About flights from Chicago (ORD) to Manila (MNL)

O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the main airport serving Chicago. It is located 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Loop Business District. Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL) is the main airport serving Manila City. It is located 4.5 miles (7 km) from downtown.

The distance between Chicago and Manila is 8,156 miles, so expect a hefty flight duration. The flight time for this route is approximately 19 hours 10 minutes. The time may extend to 25 hours depending on the stopovers made by the airline. Most airlines have stops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Los Angeles.

There are close to 40 flights traveling from Chicago to Manila weekly with an average of seven flights a day.

Several airlines fly from ORD to MNL. Some of the airlines flying between Chicago and Manila include Philippine Airlines, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, and American Airlines. There are over 20 airlines that traverse the route weekly.

Public transportation, parking, and rides-hares at ORD and MNL

ORD offers numerous parking lots enough for over 15,000 vehicles. Visitors can opt to be billed hourly, or daily if they're planning a long stay. Ride-share options such as Lyft and Uber, metered taxis, and public buses offer transport in and out of the airport all day and night. Duty-free shops, bank, ATMs, restaurants, and a pharmacy are among the many amenities at this airport.

MNL airport has parking lots in every terminal. Visitors have to choose between hourly or daily payment modes. Public buses and ride-share companies such as Grab offer transport from the airport to different parts of the city. Duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, banks, and ATMs are some of the amenities available at MNL.

Practical information

All non-citizens of the Philippines require a passport before entering Manila. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the arrival time. For US passport holders, a visa is not usually necessary. You must, however, have proof of return travel.

Manila is 13 hours ahead of Chicago. The climate in Manila is vastly different from that in Chicago. Manila experiences dry and wet seasons, raining heavily between June and October. It is usually warm, without being too oppressive between November and May, and this is the best weather to travel to Manila.

The high season in Manila is usually between November and February. This is the dry season. The low season is generally between July and October, the wet season. During the low season, hotels and other facilities offer ridiculous discounts. The weather will, however, be mostly wet and stormy.

Top travel tips

When flying from Chicago to Manila, be sure to change your currency from US dollars to Philippine Peso.

Tagalog (Filipino) and English are the official and most popular languages in Manila. English speaking travelers may, therefore, experience a minimal communication barrier while in Manila, but generally speaking, it is more than possible to get by in Manila with just English.

Tipping is considered general etiquette in Manila. Most customers often round up the cost of their service. For instance, if a taxi ride costs P83, most residents of Manila will pay P100.

Places to visit in Manila

Old City of Intramuros

There are many historical sites in the old city of Intramuros. The historical sites include Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Intramuros is the colonial city of the Spanish during the colonial era in the Philippines. The old town is surrounded with large defensive walls, hence its nickname ‘The Walled City.’ The old houses along the streets have been transformed into museums.

Boodle Fights

Boodle fights are having meals without a plate while standing. Banana leaves are used in place of plates. They are laid down, and food spread on them. Everyone in the feast eats using their hands. Don’t leave Manila without enjoying the local cuisine, guests will attend the Boodle feasts hungry and leave full. It is a sure way of having a massive feast on tropical food, including seafood, fruits, vegetables, and pork.

Bonifacio Global City

Bonifacio Global City is your place to go and experience the vibrant nightlife of Manila. There are numerous Tiki Bars, Speakeasies, live music venues, and video arcades. Bonifacio Global City has a massive collection of murals. The artwork around the city is just breathtaking. There are bikes and walking tours that take you around to explore the murals and the artwork.

Read more about Manila

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