Fondly called “Kyusi” by the locals, Quezon City is the largest city in the National Capital Region, both in terms of land area and population. It cradles a significant number of government agencies and offices, shopping malls, food strips, and nightlife spots. But aside from modern establishments, the city also abounds in green spaces.
Hailed as the “City of Stars“, it is home to major media networks and entertainment companies in the Philippines. The city also harbors two of the country’s top universities: the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Diliman, the flagship campus of the country’s national university.
Cubao, Diliman, and Novaliches are some of the busiest districts in Quezon City. Novaliches is the largest and the northernmost district. Diliman, which is originally the birthplace of the city, is considered its core. Cubao in the southern portion, with its many transport terminals, makes Kyusi a gateway to the northern provinces of Luzon and a viable jump-off point to popular tourist destinations up north.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) welcomes international and domestic flights, serving Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon Island. It is the usual starting point for foreign tourists to explore the country before heading to other popular destinations in the Philippines.
Quezon City is located 60-90 minutes north of NAIA or MANILA AIRPORT. From NAIA, here are your transportation options going to Kyusi.
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
NAIA to Quezon City – By Ride-Hailing Service
Grab and Joyride are currently the only ride-hailing apps we can recommend for transportation to and from the airport. Some companies may not be as established as the two previously mentioned, while others only offer motorcycle taxis for hire (e.g., Angkas).
What makes this option convenient? For one, the driver will drop you off at your pinned location. Another reason is that you don’t have to second-guess your total fare because it’s immediately reflected in the app prior to confirming the ride. Passengers may also choose to pay via cashless transactions. Note that during peak hours, it may take you longer than usual to find a ride.
But before you could use ride-hailing apps like Grab and Joyride, you’ll need an internet connection. There may be free wifi at the airport but for safety, security and reliability, it’s best to have your own private connection. If you are a foreign tourist exploring the Philippines, you can either purchase a local SIM card or rent a pocket WiFi unit. SIM cards and pocket WiFi devices are available at the airport.
- For Grab, you have four options: GrabTaxi, GrabCar 4-Seater, GrabCar 6-Seater, and GrabAirport (from NAIA). The last option is only available from 12PM to 12AM. It is a dedicated car service that allows a maximum of three passengers, plus three pieces of 23kg luggage. The fares for GrabAirport are fixed depending on the drop-off location; hence, no surge fees shall be applied.
- For Joyride, you have two options: 4-Seater or 6-Seater. Joyride also offers motorcycle taxi rides, but, as mentioned, we don’t recommend a motorcycle taxi ride if you’re bringing luggage with you. It is, however, a great option for when you’re roaming around the metro.
Fare and Pick-Up Locations
Again, the fare is evident from the get go and you can do cashless payment. The trip cost varies depending on your specific drop-off point, the time of your booking, the type of car service you need, and the ride-hailing app you will be booking from. The surcharge can also spike your fare up compared to when you book during non-peak hours.
As for pick-up, you may choose from several pick-up locations in NAIA from the app. Make sure that you select the correct terminal.
If you want to book via Grab, they have installed Grab Booths around some of the terminals with attendants to book for you through their phones. If you have any questions, you may ask the person manning the booth. You may find the booths at these locations:
- Terminal 1: Arrival Hall Exit
- Terminal 2: Arrival Hall Exit Bay 6
- Terminal 3: Arrival Hall Exit across Bay 4 (GrabCar) | Departure Area Ramp across Gate 6 (GrabTaxi)
- Terminal 4: Arrival/Departure Area Curbside
NAIA to Quezon City – By Taxi
Taking a taxi is another option for you if you want direct transfers from NAIA to your chosen destination in Quezon City. Both fixed-rate taxis and metered taxis have their designated lanes at NAIA, particularly outside the arrival area.
TIP: You can compare the reflected fare on Grab or JoyRide with the coupon taxi fixed rates to help you decide which ride is the cheaper option at the time of your arrival.
REMINDER! Like in any other country, be on your guard against scams, especially against taxis pretending to be regular metered taxis. Some drivers will entice you under the guise of being a regular metered taxi but will eventually insist on an overpriced fixed rate when the trip starts. Always be vigilant.
Coupon Taxi
Coupon Taxis have fixed rates based on your destination. You’ll see the standard rates posted at the designated coupon taxi transport lane. Some drivers may ask for a tip, but it’s not mandatory to tip your drivers.
You will be handed a dispatch coupon/slip at the booth. Keep it with you. The coupon taxi fare from NAIA to Quezon City ranges from P610 to P940.
If you want to see the complete and more detailed list of the LTFRB-prescribed rates for Quezon City, you can check our NAIA Coupon Taxi Rates for Metro Manila article.
Here are the coupon taxi lane locations at NAIA:
- Terminal 1: Arrival Hall Exit & Arrival Hall Exit Extension
- Terminal 2: Arrival Hall Exit near Bay 11
- Terminal 3: Arrival Hall Exit across Bay 6
- Terminal 4: Arrival Hall Exit
Yellow Metered Taxi
Yellow Metered Taxis are generally more expensive than regular metered taxis. But if you are in a hurry, you can opt to take this one as the line is usually shorter. In some cases, you may not even have to wait at all.
You will be handed a dispatch slip with the taxi details and numbers to call if you have concerns about your trip.
Flag-down Rate: P75 (initial 500 meters traveled)
Succeeding Rate: P4 (for every 300 meters) + P4 (for every 2mins waiting time)
Here are the yellow metered taxi lane locations at NAIA:
- Terminal 1: Arrival Hall Exit & Arrival Hall Exit Extension
- Terminal 2: Arrival Hall Exit near Bay 14
- Terminal 3: Arrival Hall Exit across Bay 8
- Terminal 4: Arrival Hall Exit
Regular Metered Taxi
Regular Metered Taxis are relatively cheaper compared to coupon taxis, yellow metered taxis, and car-hailing services. But these white regular metered taxis also get a mountain of complaints about scams. These include not turning the meter on and then asking for a fixed price once the trip starts, tampering with the meter, overcharging upon drop-off, and taking longer routes to raise your fare.
If you are in a situation where you really have no choice but to take a taxi, make sure that the taxi meter is turned ON when your ride starts.
You will receive a passenger copy of the dispatch slip. DO NOT hand it over to the driver. Keep it.
Flag-down Rate: P45
Succeeding Rate: P13.50 (for every kilometer) + P2 (for every minute of travel time)
Here are the regular metered taxi lane locations at NAIA:
- Terminal 1: Arrival Hall Exit
- Terminal 2: Arrival Hall Exit near Bay 23
- Terminal 3: Arrival Hall Exit across Bay 13
- Terminal 4: Departure Area Curbside
NAIA to Quezon City – By Bus
Point-to-point (P2P) buses are the only type of public buses that are allowed to enter NAIA. UBE Express is the Philippines’ primary premium airport bus link in Metro Manila.
NAIA Terminal 3 is the only pick-up location for all UBE Express routes. If you are arriving at Terminal 1, 2, or 4, note that the free inter-terminal shuttle buses are exclusive only for those who have connecting flights.
Another alternative is to take the UBE Express NAIA Loop, which picks up passengers from Terminal 1, 2, and 4 to Terminal 3, but at no set time. If you are in a rush, taking a cab or booking a ride from a ride-hailing app may be a better option for you.
The nearest UBE Express P2P bus terminal for Quezon City is the Araneta City Cubao terminal. Here’s how to get there:
- From NAIA Terminal 3, go to the arrival hall exit.
- Find the UBE Express P2P Bus booth across Bay 12.
- Buy your ticket going to Araneta City Cubao. The fare is P200. You can also buy your ticket online through UBE Express official website or through Klook:
✅ GET P2P TICKET HERE! - Go to the pick-up/drop-off point and wait for your bus. The pick-up/drop-off point is also located at the booth area across Bay 12.
- Alight at Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City. Numerous hotels are found around the area, some are even walking distance from the terminal. If you were not able to book from any of the nearby hotels, you can ride a taxi or Grab from here to your hotel. You can also take the EDSA Carousel Northbound bus from the Main Avenue stop and alight at the nearest bus stop to your final destination in Quezon City.
NAIA Terminal 3 to Araneta City Cubao Time Table
- 05:30 AM
- 07:30 AM
- 09:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 01:30 PM
- 02:30 PM
- 04:30 PM
- 06:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
Note: The schedules and available routes may change from time to time. Please check the official UBE Express Facebook Page for updates.
For more information and details, you can also check our UBE Express P2P Bus Guide article.
NAIA to Quezon City – By Jeepney
Both traditional and modern jeepneys are not allowed inside the airport grounds. You have to walk all the way down to the national road if you want to ride a jeep.
Although this is by far the cheapest option among those listed in this post, this is the least recommended too. It’s really a challenge commuting via jeepney in Metro Manila, especially if you are carrying lots of stuff with you. Specific stops for jeepneys are rare to nonexistent, so you might miss your stop and get lost if you don’t know exactly where you’re going. Also, it can get very cramped, especially during rush hour.
If you really want to try commuting from NAIA to Quezon City by jeepney, note that you need at least two transfers from the airport to your specific destination in Kyusi. Minimum fare is P12 for traditional jeeps and P14 for modern jeeps.
Anyway, here’s how to travel via jeepney from the airport:
- From any terminal in NAIA, walk to the designated jeepney stop outside the airport.
- Get on a jeepney to Baclaran or Pasay Rotonda (EDSA-Taft Junction).
- You can take the MRT 3 train from Taft Station and alight at any of these stations: Santolan, Cubao, Kamuning, Quezon Avenue, and North Avenue. You can also take the LRT-1 train at Taft Station or Baclaran Station and alight at Balintawak Station or Roosevelt Station. Taking the EDSA Carousel Northbound bus is also another option. Here are the stops in Quezon City: Main Avenue, Nepa Q. Mart, Quezon Avenue, North Avenue, Roosevelt, Kaingin, and Balintawak.
NAIA Jeepney Stops
- Terminal 1: ICT Service Road (near T1 Pass Control Office)
- Terminal 2: Near MIAA Admin Building Gate 2
- Terminal 3: Andrews Avenue
- Terminal 4: Domestic Road
By Other Private Transfers
Car rentals or private cars for hire are also available at the airport. Car rental companies are stationed near Grab’s booth by Bay 4 & 5. Most of them operate 24/7 and have fixed rates based on your drop-off point or specific destination. Cash is king when it comes to payment.
Planning to rent a car and drive it yourself? If you are not familiar with the roads and the traffic situation in Manila, this is not really recommended. Should you decide to take this option, make sure to check and compare the rates first before settling for a specific car rental company.
Another private transfer alternative is by arranging with your hotel. Check if your chosen hotel offers airport transfer services. You can also book your private airport transfer service to and from NAIA via Klook.
Important Contact Information
To report a problem or if you have any concerns, you may contact these numbers:
- MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) Hotline: 8877-1111
- TEXT NAIA (SMS): +63 917-839-6242
- LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board): (02) 8529-7111
- LTO (Land Transportation Office): (02) 8928-9440
Where to Stay in Quezon City
Looking for a place to stay in Quezon City? Here are a few top-rated hotels you can consider booking.
- SEDA VERTIS NORTH
✅ Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com - LUXENT HOTEL
✅ Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com - RED HOTEL CUBAO
✅ Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com - PARK INN BY RADISSON NORTH EDSA
✅ Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com - NOVOTEL MANILA ARANETA CITY HOTEL
✅ Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com
If you want more suggestions with more details about each hotel, you can also check our Top 10 Hotels in Quezon City article.
Find more Quezon City Hotels!
Updates Log
2024.01.20 – Updated Other Private Transfers section
2024.01.06 – Added Important Contact Information section
2024.01.05 – Added Where to Stay section and changed Regular Metered Taxi Terminal 3 location from Arrival Exit Bay 12 to Bay 13
2023.11.03 – Added related article links: NAIA Coupon Taxi Rates for Metro Manila, UBE Express Guide, and EDSA Carousel Guide
2023.08.09 – First uploaded
Related Article: NAIA (Manila Airport) Transportation Guide
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