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High rise buildings in Eastwood City, Quezon City

Quezon City (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Quezon or Lungsod ng Keson) in Metro Manila is the largest city in the Philippines. It has a population of 2.68 million people. Recently, it has become the hub of information technology as well as its entertainment industry in the Philippines. The city was named after former Philippine president Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina. Quezon City was the country's capital from 1946 until 1972, when the seat of government was officially returned to neighboring Manila. Quezon City consists of five districts.

Understand

Map
14°39′5″N 121°2′57″E
Map of Quezon City

Get in

Like the rest of Metro Manila, Quezon City is served by a world-class airport, an international seaport (in Manila) and is connected to numerous streets, highways and expressways from neighboring provinces.

By air

The nearest airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the main aviation gateway to the Philippines. It is a 30-minute drive from Quezon City. It services more than 30 airlines which fly direct from 50 different destinations across the globe.

Alternatively, from the north, passengers can get in through Clark International Airport (CRK), formerly Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), in Pampanga. This alternative however is only good for passengers willing to take low cost carriers. After arriving at CRK, travellers just need to take the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the southbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway to get to Quezon City served by Valenzuela and Malinta Exits as well as the EDSA interchange past Balintawak Toll Plaza.

CRK serves the following airlines:

Transportation from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to Quezon City

Shuttle, MRT-3. The cheapest yet most convenient way to get to Quezon City from NAIA Terminal 3 is by shuttle and MRT-3. From the airport, there is a shuttle called the NAIA-Loop that would bring you to the MRT-3 Taft Avenue Station. The shuttle fare is PHP20. Then, you can take the MRT-3 from MRT-3 Taft Avenue station to Quezon City MRT-3 Stations like Araneta Center-Cubao Station, Kamuning Station, Quezon Avenue Station and North Avenue Station. MRT-3 Fare would cost PHP10-15.

Taxi. There are many taxis outside NAIA Terminal 3. Yellow-colored ones are the Airport Taxis, and white-colored taxis are the normal taxis.

By sea

The Manila International Port and Container Terminal serves Metro Manila.

By land

Quezon City is connected to the two railway lines in Metro Manila which are the MRT-2 and MRT-3. These two train lines can get you around Metro Manila. Buses are also commonly found in Quezon City, particularly along Quezon Avenue and EDSA. Fares start at PHP10 non-A/C, and PHP12 for A/C buses. Jeepneys are found almost everywhere. Fares start at PHP8 for the first four kilometers. Tricycles and pedicabs can be used for short-distance commuting. Fare usually costs PHP15 above. For commuting directions, visit [www.parasatabi.com].

Get around

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

Several options are available covering various distances and some areas are accessible only by certain means of transportation.

Jeepney is the cheapest mode of transportation and most major roads and destinations are covered by multiple jeepney routes. Public buses, operated by private bus companies, are also available on main routes and could be more convenient and roughly the same price as jeepneys.

Metered taxis are probably the most comfortable option - just be wary of large taxi fares during rush hours and drivers being picky on their passengers (they try to avoid destinations in crowded areas).

Smaller lanes and roads in residential areas are plied with bicycles fitted with side cars, termed padyak or traysikel.

Finally, two lines of the metro system (MRT Line 2 and MRT Line 3) run through some main points along the city. While their area coverage is limited - this is the best option for avoiding road traffic especially during rush hour (the metro system is bound to get crowded as well though).

See

Landmarks

  • Quezon Memorial Circle. A national park and shrine bounded by the Elliptical Road. At its center is a mausoleum containing the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines.

The Park surrounding the shrine is one of the few green lungs in the city, and is a haven for joggers and bikers alike. There are also eating establishments within the park, for those who'd rather sit and people watch. A railway station is being planned to open up in the park, but until then the best option for a tourist is to take a cab. 

  • Mabuhay Rotonda - Formerly known as "Welcome Rotonda" before the name was changed into "Mabuhay" during the 1990s. Built in 1948 during the term of Mayor Ponciano Bernardo. Quezon City has just been declared the capital of the Philippines on July 17, 1948 and so the monument was build to welcome people to the capital, hence “Welcome Rotonda”.
  • Tandang Sora Birth Site - The place where the house of Melchora Aquino stood. It was in this site that she took care of the wounded Katipuneros and provided them food and shelter. Known as "Tandang Sora" she was officially adopted "Heroine of Quezon City" by a City Council Resolution. She died at the age of 107 on March 12, 1919.

Nature and Wildlife

  • Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife - located near the Quezon Memorial City and houses a zoological and botanical garden, complete with a man-made lagoon for boating activities.
  • La Mesa Eco Park. A beautiful 5 hectare eco park on the outskirts of Quezon city. A haven for people who'd like to get away from the heat and dust of the city. Quite hard to find though, and there is little public transport going there. 
  • Quezon City Memorial Circle - National park and shrine located in Quezon City. The park is an ellipse bounded by the Elliptical Road. Its main feature is a mausoleum containing the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, and his wife, First Lady Aurora Quezon.

Churches

  • Santo Domingo Church - home to the statue of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, said to be more than 400 years old.
  • San Pedro Bautista - one of the oldest churches in the country, housing the bones of the patron saint. There is also a catacomb in the basement of the church where the friars of the past were buried.
  • Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish Church - A quiet church near former President Cory Aquino and current President Noynoy Aquino located in Brgy. West Triangle, Quezon City
  • Capitol City Baptist Church - located in West Avenue
  • 1 Iglesia Ni Cristo Templo Central, 1 Central Avenue, New Era (Travel northwest on Commonwealth Avenue toward and past Quezon Memorial Circle), ☏ +63 907 583 1440. 8:00AM to 5:00PM every day. Central Temple of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ). The Central Complex includes the Central Temple, which is an 8,000-seat church with one of the largest pipe organs in the Philippines; the Iglesia Ni Cristo Museum, which showcases the history of the Church in exhibits and artifacts from all over the world, marking its global expansion; the Tabernacle, a large multi-purpose meeting and presentation hall; and the New Era University and College of Evangelical Ministry, which are the flagship educational campuses of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, established in 1979. 

Museums

  • Museo ng Buhay Pilipino (Museum of Philippine Life) - houses furnishings, tools, and implements used by Filipinos in the past

Other Places of Interest

  • Tomas Morato and Timog Avenue Tourist Belt Area - where restaurants, bars, clubs, and other retail and entertainment establishments are found
  • Goethe Institute Art Gallery - this is a gallery displaying early to mid-19th century Philippine art works
  • La Loma Cockpit - one of the biggest cockpit arena in the country where cock fighting or sabong is held during Sundays and holidays. This supposed sport results in a cruel forced fight to the death between 2 male 'cocks' which have blades strapped to their legs. This is a large form of careless gambling that occurs within the area.
  • Fiesta Carnival Complex - features amusement rides and side shows
  • Ma Mon Luk - located along Quezon Avenue and established in the 1920s, this restaurant is famous for its noodles and siopao (Chinese: 燒包; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sio-pau)
  • "Araneta Center" - A mixed use residential and commercial complex housing several malls and budget accommodations. An ideal transport base as it's MRT-2 and MRT-3 stations connects 2 major lines which is a north to south line and an east to west line. Also houses several city and provincial bus terminals for travel within the metro or to other provinces. It is also home to the "Big Dome" which is the biggest arena in the country.

Learn

  • University of the Philippines Diliman - a coeducational and public research university and among the top 500 universities in the world
  • Ateneo de Manila University - a private teaching and research university run by Jesuits and among the top 500 universities in the world
  • Football for Peace Int'l-Phil. 2010 C.E. - a foundation-like group founded in North Fairview. It offers paid and free lessons on football (soccer) to children depending on financial capacity. Practice sessions held every Saturday in North Fairview Ph8 clubhouse playground at 7-10AM; in Quezon Memorial Circle Football Field every Saturday at 3-6PM. Accepting Volunteer Coaches/Trainers for Football and other activities for children like arts, music, languages and other lessons. Contact Mobile number 0927-400-8939.

Buy

  • Gateway Mall
  • Alimall
  • Farmers Plaza
  • fairview terraces
  • SM City North EDSA, Currently the largest mall in the Philippines and the world's third largest mall, SM North EDSA houses more than 400 shops and 200 dining establishments.
  • TriNoma, or Triangle North of Manila, is a large shopping mall in Quezon City in the Philippines owned by property development firm Ayala Land Inc. Opened in 2007, the mall is on the side of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, near the MRT-3 North Avenue Station in Quezon City, giving significant market competition to the nearby SM City North EDSA as one of the largest malls in Manila's metropolitan area.

Eat

Dining options vary upon each area or district of this large city. In the Diliman/Katipunan area, where some of the best universities in the country are located, dining options are largely geared towards the student population (though this does not say anything about the range or quality of available options -- posh dining is equally possible). The Tomas Morato area is a known nightlife area and serve good options for both dining and drinking, especially afterwork. When all else fails, people flock to the nearest mall (within just this city, there are several) survey the dining options there (from posh and chic restaurants to fast food dining in food courts).

  • PenPen, 105-C Scout Castor St. South Triangle, near the Tomas Morato strip. Serving Filipino comfort food everyday. It offers Filipino favorites with an added twist, due to the use of gourmet ingredients such as red wine in callos (a savory stew of ox tripe and leg flavored with spicy chorizo de bilbao and traditionally served with olives) and gourmet daing (dried fish) in pasta to name a few. Its best-seller is the crispy liempo (pork belly) with vinegar dip. Other notable favorites include spicy bicol express (savory and delicious dish made with succulent pork and coconut cream), creamy kalabasa soup (squash soup), mini cordon-bleu (chicken nuggets prepared like cordon bleu)and tinapa (smoked fish) flakes pasta. The prices are affordable and the servings filling.
  • Hossein's Persian Kebab, ☏ +63 2-901-5613, fax: +63 2-890-58-03, . R-3005 Level M3, Trinoma Mall Edsa, North Avenue, Quezon City. Located in the third level of Trionoma mall. Serves authentic Indian, Arabian, Malaysian and Persian cuisine. Halal certified. 
  • Blissful Belly 2nd Floor Llanar Bldg. 77 Xavierville Avenue, Quezon City. Phone: 426 6363. Continental Restaurant/ Café. Very vegan/vegetarian friendly. Cakes, bread and juices are also available.
  • Daily Veggie n’ Café, 540 Banawe cor. Calamba St, ☏ 711 8209. Friendly Chinese restaurant for the travelling vegan or vegetarian. 
  • Greens Café and Restaurant 92 Scout Castor Quezon City. Phone: 415 4796 / 376 2781. Continental Restaurant with many vegetarian and vegan friendly options including cake.
  • Kong Tiak, 27 Macopa St, ☏ 732 1917, 0917 6087362. Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City. Chinese restaurant with a variety of options to choose from. 
  • Yoh-Gurt Froz Thompson Square, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. Best frozen yogurt in the country.
  • Vegemix 15-B K-H Street, West Kamias, Quezon City. Phone: 435 3465 / 433 4364. This Vegetarian restaurant also has its own store where you can buy everything from mock meats to vegetarian sauce.
  • Banapple Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. This once hole-in-the-wall, almost home-run restaurant cum bakeshop serves some of the best cakes and pies in town and serves mostly the intellectual crowd from the nearby universities of UP and Ateneo (who drive over just for lunch/dessert). Be sure to secure seats as a lot of students flock the place (especially during lunch, early afternoon and dinner) to sample their latest cakes (according to season) or to go for their classic Banoffee pie.
  • Wok Dis Way Loyola Heights, Quezon City. While the food here is not particularly inspired nor something to rave about, this place stocks some good takes on Asian flavors (mostly Chinese food but Filipino style) and is a popular option for groups of friends and students. Usual customers are students from the nearby schools of Ateneo or UP who are taking dinner before moving upstairs to the bar.
  • Manang's Clubhouse Covered Courts Area, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. This open-air and eco-friendly dining place has some of the best home-style Filipino cooking to be found in the Ateneo campus. Green lovers will take pride in knowing that the clubhouse takes part in the major environmental footprint reduction initiatives of the university (though their food is far from the green organic diet strongly associated with tree huggers). Sample their liempo (grilled pork belly) (one of the best in town) or their lechong kawali (pan-fried pork with skin) and feel your arteries constrict with every bite. Clean up as you go after.
  • Baywick Station at 1C Buick St. Fairview, Quezon City... Near FEU Hospital Fairview.. They serve unli-GOTO with tokwa't baboy for P35, sizzling meals with unli-RICE starting at P60, silog meals with unli-RICE as low as P50, and more... Phone: 431-8001...

Drink

  • Laffline, 3 Timog Ave, ☏ +63 2-372-2656. Cor. Mother Ignacia St., South Triangle. Comedy bar in Quezon City serving good food and drink with a healthy dose of laughter with stand-up comedy acts. 

Sleep

  • trawberry Hometel, 111-B Scout Lozano Street, Quezon City (just behind Zirkoh Comedy Bar and Mang Inasal of Tomas Morato Avenue) (near Tomas Morato Avenue of Quezon City), ☏ +63 2 4138235. comfortable, affordable inn with air-conditionedrooms and international cable TVs 800 pesos. 

Budget

  • ACL Suites, 72 13th Avenue, Cubao, ☏ +63 2-9132123 to 25, fax: +63 2-438-3263. A wide array of comfortable apartelle units and suites and great location for dining, shopping and nightlife make ACL Suites hotel ideal for backpackers and independent business travelers. Best rates on official website start at US$35. 
  • Dangay Suites, 99-A Dangay St., Project 7, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, ☏ +63 2 9943717, +63 2 5774224, +63 2 4021587. They offer air-conditioned suites equipped with kitchenette, air-conditioning, and Internet access. Other amenities can be requested, such as a DVD and audio player, hair dryer, stove, and cutlery. Some of its amenities include housekeeping services, laundry and dry cleaning, and complimentary parking (limited slots only). Best rates on official website start at PHP1,210.00 or USD30. 
  • Ginhawa, #100 K-6th St, Kamias, ☏ +63 2 441-0658. This place is not the usual accommodation for tourists, but very accessible to public transportation and truly affordable at the cost of y. Ginhawa, which in English literally means comfort or well-being, is a half-way house for itinerant beings searching for deeper meaning and broader perspective of the Philippines in their travel experiences through cultural immersion and relational bonding with healers, transformation facilitators, environmentalists, student leaders and professionals. The house, which is some 15 minutes away from the premiere University of the Philippines, is also a well-maintained community center for integrative or complementary renewal and transformation work which draw from both eastern and western traditions, such as Reiki Healing, Dance Movement Therapy, Body-based Meditation, etc. A pick-up arrangement from the airport, anytime, any day, can be arranged at a cost of ₱500 per person. The center’s service vehicle may also be used to bring the guest/s to the nearest Metro Station, upon prior arrangement with the guest house administrators. from ₱350 per night. 
  • Robbinsdale Hotel, 14 Araneta Avenue corner Palanza St, ☏ +63 2-716-1262, fax: +63 2-715-6358. Nestled in a quiet corner but easily accessible from Makati or Manila through various routes. Best rates on official website start at US$34. 
  • Stonehouse Hotel, 1315 E. Rodriguez Ave., Barangay Kristong Hari, ☏ +63 2 7247551, fax: +63 2 4142798. The 54-room Stonehouse Hotel combines an excellent location with classic room amenities and complete facilities. Best rates on official website start at US$21. 
  • Tri-Place Hotel #2 Alabama St., cor. E. Rodriguez, Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila. (632) 494-8022 / 415-5324 / 414-8398 / 724-7053. Fax:(632) 721-6751. Tri-Place Hotel in Quezon City offers economy rooms and apartelle units. The hotel is near Tomas Morato and Araneta Center.

Mid-range

  • Luxent Hotel, #51 Timog Ave., South Triangle, ☏ +63 2 922-8888. All rooms have in-room safety deposit box, mini bar, individual climate control, LCD flat sreen with cable and DVD player. Some of its facilities and services are lobby lounge, bar, infinity pool, kiddie pool, gym/fitness center, multi-level parking, Wi-Fi internet connection, in-room suite dining service, laundry/pressing and dry cleaning, wake-up call, 24-hour concierge and security. Rates start at 3,875.00 PHP. 
  • The Oracle Hotel and Residences, 317 Katipunan Avenue Loyola Heights, ☏ +63 2 9267777. Standard, Superior, Deluxe and Suite Rooms, all equipped with electronic lock system and 24-hour broadband internet connectivity. Ballroom and gym also on premises. From PHP 3,150.00. 

Barangay Laging Handa, ☏ +63 2 373-2384. Casa Pura offers rooms equipped with air conditioning, telephone, writing desk and sofa. The hotel has a deck garden, restaurant, banquet hall, conference rooms, and parking. Room service, laundry service available. Rates start at 2,400.00 PHP. 

  • Danarra Hotel, 121 Mother Ignacia Ave, ☏ +63 2 3733601, fax: +63 2 3724426, . Check-out: 12 noon. With outdoor swimming pool, air-conditioned rooms with cable television and daily maid service. Standard room rates start at $37. 
  • Fersal Hotel Annapolis, 49 Annapolis Street, Cubao Quezon City NCR - Metro Manila Philippines, ☏ +63 63 2 911-2161. 62 double or twin rooms with air conditioning, cable television, a mini-bar and telephone. 24-hour convenience store, laundry service and an Inn Cafe also on premises. From USD 29.00. 
  • Fersal Hotel Kalayaan, #130 Kalayaan Ave. Diliman Quezon City NCR - Metro Manila Philippines, ☏ +63 2 911-2161. It offers fully air-conditioned guest accommodation,cable television, a mini-bar and telephone.Some of its facilities and services are Some of its facilities and services are private toilet and bath with centralized hot and cold shower From USD 37.00. 
  • Kabayan Hotel Cubao, 12 St. Mary Street corner Aurora Blvd, ☏ +63 2 7022700 to 04. It offers 74 clean and cozy rooms, all equipped with air-conditioner, cable television, private toilet and bath, and a telephone. 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. Rates start at PHP 1,490.43. 
  • Stonehouse Condominiums, 102 & 103 the Forum Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Limbaga St, ☏ +63 2 7247551. Each high-rise condominium provides luxury-filled rooms and suites. rates start at PHP 2,100.00. 
  • The Sulo sulo Hotel, Matalino Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Luzon Island 1100 Philippines, ☏ +63 2-924-5051. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 12 noon. Amenities include swimming pool, babysitting services, air conditioning and television with cable in every room. Standard room rates start at $70. 

Splurge

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