How to Get to Fort Santiago 2026: Train, Grab, Ferry & Parking

Booking choice: The Old and New Manila city tour, ★ 4.5 (486). Check dates Compare the options below

Fort Santiago sits inside Intramuros, the old walled city on the south bank of the Pasig River, in the City of Manila. Intramuros is compact, and once you are inside the walls, everything is close. The part that takes planning is getting there through Manila traffic.

This guide covers the entrance, the train, Grab and taxis, the river ferry, trips from Makati, BGC and the airport, parking, rides inside Intramuros, and tours with hotel pickup. The ticket and the hours are in the tickets and hours guide.

The quick answer

Entrance: Plaza Moriones, Santa Clara Street corner General Luna Street, at the northern tip of Intramuros. Train: LRT-1 to Central Terminal, the nearest station, then the Pasig River Esplanade, a riverside walk opened in 2026, or a short ride. Grab or taxi: set the drop-off to Plaza Moriones, Fort Santiago. Ferry: the Pasig River Ferry stops at Escolta station on Muelle del Rio, a short walk from the fort; check the ferry's days and times before you rely on it. From Makati, BGC or the airport: Grab, and allow for traffic. Parking: the IA car parks charge one flat rate however long you stay, usually the cheapest choice; the one by the fort is entered via Cabildo or Santa Clara Street. Inside Intramuros: walk, or take an e-trike, a pedicab, a kalesa or the new e-tranvia tram. Hotel pickup: the Manila Old and New city tour.

What is the best way to get to Fort Santiago?

For most visitors, a Grab or taxi to Plaza Moriones is the easiest. On a budget, take LRT-1 to Central Terminal and walk or ride the last part. The table compares every route.

Manila traffic is the main thing to plan for. The train avoids it; a car is more comfortable in the heat and with children. Whatever you choose, the last stretch is short: Intramuros is compact, and the fort is at its northern tip, by the river.

Route	How	Good for
LRT-1 and the Esplanade	LRT-1 to Central Terminal, then the riverside walk toward Intramuros	A cool morning and a light budget
LRT-1 and a short ride	Central Terminal, then a jeepney, e-trike or Grab to Plaza Moriones	Hot days
Grab or taxi	Drop-off at Plaza Moriones, Fort Santiago	Families, groups, trips from Makati, BGC or the airport
Pasig River Ferry	To Escolta station on Muelle del Rio, then a short walk	A river view, when the ferry runs
Your own car	The IA car park by the fort, via Cabildo or Santa Clara Street	Drivers; one flat rate
Tour with hotel pickup	An air-conditioned van from Makati or the Bay area	Short stays and first visits

A blue tram on a street of old houses in Intramuros — Inside the walls, every ride to the fort is short.

Where exactly is the Fort Santiago entrance?

On Plaza Moriones, at the corner of Santa Clara Street and General Luna Street, at the northern tip of Intramuros. The ticket booth is by the entrance, before the moat and the main gate.

General Luna Street is closed to cars toward the fort, so a car drops you nearby and you walk the last few steps. Put "Plaza Moriones, Fort Santiago" in your map or Grab app. The Viva Old Manila walking tour meets right at the Fort Santiago entrance, in front of the United Philippine Lines building on Santa Clara Street, and its guides are known to wait for guests held up in traffic. The meeting points of the other tours are on the homepage.

Start at the fort gate and let the guide do the rest: the fort, the dungeons, the cathedral and San Agustin in three hours, with the admission fees included.

Check dates for the Viva Old Manila walking tour

How do you get to Fort Santiago by LRT?

Take LRT-1 to Central Terminal, the nearest station. From there, walk along the Pasig River Esplanade toward Intramuros, or take a short jeepney, e-trike or Grab ride to Plaza Moriones.

The Pasig River Esplanade is a riverside walk of about 2 km, opened in 2026, that runs from near Central Terminal toward the fort. It is a pleasant way to arrive in the morning, with the river beside you. Follow it toward Intramuros, then walk into the walled city to the entrance on Plaza Moriones. In the midday heat or the rain, a short ride is the better choice.

Carriedo and Doroteo Jose stations on LRT-1 also work, with a short jeepney ride after them, but Central Terminal is the closest.

The Intramuros walls and bastions at sunset, with a grassy path on top, palm trees and an orange sky — The walls of Intramuros: the fort sits at their northern tip, by the river.

Can you take the Pasig River Ferry to Fort Santiago?

Yes. The Pasig River Ferry stops at Escolta station on Muelle del Rio, a short walk from the fort. Check the ferry's days and times before you rely on it.

The ferry is a pleasant change from the traffic, with views of the river and the old city from the water. Schedules can change, and services depend on the river and the weather, so treat it as a nice option rather than your only plan. From Escolta station, walk to Plaza Moriones and the entrance. On days of typhoon signals, skip the river and check the IA hours page before you go.

How do you get to Fort Santiago from Makati, BGC or the airport?

By Grab or taxi, with the drop-off set to Plaza Moriones. Traffic decides the journey time, so avoid the morning and evening rush hours and allow extra time.

From Makati and BGC, a car is the most direct way. A weekend morning is usually the smoothest time to travel, and it also suits the fort, which opens at 6 am at weekends. From the airport, the fort works well on a long layover or on the day you arrive, if you leave room for traffic; leave your luggage at the hotel if you can. If you would rather not deal with the ride at all, a tour with hotel pickup takes care of it.

An air-conditioned van from your hotel in Makati or the Bay area, a licensed guide and driver, and all entrance fees: the American Cemetery, Rizal Park, San Agustin and Fort Santiago in about four hours. Rated 4.5 from 486 reviews.

★ 4.5 (486) · 4 hours · Full refund up to 24 h ahead

Explore the Old and New Manila city tour

Where can you park at Fort Santiago, and which parking is cheapest?

The Intramuros Administration car parks are usually the cheapest. They charge one flat rate however long you stay, and the one beside the Fort Santiago entrance is entered via Cabildo or Santa Clara Street.

The Fort Santiago lot: the closest, entered via Cabildo or Santa Clara Street. One flat rate.
Other IA lots: by Manila Cathedral, at Postigo and at the Baluarte de San Diego. They charge the same flat rate, so pick the one closest to where you start.
Hotel and private lots: the basement valet at the Bayleaf Hotel is for guests and diners, and private lots near San Agustin and the Puerta Real Gardens cost more or are restricted.
Restaurants: some let diners park in their courtyards, which helps if you plan lunch in Intramuros.

Weekend mornings are the easiest time to find a space.

The facade, dome and bell tower of Manila Cathedral — Manila Cathedral: one of the IA car parks is beside it, a short walk from the fort.

How do you get around Intramuros once you arrive?

On foot, mostly: the walled city is compact. For longer hops, take an e-trike, a pedicab or a kalesa, or look for the new e-tranvia tram.

The e-tranvia is a new electric tram loop around Intramuros, started as a pilot in 2026, with a stop at the fort; check if it is running on the day. E-trikes and pedicabs are quick for short hops, and a kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage, is the scenic choice for a small family. Agree the fare, the time and the route before you ride; it is priced per carriage, not per person.

For the whole walled city in one go, the bamboo bike tour (4.8 from 683 reviews) is flat and easy, with a safety rider, and its full three-hour route includes Fort Santiago. Intramuros is a well-kept heritage district with site staff and tourist police, safe to explore with the usual city care. Every way of touring it is compared in the Intramuros tours guide.

A horse-drawn kalesa carriage on a street in Intramuros — A kalesa in Intramuros: priced per carriage, so it suits a small family.

Which tours pick you up from your hotel?

The Manila Old and New city tour picks you up in Makati or the Bay area and includes Fort Santiago. The Half-Day Heritage Tour also picks you up, but it does not go inside the fort.

The Manila Old and New city tour runs for about four hours in an air-conditioned van with a licensed guide and driver, and includes all entrance fees. It covers Makati, Forbes Park, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Roxas Boulevard and Rizal Park, then Intramuros, San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago. Traffic can stretch it to five hours.

The Half-Day Heritage Tour (4.9 from 45 reviews) picks you up in Makati, Taguig, Ermita, Malate or Pasay and visits Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, the Baluarte de San Diego and Paco Park. Fort Santiago is not on its route, so add the fort on your own afterwards if you want it. Both tours give a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead.

A morning or afternoon by air-conditioned van from your hotel: Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, the Baluarte de San Diego and Paco Park, rated 4.9. Fort Santiago is not included.

Check dates for the half-day heritage tour

Frequently asked questions

What is the nearest LRT station to Fort Santiago?

Central Terminal on LRT-1. From there, walk along the Pasig River Esplanade toward Intramuros, or take a short ride to Plaza Moriones.

Can a Grab drop me at the fort gate?

Close to it. Set the drop-off to Plaza Moriones, Fort Santiago. General Luna Street is closed to cars toward the fort, so you walk the last few steps.

Is there parking right next to Fort Santiago?

Yes. The Intramuros Administration car park beside the entrance charges one flat rate however long you stay, usually the cheapest choice.

Is Intramuros easy to walk around?

Yes. It is compact and flat, a well-kept heritage district with site staff and tourist police. Walk in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.

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