$490+ Cheap flights to Manila

Manila, Philippines climate

Hot and humid all year round, you’re bound to get covered in heat as soon as you step off your plane to Manila. Worth preparing for, though, is the rain: Falling 159 days a year, the extreme weather conditions are enough to deter any outward bound person – don’t let it get to you. The tropical climate gets a bad wrap because of its wet season from June to November, but a beautiful dry season makes up for it from December to May.

Getting around Manila, Philippines

Since population is such a plaguing issue for the city, do your part for the environment by making sure to use public transportation. Watch out though, these aren’t as easy and ordinary methods as your flight to Manila. Small buses that look like jeeps, called Jeepneys, are used for sharing rides with quite a few people. Taxis, although less common, are better for more private rides. A rail line, connecting Caloocan City and the city of Baclaran, was finished in 1984, and the Philippine National Railways also join the city with northern and southeastern Luzon. Traffic overcrowding is severe, tending to gather at the bridges during rush hours.

Manila, Philippines Travel Information

• Old Manila: If you’re one for history, check out Rizal Park, named after Dr. Jose Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines. What was once a walled city built during the Spanish colonial period now stands as a united front. See also Fort Santiago, which used to be the headquarters of the military until its ruin in 1945. A more religious site to add to your Manila travel is San Agustin Church, oldest structure in the country, dating back to 1571, or Casa Manila, a 19th century mansion with 16th-19th century furnishings
• Tagaytay: If your flight to Manila wasn’t exactly filled with scenic views, take in the breathtaking sights of coastal villages, rice fields, fruit orchards, and coconut plantations along the countryside of Tagaytay. The Tagaytay Ridge stands 2250 feet above sea level, allowing for once and a lifetime views of the city, and Tagaytay Highlands provides a panoramic view of the Tall Volcano. You won’t regret your quality time with the rugged terrain and the gorgeous mountain climate.
• Pagsanjan Falls: You may have sped right through your long flight to Manila, and if so, a two-hour drive through the southeast section of town won’t feel so lengthy. Small towns surround the outer edges of the city, and as soon as you arrive as Pagsanjan Falls, you can take a boat ride up the river among the beautiful gorges and canyons, inundated with tropical vegetation and waterfalls. Hold on tight, because the river’s “shooting rapids” speed things up on your way downstream.
• Binondo Church: Located on Quentin Paredes Street at Plaza Calderon de la Barca stands the oldest place of Christian worship in the Philippines. Since 1596, this scared ground has been damaged through the likes of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Fortunately, the community funds have kept it going and have allowed for renovations to give the church new life again and again. When you’re done here, China Town is just blocks away, begging to be explored.

Manila, Philippines airport overview

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is about 4.3 miles (7km) south of Manila, the cosmopolitan capital of the Philippines, and is a major gateway to the country. It serves as a hub for all Philippine airlines and is one of the 50 busiest airports in the world, serving 27 million passengers each year. Flights to Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrive from major hubs in Asia and the Pacific region, as well as a handful of cities a little further afield such as Amsterdam, Detroit and Dubai.

If you’re catching one of the many international flights to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, chances are you’ll go through the old Terminal 1, widely regarded as one of the worst terminals in Asia. It generally operates way over capacity, especially in peak season – so make sure you factor in lots of time. There are plans to shift more international flights to the sleek new Terminal 3, although so far, this has been hampered by red tape.

Overall, this airport is a little chaotic and can be confusing to navigate, but with a healthy dose of patience, you’ll get through it to your vacation in the Philippines without too much trouble.