Legazpi

Legazpi City is a city in the Bicol Region.

Understand

Get in

By plane

Legazpi City Domestic Airport:

• Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific fly daily from Manila to Legazpi and vice versa. Cebu Pacific departs from NAIA Terminal 3 in Manila,
• Cebu Pacific also fly from Cebu to Legaspi and vice versa.

Tricycle will take 10-15 minutes to get to downtown, and the driver will quote PHP50 (private ride, May 2018). Walk straight out of the airport, across the parking lot, and out of the gate where the cars are exiting. Taxis are also available in the airport.

To return to the airport, tricycles at Penaranda Park and F Aquende Dr will charge 30 pesos.

By train

As of June 2017, through train service between Manila and Legazpi is suspended, with no confirmed resumption date.

PNR operate local train service between Naga and Legazpi only.

By bus

• Philtranco.
• Amihan Buslines.
• Raymond Buslines.
• Superlines.
• RMB Express.
• travel from Legazpi to/from Metro Manila
• the journey from Legazpi to Manila takes 8-10 hours and goes via Naga. Asked to be align at Pasay City or nearby EDSA for more convenient travel to downtown Manila.
• Philtranco also has buses going south as far as Davao and Cagayan de Oro via Tacloban and Butuan.

Legazpi has a good bus terminus. Several canteen served local food and passengers will be departed from the main gate and follow the sign that mentioned its direction, e.g. to Manila, to Naga. Make sure your bags are properly kept in the baggage compartment and bring your hand-carry into the bus.

Tickets sales daily and can be booked in advance, just go to the counters and choose based on budget: economy (non-A/C) to executive (A/C with seating lay out 2 - 2 or 1 - 2 are available).

There are also buses and vans going to/from Tabaco City. The fare is from ₱25.

By ferry

• To get to Cebu City or Masbate from Legazpi you first have to take a van from the van Terminus to the ferry port of Pilar the van fare is ₱100. then from Pilar port Montenegro Shipping lines has a fast ferry three times a day from Pilar port to Masbate city the ferry departs Pilar port at 8AM, noon and 3:30PM. The fare is ₱396 + ₱15 port fee. From Masbate city you can take a Cokaliong shipping lines night ferry every Saturday at 7PM down to Cebu city. Fan ₱750 air-con ₱890. Or every day there is a a/c RORO bus/ferry/bus from the Montenegro shipping lines ticket office in Mabate port to Cebu city for ₱800.
• To get to Virac city in Catanduanes island you must take a bus or van the 25 km from the Legazpi van terminus to Tabaco City. two ferries depart the ferry Port of Tabaco at noon fast and 1PM slow. the fast M/V Silangan Express ferry takes (1½ hours) costs ₱330. And the slow Regina Shipping lines ferry takes (3½ hours) and cost ₱240. From Tacaco you can also get a van to Naga city ₱180.

Get around

• By jeepney with duration minutes to hours. The direction that mentioned on the sign is the last stop, so it will be necessary to be asked first: is your direction passed by within the entire of the journey.
• By tricycle for close destination. It's doable that driver might be add some passenger to the same direction or at least passed by with direction you had mentioned before.

See

Natural attractions

Ligñon Hill Nature Park

• Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano 15 km northwest of Legazpi renowned for its symmetric conical shape.
• Ligñon Hill is a 156-m peak with a nature park in its summit offering panoramic views of the city and Mt. Mayon and adventure activities like zip-line.
• Kapuntukan Hill (also known as the Sleeping Lion Hill) is located at the point south of the Port of Legazpi. The Embarcadero, the Legazpi Port District, and Albay Gulf with Mayon Volcano can be viewed from the top of the hill.
• Karangahan Falls, in Brgy. Banquerohan, has a deep catch basin ideal for swimming.
• Legazpi Dive Sites are a collection of sixteen coral reefs off the coast of Legazpi and around the Albay Gulf ideal for scuba diving.
• The city has a long coastline along the Albay Gulf with black sand beaches ideal for skimboarding.
• Whale sharks, locally known as butanding, occasionally visit the waters off the city's coast.

Historical landmarks

Kapuntukan Hill and Legazpi Boulevard at Night

• The Albay Gulf Landing Monument on the shores of Brgy. Rawis was built in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Landing of the Allied American Forces in Legazpi City.
• The Japanese Tunnel is an L-shaped tunnel used as an arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II. It measures 40 metres (130 ft) long and around 7 feet (2.1 m) deep below the ground. The tunnel is located in Brgy. EM's Barrio South in the Albay District.
• The Legazpi City Museum showcases the heritage and culture of the city and province.
• Liberty Bell is a bronze bell installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Peñaranda Park. It is enclosed within a dome-shaped concrete structure with the inscription, “Whenever oppression knocks at your door, feel free to ring this bell”.

Churches

St. Gregory the Great Cathedral

• The Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great, located in the Albay District, is the Episcopal Seat of the Diocese of Legazpi. It was first built by Spanish missionaries as a wooden chapel in 1581. The present church, designed by then governor Don Jose Ma. de Peñaranda, was built in 1839 using volcanic rocks.
• St. Raphael the Archangel Church is located in the Port District. The original church was built in 1834 under the auspices of Pedro Romero, but was destroyed during the liberation of Legazpi by Allied forces in 1945. A more modern church was rebuilt in its place. Notable features include an altar table made of a single block of hardened lava rock.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine is built on a hillside in Brgy. Buraguis overlooking the port district. It features life-sized depictions of Stations of the Cross and a huge statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe at the summit.
• Our Lady of Fatima Church, located along Imelda Roces Avenue, is a modern church with a semi-circular nave built in 1999.
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Church is the mission house of the Redemptorist congregation.
• St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Church along Lapu-Lapu Street was built in 1965 to serve the Filipino-Chinese community.
• St. Joseph Quasi-Parish Church is located in Brgy. Rawis. A new church is under construction.

Parks

Albay Park and Wildlife

• Peñaranda Park is a plaza dedicated to Jose Ma. Peñaranda, the first governor of Albay. It is located in the Albay District surrounded by the Legazpi City Hall, Albay Capitol and St. Gregory the Great Cathedral.
• Rizal Park is located in front of Saint Raphael Church on Peñaranda Street. It has a fountain and a monument to José Rizal, the country's national hero, sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva in 1966.
• The Albay Park and Wildlife, located along Diversion Road - Bogtong, is a picnic grove and a zoological park combined.
• Kalayaan Park in Barriada, Gogon features pavilions, walkways, benches, children's playground, and a basketball court.
• Bicol Heritage Park is located inside Camp Simeon A. Ola, headquarters of the Police Regional Office 5 in Bicol.

Entertaiment

LCC Mall Legazpi

• A. Bichara Silverscreens and Entertainment Center is a premier cinema and entertainment center that opened in 1998.
• Embarcadero de Legazpi is a marina-inspired waterfront lifestyle hub, commercial and entertainment center located in the city's port area that opened in 2007. It is part of the Embarcadero IT Park. It also hosts the first Duty Free Philippines store in Bicol.
• Ayala Mall Legazpi. (updated Jan 2018)

Streets

Legazpi Boulevard

• The Legazpi Boulevard is a picturesque seaside road along the city's southern coastline with wide promenades, bike lanes, monuments such as the statue of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, JCI Legazpi Tourism Marker and the Freemason Obelisk, restaurants, cafés and pubs.

Monuments

Battle of Legazpi Pylon

• The Battle of Legazpi Pylon at the intersection of Quezon and Rizal Streets is a 16-metre (52 ft) high monument built to commemorate the defeat of Filipino fighters by American forces in 1900. The pylon marks the site of a bloody battle during the Philippine-American War and World War II.
• The General Simeon Ola Statue is located at Bicol Heritage Park inside the police camp named in his honor, Camp Simeon A. Ola.
• The Jose Maria Peñaranda Monument was built as a tribute to the late Governor of Albay who served from 1834 to 1843. It is located at the Peñaranda Park.
• General Jose Ignacio Paua Statue is dedicated to Gen. Paua, the only pure-blooded Chinese who supported the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution. It is in a pocket park in Brgy. Bañadero.
• The Headless Monument is dedicated to the unknown heroes who died in the Japanese occupation of Legazpi City during World War II. The memorial is in the city's Post Office Compound in Barangay Lapu-Lapu.
• Ibalong Heroes Monument, located on the junction of Rizal and Lapu-Lapu Streets, honors the mythical heroes of the Ibalong epic-fragment: Baltog, Handyong and Bantong.
• Mag-Ilusyon or Magsing-irog (Lovers) is a metal sculpture by award-winning artist Eduardo Castrillo, commissioned in 1976 for Kalayaan Park in Barriada, Gogon.
• Padang Memorial Cross in Brgy. Padang is dedicated to the victims of Typhoon Reming in 2006.
• The Obelisk is a landmark monument located along Legazpi Boulevard in Brgy. Puro; it is a joint project between the city government and Mayon Lodge No. 61.

Do

Buy

Malls & supermarkets

• Pacific Mall. Has a Metro Gaisano supermarket and a cinema. (updated Aug 2016)
• Ayala Mall Legazpi. 6AM-8PM. Has a LCC supermarket. (updated Aug 2016)
• Puregold Supermarkets. (near port). 7AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2016)
• S M Savemore Supermarkets. 8AM-8PM. Have two outlets in Legazpi. (updated Aug 2016)
• Robinsons Supermarkets.. 8AM-8PM. Has one outlet in Legazpi. (updated Aug 2016)
• 7-Eleven Convenience stores. 24 hours. Has many outlets all over Legazpi. (updated Aug 2016)
• LCC mall and Supermarkets. 8AM-8PM. LCC have many outlets in Legazpi. high price. (updated Aug 2016)
• SM City Legazpi, Brgy 37 (Bitano) Capantawan. 9AM-8PM. 140,000 m² mall with a savemore supermarket. (updated Oct 2016)

Eat

Local culinary is known as Bicolano food. Coconut milk is the most important ingredient to be added during the cooking. Mains can be pork, seafood or poultry. Flavor will be hot from chili, sweet and sour to savoury enriched by coconut milk base. Most famous amongst the Bicolanos' menu is Bicol Express, which consists of pork and intestine slow-cooked in coconut milk, vinegar and some spices. Common Filipino menus also can be found quite easily. They include dishes like pork adobo, silog (fried rice in garlic), milkfish (bangus) and longganisa (pork sausages). The taste of the longganisa is sweet, quite similar to Ilocano's longganisa.

Budget

• Jollibee. 7AM-10PM. Breakfast 7AM-11AM. (updated Sep 2016)

Mid-range

LCC Mal nearby Lapu-Lapu Street has several vendors that sells some Filipino menu, just like fried bangus with rice, fried chicken with silog.

Splurge

Find out in the cafes within Embrocadero and having dinner towards the sea.

Drink

• Blue Lights (BL), Vicotry Village Legazpi City. 24/7. Great ambiance and good crew! (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

Budget

• Sampaguita Tourist Inn, Rizal street, ☎ [phone]. Small unclean bedbugs. Fan and a/c rooms with own bathroom. Windows don't close. Fan room from ₱300. A/C room from ₱475. 
• Magayon Hotel., Penaranda Street., ☎ [phone], [phone] (Cell phone). Fan single room with cable TV. Outside bathroom. From ₱400. 
• Catalinas Lodging House, 96 Penaranda Street., ☎ [phone]. Single fan rooms with shared bathrooms. Old but clean. From ₱250. 
• Mayon Backpackers Hostel, 040 brgy 11 Maoyod (off rizal street), ☎ [phone], [phone]. Fan dorm beds in a room with 4 beds per room. A/C dorm beds in a room with 6 beds. 250/350. 
• Great Pacific Inn, Rizal Street (near the Sampaguita tourist inn,), ☎ [phone]. Check-out: Noon. Single fan room with own bathroom. The single rooms have no windows and are very small. From ₱350. (updated Oct 2016)
• Anvil Bed & Breafast, 241 Oro Street (btwn Quezon Aveune & alonzo strret.), ☎ [phone], [phone]. Fan double room. No window. From ₱490. (updated Oct 2016)
• Bicol Traveller Inn, Bariada Road Bitano (near Pacific mall.), ☎ [phone]. Single fan room outside bathroom. Very small room with no windows. From ₱350. (updated Oct 2016)
• J Y Tourist Inn, Rizal Street & Vinzons Street., ☎ [phone]. Fan room. From ₱300. (updated Oct 2016)
• Rex Hotel, Penaranda Street, ☎ [phone]. Single fan room. Add ₱100 for cable TV. From 450. (updated Oct 2016)
• R M J Apartelle, Imperial Court. Rose Street (near Pacific mall), ☎ [phone], [phone] (cell). A/C double room with own bathroom and cable TV. From ₱700. (updated Oct 2016)
• Salvador Manor De Legazpi, 153 Washington Dive (near old Airport), ☎ [phone]. A/C double room with own bathroom. From ₱600. (updated Oct 2016)
• Siville Inn, 667 Vibal Street, ☎ [phone]. Fan double with own bathroom. from 500. (updated Oct 2016)

Mid-range

• Hotel St. Ellis, Rizal Street, Legaspi City, Albay, Philippines 4500, ☎ [phone]. Hotel St. Ellis is situated along Rizal St., it is a 3-km drive from the airport. It offers rooms completely furnished with a 32-inch LCD television set with satellite cable TV connection, high-speed internet access, NDD/IDD telephone, in-room safe, and an electronic door lock system. Some of its amenities includes Essences Spa, Salon Mye, a fitness centre, and a kiddie activity room Best rates on official website start at ₱3,150. 
• Tyche Boutique Hotel, Gov. Forbes St. corner Rizal St., Baybay (Directly across the Philippine National Bank branch, it is only a few minutes from the Legazpi Domestic Airport.), ☎ [phone]. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, widescreen high-definition lcd tv with cable channels, complimentary wireless internet access, bathroom amenities and hair dryer. Some of its facilities and services are 24-hour room service, concierge, massage service (by arrangement), laundry service, 24-hour security, business center with Internet access for email, secretarial services, and fax. From ₱2,700. 
• Alicia Hotel, 653 Capt. F. Aquende Drive, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Alicia Hotel in Legazpi City, Albay, Bicol Region is only a few minutes from the domestic airport. It's also conveniently accessible from the city center and various notable spots. The hotel offers 32 rooms and suites individually equipped with modern amenities like cable TV, individually controlled air-conditioning, a telephone, and Internet access. From ₱1,950. 
• La Piazza Hotel, Tahao Road, Airport District, ☎ [phone]. A/C suites equipped with LCD TV with cable channels and unlimited Wi-Fi access. Some of its facilities and services are function rooms, wi-fi access in public areas, Massage services and airport transfer. From ₱1600. 

Splurge

• The Oriental Legazpi, Taysan Hill, Sto. Niño Village, ☎ [phone]. A/C suites equipped with TV with cable channels, executive work desk, IDD/NDD telephone and high-speed broadband Internet access. Some of its facilities and services are airport transfer, wireless Internet access, infinity pool, spa, fitness room/gym, business center, car rental, and city transfer. From ₱6,500. 

Connect

Stay healthy

• Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital. Rizal Street. Phone [phone]. (DOH Hospital).

Cope

• Bureau Of Immigration Legazpi Office. Door 3 Blst Building Rizal Street.

Go next

• Virac
• Donsol
• Metro Cebu via Masbate
• Naga.
• Calbayog
• Sorsogon,
• Gubat and Rizal Beach. There are several sleepy towns and nice beaches after Legazpi just like Sorsogon and Gubat. Take a jeepney to these directions. Normally they make a stop in Pilar Port on the way to Sorsogon and Gubat.

Routes through Legazpi

Naga ← Daraga ←

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