How to Get Around San Juan, Metro Manila: Transit Options, Tricycles, and Airport Transfers

Key Transport Modes

San Juan is a compact city in Metro Manila where transit choices vary between major thoroughfares and residential pockets.

• LRT-2: J. Ruiz Station offers fast rail transit, bypassing heavy surface traffic toward Manila and Quezon City.
• Jeepneys: Frequent along N. Domingo Street and Ortigas Avenue, connecting key commercial spots.
• Tricycles: Essential for inner neighborhood roads and short hops where larger vehicles cannot pass.
• Walking: Practical for central parks and churches, though sidewalk conditions fluctuate.
• Ride-Hailing: Best for direct trips with luggage or late-night cross-city travel.

Tickets and Passes

A reloadable Beep card works on LRT-2 and select modern buses. It suits commuters traveling across Metro Manila but offers no utility on local tricycles and traditional jeepneys, which require cash.

Airport Transfers from MNL

• Ride-Hailing: Mid-to-high cost band, lowest effort. Direct terminal pickup with times varying by road traffic.
• Airport Taxis: Moderate to high cost band, low effort. Official metered cabs and coupon taxis wait at terminal ranks.
• Public Transit: Lowest cost band, high effort. Requires airport buses and multiple rail transfers; unsuited for heavy luggage.

Practical Transit Notes

• Rush Hours: Traffic peaks on weekday mornings and evenings along Ortigas Avenue and routes toward EDSA.
• Service Hours: LRT-2 closes in the late evening. Tricycles run until late night near main road junctions.
• Accessibility: Tricycles and jeepneys lack luggage storage and have high steps. Sidewalk ramps remain rare.