Tacloban

Tacloban is a city in Eastern Visayas and the capital of the province of Leyte. It's the home of the Pintados Festival, a cultural event in Leyte commemorating the life and culture of the early settlers of Tacloban.

Understand

Tourist Information Centers

• City Tourism Operations Office, Tacloban City Hall. (updated Mar 2016)
• City Tourism Information and Assistance Counter, Arrival Area, DZR Airport, San Jose. (updated Mar 2016)
• Provincial Tourism Office, Leyte Academic Center, Pawing, Palo, Leyte. (updated Mar 2016)
• Department of Tourism Regional Office No. 8, Magsaysay Blvd, ☎ [phone]. M-F 9AM-5PM. free city map. (updated Mar 2016)

Get in

By plane

• There are daily flights from Manila (approximately 1 hour) with Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines.
• There are also daily flights from Cebu (approximately 40 minutes) with Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines. You can also fly to Davao with Cebu Pacific.

By ferry

There are no passenger ferries to or from Tacloban, but you can take a bus or van to Ormoc port, Baybay port or Naval port then get a ferry to Cebu City from there.

By bus

• There are buses going to Manila via Catbalogan, Calbayog, Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Naga, Lucena, and to Davao and Cagayan de Oro via Surigao and Butuan.
• There are small buses going from Tacloban to Naval, Sogod, Maasin, Baybay, and Ormoc.
• Long-distance buses arrive at the Tacloban Bus Terminal, 2 km from downtown.

Get around

• There are many ways to get from the airport to all over Tacloban City, especially downtown, which is where most of the fun and excitement happens.
• Jeepneys are the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown and cost an average of ₱10 for a one way trip downtown, for a taxi or pedicab you are looking at ₱50-100; if asked for more, then you are being ripped off.
• For visitors not familiar with the city, you hire a tricycle to get to your destination. It costs around ₱8 per ride.
• Taxis operate from the airport to any part of the city. MLHuillier Taxi have the most cars. Taxi service is now available from the hotel to fetch you to the airport or any destination within the city and sub-urban towns around Tacloban at a higher price. For pick-up from downtown hotels in Tacloban to the airport, the standard price is ₱250. More than this amount is above the norm. Be prepared with the exact amount as drivers may not always have loose change. When wanting taxi service at your hotel, ask the front desk, they have contacts with taxi operators and drivers. For out-of-city points, prices are negotiable.
• Jeepneys are the cheapest way to travel all around the city. Although confusing at first, it may take you a while to adjust to the directions and the naming of the different sections of the city, if in doubt ask a local since everyone is very willing to help.
• When walking around the city, crossing the streets, intersections, observe traffic rules as the city imposes its anti-jaywalking ordinance. Some tourists and visitors who are used to the indifference of pedestrians in other cities in the Philippines, Tacloban could be a different place for them. The feel of the city is not as urbanized as in other highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. So every visitor and locals alike who come from rural towns may mistakenly take for granted traffic rules. There is a tendency to disregard the local ordinances.

See

• Price Mansion, Justice Romualdez Street. CAP Building served as the residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur for three months. (updated Mar 2016)
• The Redona Residence, T. Claudio Street. Official residence of President Sergio Osmena Sr. during the liberation period. (updated Mar 2016)
• The Leyte Provincial Capitol, Senator Enage St. The seat of Philippine Commonwealth in 1944. (updated Mar 2016)
• The Philippine-Japan Commemorative Peace Park, Magsaysay Boulevard. Stone's throw away from city hall. It was donated by the Tokyo Survivors Associations in honor of soldiers and paramilitary personnel who perished in the area. (updated Mar 2016)
• The Maria Kanon Madonna of Peace Shrine, Magsaysay Boulevard. Near the city hall. Carved out of a rare Miyagi rock and fashioned by Japanese sculptor Shiniche Tani. (updated Mar 2016)
• Tacloban City Convention Center, Real Street, Sagkahan District. Popularly known as the Astrodome. (updated Mar 2016)
• Calvary Hill. Larger than life statues of Jesus Christ and other personages, in tableaux, depict Christ's sacrifice and sufferings. (updated Mar 2016)
• Crucified Christ and the Map of Leyte Pilgrim Monument, Magsaysay Boulevard. (updated Mar 2016)
• Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, Real Street. (updated Mar 2016)
• Balyuan Amphitheater. (updated Mar 2016)
• Boy Scout Monument, Fatima Village. (updated Mar 2016)
• World War II Japanese Pillboxes, Baluarte, San Jose. (updated Mar 2016)

Do

• Indoor climbing at Bukid Outdoor Shop, P. Burgos Street. (updated Mar 2016)

San Juanico Bridge

• San Juanico Bridge. It is the longest bridge in the Philippines. It connects the city to the third biggest island of the Philippines, Samar. The bridge spans 2.14 km and is one of the major tourist spots in the city. (updated Mar 2016)
• San Juanico Golf Park and Courtry Club, Cabalawan Hills. (updated Mar 2016)
• The People's Center and Library, Real Street. It houses volumes of books from the US and Europe and other countries. (updated Mar 2016)

Events

• Grand Santacruzan. May 30 (updated Mar 2016)
• Tacloban City Charter Day. (updated Mar 2016)
• Balyu-an Rites. (updated Mar 2016)
• Subiran Regatta. It is a race of one-man native sailboats with outriggers locally called "subiran" along scenic and historic Leyte Gulf. The race is done without using a paddle but only skills and techniques to manuever the sail. (updated Mar 2016)
• Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival. (updated Mar 2016)
• Sangyaw Festival. June 29 (updated Mar 2016)
• Barrio Fiesta. Leyte Landing Anniversary, October 20. (updated Mar 2016)

Learn

• Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Salazar Steet. (updated Mar 2016)
• Leyte Normal University (LNU), Paterno Street. (updated Mar 2016)
• University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC), Magsaysay Boulevard. (updated Mar 2016)

Buy

Malls & supermarkets

• Robinsons Place Mall & Robinsons supermarket (about 4 km from downtown.). 10AM-8PM. 
• Gaisano Capital Department Store and Supermarket., J Romualdez street, ☎ [phone]. 8AM-9PM. 
• SM Savemore Supermarket, Justice Romualdez Street. 8AM-9PM. (updated Sep 2016)
• Gaisano Central Mall, Justice Romualdez Street.. 8AM-9PM. Has a Gaisano Supermarket. (updated Sep 2016)
• Puregold Supermarkets, Calanipawan Road & marasbaras Street. (one is near Tacloban City Hospital). 8AM-9PM. (updated Sep 2016)
• Unitop Department Store, Zamora Street, ☎ [phone]. 7:30AM-7:30PM. lower prices. (updated Mar 2017)

Eat

• Calle Z, Independencia St. (Just ask the tricycle driver to bring you to this restaurant.). It has a homey ambiance. (updated Mar 2016)
• Pindoko's, Real Street. Barbecues at very reasonable prices. (updated Mar 2016)
• Fahrenheit Food Center, M H Del Pilar Street. 8AM-8PM. lower prices. (updated Mar 2017)
• J C O Roasters & J C Food Spot, Justice Romualdez Street. 8AM-8PM. lower price. (updated Mar 2017)
• Kenny's fast food, 88 Zamora Street, ☎ [phone]. 8AM-8PM. lower price. (updated Mar 2017)

Drink

• Zaibatsu Cafe Bar, Sen. Enage St (at right going to the provincial capitol from downtown Tacloban.). (updated Mar 2016)
• Bo's Cafe, Avenida Veteranos. (updated Mar 2016)

Sleep

Budget

• GV Hotel, Corner of Juan Luna and Veteranos, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. Fan and a.c. single/double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. 137 rooms. from ₱575. 
• Matthews Loding House, M.H Del Pilar Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. Fan single/double rooms with own bathroom. From ₱350. (updated Sep 2016)
• Welcome Home Pensione, 161 Sto Nino Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: 1noon. Fan/a.c. single/double rooms with or without own bathroom. Most rooms have cable TV. from ₱400. (updated Sep 2016)
• Cecilias Lodge, 178 P. Peterno Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: 1noon. Single/double rooms with own bathroom. From ₱450. (updated Sep 2016)
• Travellers Suite, Rizal Avenune, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 13.00, check-out: noon. fan single room. Shared bathroom. free wifi from 450. (updated May 2018)

Mid-range

• Asia Star Hotel. In the downtown area. (updated Mar 2016)
• Leyte Park Hotel. This used to be one of Tacloban's well kept charms, now totally destroyed. You will see a bird's eye view of the Canacabato Bay. (updated Mar 2016)
• Hotel Canelsa, Realmstar Building, corner Rizal Avenue and P. Burgos Street, Tacloban, ☎ [phone], [phone]. 
• Etsu Hotel, GYT Building, corner Rizal Avenue and Tarcela Street, Tacloban, ☎ [phone]. 
• XYZ hotel, Zamora Street. (updated Mar 2016)
• Hotel Consuelo, Veteranos Avenue. (updated Mar 2016)
• Go Hotels, Robinson's Place. (updated Mar 2016)
• Hotel La Rica, Zamora Street. (updated Mar 2016)
• Hotel Rodolfo, Sto. Nino street. (updated Mar 2016)
• Hotel Lorenza, Veteranos Avenue. (updated Mar 2016)

Connect

The international telephone country code for the Philippines is 63. The area code for Tacloban is 53.

Cope

Hospital

• Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center. Senator Enage Street. Phone [phone]. (DOH Hospital).

Immigration office

• Bureau of Immigration Tacloban office. Kanhuraw Hill. Magsaysay Blvd. phone [phone].

Laundry services

• Lavada Express Laundry and Dry Cleaning. 

Religious services

• Redemptorist Church, Real Street. (updated Mar 2016)
• Santo Niño Church, corner Real and Zamora Streets. It is considered as the main church of Tacloban City. It is home to the miraculous image of the Senor Santo Nino. (updated Mar 2016)

Go next

• Naval
• Ormoc
• Baybay
• Maasin
• Sogod
• Calbayog
• Catbalogan
• Borongan
• Guiuan
• Catarman
• Palo
• Basey
• Marabut