San Pedro is a city just south of Metro Manila. The city is largely a bedroom community, serving as an important terminus for city buses toward Metro Manila, but there are also local industries. The city's tourist draws include the Sampaguita Festival, the Santo Sepulcro Parish, and the challenging KC Filipinas Golf Club.

Understand

The city forms the major urban sprawl along the South Luzon Expressway. It is the most densely populated city in the CALABARZON region. It is home to about 349,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) . It is in Laguna province.

The city was founded as the town of San Pedro de Tunasan by the Spaniards in 1725 from friar lands. Agriculture, duck raising, fishing, and sampaguita production served as the town's source of income, until they all declined in favor of urban development. The city gained its current name in 1902. A significant portion of the hacienda in the town were given to poor farmers under president Ramon Magsaysay's administration, and since became resettlement sites under the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA). The city gained city status after a plebiscite in December 2013. Since then, there have been calls for San Pedro to join Metro Manila, but present plans for a merger remain uncertain.

The city gets its name from its patron saint, St. Peter the Apostle (San Pedro Apostol), which also lends its name to the major parish at its Poblacion (town center).

Get in

By bus

San Pedro is served by multiple regular city bus routes from Metro Manila, most terminating at bus terminals at Pacita Complex near the boundary with Biñan.

• Route 12 Ayala-Biñan from One Ayala in Makati, with most buses terminating at Pacita Complex
• Route 15 BGC-Pacita Complex from Market Market in Taguig
• Route 38 Fairview-Pacita Complex via Ayala from One Ayala in Makati
• Route 39 Fairview-Pacita Complex via C-5, BGC from Market Market in Taguig
• Route 46 Navotas-Pacita Complex via Ayala from LRT Buendia station in Pasay and One Ayala in Makati
• Route 48 Pacita Complex-Plaza Lawton via Ayala from Plaza Lawton in Manila, LRT Buendia station in Pasay and One Ayala in Makati
• Route 53 Cubao-Pacita Complex from Plaza Lawton in Manila and LRT Buendia station in Pasay

Premium bus service is available on UBE Express traveling between Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Robinsons Galleria South.

By car

If you came from NAIA, you can use the South Luzon Expressway. San Pedro is only served by a single exit that only serves as entry and exit southbound. Other alternatives are taking Alabang or Susana Heights/MCX Exit in Muntinlupa (if from Manila) or Southwoods Exit in Biñan (if from elsewhere to the south). National Highway (N1) parallels the South Luzon Expressway, but is always packed by local traffic and jeepneys. It is ill-advised to bring a car in most parts of San Pedro unless you have a GPS map.

By jeepney

Jeepneys serve San Pedro very well, and there are numerous routes through the city. Most routes through San Pedro originate from Alabang, Biñan, Santa Rosa amd Calamba; some take the expressway and others take the older National Hwy.

By taxi

Taxis (both car and motorcycle) from Metro Manila also serve San Pedro, especially if you come from the airport, but beware of common scams. Grab and Go Lag taxi service operates in San Pedro.

By train

There is no train service to San Pedro as of 2026.

By van

UV Express vans also serve San Pedro; possible drop-off points are in Southwoods (in Biñan) or Pacita Complex. Most of these vans come from Makati or Lipa. Other UV Expres routes serves San Pedro from Festival Alabang, SM Southmall, Nuvali, Molino Bacoor, Cavite, and Pala-Pala (in Dasmariñas).

Get around

The major forms of public transportation are the tricycle and the jeepney.

See

• 1 Santo Sepulcro Shrine (Lolo Uweng), San Luis Street, Landayan, lolouwengshrine@gmail.com. A chapel housing a venerated statue of the dead Christ known locally as Lolo Uweng. (updated Jul 2026)
• 2 San Pedro Apostol Parish Church, A. Mabini Street, Poblacion, toll-free: +63 2 869 6090, soccom.spap@gmail.com. The main Roman Catholic church in San Pedro. (updated Jul 2026)

Do

• 1 Hallow Ridge Golf Course (formerly KC Filipinas Golf Club and Tat Filipinas Golf Club), Magsaysay Road, San Antonio (Half-hour from the airport). Golf course south of Manila, popular hangout by foreigners and locals. Hilly course with a slightly mild climate, but playing is a challenge due to terrain and occasional rain. Has a Japanese and Korean restaurant. ₱3300 on weekdays, ₱2300 on weekends. (updated Aug 2026)

• Sampaguita Festival - Held every February, this features a parade of floats featuring the sampaguita (Jasminia sampac) flower, made into garlands which is the city's main product, as well as a local beauty pageant, the Hiyas ng San Pedro.

Buy

• 1 Robinsons Galleria South (Lifestyle Shopping Mall), Km 31 National Hwy, Nueva (Near the traffic lights at National Hwy and Hernandez St. Jeepneys stopping at Landayan stop here, and is also the terminus of the NAIA-San Pedro City P2P bus), toll-free: +63 2 8283 3562. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-10PM. Four-story lifestyle mall, with a food court, supermarket and multistory parking (updated Aug 2026)
• 2 SM Center San Pedro, R. Magsaysay Avenue. 10AM–9PM.  (updated Aug 2026)

Eat

Fast food chains have their presence in the city, but more local experiences can be found anywhere. The best place for local fare from both Filipino and international cuisines is the commercial strip along Pacita Avenue.

• 1 Izakaya Rai Rai Ken, San Antonio Drive, San Antonio (Just meters away from San Pedro Exit). Japanese cuisine, such as sushi, sashimi, and bento. They serve sake, as well as soju – due to many Korean tourists eating here. (updated Nov 2018)
• 2 Pares-pares sa Kubuhan, 7 Maharlika Street, United San Pedro Subdivision, San Antonio, ☏ +63 2 834-2415. 6AM-9PM. Lutong bahay dishes served in nipa cottages at a reasonable price. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Ting Qua Qua, Puregold San Pedro, Magsaysay Road, San Antonio (Near the tricycle terminal outside Puregold), ☏ +63 2 869-2846. 9:30AM-10AM. Branch of local chain offering cheap Filipino-Chinese dining. (updated Dec 2018)
• 4 Kapiterya, San Antonio Drive, San Antonio (At San Pedro Exit). Another nice place to hang out and dine near San Pedro Exit. (updated Dec 2018)
• 5 Bricx Café and Bistro bar, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Along Pacita Avenue), ☏ +63 2 838 4659. 10AM-1PM.  (updated Jun 2019)
• 6 Dampa sa Centro Seafood restaurant and grill, Centro Pacita, Pacita complex (Centro Pacita), ☏ +63 2 869 3602. 10AM-10PM. Offers traditional seafood Paluto and Bilao selections. (updated Jun 2019)
• 7 Above sea level I, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Pacita Avenue), ☏ +63 9152534791. 3-11PM. Seafood restaurant. (updated Jun 2019)
• 8 Samgyeop Style Korean Grill, Pacita Avenue, Pacita complex (Pacita Avenue). 4-11PM. Samgyetang Restaurant (updated Jun 2019)
• 9 Casa Luisa, Magsaysay Road, San Antonio, ☏ +63 918 963 1233, casa.luisa.sanpedro@gmail.com. 9AM-9PM Tu-Su, closed M. Filipino cuisine inside a converted residence. (updated Jul 2026)

Drink

There are many restaurants to choose from along National Road, Pacita Complex, Rosario complex, and Ynion Drive in brgy. San Antonio where you can enjoy local beers at affordable prices.

Sleep

There are only a few hotels around San Pedro. Rates vary from ₱200-700 for the first 3 hours and pay an overtime fee every hour. You can also take advantage of other packages if you plan to stay longer like 12-hour or 24-hour stay. It would be better if you stay at hotels in neighboring cities, like in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, to ensure security, quality service and enjoy complete amenities.

• 1 Hotel Sogo San Pedro, San Pedro Town Center, National Highway, San Pedro, toll-free: (02) 8808 2507Country code missing. The only major hotel in town, but is part of a chain of hotels having a bad reputation as haven for extramarital affairs. Has single rooms with A/C, cable TV, bottled water, bathrooms, and free WiFi. ₱1070. (updated Aug 2026)

Cope

San Pedro Apostol Parish (at the old town center) holds hourly Masses (in Tagalog or English) every Sundays.

Go next

Biñan, its larger southern neighbor, is reachable by a ₱10 jeepney ride anywhere along the National Highway.

Routes through San Pedro

Makati ← Alabang ←	N  S	→ Biñan → Calamba
Muntinlupa ←	N  S	→ Biñan → Calamba
Muntinlupa ←	N  S	→ Biñan → Santa Rosa