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Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities

By Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor July 16th, 2020 Posted in Guide for Filipinos, Philippines Travel Blog, Travel Blog No comments

If you are not familiar with Lapu-Lapu or Cebu, it’s a bit challenging if you want to commute to the city. In this article, we will teach you how to get from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other cities in Cebu. Please note that the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is not in Cebu City but is in Mactan Island or Lapu-Lapu City. Before going to Cebu, you’ll pass by a bridge then Mandaue first.

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities
Photo by Matt Kieffer CC BY-SA 2.0

Travel time to Mactan Airport to Cebu City is 30 minutes to two hours. It will depend on time and traffic. I worked in Lapu-Lapu for five years and have experience getting to Cebu from Mactan a lot of times in different means of transport. Feel free to read this guide!

Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City via Taxi

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities
Photo by Trishhhh CC BY 2.0

If you want a convenient and hassle-free trip, then take a taxi to your destination. There is a designated taxi lane when you go out of the arrival area. This is found both in the international and domestic airports.

Fares will depend on what taxi you will use. There are yellow airport taxis as well as the regular ones. Yellow cabs are a bit expensive, but sometimes the queue is shorter. You will spend about PHP 100 – 300 depending on your destination and the traffic.

via MyBus to Cebu City or Mandaue City

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities
from MyBus FB Page

There is a MyBus from Mactan Airport to Cebu City; the stop is at SM City Cebu. The fare costs about PHP 50.00 to SM City Cebu and PHP 25 for Parkmall. For the terminal, the drop-off and pick-up lane the last time I rode it was near the taxi area. You can ask the guards there; they were renovating, so the layout may or may not have changed.

Buy tickets through a cashier near their pick-up point. You can also use your MyBus or E-Plus card and just tap it when you board the bus. This is a good option for budget travelers. It has space for luggage, so it’s convenient in case you have trolleys or big bags. However, if it’s already full, you may stand up for the whole ride.

Here’s the MyBus schedule: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm with 20-minute intervals

If you want to go to Mandaue, you can ask to stop at Maayo Medical Center, Parkmall, or Chonghua. If you’re going to go to Talisay or SM Seaside, you can ride another bus in the MyBus Terminal.

Via V-Hire to SM City Cebu or Ayala Center

Different Ways to Travel from Manila to Tagaytay
Photo by Hungarian Snow CC BY-SA 2.0)

If you arrive earlier than 7:00 am, then you can also ride a van through Cebu City. However, the van terminal is not in the Airport, so you’ll need to do the following:

  • Ride a yellow jeep (PHP 7/8) from the Airport; you can ask the guard where the Jeepney stop is, if you arrive, you’ll see stairs near the bus or taxi area, you climb there and queue
  • Stop across Gaisano Mactan Island Mall or simply Island Mall
  • Go to the back of Gaisano Island mall, and you’ll find a van terminal
  • Ride a van to SM City Cebu (PHP 25) or Ayala Center Cebu (PHP 30)

You can also choose to stop at Parkmall in this scenario. At the SM City Cebu Van Terminals, you can ride to other places like Balamban or Consolacion.

Via Ferry to Cebu City

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities 04
Photo by flightlog CC BY 2.0

There is also a Ferry Option if you want to travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City. The travel time is about 15 – 45 minutes, which is shorter than traveling through the streets. There are two piers in Lapu-Lapu City; the newest one is the Mactan Wharf near MEPZ 1, while the other is at Opon Wharf, which is at the back of Virgen de la Regla Church.

Here are instructions on How to Ride from the Mactan Wharf:

  • Ride a yellow jeep from the Airport (PHP 7/8)
  • Stop at Save More or SM Savemore or Island Central Mactan
  • Walk to the Mactan Wharf
  • Ride a ferry from Mactan Wharf to Pier 3 (PHP 25)

This opens as early as 6 am to 9 pm. The ride usually depends if the ferry is already full, if another ferry has arrived, or every 30 minutes. The boats here are big and new compared to the Opon Wharf as this port has newly operated.

Here are instructions on How to Ride from the Opon Wharf:

  • Ride a yellow jeep from the Airport (PHP 7/8)
  • Stop at Mercado or Casia (it’s last stop)
  • Walk to the Opon Wharf, it’s found at the back of Virgen de la Regla Church
  • Ride a ferry from Mactan Wharf to Pier 3 (PHP 15)

This can open as early as 5 am to 8 pm. Ride usually depends if the ferry is already full, if another ferry has arrived, or every 15/20 minutes.

From Pier 3, you can ride a jeep to Robinsons Galleria or SM City Cebu or even to Sto. Niño.

Via Jeepney

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities
Photo by Jeff Jacinto CC BY 2.0

If you want to go budget of less than PHP 50. Then you can commute, but this is a bit hassle though, especially if you are riding from 6:00 am – 8:00 am, or 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm as it is rush hour. People come back or go home from work. However, please read these options:

  • From the Mactan Airport, ride a yellow jeep (PHP 7/8)
  • Stop at Save More or Island Central Mall
  • You can see a lot of jeepneys passing stopping in front of Marina Mall (or Save More)
  • Find a jeepney that goes to Parkmall if you are off to Cebu; there are also jeepneys to Consolacion
  • From Parkmall, ride a 01K Jeepney. This Jeepney will pass by North Bus Terminal (if you are North Bound), SM City Cebu, or E-mall. If you are South Bound, you can stop at E-mall or Sea-oil and walk to the South Bus Terminal.

*Prices stated above are subject to change.

Different Ways to Travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other Cities 05

Those are the different ways to travel from Mactan Airport to Cebu City and other cities in Cebu like Consolacion, Mandaue, or Talisay. Cebu offers a lot of amazing spots; from the historic Magellan’s Cross and Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, whale sharks of Oslob, Canyoneering adventures, Beaches of Malapascua and Bantayan, and so much more. A day is not enough to visit this gorgeous province. I hope you enjoy Cebu, my second home!

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Written by Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor

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