Tarlac City is the provincal capital of Tarlac.

Understand

Used to be a part of a larger municipality of Porac in Pampanga during the Spanish times, Tarlac City's residents are mostly Kapampangan speakers, but ethnically, a mix of Kapampangan, Ilocano, and Tagalog. While it is the economic and educational center of Tarlac, it is a rather small provincial city, with little in the way of sights, and is more of a stopover for long-distance buses.

Get in

The city's nearest airport is Clark International Airport in Angeles, but it takes time to transfer to a bus to Tarlac City.

By bus

Most buses to Ilocos Region stop at Tarlac City, except some services (usually Baguio-bound buses) which bypass the city via the new Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.

• Victory Liner buses between Manila and Dagupan or Alaminos and vice versa regularly stop at Tarlac City. Northbound services stop at a sheltered bus station behind the Motorway diner restaurant, while southbound buses stop at the Siesta Travel Break bus station, shared with other bus operators.

By car

The Subic-Clark-Tarlac and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressways (or SCTEX and TPLEX, respectively) serves the city through one exit found at both expressways' termini at barangay Balingcanaway. The northbound exit from SCTEX is undergoing reconstruction due to the ongoing Central Luzon Link Expressway interchange.

See

• 1 Hacienda Luisita. 11AM-9PM. A 6,435 hectares (15,900 acres) sugarcane plantation that is the center of landmark decisions on land reform in the Philippines. Straddling the boundaries of the nearby municipalities of La Paz and Concepcion, It used to be a Spanish-owned tobacco plantation until it was turned over to the Filipino-Chinese Cojuangco family (the family of Corazon "Cory" Aquino). An operational azucarera (sugar factory) inside the hacienda, the Central Azucarera de Tarlac is declared a National Historical Landmark. At the entrance to the estate is a preserved steam locomotive used to haul cars of sugarcane into the factories. (updated Apr 2020)
• Aquino Presidential Center and Library. (updated Apr 2020)
• 2 Tarlac Cathedral (San Sebastian Cathedral), Tanedo Street. A Neo-Gothic style Catholic church, rebuilt from one destroyed during World War II. It was built in the late 17th century by the Augustinians, while the present buildings date from late 1940s onwards. (updated Apr 2020)

Do

• 1 Kart City, MacArthur Highway (A few meters from the Victory Liner station and SM City Tarlac). 10AM-1:30AM. Two outdoor karting tracks, with an an attached eatery and bar. (updated Apr 2020)
• 2 Luisita Golf and Country Club. Designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., this 18-hole championship course has been renovated so you can enjoy it in any weather, all year round. There are water areas all around coupled with great landscaping which is breathtaking. It's quite an easy course although wind is sometimes a factor. It is listed in Golf Magazine's Top 100 Golf Courses in the World. There are no crowds, no waiting, and best of all very private. The golf course is open to registered guests of Central Park Hotel. (updated Apr 2020)

Buy

• SM City Tarlac, MacArthur Highway, San Rafael (Near the provincial bus stops). (updated Apr 2020)

Sleep

There are a number of accommodations that can be found in Tarlac City. They are: La Maja Rica Hotel, Brgy. Ligtasan Microtel Inn, Brgy. San Miguel Hotel Sogo, Brgy. San Sebastian Asiaten Hotel, Brgy. San Sebastian

Go next

Routes through Angeles

Baguio ← Urdaneta ←	N  S	→ Angeles
Baguio ←	N  S	→ Capas → Angeles/Manila
Lingayen ← Camiling ←	N  S	→ END
END ←	W  E	→ La Paz → Cabanatuan