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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Pasay
Stay in Pasay only for the airport or a Bay City event: 1 night, or 2 if you have a Mall of Asia show. Skip the rest of the city.
Pasay is the city around Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the reclaimed Bay City strip, where SM Mall of Asia, the MOA Arena and the convention centres sit. It is a practical base for a late arrival or an early flight, not a sightseeing destination. Most travellers give it one night and move on to Manila or the islands.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Dec–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (rain and typhoon season), Holy Week and Christmas–New Year for airport crowds
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PHP
- Money
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₱1,500–2,800 excl. bed · Mid ₱2,800–5,500 excl. bed · High ₱5,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- National emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
- Toilets
- Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₱120–220 |
| Noodle or rice meal at a mall food court | ₱150–300 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a convenience store | ₱150–250 / ₱60–120 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) ride-hail3.1 mi (5 km) ride-hail | ₱200–350 |
| LRT-1 or MRT-3 ride | ₱15–35 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₱400–800 |
| Museum or attraction entry | ₱200–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MNL · Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
- Terminals 1–4 sit inside Pasay; Terminal 3 is the main international one for many carriers. Allow 1–2 h by road to Makati or Manila in traffic.
Typical fares
- NAIA Terminal 3 → Bay City, ride-hail
- ₱250–400, 15–30 min (check)
- NAIA Terminal 3 → Makati, taxi
- ₱300–500 metered, 30–60 min (check)
- LRT-1 EDSA–Taft → Central Terminal (Manila)
- ₱15–35, about 25 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
LRT-1 and MRT-3 meet at EDSA–Taft (Pasay Rotonda). Jeepneys and tricycles cover short hops; tricycle fares should not exceed about ₱200 — agree first. Ride-hailing (Grab) is the practical option for the airport and Bay City. Driving yourself is not advised: EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Boulevard jam most of the day.
See and do
Known for
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
- SM Mall of Asia
- Bay City and Manila Bay sunset esplanade
- MOA Arena concerts and PBA games
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Manila (Intramuros and Rizal Park) | LRT-1 from EDSA–Taft to Central Terminal, about 25 min | About 45–60 min |
| Makati | MRT-3 from Taft Avenue to Ayala, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Quezon City | MRT-3 from Taft Avenue north, 40–50 min | About 1 h |
| Taguig (BGC) | Ride-hail or bus via EDSA, 30–60 min depending on traffic | About 45–75 min |
| Parañaque (PITX and Entertainment City) | Ride-hail or jeepney along Macapagal Boulevard, 20–40 min | About 30–50 min |
Sleep
- Newport City (NAIA Terminal 3)
- Walkway to Terminal 3, hotels and a casino; best for a single airport night.
- Bay City / Mall of Asia
- Malls, bay esplanade and arena; 15–30 min by road to the terminals.
- Pasay Rotonda / EDSA–Taft
- Cheap rooms and LRT-1/MRT-3 interchange; busy, seedy at night, use for transit only.
- Roxas Boulevard / CCP area
- Bayfront hotels near the Cultural Center of the Philippines; 20–40 min to NAIA.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Paumanhin popa-oo-man-hin po |
| Thank you | Salamat posa-la-mat po |
| How much is it? | Magkano po?mag-ka-no po |
| Please use the meter | Paki-gamit po ang metropa-ki-ga-mit po ang met-ro |
| Where is the toilet? | Nasaan po ang banyo?na-sa-an po ang ban-yo |
| Can I pay by card? | Puwede po bang mag-card?poo-we-de po bang mag-kard |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
- Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
- Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
- Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass
Scams and watch-outs
- Airport taxis: insist on the meter; meter-tampering devices are reported. White taxis are not officially sanctioned at NAIA.
- EDSA–Taft area at night: petty crime and prostitution; keep to lit main roads.
- Tricycle and jeepney price gouging for visitors — agree the fare before boarding.
- Manila Bay is not a swimming beach; the esplanade is for walking and sunsets.
- Typhoon season Jun–Nov can cancel flights; build a buffer before an international connection.
Pasay is fine by day in Bay City and Newport City; the EDSA–Taft area is rough after dark. Main risks are airport taxi scams, petty theft and traffic, not violent crime against visitors.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pasay yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
- SM Mall of Asia
- Bay City and Manila Bay sunset esplanade
- MOA Arena concerts and PBA games
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Pasay City government: www.pasay.gov.ph/
- Department of Tourism — Philippines: www.tourism.gov.ph/
- Wikivoyage: Pasay, revision 5288838 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5288838
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Pasay
Sa address na ito po
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- National emergency911
Most embassies are in Manila or Makati, not Pasay; check your country's embassy page for the current address.
Keep the fare and emergency numbers on your phone before you land.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/pasay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.