MANILA — Foreign travelers transiting through Manila on Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights can now join the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Transit Tours, a program designed to give a guided glimpse of the capital’s key attractions to visitors on long layovers.
Launched in December 2025, the tours are now bookable through PAL’s official website and the LovePH mobile app, expanding access for international passengers passing through Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the program aims to improve the country’s gateways while creating economic opportunities for local tour guides, transport operators, and tourism-related businesses.
“These transit tours provide opportunities—for travelers to explore Manila between flights, for Filipinos to earn a living, and for the tourism industry to enhance the visitor experience,” Frasco said in a statement.
Developed by the DOT to transform extended layovers into short tourism experiences, the Transit Tours are open to travelers from visa-free countries with layovers of at least eight hours. The required time already includes a two-hour allowance before and after the tour to cover immigration and airport procedures.
Starting January 30, 2025, the program will offer four-hour excursions to selected destinations, including Intramuros and the National Museum in the morning, and entertainment complexes Solaire and Okada Manila in the afternoon.
Each tour consists of two hours of sightseeing—one hour guided and one hour of free time—plus two hours for transport to and from the airport, the DOT said.
The tours are priced at US$50 per person, inclusive of entrance fees, insurance coverage for accidental death and medical expenses, bottled water, and a rain poncho if needed. Passengers will be transported on a 49-seat, air-conditioned bus with a DOT-accredited tour guide.