Getting around the Philippines: Grab and jeepneys

Grab is the ride app across Metro Manila, Cebu and other cities, covering cars and sometimes motorbikes. It shows the fare up front and lets you pay by card in-app or in cash, which sidesteps meter disputes. It needs a data connection, so keep your eSIM topped up.

Regular taxis are metered and cheap, but some drivers quote a flat rate to visitors. Insist on the meter, and if a driver refuses, use Grab instead.

Jeepneys (the flamboyant shared jeeps) and tricycles (motorbike sidecars) are how locals get around short distances, for very little, and both are cash-only, so keep small bills and coins. Fares are low and often fixed by route; for tricycles, agree the fare first.

At the airport, take Grab or an official metered taxi from the marshalled rank, not a driver who approaches you inside the terminal, where fixed special rates are a markup.

With more than seven thousand islands, longer trips mean ferries and domestic flights (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia). Book flights ahead for the best fares, and note that baggage and terminal details vary by island airport.

For how to carry cash, ATM limits and tipping drivers, see the Philippines money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Philippines

The little money things nobody warns you about.

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