Why go
- Capital of the Philippines.
- Served by Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
History
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 39 airlines, 78 direct destinations
- Philippine Airlines PR (A320, 330, Dash 8-400, A340-300, A321, 777-300…) · 63 routes: Abu Dhabi, Agana, Bacolod, Bahrain*, Bangkok, Basco, Beijing, Busan, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Calbayog City, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dammam, Darwin, Davao, Denpasar, Dipolog, Doha, Dubai, Dubai*, Dumaguete, Fukuoka, Guangzhou*, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Iloilo, Jakarta, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, London, Los Angeles, Macau, Masbate, Melbourne … +23 more
- Cebu Pacific 5J (A320, A319, 330, ATR) · 51 routes: Bacolod, Bandar Seri Begawan, Bangkok, Beijing, Busan, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Caticlan, Cauayan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Denpasar, Dipolog, Dubai, Dumaguete, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Iloilo, Jakarta, Kalibo, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Laoag, Legazpi, Macau, Naga, Nagoya, Osaka, Ozamis, Pagadian, Phuket, Puerto Princesa, Romblon, Roxas City, San Jose, Seoul … +11 more
- Air Philippines 2P (A320, Dash 8-400, 330, Dash 8-300) · 17 routes: Basco, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City, Catarman, Caticlan, Cotabato, Dubai, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Legazpi, Ozamis, Puerto Princesa, Romblon*, Roxas City, Sangley Point, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga
- Zest Air Z2 (A320, A319) · 11 routes: Cebu, Kalibo, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Miri, Puerto Princesa, Seoul, Shanghai, Tacloban, Tagbilaran
- South East Asian Airlines DG (A320) · 6 routes: Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban
- LSM Airlines PQ (A320) · 3 routes: Cebu, Davao, Kalibo
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (747-400) · 3 routes: Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh
- All Nippon Airways NH (767-300, 787-8) · 2 routes: Tokyo, Tokyo
- Asiana Airlines OZ (A320, A330-300, 777-200) · 2 routes: Busan, Seoul
- China Airlines CI (A330-300, A340-300, 737-800, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Kaohsiung*, Taipei
- China Southern Airlines CZ (A321, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Guangzhou, Xiamen
- Delta Air Lines DL (747-400) · 2 routes: Nagoya, Tokyo
- Jetstar Asia Airways 3K (A320) · 2 routes: Osaka, Singapore
- United Airlines UA (737-800) · 2 routes: Agana, Babelthuap*
- Air China CA (737-800) · 1 route: Beijing
- Air France AF (777-200) · 1 route: Taipei*
- Air Macau NX (A320) · 1 route: Macau*
- Air Niugini PX (737-800) · 1 route: Port Moresby
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-300, A340-300, 747-400, 777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A320) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Dragonair KA (A320) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Etihad Airways EY (777-300ER) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- EVA Air BR (A321, A330-200, 74E) · 1 route: Taipei
- Garuda Indonesia GA (A319, A320) · 1 route: Jakarta*
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (330) · 1 route: Bahrain
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (767) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Jeju Air 7C (737) · 1 route: Seoul
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (777) · 1 route: Taipei
- Korean Air KE (777-300) · 1 route: Seoul
- Kuwait Airways KU (340) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Malaysia Airlines MH (737-800) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Qantas QF (A330-300) · 1 route: Sydney
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-300, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Brunei Airlines BI (A320) · 1 route: Bandar Seri Begawan
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300, 777-200) · 1 route: Singapore
- Thai Airways International TG (777) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Tiger Airways TR (A320) · 1 route: Singapore
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A320) · 1 route: Ho Chi Minh City*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- Cebu Pacific 5J (A319) · 4 routes: Cebu, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore
- South East Asian Airlines DG (A320) · 4 routes: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kalibo, Singapore
- Asiana Airlines OZ (A321) · 1 route: Seoul
- Dragonair KA (A320) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Jin Air LJ (737-800) · 1 route: Seoul
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-300) · 1 route: Doha
- Tiger Airways TR (A320) · 1 route: Singapore
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: MNL has direct flights to 78 destinations on 39 airlines (incl. Kalibo, Seoul, Taipei, Cebu, Puerto Princesa…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Santa Ana, 0.3 km); routes include Santa Ana - Punta, Pasig River Ferry, PRFS Guadelupe → Escolta.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Manila, Philippines. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.