Caloocan or Kalookan is a city in northern Metro Manila. Caloocan is a large suburb of Manila, and is predominantly residential, mostly home to people relocated from Manila's slums. There is also a noticeable lack of tourist attractions.

Understand

Once a large municipality of Rizal, Caloocan today is divided into two non-contiguous areas, urbanized South Caloocan and suburban North Caloocan (also known locally as Bukid as it used to be countryside of rice paddies), a result of the absorption of its several barangays (then barrios), most notably Novaliches, into Quezon City, established to be the capital of the Philippines.

Get in

By plane

The city, like the rest of Metro Manila, is served internationally by NAIA.

By train

Take the LRT Line 1 and alight at either 5th Avenue or Monumento stations. You can also take the MRT and transfer to a bus at North Avenue and continue onward to Monumento, or take the LRT from Roosevelt or Balintawak stations up to Monumento.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) operates commuter trains between Tutuban or FTI stations (in Manila and Taguig respectively) and Governor Pascual station in Malabon. Trains call at 5th Avenue, 10th Avenue (Asistio) and Caloocan (Sangandaan).

• 1 5th Avenue-LRT Station, 1 Rizal Ave Ext, Gracepark. 5AM-9:30PM. his LRT 1 station sits at the intersection of Rizal Avenue and 5th Avenue, which is now called C-3 following its widening and extension to the port area of Manila. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Monumento-LRT Station, Grace Park West, ☏ +63 2 647 3452. 5AM-9:30PM. This is a very busy interchange so expect packed trains and a queue to buy train tickets. There is a sm mega mall less than 5 minutes away. LRT trains are clean comfortable and have air con. (updated Sep 2023)

By bus

Caloocan is the terminus of the EDSA Carousel bus rapid transit line from Parañaque via EDSA. Other city bus routes also pass through Caloocan, originating from Bulacan or Parañaque via MacArthur Hwy, Rizal Ave and C-4 Road.

Victory Liner, which is headquartered in the city, has provincial services to its terminal near Monumento, and is the only provincial bus company serving the city. Other companies now only serve Cubao or Bocaue.

• 3 First North Luzon Transit, 12th Ave, Grace Park West. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Baliwag Transit, 2nd Avenue corner J.P. Rizal Avenue. 3AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)

By jeepney

Jeepneys connect Caloocan with Manila, Malabon, Quezon City and Valenzuela. Many of these take Rizal Ave to Monumento or M.H. del Pilar St across the old town. They are also the predominant way to reach North Caloocan.

By car

Caloocan is served by EDSA and MacArthur Highway (Hwy 1), and C-4 Road (Rte 120). From Manila, it is connected via Rizal Avenue (Rte 150). The nearest expressways are North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the elevated Skyway. It takes about 40 minutes by driving to reach Caloocan.

North Caloocan is served by road via Novaliches in Quezon City or Valenzuela.

• 5 NLEX HarbourLink, 5th Street, Sangandaan. Metro Manila Skyway. (updated Sep 2023)

Get around

If you need to use public transportation try sakay.ph, it will show you the right type to your destination.

Small but convenient and very affordable tricycles ply around the city. Just say where you are going and they will bring you as fast as possible. Fares are at the range of ₱30 (for single person payment) to ₱50 (if you want to ride the tricycle on a "special" basis - meaning you and your companions are the ones that will ride.)

Jeepneys also ply around with their own respective fixed routes. Metro Manila fares of a minimum of ₱9 is applied. The city is geographically divided in to 2 parts, Caloocan City North and South. Taking a tricycle from Bagong Barrio, for example, is a big no-no among drivers. And besides, it is also not allowed by the local government.

See

Bonifacio Monument (Monumento)

• 1 Bonifacio Monument (Monumento). This famous landmark of the city is located at the intersection of EDSA, Rizal Avenue, Mc Arthur Highway, and Samson Road. Made by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, the monument commemorates the first encounter of the revolutionary group Katipunan, lead by hero Andres Bonifacio, with Spanish forces. (updated Oct 2020)
• 2 San Roque Cathedral (Caloocan Church), A. Mabini St, corner 10th Ave, Poblacion, ☏ +63 2 8288 5252. A Catholic church. (updated Oct 2020)
• Gubat sa Ciudad Resort - features several swimming pools and other water facilities for the whole family.
• 3 Caloocan City People's Park, #1403 8th Street, Grace Park East. 6AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Thai-To Taosit Temple, #113 M. H. Del Pilar Street, Grace Park East. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Ung Siu Si Buddhist Temple, J. Teodoro Street corner 6th Ave. Temporarily closed as of September 2023. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

• 1 Green Paddle (Caloocan City), Unit 31 Grace Park Commercial Complex, 4th Avenue, corner A. Del Mundo Street, ☏ +63 2 8332 2694. 9:30AM–6:30PM. Table tennis facility. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

• 1 999 Shopping Mall, General Luna Street corner Espina Street (at the back of the old Caloocan City Hall). 9AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 SM City Grand Central, Rizal Ave Ext, Grace Park East, ☏ +63 2 721 99821. 10AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2023)
• 3 Victory Central Mall Caloocan, Victory Liner Compund, ☏ +63 2 366-3169. 10AM–9PM. Sprawling mall with 800 shops & eateries, including a food court, plus an indoor amusement center. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Pandayan Bookshop (Caloocan Branch), #1403 Rizal Ave Ext, Grace Park East (in CVC Supermarket), ☏ +63 87 148 1217. 9AM–7:30PM. Pandayan Bookshop, founded in 1993, is a 40-store chain spread across Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and northern Metro Manila. The usual size of our stores is around 200 square meters. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

Budget

All these are around the Andres Bonifacio National Monument:

• 1 Perry's Chicken House, 159 12th Ave, Corner 8th St, East Grace Park. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Tapa ni Mama, 138-B Asuncion, Morning Breeze. (updated Aug 2022)
• 3 Tony's Eatery/Restaurant, 8th Ave, East Grace Park. (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Tapsilogan Ni Mama Leng, 267 D. Aquino St. (between 9th and 10th Ave., Grace Park West). (updated Aug 2022)
• 5 Amber's Food, #155 Baltazar I, Grace Park West, ☏ +63 928 388 6368. 9AM–8PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• Amber Golden Chain of Restaurants Lot 6 Block 181 Rizal Avenue Extension Barangay 68, Zone 6 Caloocan City

Mid-range

• 6 Padi's Point Restaurant and Bar, Grandz Commercial Building, McArthur Highway, Calle Cuatro, ☏ +63 2 359-0413, +63 2 809-7308, padislaspinas@yahoo.com. 6PM-3AM. Serves Filipino, grill, seafood, Spanish dishes. 
• 7 SamgyupSalamat, Morning Breeze Subdivision, Manila North Road (in Grandz Commercial Center). 11AM–1:05AM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 8 The Hawker International Buffet, #3 General Pio Valenzuela Street (at Sobel Hotel), ☏ +63 946 597 6058. Daily dinner buffet (6-10PM). (updated Sep 2023)
• 9 Tora-San Grace Park, #149 11th Ave, Grace Park East. Noon–11:30PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 10 Amber-Caloocan Branch, ☏ +63 2 8884 8888. 8AM–9PM. Takeout restaurant for the best Palabok, Spaghetti, Pichi-Pichi. (updated May 2024)
• 11 New Silver Crown Panciteria, Inc., #255 Samson Road, Sangandaan, ☏ +63 2 836 13744. 9:30AM–8PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 12 Tong Yang-SM City Grand Central Branch, Level 3, SM City Grand Central, Grace Park East, ☏ +63 917 304 1888. 11AM–9PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 13 JT's Manukan Grille, #1401 Araneta Ave, Potrero (in LTO Caloocan Branch). 10AM–10PM. Owned by Filipino veteran actor Joel Torre. (updated Sep 2023)
• 14 Tutong’s Laksa-Caloocan Branch, Filipino Building, 2F plaza, Libis Espina Street, ☏ +63 927 434 4573. 11AM–midnight. Asian restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)

Splurge

• 15 The Alley by Vikings, 2nd level, Ayala Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio, ☏ +63 2 8845 4647. 11AM–2:30PM, 5–9PM. (updated Aug 2022)
• 16 Orient Pearl Seafood and Restaurant, #1406, 10th Ave, Grace Park West, ☏ +63 2 8361 4132. 10AM–10PM. Seafood restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink

• 1 The Hideout Bar and Restaurant, 69 Caimito Road corner Lapu-Lapu Street, ☏ +63 926 624 0229. 3PM–5:30AM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Padi's Point-Caloocan Branch, Grandz Commercial Building, McArthur Highway, Calle Cuatro, ☏ +63 921 686 2080. 5PM–midnight. (updated Sep 2023)
• 3 D'Bliss Comedy Bar, Caimito Road. 5PM–5AM. LGBTQ+ friendly place. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Starbucks-EDSA Caloocan Branch, #340 Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Grace Park East, ☏ +63 2 8561 3065. 7AM–1AM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Cha Tuk Chak - Monumento, #1403 Benin Street, Grace Park East. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Kabayan Hotel Monumento, 535 Caimito Rd. corner McArthur Highway Monumento, ☏ +63 2 7022700. It offers 76 guestrooms, consisting of Premium, Superior, Family, Pad and Dormitory-type accommodations. Rooms are furnished with essential amenities such as air-conditioning, cable TV, and Internet connectivity. Some of its facilities and services include function/meeting rooms, business center with Internet facility, coffee shop, prayer room, safety deposit boxes, laundry and room service, and on-call massage service. From ₱1075. 
• 2 Chill Hotel Monumento, General Pio Valenzuela Street, ☏ +63 2 8361 0613. Check-in: 11AM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 3 Sobel Hotel, # 3 General Pio Valenzuela Street, ☏ +63 935 791 2836. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Hotel Sogo - EDSA, Caloocan, Bonifacio Public Market, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, ☏ +63 2 8367 7646. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Hotel Sogo - LRT Monumento, 5th Floor, LRT Northmall, Rizal Ave Extension, ☏ +63 2 8364 7646. (updated Sep 2023)

Connect

• Internet cafes. 24 hours. All over the city. from ₱10. (updated Oct 2020)
• 1 TNC-Monumento Branch, #270 Samson Road. 9AM–midnight. internet rentals. (updated Sep 2023)

Stay safe

Northern Caloocan has a bad reputation for giant slums; exercise caution and stay away from any obvious slum area if you travel alone. Illegal drugs and petty crime is a major concern, so better stay away from those areas.

Women travelers must avoid walking alone, especially near run-down areas. Rape cases are all too common in the city, though most cases involve local females. After a controversial ordinance was signed, wearing skimpy shorts in public locations, including city streets, can lead to a fine.

Go next

Routes through Caloocan

Central ← Tondo ←	S  N	→ Balintawak → Roosevelt Avenue
Becomes to Manila and to Valenzuela ←	N  S	→ Balintawak → Cubao