Flights from Davao to Manila, Philippines

The capital of the Philippines, Manila sits by the bay on the island of Luzon. Mixing Spanish Colonial architecture with modern skyscrapers, it is chaotic, busy, and worth much more than a passing look. The National Museum of the Filipino People houses pre-Hispanic artifacts in an imposing Neoclassical building, and there is also the Markina Shoe Museum, which displays 800 pairs of shoes belonging to the infamous Imelda Marcos. For a complete contrast, visit Fort Santiago in Intramuros, a citadel used in the past by the military. It not only has barracks and cell blocks but also fountains, plazas, and galleries.

Flying to Manila

1. Which airports serve Davao to Manila?

When flying from Davao, travelers will use the Fransico Bangoy International Airport, which is the busiest airport on the island of Mindanao and the third-busiest in the Philippines. Passengers will then arrive in Manila at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has four terminals. Terminal One caters mostly to international flights, while Terminal Two is for Philippines Airlines and Terminal Three is for both international and domestic flights. Terminal Four is for domestic traffic only.

2. Which airlines operate flights from Davao to Manila?

Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia and Zest operate direct flights from Davao to Manila, with Cebu Pacific providing 39% of these.

3. How long is the flight?

The average flight time from Davao to Manila is just below two hours.

4. Climate changes between Davao and Manila

Davao has a mild, tropical climate, unlike much of the rest of the Philippines, which has a distinct wet and hot season. The city is outside the typhoon belt and does not experience much seasonal variation. The hottest month is April with an average temperature of 84°F, and the coldest is January at 82°F. When travelers arrive in Manila, they can expect similar temperatures. May is the hottest month with an average temperature of 86°F, and January is the coldest with an average temperature of 79°F.

5. Culture differences and need-to-know

Davao and Manila are both in the Philippines and therefore require the same documentation for travelers. Citizens of up to 150 countries sharing diplomatic relations with the Philippines can enter and stay for up to 30 days without a visitor’s visa if their passports are valid for at least six months and they can show proof of onward return passage.

When visiting the country, passengers need only show health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera and yellow fever if they are traveling from infected areas. However, it is important to check up-to-date health requirements before booking flights.

Manila Information

Davao’s landscapes vary from fruit plantations and orchid farms to volcano-fed valleys and hills. It is a great place to go to festivals and events such as Kadayawan, which is a celebration of the harvest in the third week of August. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Cake Festival takes place every 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. In vibrant Manila, you can visit what is possibly the oldest Chinatown in the world in the Binondo District, where the streets feature Chinese lanterns, shops selling Chinese medicine, Buddhist souvenirs and delicious Hokkien food.