian Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit Airlines. Charter (helicopter and small-to-medium sized airplanes) flights are also available.

Ferry services connect the islands while cruise liners dock at the port of Manila.

Philippine National Railways operates the Metrotren. It stretches south to Carmona and Cavite and north to Meycauayan, Bulacan. In Metro Manila, the Light Railway Transit runs from Caloocan to Baclaran.

Other ways of getting around the country include taxis, buses, trikes and the jeepney. The jeepney is a classic, inspired by the American World War II army jeeps. When the American soldiers left the Philippines, surplus jeeps were sold or given to local people. The stripped-down jeeps were fitted with seats, decorated with ornaments and painted in bright colours.

The calesa is a rather touristy way of getting around. It is a traditional horse-drawn carriage brightly decorated that was introduced during the years that Spain was ruler.

Find Philippines flights

The following chart gives approximate journey times from Manila (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Philippines.
 AirRoadSea
Batangas-2.00-
Cagayan de Oro1.25-48.00
Laoag1.257.00-
Palawan1.10-24.00

Back to top

Philippines Insider Information

  • Great spots for surfers include Cloud 9 and Tuason Point on Siargao Island, Majestics in Catanduanes and Cemento in Baler, Aurora. El Nido on PalawanIsland is said to be the best diving spot in the Philippines. Also on Palawan is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, featuring a limestone karst landscape with an underground river.
  • A super spot for diving is Subic Bay, on the west coast of Luzon, which has a fantastic combination of wrecks such as San Quintin, a 19th-century Spanish gunboat; Oryoku Maru, a Japanese luxury liner; and New York, the ex-USS.
  • The rice terraces of the Cordilleras in Northern Luzonare more than 2,000 years old and are still in use by the Ifugao people. The terraces are fed by an irrigation system from rainforests above the terraces. A World Heritage Site, they are noted for their altitude (up to 5,000 feet) and very steep slopes (up to 70 degrees). The World Heritage Site is composed of four sites at: Banaue (Batad and Bangaan), Mayoyao (Mayoyao Central), Klangan (Nagacadan) and Hungduan.
  • Manila is capital and within it is Intramuros, a walled city built by the Spanish in the 16th century. It was mostly destroyed during World War II, but restored in the 1980s and now has the best remnants of the Spanish era. Manila also has several museums including the National Museum and the Museum of Arts and Sciences. The American Military Cemetery and Memorial has the largest number of WWII graves; more than 17,000 soldiers lie here. Marikina City Footwear Museums in the shoemaking district of greater Manila. The museum has about 200 pairs of shoes that used to belong to former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
  • Cebu is where Ferdinand Magellan, the explorer, first planted the flag – and a large Christian cross – for Spain in 1521. The cross hangs in a small chapel beside the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino on Magallanes Street.

Back to top

Philippines Airports

Ninoy Aquino (MNL) is 7 miles south of Manila.

Mactan International Airport (CEB) (Cebu Island) is 28 miles from the city center.

Back to top

Passport/Visa

Everyone entering the Philippines must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay. If there is an embassy of country of nationality in the Philippines, then the passport can be valid for less than six months. All visitors must have return or onward tickets and documents necessary for further travel, as well as sufficient funds.

Back to top

Entry Requirements

United States citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to 21 days.

Back to top

Search by date

* Required

Ticket Type
Link to Calendar
Link to Calendar

Top flight deals

Cheap flights to Philippines

Newark Intl (EWR) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$1,409RTwith CheapTickets
New York City (NYC) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$884RTwith CheapOair.com
New York City (NYC) to Cebu, Philippines (CEB)
from$1,250RTwith Airline Consolidator
Newark Intl (EWR) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$1,409RTwith Orbitz
New York City (JFK) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$1,302RTwith Vayama
New York City (NYC) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$1,105RTwith Angel Travel (for Asia)
New York City (JFK) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
from$785RTwith Hotwire

In-flight Reading

Dusk: A Novel

Sionil JoseSet in the late 19th century, a family leaves its home and attempts to make a new life in the village of Rosales. Charts the transition from Spanish rule to American.

Hey, Joe

Ted LernerAn excellent book about street culture in the Philippines.  Lerner captures brilliantly the contrasts between life in the Philippines and life in the U.S.

Noli Me Tangere

Jose RizalThis love story published in 1887 is set against the backdrop of repression and murder and is considered to be the great novel of the Philippines.

Travel Tips

Read expert tips on getting the most out of travel

Airline and Air Travel Information
Airport Security
Getting Bumped
Airline Upgrade Guide
Find the Best Airfare Deals
Fat-Finger Fares
Alternate Airports
Last-minute Airfares 101
Booking Flights by Phone
International Travel Tips
Embassies and Consulates Abroad
Trip Planning
Timing Your Trip
Airport Amusements

More travel tips

Contributors to this guide: Word Travels, World Airport Guide, Cheapflights

Contributors

Close

Wordtravels.com

Destination guides to countries and cities worldwide www.wordtravels.com

World Airport Guides

Guide to more than 200 airports around the world www.worldairportguide.com

Cheapflights.com

Cheap airline tickets to domestic and worldwide destinations www.cheapflights.com

Newsletter Pop up box
Close
  • Looking for cheap flights to Philippines?
Sign up for our weekly newsletters to see deals
as they break