If you explore the busy streets of Manila, you will find something interesting around every corner. This bay city is the capital of the Philippines and one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a very modern side to tall skyscrapers, but it also boasts fascinating historic sites such as the Intramuros district, perhaps the most famous colonial walled city. If Manila’s Spanish colonial architecture leaves you wanting more, don’t miss out on Naga City. It was one of the most important cities during Spanish rule in the islands and is full of churches with Spanish architecture and buildings that do not go unnoticed. In addition, Naga is the perfect place to explore nearby natural attractions such as Mount Isarog National Park with its impressive dormant volcano.
Manila Traffic © aldarinho / Shutterstock.com
Travel options from Manila to Naga
Although Manila and Naga are on the same island in the Philippines, getting from one city to the other by road takes a while because the asphalt winds in coves. This makes the road route much longer than it could be in a straight line, up to about 400 kilometers in total. More precisely, the plane covers a distance of only 260 kilometers from Manila to Naga. Flights and buses are the main options for getting around between the two cities, unless you want to drive a rental car. It may be possible to find information about trains running on this route, but unfortunately after the damage caused by the hurricane in 2012, the line has not been repaired and it does not look like it will be renewed any time soon.
Flights from Manila to Naga
Cebgo ATR plane at Naga Airport. Cebgo operates Cebu Pacific short-haul propeller aircraft © Rainier Ampongan / Shutterstock.com
Since the road route extends the trip by many miles, flying from Manila to Nagi doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Undoubtedly, you can reach Nag by air in much less time than by land. The flight takes no more than an hour and twenty minutes, although you will have to factor in extra time to get to the airport and wait to get an idea of the actual duration of the journey from Manila to Naga. The downside of the Manila to Naga flight is the price, as it is significantly more expensive than a bus ticket, which can make a difference when making your decision.
There is only one airline that flies from Manila to Naga. This is Cebgo, and although it is officially a low-cost airline, because there is no competition from other airlines on this route, the prices they set are higher than on other connections. The good thing is that there are several flights a day and they operate every day of the week.
Flights from Manila to Naga depart from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which is located 7 kilometers south of the city. There are regular and cheap public transport services from Manila, so it’s easy to get to the airport. However, after reaching Naga, things are not so simple. Although it is called Naga Airport, the truth is that it is located in Pili. This is not a big problem as Pili is only 11 kilometers from Naga town, but it makes the journey longer and adds to the hassle of finding a way to get to the city.
There may be a taxi at the airport, but you’ll have better luck walking the 400 meters to the main road where buses and jeepneys stop to pick up passengers. The journey to the city takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on stops along the way.
From Manila to Naga by bus
When we think about the price of a flight from Manila to Nagi, the low cost of the bus makes it quite an attractive option. Flights can seem like a very quick solution. However, adding the time to get to the airport and then to Naga, apart from waiting at the airport itself, the truth is that there is not such a colossal difference in the duration of the journey. The trip may take half as long as by bus, but you can save a lot of money on the way.
Traveling by bus from Manila to Naga will not be the best option for any traveler, even if it saves money. The journey by bus takes approximately 10.5 hours. This also includes stops along the way which are essential to get off, stretch your legs and move around a bit. The good thing about the bus is that there are several companies that operate this route and offer several trips per day. This not only helps keep fares low, but also allows you to choose between different bus times and types.
Check the differences between the different types of buses carefully, as the comfort offered by each of them and the price of the ticket can vary significantly. If you choose the Economy bus, for example, you will save a lot of money, but you will spend 10.5 hours on a standard bus without air conditioning and with rather hard seats. The truth is that we do not recommend choosing this type of bus.
Above economy class, prices vary greatly between the different companies operating this route, so shop around before buying a ticket. You will be able to see the results of many major bus companies when you search on the travel website 12Go.asia. Your results show several different bus companies and types. You can also see pictures of the interior to see what the seats are like in addition to seeing if they have other services on board. This is a highly recommended website for comparing prices and services before booking.
You will see that there are reclining buses, such as the Lazyboy offered by Isarog Line, which are like armchairs and quite comfortable. There are also Regular, Premier, Elite and Skybus buses. You can even take a sleeper bus to go from Manila to Naga. In these cases, the buses have beds that are almost fully reclined to better rest. All buses have regular departures throughout the day, although we recommend taking the night bus to try and get some sleep on the way and so the journey doesn’t take so long. In addition, you will save your accommodation in this way.
Although flights seem like a better option, traveling by plane from Manila to Naga is much more expensive than traveling by bus. Also, by adding the time it takes to get to the airport and then into the city, you’re not saving as much time as you might imagine. For this reason, taking the bus is a good idea as it is much cheaper and there are different types of buses to choose from.