# Manila layover guide

Manila's airport has no train, so every trip into town is a taxi ride of about an hour to Intramuros, the old walled city, at a fixed ₱530. That makes 8 hours the shortest layover worth leaving the airport for. Philippine Airlines passengers also have a free hotel shuttle and a US$50 weekend tour of their own.

- Web page: https://manilalayover.com/
- Guide: [Manila Layover](https://manilalayover.com/), an independent layover guide to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), part of City Layover
- Updated 10 November 2026; facts checked 8 November 2026

## Can you leave Manila airport on a layover?

Yes, with 8 hours or more and a passport that lets you into the Philippines. There's no train from Manila airport (NAIA): a coupon taxi takes about an hour to Intramuros, the old walled city, for a fixed ₱530, and 8 hours leaves about 2.5 hours there for Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. With less time, stay at the airport. Be back 90 minutes before departure.

## Every layover length

- **Under 8 hours** (Stay at the airport): Stay at the airport. There's no train into Manila, and with the border and about an hour of traffic each way, under 8 hours leaves too little time in town to be worth the trip. Rest in a lounge or at The Wings capsule hotel in Terminal 3 instead.
- **8 to 9.5 hours** (Possible but tight): About 2.5 to 3.5 hours in town: a taxi to Intramuros, the old walled city, for Fort Santiago and Casa Manila (closed Mondays). Traffic decides how much of that you get, so leave Intramuros 3 hours before your flight.
- **9.5 to 14 hours** (Go into Manila): About 4 to 7.5 hours in town: Fort Santiago and Casa Manila in Intramuros, then the free National Museum and a walk in Rizal Park, all a short walk apart.
- **14 to 24 hours** (Go into Manila): Most of a day in town. Landing at night? Sleep at The Wings in Terminal 3 or a hotel over the walkway next door, then take a taxi to Fort Santiago for its 8am opening (6am at weekends).
- **Over 24 hours** (Go into Manila): Time for a night in the city. US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passports can stay up to 30 days without a visa, so book a hotel and see Intramuros at an easy pace.

## Time in town

Worked out with this guide’s allowances: about 1h 15 from landing to your ride, the ride each way, and back at NAIA 90 minutes before departure.

| Layover | In town, about | On the plan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 6 hours | 0.5 hours | Fort Santiago and Casa Manila |
| 8 hours | 2.5 hours | Fort Santiago and Casa Manila |
| 10 hours | 4.5 hours | Fort Santiago and Casa Manila |
| 12 hours | 6.5 hours | Fort Santiago and Casa Manila |
| 14 hours | 8.5 hours | Fort Santiago and Casa Manila |

## Layover plans

Every plan on the overview, in the order it lists them. On the web page each plan's route is timed from your layover length and landing time.

### Fort Santiago and Casa Manila

- **Hint**: Cheapest
- **Layover**: 8 hours or more
- **Cost**: $
- **Ride**: Coupon taxi or Grab, about 60 minutes there; leave town 3 hours before your flight

1. **Fort Santiago**: ₱75. Last entry 8pm on weekdays, 8:30pm at weekends.
2. **Casa Manila**: ₱75. Closed Mondays. Last entry 5pm.
3. **Taxi or Grab back to the terminal**

### Intramuros, the National Museum and Rizal Park

- **Hint**: Free museum
- **Layover**: 9.5 hours or more
- **Cost**: $
- **Ride**: Coupon taxi or Grab, about 60 minutes there; leave town 3 hours before your flight

1. **Fort Santiago**: ₱75. Last entry 8pm on weekdays, 8:30pm at weekends.
2. **Casa Manila**: ₱75. Closed Mondays. Last entry 5pm.
3. **National Museum of Fine Arts or Anthropology**: Free. About a 15-minute walk from Casa Manila.
4. **Rizal Park (Luneta)**: Free to walk through, next to the museum.
5. **Taxi or Grab back to the terminal**

### PAL Transit Tour Philippines

- **Hint**: PAL passengers only: guided, Friday to Sunday
- **Layover**: 8 hours or more · Fri to Sun
- **Cost**: $$
- **Tour**: about 4 hours, back to NAIA at least 2 hours before your flight; the earliest start you can make is 2 hours after landing

1. **Morning tour: Intramuros and the National Museum**
2. **Afternoon tour: Solaire and Okada**

### PAL City Layover to Newport World Resorts

- **Hint**: PAL passengers only: free shuttle
- **Layover**: 8 hours or more
- **Tour**: back to NAIA at least 2 hours 30 minutes before your flight; starts 1:30am (about 8 hours 30 minutes), 6:30am (about 3 hours 30 minutes), 7:30am (about 3 hours 30 minutes), 2:30pm (about 2 hours 30 minutes) or 3:30pm (about 3 hours 30 minutes); meet 15 minutes before the start at the shuttle pickup point in Terminal 1, after the PAL Transfer Desk; the earliest start you can make is 1 hour 30 minutes after landing

1. **Newport World Resorts**: The shuttle is free; rooms, meals and everything else are at your own cost. Seats are first come, first served.

### Rest at the airport, then Fort Santiago at opening

- **Hint**: Rest first
- **Layover**: 10 hours or more · overnight
- **Cost**: $$
- **Night**: rest near the airport, then head in for the morning
- **Ride**: Coupon taxi or Grab, about 60 minutes there; leave town 3 hours before your flight

1. **Fort Santiago**: ₱75. Opens at 8am on weekdays and 6am at weekends.
2. **Casa Manila**: ₱75. Closed Mondays.
3. **Taxi or Grab back to the terminal**

### The Wings Transit Hotel and Spa, Terminal 3

- **Hint**: A capsule with a shower
- **Where**: Landside · needs Philippines entry
- **Cost**: $

- **The Wings Transit Hotel & Spa, Level 4, Concession Area**: Open 24 hours. Capsule ₱1,800 for 7 hours 30 minutes, twin room ₱3,600 (seen November 2026), with a shower.

### Hotels beside Terminal 3 over Runway Manila

- **Hint**: A hotel bed, a short walk from the terminal
- **Where**: Landside · needs Philippines entry

- **Belmont Hotel Manila**: About 5 minutes on foot over Runway Manila. Sells short-stay packages for travellers in transit.
- **Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts**: Over Runway Manila from Terminal 3; no shuttle.
- **Sheraton Manila Hotel at Newport World Resorts**: Across from Terminal 3, over Runway Manila; no shuttle.
- **Hotel Okura Manila**: In the same Newport World Resorts complex.
- **Hilton Manila**: In the same Newport World Resorts complex.
- **Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City**: In the same Newport World Resorts complex.

### PAL Mabuhay Lounge, Terminal 1

- **Hint**: PAL's own lounge, past security
- **Where**: Landside · needs Philippines entry
- **Cost**: $$

- **PAL Mabuhay Lounge, Terminal 1, Level 4**: ₱2,850 for one visit, from 3 hours before departure (seen November 2026). Terminal 2 South Wing: ₱1,750.

### Other lounges, Terminals 1 and 3

- **Hint**: Open 24 hours, past security
- **Where**: Landside · needs Philippines entry

- **A Lounge, Terminal 1 (East Concourse)**: Open 24 hours; ask the price at the desk.
- **PAGSS Lounge, Terminal 1 (Level 3, East Concourse)**: Open 24 hours; ask the price at the desk.
- **MARHABA Lounge, Terminal 1 (Level 3, West Concourse)**: Open 24 hours; ask the price at the desk.
- **First Meridian Lounge (Cathay Pacific), Terminal 3, Level 4**: Cathay Pacific's lounge, open 24 hours.
- **A Lounge, Terminal 3**: Open 24 hours; ask the price at the desk.
- **PAGSS Lounge, Terminal 3**: Open 24 hours; ask the price at the desk.

## At a glance

- **Airport**: NAIA (MNL), Terminals 1, 2 and 3; no train
- **Taxi to Intramuros**: ₱530 by coupon taxi; about an hour
- **Last ride back**: None to miss: taxis and Grab
- **Minimum to leave**: 8 hours
- **Be back**: 90 minutes before departure (2 hours on PAL's programmes)
- **Sleep at the airport**: The Wings, Terminal 3: capsule ₱1,800 for 7.5 hours
- **Currency**: Philippine peso (₱)
- **Don't forget**: Free eTravel registration, in the 72 hours before you land

## Arrivals

A Manila layover is worth leaving the airport for only from about 8 hours: there's no train, and the road to the old city is slow.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), which everyone in Manila calls NAIA, is about 10 km by road south of Intramuros, the walled Spanish city where this guide's plans go. Its three passenger terminals are separate buildings, a drive apart. Philippine Airlines flies its international flights from Terminal 1, and most other foreign airlines use Terminal 1 or Terminal 3. Several airlines changed terminal in 2026, so check yours on your airline's website before you fly.

- **Bags.** Booked on one ticket, your suitcase is checked through and you walk out with just your cabin bag. Booked separately, you pick it up at the carousel, and NAIA lists no left-luggage service, so with a big case it's better to rest at the airport than tow it round Intramuros.
- **Money.** Taxis and entry tickets are in pesos. Every terminal has ATMs and currency exchange, most of them open 24 hours, so take out a few thousand pesos before you leave arrivals.
- **Phone.** The terminals have free Wi-Fi, but only for 1 to 3 hours a day depending on the network you pick. For Grab and maps in town, set up an eSIM before you fly. The only SIM stand the airport lists is in Terminal 1 arrivals.

Terminals, Wi-Fi and what's in arrivals: [at the airport](https://manilalayover.com/airport/).

## Border

US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passports need no visa for the Philippines, but everyone arriving registers on eTravel first.

- **Visa-free passports.** US, UK, Canadian and Australian passports, and those of every EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, can stay up to 30 days without a visa. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your stay, and you need your onward ticket.
- **eTravel.** Register free on the government's eTravel site, etravel.gov.ph, in the 72 hours before you land, and keep the QR code on your phone. It never costs anything, so ignore sites that charge for it.
- **India.** Indian passports get 14 days without a visa with a hotel booking, proof of funds and an onward ticket, or 30 days with a valid US, UK, Schengen, Canadian, Australian, Japanese or Singaporean visa. The same rules say Indian nationals in transit need a Philippine visa, so check with your airline before you plan to leave the airport.
- **Staying airside.** Only one connection has a published airside route: Philippine Airlines international to Philippine Airlines international, inside Terminal 1. On any other connection, expect to pass immigration.
- **Time.** NAIA publishes no queue times, so allow about 75 minutes from landing to sitting in a taxi: the queue, the eTravel check, bags if you have them and the walk to the taxi kerb. A slow queue costs you time in town, never your flight: the time you must head back stays the same.

Who needs which visa: [visa and transit rules](https://manilalayover.com/visa-and-transit/).

## Into Manila

A taxi is the way in: about an hour to Intramuros, at a fixed ₱530 by coupon taxi.

| Ride | Into town | Fare |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coupon taxi, the best for most | About an hour to Intramuros | ₱530, fixed before you set off |
| Grab, the ride-hailing app | About the same | Shown in the app; fixed up front with Airport to Anywhere |
| Yellow metered taxi | About the same | ₱75 to start, then by distance and waiting time |

Nobody publishes a drive time, so the hour is our estimate for Terminal 3 to Intramuros, about 10 km; it can be 45 minutes with clear roads or much longer in heavy traffic. That's why the coupon taxi suits a layover best: you pay at the counter by the arrivals kerb before you leave, and a jam costs you time, not money. Staff hand you a dispatch slip: keep it, don't give it to the driver, as it's how you complain if something goes wrong. There's no first or last ride to plan around: taxis and Grab work whenever you need them.

Every way in, with the pickup points at each terminal: [getting into the city](https://manilalayover.com/getting-to-the-city/).

## What to do

Intramuros is the one part of Manila worth the drive on a layover: Fort Santiago, Casa Manila and the National Museum are all a short walk apart.

### The fastest plan for a short layover

1. Clear immigration, buy a coupon taxi at the arrivals kerb and ride to **Intramuros**: ₱530, about an hour.
2. Walk round **Fort Santiago**, the old fort at the north end of Intramuros: ₱75, from 8am on weekdays and 6am at weekends.
3. Walk about 10 minutes to the **Casa Manila** museum house: ₱75, 9am to 6pm, closed Mondays.
4. Take Grab or a taxi back, leaving Intramuros 3 hours before your flight.

It needs 8 hours, which leaves about 2.5 hours in town. With 9.5 hours or more, add the free National Museum and Rizal Park.

**Flying Philippine Airlines?** If both your flights are PAL international flights, the airline offers two things of its own, each needing a layover of at least 8 hours. The **Transit Tour** is a 4-hour guided bus tour, US$50 with entrance fees, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; the morning tour goes to Intramuros and the National Museum. The **City Layover** is a free shuttle from Terminal 1 to the Newport World Resorts hotels and back, at set times. On either, PAL wants you back at the airport 2 hours before your next flight.

For any other airline, GetYourGuide and Viator list private and small-group tours of Intramuros. Check whether yours collects you from the airport, and what happens if you land late.

### Watch the calendar

- **Mondays.** Casa Manila is closed, but Fort Santiago is open every day. The National Museum's current listing says it opens daily, though older notices say Tuesday to Sunday, so check its page before a Monday.
- **Weekends.** Fort Santiago opens at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays, two hours earlier than on weekdays. PAL's Transit Tour runs only from Friday to Sunday.
- **Public holidays.** Bonifacio Day (Monday 30 November 2026), Christmas Eve to New Year's Day, Chinese New Year (6 February 2027) and Holy Week (25 to 27 March 2027) bring heavy traffic, and sights may change their hours: check before you go.
- **Rain and typhoons.** A heavy downpour can add an hour to the drive, so leave town earlier on a wet afternoon. A typhoon can close roads or the airport: check PAGASA's warnings and your airline.

Timed plans from 8 hours, PAL's two programmes, a plan for night arrivals and where to rest at NAIA: [itineraries](https://manilalayover.com/itineraries/).

## Head back

Be back at NAIA 90 minutes before departure, with your onward boarding pass.

- **Time.** Leave Intramuros 3 hours before your flight: 90 minutes for the drive back, which is our allowance for the afternoon traffic, and 90 minutes at the airport. That makes **8 hours** the realistic minimum, with about 2.5 hours in town; 10 hours gives about 4.5.
- **Why 90 minutes is enough.** With your boarding pass already issued and your bags checked through, you only need departure immigration and security. If you still have to check in, Philippine Airlines opens its Terminal 1 counters 6 hours before departure; on separate tickets, allow longer.
- **The right terminal.** Tell the driver which terminal your flight leaves from. Terminals 1 and 3 are on opposite sides of the airfield, about 20 to 30 minutes apart by road on our estimate.
- **PAL's programmes.** On the City Layover and the Transit Tour, PAL's own rule applies: back at the airport 2 hours before your flight.
- **Late at night.** There's no last train or bus to miss. Coupon fares are for rides from the airport, so coming back, book a Grab or take a metered taxi. At night the drive is usually shorter, about 30 to 40 minutes on our estimate.

Time in town at each layover length: [how much time you'll have](https://manilalayover.com/getting-to-the-city/#timing-your-return).

## Departures

Staying at the airport instead: a lounge past security, a capsule hotel in Terminal 3, or a hotel over the walkway next door.

- **Lounges.** Philippine Airlines sells one-time entry to its Mabuhay Lounge in Terminal 1 for ₱2,850 (₱1,750 in Terminal 2), from 3 hours before departure (seen November 2026). The other lounges in Terminals 1 and 3 are open 24 hours, but don't publish walk-in prices.
- **The Wings Transit Hotel & Spa.** On Level 4 of Terminal 3, open 24 hours: a capsule costs ₱1,800 for 7 hours 30 minutes, with a shower (seen November 2026). It doesn't say whether it's before or after immigration, so if you can't enter the Philippines, ask before you book.
- **Hotels over Runway Manila.** The Belmont, Marriott, Sheraton and other Newport World Resorts hotels are a short walk from Terminal 3 by a covered, air-conditioned bridge, about 5 minutes to the Belmont. You need to have entered the Philippines.
- **PAL's City Layover.** On two PAL international flights with 8 hours or more, a free shuttle takes you from Terminal 1 to those hotels and back. The rooms aren't included.

Rooms, lounges and moving between terminals: [at the airport](https://manilalayover.com/airport/).

## Questions people ask

### Can I leave Manila airport during a layover?

Yes, with 8 hours or more and a passport that lets you in. US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU passports need no visa for stays of up to 30 days, only the free eTravel registration before you land. With less than 8 hours, the taxi ride both ways leaves too little time in town, so stay at the airport.

### How long a layover do I need to see Manila?

8 hours. Allow about 75 minutes from landing to sitting in a taxi, about an hour to Intramuros, 90 minutes back in traffic and 90 minutes at the airport before your flight. That leaves about 2.5 hours in town, enough for Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. 10 hours gives about 4.5.

### Does Manila airport have a train?

No. NAIA has no rail link, so you go by coupon taxi, metered taxi, Grab or bus. A coupon taxi to Intramuros is a fixed ₱530 and takes about an hour, and it's how every plan in this guide gets into town.

### Can I sleep at Manila airport?

Yes, if you pay for it. The Wings Transit Hotel & Spa in Terminal 3 is open 24 hours and sells capsules from ₱1,800 for 7.5 hours, with a shower (seen November 2026). If you can enter the Philippines, the Newport World Resorts hotels are a short walk from Terminal 3 over the Runway Manila walkway.

### Is there a free tour or hotel shuttle for layover passengers in Manila?

Only for Philippine Airlines passengers. Its City Layover is a free shuttle at set times between Terminal 1 and Newport World Resorts, and its Transit Tour is a 4-hour guided tour for US$50, Friday to Sunday. Both need a layover of at least 8 hours, and PAL wants you back at the airport 2 hours before your next flight.

## Sources (checked 8 November 2026)

- [Department of Foreign Affairs: eVisa policy and visa-free list (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://evisa.gov.ph/page/policy)
- [eTravel: frequently asked questions (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://etravel.gov.ph/frequently-asked-questions)
- [Philippine Airlines: connecting flights at NAIA (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://www.philippineairlines.com/us/en/before-you-fly/at-the-airport/connecting-flights.html)
- [Philippine Airlines: international check-in, Terminal 1 (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://www.philippineairlines.com/us/en/before-you-fly/at-the-airport/pal-airport-terminal-international.html)
- [Philippine Airlines: City Layover, free shuttle to Newport World Resorts (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.philippineairlines.com/us/en/before-you-fly/PAL-city-layover.html)
- [Philippine Airlines: Transit Tour Philippines FAQ (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://pal.my.site.com/s/article/Transit-Tour-Philippines-Frequently-Asked-Questions)
- [Philippine Information Agency: DOT transit tours for PAL passengers, 19 January 2026](https://pia.gov.ph/press-release/dot-transit-tours-now-available-for-pal-passengers/)
- [Philippine Airlines: Mabuhay Lounge access and prices (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.philippineairlines.com/us/en/mypal-travel-boost/mypal-lounge.html)
- [New NAIA Infra Corp: transport to and from the airport (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://newnaia.com.ph/transport)
- [New NAIA Infra Corp: LTFRB prescribed rates, Metro Manila (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://newnaia.com.ph/articles/ltfrb-prescribed-rates-metro-manila)
- [New NAIA Infra Corp: airlines by terminal (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://www.newnaia.com.ph/flights/airline-information)
- [New NAIA Infra Corp: wellness and relaxation, The Wings and lounges (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://newnaia.com.ph/discover/wellness-relaxation)
- [New NAIA Infra Corp: other services and amenities, Wi-Fi, SIMs and money (checked 10 Nov 2026)](https://newnaia.com.ph/discover/other-services-amenities)
- [The Wings Transit Hotel & Spa: booking page, 7.5-hour prices (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://thewingstransithotelandspa.as.me/)
- [Belmont Hotel Manila: Runway Manila walkway and packages (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://belmonthotelmanila.com/)
- [Intramuros Administration: sites, opening hours and fees (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://intramuros.gov.ph/hours/)
- [National Museum of the Philippines: news and events, opening hours (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/category/news-and-events/)
- [Presidential Communications Office: Proclamation No. 1006, 2026 holidays (checked 9 Nov 2026)](https://pco.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250903-PROC-1006-FRM.pdf.pdf)
- [Presidential Communications Office: Proclamation No. 1427, 2027 holidays (checked 8 Nov 2026)](https://pco.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-PROC-1427-FRM.pdf)
- [PAGASA: weather and tropical cyclone warnings](https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/)