Manila is the Philippines' sprawling gateway and a cheap Asian hub — €113 to Taipei, sub-€165 hops across the region, and a bag-included reach into China and India that makes the capital a workable base for the wider continent.
Ninoy Aquino International (NAIA / MNL) sits awkwardly close to the city but with no rail link — a proposed airport line isn’t running yet — so getting into town is a road affair, and Manila traffic is famously brutal. Your best bets are Grab (usually cheapest and most transparent, around PHP 200–500 / €3–8 to Makati or BGC) or an official metered yellow taxi (flag fall PHP 40 plus PHP 13.50/km). For the budget-minded, the Sky Pasada / UBE shuttle buses run fixed routes for PHP 100–200 but are slower. Whatever you choose, time your arrival to dodge rush hour — a 10km trip can take an hour.
As a base, Manila’s value is its dense regional network. Cebu Pacific and the budget carriers fight over the same routes, keeping Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and China cheap.
The regional steals
Manila’s cheapest fares are genuinely low. Taipei (€113) leads — Taiwan, a short hop north, for the price of a domestic flight — with Ho Chi Minh City (€129), Seoul (€161) and Danang (€162) all near or under €165. That’s Vietnam’s south and central coast plus South Korea, cheap and frequent. These are the impulse routes: quick escapes from the megacity on Cebu Pacific and friends.
China and the India connection
The mid-tier reaches China and the subcontinent. Xiamen (€180 with a bag) opens southeastern China with luggage, while India comes into range via Amritsar (€243) — the Golden Temple city in Punjab — Delhi (€366 with a bag) and Kolkata (€410 with a bag). The India routes reflect the large Filipino and Indian communities moving between the two, and turn Manila into a stepping stone west.
Using Manila as a Philippines springboard
Beyond these international routes, Manila’s real superpower is domestic: it’s the hub for the Philippines’ 7,000 islands, with dirt-cheap onward hops to Cebu, Palawan, Boracay (via Caticlan/Kalibo) and Siargao. If you’re flying in internationally, factor in that the cheapest way to reach the famous beaches is almost always a budget domestic connection from NAIA — book it as part of the same trip and the islands open up.
Bag fares: the budget tell
Classic LCC split. The cheap hops (Taipei, Ho Chi Minh, Seoul, Danang, Amritsar) are shown as base fares — cabin-only Cebu Pacific-style tickets. Xiamen, Delhi and Kolkata include a checked bag. Philippine and regional LCCs are strict on luggage and charge a premium for bags added late, so if you’re carrying more than a backpack — or island-hopping with gear — add the allowance when you book.
Cheapest destinations from Manila right now
Good-price round-trip targets from aifly’s own tracked fares — “good price” means book at or below this; nothing here is invented or scraped from third parties. The live deal page for each route shows the current fare.
| Destination | Good price | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | €113 | €113 to Taiwan — night markets, mountains and brilliant food, a short hop north. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | €129 | €129 into Vietnam's energetic southern hub. |
| Seoul | €161 | €161 to South Korea's capital — sharp value for the distance. |
| Danang | €162 | €162 to central Vietnam's beaches and the gateway to Hoi An. |
| Xiamen | €180 incl. bag | €180 with a bag into southeastern China's coastal city. |
| Amritsar | €243 | €243 to Punjab's Golden Temple city in northern India. |
| Delhi | €366 incl. bag | €366 with a bag into India's capital and the gateway to the north. |
| Kolkata | €410 incl. bag | €410 with a bag into eastern India and the gateway to Bengal. |
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest flight from Manila?
Taipei at around €113 — Taiwan for the price of a domestic flight — with Ho Chi Minh City (€129), Seoul (€161) and Danang (€162) all near or under €165.
How do I get from Manila Airport (NAIA) into the city?
There's no airport rail yet. Grab is usually cheapest (~PHP 200–500 / €3–8 to Makati or BGC), with official metered yellow taxis as an alternative. The Sky Pasada/UBE shuttle buses are cheaper but slower. Avoid rush hour.
Can you reach the Philippine islands cheaply from Manila?
Yes — Manila is the domestic hub for the country's 7,000 islands, with dirt-cheap budget hops to Cebu, Palawan, Boracay and Siargao. Book the onward domestic leg as part of the same trip.
Do these Manila fares include a checked bag?
Xiamen, Delhi and Kolkata include a bag; the cheap hops (Taipei, Ho Chi Minh, Seoul, Danang, Amritsar) are usually cabin-only Cebu Pacific-style fares. Add a bag at booking if needed.
Can you fly to India from Manila?
Yes — Amritsar (€243), Delhi (€366 with a bag) and Kolkata (€410 with a bag) reach northern and eastern India, reflecting the communities moving between the two countries.
How current are these Manila prices?
They're the lowest verified round-trip fares we've tracked recently and move with season and demand. Use each as a target for that route and book when you find a fare at or below it.
Seasons, carriers and airport details verified June 2026 and can change — confirm current conditions before you book.