Bohol-Panglao Airport (TAG) to Alona & Town

The airport is on Panglao Island, with three ways in

Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG) is on Panglao Island, where the beach resorts are. From the airport you head one of two ways: to Alona Beach, the main beach on Panglao, or across the bridge to Tagbilaran City, the main city of Bohol.

Instead of Bohol's airport, you can also arrive at Mactan-Cebu (CEB) and take a fast ferry from Cebu City (Pier 1) to Tagbilaran port. This post walks through all three, then ends with an at-a-glance comparison and an arrival-day checklist. Check which airport is on your ticket.

• Airport (TAG) to Alona Beach: about 15-25 min (resort pickup, airport taxi or van, tricycle)
• Airport (TAG) to Tagbilaran City: about 20-30 min by car across the bridge
• Via Mactan-Cebu (CEB): fast ferry from Cebu City (Pier 1) to Tagbilaran port, about 2 hours (plus the airport-to-pier transfer)

• Full Bohol travel guide →
• Incheon → Bohol flights →

To Alona Beach: resort pickup, airport taxi or van, tricycle

Alona Beach is the main beach on Panglao, with hotels, restaurants and dive shops. It is about 15-25 min from the airport, so arrival day involves little travel. There are three ways to get there: a resort pickup, an airport taxi or van, or a tricycle, a motorbike with a sidecar.

Check pickup or vehicle fares when booking. Tricycles are handy for short trips, and the rule is to agree on the fare before you ride. They take cash (pesos) only, so get small notes from an exchange counter or ATM at the airport first.

Alona Beach suits a first visit and is handy for boat trips. It is liveliest in the evening, so a walk on the beach after check-in is a good start.

• Time: about 15-25 min
• Options: resort pickup / airport taxi or van / tricycle
• Fares: check pickup or vehicle fares when booking; agree on tricycle fares before riding

To Tagbilaran City: about 20-30 min by car across the bridge

Tagbilaran is the main city of Bohol. It is a short drive across the bridge from Panglao Island, where the airport is, at about 20-30 min by car. Check vehicle fares when booking.

Tagbilaran City has malls and the port, so there is no beach vibe. It is handy for ferries to Cebu, though, so if you plan to cross to Cebu by ferry, a city stay can be convenient.

Staying at a Panglao resort beach or near the Loboc River

Resorts are spread along the coast outside Alona. They are quieter, but you may need a ride to restaurants. Check the travel time from the airport and whether a pickup is offered when you book your stay.

The area around the Loboc River is green and inland, close to the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier sanctuary. Check how to get there from the airport, and how long it takes, with your accommodation or official information before you go. Mainland sights like the Chocolate Hills and the Loboc River are usually visited on a day hire with a driver.

Via Mactan-Cebu (CEB) and the fast ferry

Instead of Bohol's airport, you can also arrive at Mactan-Cebu (CEB). From there you transfer to the port in Cebu City (Pier 1) and take a fast ferry to Tagbilaran port. The ferry takes about 2 hours, and you need to allow extra time for the airport-to-pier transfer.

Ferries often sell out on weekends and holidays, so book ahead and check schedules and weather. Boats can stop in the rainy and typhoon season, so build in a spare day. Check ferry fares with the official operator.

Tagbilaran port is in Tagbilaran City. Check how to get from the port to your stay on Panglao, such as Alona Beach, and how long it takes, with your accommodation or official information before you go. The Cebu posts in the last section cover the airport-to-pier transfer in Cebu and trips combining both islands.

• Route: Mactan-Cebu airport (CEB) → Cebu City port (Pier 1) → fast ferry → Tagbilaran port
• Ferry: about 2 hours (plus the airport-to-pier transfer)
• Booking: often sold out on weekends and holidays, so book ahead
• Fares and schedules: check with the official operator

At a glance

Choose by the airport you arrive at and where you are staying. All times are approximate.

• Alona Beach (from TAG): about 15-25 min · resort pickup / airport taxi or van / tricycle · check fares when booking
• Tagbilaran City (from TAG): about 20-30 min · by car across the bridge · check fares when booking
• Panglao resort beaches: check time and pickup when booking · you may need a ride to restaurants
• Via Mactan-Cebu (CEB): fast ferry about 2 hours + airport-to-pier transfer · check fares with the official operator · book ahead for weekends and holidays
• Tricycles: handy for short trips · cash (pesos) only · agree on the fare first

Arrival-day checklist

Run through these before you leave the airport. How to spend your days in Bohol is in the 4-day route post, and combining Bohol with Cebu is in the Cebu and Bohol post.

• Entry: the Philippines may require online registration and other steps before arrival; check official Philippine government information before you travel
• Cash: small shops and tricycles take pesos only; use exchange counters or ATMs at the airport or in town and carry small notes
• Transport: check pickup or vehicle fares when booking; agree on tricycle fares before riding
• If you take the ferry: book ahead for weekends and holidays and check schedules and weather
• Water and sun: drink bottled water, not tap water, and use sun protection
• Motorbike and scooter rental: you need a license and helmet, and some roads are rough

• How Many Days in Bohol? A 4-Day Route and Transport →
• Cebu and Bohol Together: Getting Between the Islands →
• Cebu Airport (CEB) to Mactan Resorts and Cebu City →

FAQ

Related reading

Itinerary · PhilippinesHow Many Days in Bohol? A 4-Day Route and TransportBohol in 4 days: Alona Beach, early island-hopping, a countryside tour with a driver and…Itinerary · PhilippinesCebu and Bohol Together: Getting Between the IslandsA fast ferry links Cebu City port and Tagbilaran in about 2 hours. Order, stays, days…Tips · PhilippinesCebu Airport (CEB) to Mactan Resorts and Cebu CityCebu's airport (CEB) to Mactan resorts and Cebu City: hotel pickup, ride-hailing app or…

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