NAIA to Makati, BGC and the City: Grab, Coupon Taxis, UBE Express and the Skyway
Manila has no airport train, and the 7 km between NAIA and the Makati business district can take 15 minutes or 90 depending on the hour and the weather. The good news is that the choices are simple and well policed: Grab from a marked bay, a fixed-fare coupon taxi from the official queue, or an UBE Express bus if your destination is on one of its routes. This guide covers each, with fares current to 2026, and the rail workaround for light travellers.
Grab, the default
For most arrivals Grab is the best balance of price, safety and simplicity: the fare is shown before you book, the plate number is in the app, and it runs 24 hours. At Terminals 1 and 2 the Grab pick-up bays line the arrivals kerb; note the bay number and choose the matching pick-up point in the app. At Terminal 3, exit baggage claim and walk right to the end of the terminal to the transport hub, where the Grab bays are inside. Typical fares in 2026: One Ayala and Makati ₱200 to ₱300, BGC ₱280 to ₱380, Mall of Asia ₱250 to ₱350, Ortigas and SM Megamall ₱270 to ₱370, PITX ₱220 to ₱320, Trinoma and North EDSA ₱440 to ₱540. Prices rise in rain, at holidays and after midnight. Supertaxi (the JoyRide app) and the electric-car service Green GSM are alternatives; Green GSM cars are not allowed into the Terminal 3 transport hub, so cross Runway Manila to Newport to use one.
Coupon taxis and yellow taxis
NAIA’s airport taxis come in two kinds, both from official queues where airport staff hand you a dispatch slip recording the plate number. Coupon taxis charge a fixed fare by destination zone published by the regulator, no meter and no haggling, and they will go anywhere in mainland Luzon, which makes them the practical choice for Tagaytay, Batangas or Subic. Yellow metered airport taxis use a higher airport meter than the ordinary white city taxis but have an orderly queue. Keep the slip until you reach your hotel, never accept a ride from someone approaching you inside the terminal, and expect to pay more than Grab for the convenience.
UBE Express airport buses
UBE Express runs point-to-point buses from Terminal 3 Arrivals Bay 12 (a few from Terminal 2 Bay 17) at about half the price of a Grab. In 2026 the published routes are PITX, the Parañaque bus terminal for Cavite and Batangas connections (₱150), Victory Liner Pasay for northbound provincial buses (₱150, about 4:00 am to 8:00 pm, every 30 to 60 minutes) and Robinsons Santa Rosa in Laguna (about ₱300, roughly 3:30 am to 8:30 pm); the Araneta City Cubao route was suspended in May 2026 and the Imus route discontinued in March 2026. There is no UBE route to Makati or BGC at present. Tickets are sold online and at the bay, and the UBE NAIA Loop between the terminals is covered in our connecting guide.
Rail with a short ride first
The LRT-1 and MRT-3 meet at Taft Avenue (EDSA station on the LRT, Taft Avenue on the MRT), and Magallanes on the MRT-3 is useful for Makati and northbound EDSA; both are a 10 to 15 minute Grab or taxi from the terminals. Fares are a few dozen pesos. It suits backpackers who know the city; skip it with suitcases, children or at rush hour. Motorcycle taxis (Angkas, JoyRide) beat cars in traffic for a solo traveller with a backpack but cannot enter the arrivals areas, so you walk out of the airport complex first.
The roads and the clock
From Newport and Terminal 3 the Skyway on-ramp is next door and puts Makati 15 minutes away in light traffic; the elevated NAIAX expressway links the terminals to the Skyway and SLEX for a toll of about ₱45 to ₱65 per direction, which a Grab adds to the fare. Normal daytime runs to Makati take 25 to 45 minutes and to BGC 20 to 30; the evening rush (5 pm to 9 pm), Friday nights, paydays and any afternoon downpour can push both past an hour. For a departure, leave Makati three hours before an international flight on a weekday evening, and more in typhoon season.
Hotel transfers
The Manila Marriott Hotel sells a private airport car at about ₱2,200 one way, the Sheraton and the Nobu Hotel Manila arrange limousines through the concierge, and the Belmont bundles a one-way transfer into its Runway to Belmont package. From Terminal 3 none of the Newport hotels needs a vehicle at all: walk across Runway Manila.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a train from NAIA to the city?
No. No rail line reaches the terminals. The nearest stations are Taft Avenue (MRT-3 and LRT-1 EDSA) and Magallanes (MRT-3), both a short Grab or taxi ride from the airport, and only worth it with light luggage outside rush hour.
How much is a Grab from NAIA to Makati?
Typically ₱200 to ₱300 to Makati and ₱280 to ₱380 to BGC in 2026, more during rain, holidays or late at night when surge pricing applies. Book from the marked Grab bays: along the arrivals kerb at Terminals 1 and 2, and in the transport hub at the far end of the arrivals level at Terminal 3.
What is a coupon taxi?
An airport taxi that charges a fixed fare by destination zone instead of a meter, from the official queue with a dispatch slip. It costs more than Grab but goes door to door anywhere in Luzon, including the provinces, and avoids meter disputes.
How long does it take to reach Makati?
About 15 minutes from Newport by the Skyway in light traffic, 25 to 45 minutes in normal conditions and over an hour in the evening rush or heavy rain. BGC is 20 to 30 minutes on a good run. Build a two-hour margin for the trip back to the airport on a weekday evening.
Information last verified: October 1, 2026