Pasay

Pasay is a city in Metro Manila. Just south of Manila, this city houses the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which serves the region, and the Bay City development which hosts SM Mall of Asia, also part of Manila's tourist area. Pasay displays huge contrasts, from the relative sterility of the Bay City development to the urban blight in the rest of the city. The relative lack of sights make this rather a minor destination, except for spots like SM Mall of Asia and Star City, all within the more stable Bay City area, built on land reclaimed from Manila Bay.

Understand
Pasay's growth is generally connected to Manila's outward expansion.

Orientation
The city is roughly divided by Roxas Boulevard into two parts, showing sharp contrasts. The Reclamation Area is the more sterile part of Pasay, where the obvious visitor attractions are found; east of it is the rest of the city which is a concrete jungle, a mix of high-rise condominiums, multistory apartments, ordinary one to two-story houses, and rickety slum residences. EDSA Rotunda is an area at the interchange between Lines 1 and 3 and a land transport hub, also seedy not only for street vendors and petty crime, but also for prostitution and a row of no-tell motels, lending its reputation as a red-light district outside Manila city proper. The southeastern corner of Pasay contains Villamor Airbase, Newport City, and the airport.

By plane
Ninoy Aquino International Airport lies in the southern part of Pasay.

Terminal 1 is principally used by the majority of international carriers; Terminal 2 is exclusively used by Philippine Airlines flights (domestic or international). Terminal 3 is used by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines (some domestic flights), Air Asia, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM, and Singapore Airlines. Terminal 4 is used by domestic carriers using smaller aircraft.

There are yellow airport meter taxis waiting outside the arrival areas, each dispatched when one departs. Beware of scams, especially those using a device that tampers the meter (batingting), and insist on using the meter.

White taxis are not officially sanctioned by NAIA, but their drivers are more honest, with a base fare of. But most only serve the departure area, and are not allowed to pick up passengers.

By bus
Pasay is served by these numbered bus routes since June 2020:


 * Route E EDSA Carousel: A BRT-like service which plies EDSA, and supplements MRT operations.
 * Route 2 Monumento-PITX: Runs from Monumento in Caloocan via Navotas and Roxas Boulevard.
 * Route 6 Quezon Avenue-EDSA-Taft: Travels from the intersection of EDSA and Quezon Avenue via Manila's University Belt and Taft Avenue
 * Route 17 Monumento-EDSA/Taft: North-south route ending at Pasay Rotonda that supplements LRT Line 1 operations.
 * Route 18 PITX-NAIA loop: Airport shuttle route which runs clockwise via EDSA and Andrews Avenue. Buses stop at Mall of Asia and the Pasay Rotonda.

As of 2021, provincial buses from both north and south no longer terminate at Pasay; those now terminate at North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Araneta City Bus Port in Cubao, Quezon City or Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque.

By train
Pasay is the at terminus of the LRT Line 1 (LRT-1) and MRT Line 3 (MRT-3).

Get around
For public transportation you may use sakay.ph , it will show you commute directions to your destination. However, note that some routes are not up-to-date.

Jeepneys are the main form of transportation in Pasay, just check the front and side signs displaying route & destination info. Additionally, there are tricycles & tuktuks available but be mindful of potential price gouging as fares shouldn't exceed.

Even for locals, public transportation isn't the safest and most comfortable. Using ride-hail apps for cars or motorcycles are still the best options.

As with most of Metro Manila, it is inadvisable to drive around Pasay due to heavy traffic, limited parking options, and aggressive street behavior amongst local motorists. The major thoroughfares are EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Gil Puyat Avenue, Taft Avenue, Macapagal Boulevard, Arnaiz Avenue, and Harrison Avenue, however, congestion along these routes continues to worsen and remain troublesome without viable alternatives present.

Go next
Parañaque, another city, is not too far from the airport.