Bonifacio Global City (BGC), one of Metro Manila's major financial and lifestyle districts, has its own public transport system that enables commuters to navigate the area easily and systematically. It's as organized (though not as extensive) as the bus systems in Singapore and Hong Kong—a far cry from the chaotic buses plying along EDSA.
Traveling to BGC for the first time? Not sure how to go to BGC from Ayala? You can't depend on ride-hailing apps to book your ride all the time, especially since they're expensive. It's more practical to commute via the BGC Bus, which is the main bus operator in the area.
You can print out a BGC Bus route map, or you can just bookmark this guide to help you easily navigate the central business district in Taguig City.
How to Commute to BGC
If you want to know how to go to BGC without driving or booking a ride, you must first familiarize yourself with the BGC Bus Terminal. It's the starting point of most bus routes to different parts of BGC.
Easily accessible to commuters via MRT-3, this bus terminal is located on the corner of EDSA and McKinley Road in Makati City. It's also referred to as the EDSA Ayala BGC Bus terminal.
It's on the ground floor outside the McKinley Exchange Corporate Center (the building with Telus) and on the side of Forbes Park. You'll also find a Shell gas station and the staircase of MRT Ayala Station northbound exit there.
To get to the BGC Bus Terminal, you can travel via MRT-3, bus, or jeepney. So if you're planning to commute from Makati to BGC, or from Ayala to BGC, here are your three options:
👉 via MRT
Get off at Ayala Station and walk to the northbound exit (on the right side).
👉 via Bus
Commuters coming from the North (Caloocan, Quezon City, etc.) can ride a bus bound for MIA or Baclaran (with Ayala Ibabaw sign). Get off at Ayala Avenue and cross EDSA via the MRT Ayala Station.
If you're coming from the South (Las Piñas, Parañaque, etc.), take a bus bound for Cubao, Ortigas, or Fairview (with Ayala Ibabaw sign). Get off at MRT Ayala Station.
If you need to commute from Manila to BGC, you can also ride a bus bound for Ayala Makati and then get off at MRT Ayala Station. Moreover, you can also take LRT-1 southbound to EDSA Station and then the MRT-3 going to Ayala MRT Station.
👉 via Jeep
From Ayala Avenue, take a Washington-Ayala jeep. Get off at the last stop (intersection of EDSA and McKinley Road) and take the pedestrian overpass. Some jeeps cross EDSA, so you might not need to use the overpass to get to the BGC Bus Terminal.
Related reading: Never Miss a Flight Again: The Quickest Ways to Get to NAIA Terminals
BGC Bus Routes 2023
BGC Bus currently operates several routes to and from BGC, including one that passes through Ayala Avenue. Each BGC Bus route is organized and simple enough to understand. You won't have a hard time getting around BGC, as long as you take the right route to your destination.
Check out this list of BGC Bus routes and schedules:
📍 BGC Bus East Route
This is a point-to-point route that takes commuters from EDSA Ayala straight to the Market! Market! mall and vice versa. There are no stops in between.
Perhaps you're more familiar with it as the Market! Market! bus. It's the fastest way to get to Market! Market! or EDSA Ayala, and it's also one of two routes that operate on weekends.
Tip: If you need to go from Alabang to Market! Market! during rush hour, take a P2P bus from Alabang Town Center instead of riding a BGC Bus.
BGC Bus stops for East Express Route:
- EDSA Ayala
- Market! Market!
BGC Bus schedule for East Express Route: Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
📍 BGC Bus North Route
This BGC Bus route is the only one that stops at BGC Turf and BGC Arts Center. If you're planning to go to one of them or a nearby area, then take the North bus route. Take this route if you need a BGC Bus route to Uptown Mall as well.
BGC Bus stops for North Route:
- EDSA Ayala
- HSBC
- BGC Turf
- Avida 34th
- Uptown Mall
- The Globe Tower
- BGC Arts Center
BGC Bus schedule for North Route: Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
📍 BGC Bus West Route
This consists of the BGC Bus Lower West and Upper West routes.
BGC Bus stops for West Route:
- EDSA Ayala
- McKinley Parkway
- The Fort Station
- Net One
- Bonifacio Stopover
- Crescent Park West
- Fort Victoria
BGC Bus schedule for West Route: Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
Read more: P2P Schedule and Routes from Provinces to Metro Manila
📍 BGC Bus Central Route
This is the only BGC Bus route that starts at Market! Market! and takes passengers to several parts of BGC with eight stopovers. It no longer drops off at the HSBC bus stop, though. So if you need to go there, get off at The Globe Tower stop instead.
BGC Bus stops for Central Route:
- Market! Market!
- Nutriasia
- The Fort Station
- Net One
- Bonifacio Stopover
- Crescent Park West
- The Globe Tower
- One Parkade
- University Parkway
BGC Bus schedule for Central Route: Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
📍 Weekend Route
As the name implies, this BGC Bus route from Ayala serves commuters only on Saturdays and Sundays. It operates from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Weekend Route Bus Stops:
- EDSA Ayala
- McKinley Parkway
- The Fort Station
- Net One
- Bonifacio Stopover
- The Globe Tower
- One Parkade
- University Parkway
- Market! Market!
- The Fort Station
- Net One
- Bonifacio Stopover
- Crescent Park West
- Fort Victoria
BGC Bus schedule for Weekend Route: Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
📍 BGC Bus Arca South Route
If you're going to BGC from Arca South, this BGC Bus route is the most convenient way to access Taguig's central business district. It operates only at select times in the morning and late afternoon.
Take note that the bus fare of the Arca South Express Route is higher than those of other BGC bus routes.
BGC Bus stops for Arca South Express Route:
- Arca South
- Nutriasia Station
- Market! Market!
- The Fort Station
- Net One
- Bonifacio Stopover
- Crescent Park
- HSBC
- The Globe Tower
- One Parkade
- University Parkway
BGC Bus schedule for Arca South Route: Monday to Friday
- Arca to BGC - 7:30 a.m.
- BGC to Arca - 5 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱25
📍 Ayala Express Route
BGC buses serve not only commuters in BGC but also those in Makati's central business district through the Ayala Express Route.
If you're coming from BGC to Makati, you can take this BGC Bus route and get off at EDSA Ayala. At the BGC Bus Terminal, ride a bus with a route that stops at your chosen destination.
BGC Bus Stops for Ayala Express Route:
- EDSA Ayala
- Ritz Tower
- MSE (Makati Stock Exchange)
- PBCom
- RCBC Plaza
- The Columns
- City Gate
- Security Bank
- SGV Building
- Glorietta 5
BGC Bus schedule for Ayala Express Route: Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BGC Bus fare: ₱13
If you've always wanted to commute but didn't know how to go to Market! Market! or how to go to BGC from Cubao, this guide will surely come in handy. Travel time may be longer compared to traveling by car, but it's convenient, reliable, and cheaper.
How to Pay for BGC Bus Fare
BGC Bus passengers can pay for their fare with a Beep card. It's a payment method when commuting via a BGC Bus. Simply tap your card on the card reader near the driver as soon as you enter the bus. No need to look for spare coins in your wallet.
You can buy a Beep card or top up your existing card at the BGC Bus Terminals at EDSA Ayala and Market! Market!, any MRT and LRT station, Bayad Center outlets, SM Department Store, Hypermarket, Savemore, and more.[1]
Final Thoughts
Getting around BGC is easy when you're familiar with the different bus routes that ply within the area. If you frequently travel to BGC, make your life as a commuter easier by downloading the BGC App, which is available for both iOS and Android users.[2]
The mobile app provides notifications on the estimated arrival times of BGC buses, as well as real-time traffic updates. It also allows users to check out the nearest restaurants, shopping centers, ATMs, and banks from their location in BGC.
The BGC bus route and schedules can change anytime, so follow the Bonifacio Global City Facebook page (@bonifacioglobalcityph) to keep abreast with the latest updates and announcements. Get notified right away on their social media pages so you won't experience the hassle of service disruptions or canceled routes.
Source:
- [1] Where to Load (Beep Website)
- [2] BGC App | iOS and Android