Angeles - city of the Philippines

Angeles is a city in Pampanga province. The city is rich in history and heritage, with old and historical significant buildings dotting its landscape, but these days it is best known for its high concentration of casinos and sometimes questionable nightlife (though that's changing; see "Drink" below). Aside from these, it is also famous for its extreme sports adventures in the lahar flows of Mt. Pinatubo.

Understand

Angeles is a thriving regional city partly due to its long history of western influence: its Clark Freeport Zone was the massive American Clark Airbase (previously named Fort Stotsenberg) from 1898 until 1991. In 1899, it became the seat of the Philippine government under General Emilio Aguinaldo and the site of the first anniversary celebration of Philippine independence. After World War II, it had the highest concentration of American expatriates as well as Filipino mestizos, some of whom chose to settle here permanently. Today Angeles is known for its booming nightlife and is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, particularly from South Korea. Its center, Balibago, is especially known for its fine restaurants, hotels and shopping malls. Within Balibago is the neon-lit Fields Avenue, known for its bars, nightclubs and what could be one of the world's largest concentration of go-go bars. Adjoining Clark Freeport Zone is the site of world-class resorts, casinos, duty-free shops and beautifully landscaped golf courses. The city, and the rest of the Pampanga region, is known as the culinary center of the Philippines.

While Angeles is administratively separate from Pampanga, Wikivoyage treats it as part of Pampanga. This page also covers Mabalacat, while a city on its own, is more of a suburb of Angeles; it houses the Clark Freeport Zone that has the airport.

Get in

Angeles is well connected by road to any place on Luzon and it has a busy international airport.

By plane

• Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK), 15.185833°, 120.559722°. Also called Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)

Many budget airlines fly to Clark because it is reasonably close to Metro Manila and has lower landing fees than Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. For travelers, Clark is often more convenient than heavily-congested Manila, especially if your final destination is in the northern Philippines. If you are headed further south, to the Visayas or Mindanao, then Cebu Airport is another alternative.

Flights arrive at a newer and larger terminal built to the north and opened 2022; it will also connect to the future airport rail link to Manila. The older and smaller terminal has been permanently closed.

The airport has adequate travel facilities such as currency exchange, duty free shopping center, souvenir shops, free wireless internet, a tourist information center, hotel and travel agency representatives, and car rental services. The roadways around the airport are fairly rural, making transport between the airport and the city quick and hassle-free.

Onward ticket required

As anywhere in the Philippines, tourist visa requirements include having an onward ticket; if you do not have a return ticket then you must have another ticket out of the country or they will not let you in. Most airlines check this when you go to check in for a flight to the Philippines, and will not let you board without it.

Flights include:

• Scoot Air - Singapore.
• Jin Air - Seoul and Busan.
• Cebu Pacific -Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau.
• Asiana Airlines. - Seoul.
• Cathay Dragon. - Hong Kong.
• Qatar Airways. - Doha.
• Emirates. - Dubai.
• Jetstar Asia. - Singapore.
• China Eastern Airlines. - Shanghai Domestic flights are offered by Cebu Pacific and Air Asia to Cebu. Davao, and Kalibo which gives access to Boracay.

Ground transportation

Don't worry about finding transport as taxi drivers will heavily solicit you for patronage as you exit the airport. However, the taxi fares are steep compared to other modes of transportation, so for example, the fare from the airport to Fields is for a 15-minute ride.

Some possible alternatives to avoid this rip-off are:

• Use the Grab app, and hail your own taxi online just as you exit the terminal. The price varies with demand, but is generally to both from and to the airport, as of 2020.
• To get to the airport from Dau Bus Terminal the "cheap way": take a jeepney to the main gate (). At the main gate ask for the jeepneys to the airport. These drop you at the entrance of the airport parking (). You must then walk less than 5 minutes to the terminal building. Count 15–30 minutes in total. At maingate, some jeepney drivers will also offer to bring you to the terminal building for about , just insist that you want to go the cheap way.

Construction of an airport rail link with Manila began in 2021, which will terminate at a station outside the North Terminal. This is planned to open by 2024. This will be served by limited express trains to Manila, as well as regular commuter trains that will stop at Angeles proper before continuing down to Manila.

By bus

• Dau Bus Terminal, MacArthur Highway, Dau, Mabalacat. Angeles' central bus terminal, it serve buses headed for the city and also those headed toward Northern Luzon. There is one shelter, which has some shops and food stands. Nearby is a CityMall shopping mall, fast-food chains, and a Hotel Sogo location. 2019-12-30

This is the most common and economical way to get to Angeles from Metro Manila. It normally takes 1½ hours to get to Angeles by bus, however, travelers must consider the unpredictable effect heavy traffic and downpours will have on the trip. In short, give yourself plenty of time to travel by bus.

Most provincial buses bound for the Ilocos region will have a short stopover at Dau, before heading onward. However, from the opposite direction, you need to get down at Tarlac City and transfer to an uncomfortable ordinary class minibus headed for Angeles.

Bus companies

• Five Star. Has trips from their terminals in Pasay and Cubao. one-way 2019-12-30
• Philippine Rabbit. Plies the Santa Cruz, Manila-Dau route. 2019-12-30

By car

The best way from Manila to Angeles via car is taking the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) which extends until Santa Ines in Mabalacat. You may take either the Angeles exit or Dau exit to get there. Another highway, though narrow, is the MacArthur Highway (Rte 2). Both routes pass through Bulacan, and it usually takes about 1 hour to travel but it is twice the travel time if you plan to take the MacArthur route as it take you through heavily urbanized areas. Rental car companies can be found all over Manila and Angeles. If you don't know the routes, you can hire drivers by asking the attendant of the rent-a-car shop.

From the north, the best route is on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) or MacArthur. From Subic or Bataan, SCTEx is preferred, but there is a also an old highway on the same corridor, Rte 217.

Get around

By jeepney

To hop on a colorful jeepney is certainly the most affordable way to get around downtown. It is available 24 hours a day and it is the most famous mode of transportation in the country, which connects towns and cities together. Since jeepneys tend to be overcrowded with passengers, tourists carrying bulky luggage should consider traveling by taxi.

By taxi

Though more convenient for tourists, taxis are less common in Angeles and not normally used for travel outside the city. Rather, they are primarily used to tour around the Clark Freeport Zone and for transport to and from the airport. Simson's taxicab terminal can be found particularly next to Clark's main gate (opposite Jollibee) and SM City Clark in Balibago.

Grab ride-hailing service is available in Angeles since 2016.

By trike

Trikes (or tricycles) are motorcycles with a small attached passenger cabin. They are restricted to low-speed roads and not permitted to enter the area surrounding the airport. Passengers of larger physical stature may find riding in them uncomfortable. Nevertheless, because of their slower speeds, trikes are generally a safe mode of transport. Groups of two can take a trike if one is comfortable riding behind the driver in the style of a moto-taxi.

Fares are negotiable if you hail a trike on the street, but are notoriously high in Angeles if you do it this way, with foreigners asked flat even for a short (up to 1-1,5 km) trip, more for longer ones (or even if you just have lots of baggage), and not much chance to bargain. This is both clearly illegal (the updated fare chart published in 2019 starts from ) and easily twice the metered air-conditioned taxi fare in Manila. Hailing a Grab (see above in By taxi section) car from the phone is often cheaper, not to mention the GrabTrike service available in the same app.

By bus

Clark Freeport operates a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Clark Loop, with two lines from SM Clark. Buses leave every 20 minutes; some stops are on the median of the Manuel A. Roxas Hwy, otherwise, they operate like regular city buses. Rides are free.

See

• Fort Stotsenburg, Sapang Bato, 15.179803°, 120.523139°. The former headquarters of American cavalry divisions sent to the Philippines during the Philippine-American War. Destroyed in World War II, only its gateposts remains. 2019-10-23
• Pamintuan Mansion (Museum of Philippine Social History), Miranda St, 15.135699°, 120.591517°, +63 45 304-4042. 8AM-4PM. A century-old heritage house, which houses the Museum of Philippine Social History since 2015. The museum features exhibits and artifacts related to Filipino daily livelihood and leisure. It was used by the American soldiers during World War II, converted to the Angeles Hotel sometime after the war, and was the satellite office of the Philippine central bank from 1993 to 2009. Free admission, although prior notice is needed before visit 2020-04-03
• Founders' Residence (Bale Matua). Located at the heart of Santo Rosario, it is the oldest building in the city. It was built in 1824 by the city founder, Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda, and his wife, Doña Rosalia de Jesus, and was inherited by their only daughter, Doña Juana de Miranda de Henson. This house, which is made of high stone and an ornate gate, nostalgically symbolizes the glorious past of Angeles amidst the overwhelming onslaughts of modernization. 2020-04-03
• Post Office Building (Deposito). It is a building that was constructed in 1899 for the purpose of depositing religious statues and carriages of the Catholic Church, hence the name Deposito. It was also used as the headquarters of the 11th Film Exchange U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947 and was then used as a jailhouse for recalcitrant U.S. troops during the Philippine–American War. On February 6, 1967, the Angeles Post Office moved to this building. It is now the site of Angeles Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Center. 2020-04-03
• Holy Rosary Church (Santo Rosario Church), 15.134369°, 120.590401°. The church was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the "Polo y Servicio" labor system, a kind of forced labor imposed on Filipino peasants by the Spanish colonial government. It was used as a military hospital by the U.S. Army from August 1899 to December 1900. Its backyard was the execution ground used by Spanish forces to shoot Filipino rebels and suspects. 2020-04-03
• Holy Family Academy Building. Holy Family Academy Building was once a convent and was served as a military hospital of the U.S. Army in 1900. It was later used as troop barracks, officers' quarters and arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Military Forces in the year of 1942. 2020-04-03
• Museo ning Angeles (Museum of Angeles), 15.134776°, 120.591015°. Museo ning Angeles a vintage building located at the "Santo Rosario Historic District" across the Holy Rosary Church. This edifice was constructed in 1922 and served as the Town Hall until 1998. The Museum has become the venue of the city's cultural activities be it from the or government sector. From the time it opened in the year 1999, it has been a venue for various activities from exhibits, art classes, concerts, venue for performances and climax for traditional celebrations. In June 2012, the National Museum of the Philippines declared the Museo ning Angeles as an "Important Cultural Property of the Philippines," the first cultural property to be given such a distinction. The museum is administered by Kuliat Foundation, Inc. 2020-04-03
• Bale Herencia, Lakandula St. corner Santo Rosario St. Built in 1860, it is a picturesque house with the unsavory reputation of having been built for the mistress of a parish priest. The current owners have leased the place to various restaurants, food stalls, and other businesses like salons and computer shops. The antique architecture, however, is still preserved. 2020-04-03
• Center for Kapampangan Studies, 15.133329°, 120.589921°, +63 45 887 5748, kapampangancenter@gmail.com. A museum inside the Holy Angel University showcasing the culture of the Kapampangans, a major ethnic group in Pampanga. 2020-04-03
• Lily Hill / Goddess of Peace Shrine, 15.193284°, 120.534501°. Lily Hill is the highest point in the Clark area with an elevation of 32-meters (105 ft). The name of the hill, is the anglicized form of the word "lili" in the local language of the Aetas which means "lost". It was used as an outpost by American soldiers, and later by the Japanese during World War II. In 1998, the Goddess of Peace Shrine was set up, which has a large statue as its centerpiece accompanied by a plaque in English and Japanese. 2020-04-03
• Apung Mamacalulu Shrine (Archdiocesan Shrine of the Lord of the Holy Sepulcher), C. Dayrit St, 15.141236°, 120.590024°. A stone church which is known for hosting the image of Jesus Christ known as "Apung Mamacalulu" (Merciful Lord). The image commissioned in the mid-19th century during the Spanish colonial era, is believed to be miraculous by its devotees. 2020-04-03
• Expo Pilipino (Clark Expo), 15.205183°, 120.527264°. A exposition center opened in 1998 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence. It features a 35,000-seater covered amphitheater. 2020-04-03
• Nayong Pilipino Clark, 15.20303°, 120.529645°. 2020-04-03
• Kapampangan Museum (Clark Museum). 2020-04-03
• Bayanihan Park (formerly Astro Park), 15.168488°, 120.586918°. A park at the Clark Freeport Zone near SM City Clark shopping mall. It features the "Salakot" a large pavilion structure named after the native hat of the same name due to the shape of its roof. 2020-04-03
• Clark Freeport Zone (Formerly Clark Air Base), 15.18493°, 120.5394°. 2019-10-23
• Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angel, Holy Angel University, 15.132185°, 120.589454°. The main chapel of the Holy Angel University. It is noted for its cotemporary white facade which has an unconventional structure for modern churches.It is dedicated to the Guardian Angel, which is the patron of both the school and the city of Angeles. It also hosts image which was commissioned in the Spanish colonial era in 1830 by Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda. 2021-01-01
• Reynaldo G. Alejandro Culinary Library. Dedicated to Reynaldo ‘Ronnie’ Gamboa Alejandro (1941–2009), who was a leading exponent of Filipino arts and culture. Some years before his death, Ronnie donated a part of his extensive library to the Culiat Foundation in support of its efforts to promote and preserve the Kapampangan culinary heritage. 2021-01-02

Do

Events

• Philippine International Hot-air Balloon Fiesta is held every year between January and February at Clark Special Economic Zone. It features multicolored hot-air balloons with more than a hundred balloon pilots from around the world and considered to be the biggest aviation sports event in the country.
• Tigtigan Terakan keng Dalan(Music and Dancing in the Streets) which started in 1992, is an annual all-night party along MacArthur Highway, Balibago, held on the last Friday & Saturday of October. Restaurants & bars set-up tables & chairs along the streets, and serves over-flowing food and drinks. It features non-stop music from amateur and national bands and is attended by celebrities, out-of-towners and locals alike. This event is used to celebrate the Oktoberfest.
• Sisig Festival is held every December, celebrating the Kapampangan dish sisig, which said to have originated in this city.

Sports

• Drag racing is organized by the Angeles Hot Rod Association (AHRA) the oldest drag racing in the Philippines. You can find this attraction at the Omni Aviation inside the Clark Ecozone. AHRA is where you will find most of the big V8 muscle cars, as well as many "bangers." In addition to race meets, they also organize and run regular classic and custom car shows, swap meets, social events and more.
• Play pool in a city of great champions like Efren Reyes and Rodolfo Luat. Angeles has an abundance of pool tables to play all along the Fields Avenue and hundreds of other places in the city.
• Mount Arayat Trek, +63 45 892-6239. Available November through May. Prices range: day trips (minimum of 3 persons, per person) and overnight trips (minimum of 3 persons, per person).
• Trekking Mount Pinatubo, 15.13°, 120.35°, +63-2-925-1009, pinatubo@philippineadventures.com. A once in a lifetime experience, highly recommended for hiking enthusiasts. Board a Filipino 4x4 jeep and experience a thrilling drive across Crow Valley, a moon-like terrain, with vast ash fields and rocky rivers. You will hike up towards the summit passing through sandy cliffs and up a mountain path. The views of the Crater Lake are absolutely breathtaking. On the way back you have the opportunity to visit an Aeta Village and enjoy interacting with one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the Philippines. The trip is a full day tour departing early in the morning. You will hike anywhere between 3 - 6 hours depending on your fitness.
• Mount Pinatubo aerial tours is for you if you want to have the best seat to view the volcano that once ravaged Central Luzon. Considered one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century, the eruption affected global weather patterns. Having been dormant for centuries, Mount Pinatubo erupted anew in 1991, spewing an ash plume that spread around the globe. Have a bird's-eye-view of the crater, surreal ash canyons and the remnants of the once-devastating lahar flows. Flights depart out of Omni Aviation Complex at Clark Field. Cost is US$55 per person, flying time for 1 to 2 persons is 45 minutes while for 3 or more is one hour. The best time to fly is early in the morning (sunrise-10AM) and in the late afternoon (3PM-sunset).
• Ultra-light flying is one sport that is definitely growing. If you want your senses get heightened and your heart pound as the wind whistles through your hair, this is for you! This is organized by the Angeles City Flying Club. The area also offers many additional attractions, from diving to cycling to hiking to night clubbing.
• Drive off-road is a challenge where you can take on a wild, bumpy, ride in old four-wheel-drive jeeps in a safari-like journey across the dusty expanse of the valley to a campsite. It is organized by the Angeles City Four Wheelers Club and is ideal for trekking and be able to see the lahar canyons, Gate of Heaven and other sites in Mount Pinatubo.
• Golf, world-class golf courses, such as Holiday Inn Golf and Resort, Fontana Resort, Angeles Sports and Country Club, and J&K Golf are the recommended golf courses for those so inclined.
• Lawn bowling is the only one in the country and is offered at the Hidden Vale and Angeles Sports and Country Club, a mature site which includes a nine-hole golf course, luxurious penthouse suites and driving range.
• Clark International Speedway (CIS), Panday Pira Ave, 15.208351°, 120.53845°, +63 45 4998 8034, clarkspeedway@gmail.com. Reserve a day for motorsports activity at the Clark International Speedway, a 4.19 km permanent race track. No walk-ins allowed. Closed Mondays. 2021-01-01

Leisure and nightlife

• The Mansion is undeniably one of the best party destinations in the Philippines. The Mansion's luxury clubbing is situated at The Enclave, Friendship Highway. Its proximity to Clark Freeport gives it unique accessibility, 1½ hr away from Manila, 30 minutes away from Subic by virtue of SCTEX and is near Bulacan and Tarlac. It has 2 floors, with the ground floor having a standing room capacity 700 people and the 2nd floor VVIP area 150 people. It was conceptualized by socialite, Divine Lee and renowned eventologist, Tim Yap.
• Gambling, being renowned as a city with high concentration of casinos, such as Casino Filipino-Angeles, Casino Filipino-Mimosa, Fontana Casino, and Casablanca Casino, Angeles offers a variety of activities that will keep leisure travelers definitely happy.

Buy

Malls

• Ayala-MarQuee Mall, Aniceto Gueco Street, 15.162832°, 120.609885°. 8AM-9PM. A major shopping mall in Angeles under Ayala Malls. 2016-09-21
• City Mall, 15.178188°, 120.589054°. 8AM-10PM. A small retail center in Dau, Mabalacat. 2016-09-21
• Robinsons Angeles, McArthur Highway, 15.157434°, 120.591451°. 9AM-8PM. A Robinsons shopping mall in Angeles. 2016-09-21
• SM City Clark, Clark Gate, 15.168354°, 120.580053°. 9AM-9PM. A major shopping mall at the Clark Freeport Zone under the SM Supermalls mall chain. 2016-09-21

Shopping

Duty-free stores are to be found inside the Clark Ecozone, namely Puregold, Oriental, Parkson, Clark Interiors, Liberty, and Arjan that sell imported housewares, cooking items, snacks and branded clothes. Most of which are surplus so they are cheaper. Some of these stores have an extensive selection of cigarettes and perfumes as well.

The baratillos (cheap or thrift stores) sell crap the likes of which you cannot imagine. If you really want a native experience, go to one of those open-air tiangges; there are several of them around town. Hop on a jeepney and have someone take you. There are many other fun places to shop household items, clothing, including audio-video equipment in a makeshift market called tiangge at bargain prices at barangay Apo every Friday.

Handicraft stores sell locally good and export-quality craftwork. The Rosa's Handicraft Gift Shop and Mhea's Custom Woodcraft have a large selection of gift items and are in Balibago district. Stores selling souvenir shirts, woodcraft and other local stuff are also dotted along Fields Avenue and they are sold for cheaper prices.

Eat

Angeles is known for being the Culinary Center of the Philippines. This reputation reportedly goes back to the Spanish colonial times where it is said that the Kapampangan cook learned very quickly to improvise on Spanish dishes using local ingredients.

The culinary adventure in Angeles is sure to be an experience of a lifetime. A must-eat dish is sisig.m, which Angeles is famous for. From its humble beginnings in Aling Lucing's Eatery along Angeles' railway to its present top-of-the-menu ranking in Manila's bars and nightclubs, sisig has come to conquer the Filipino drinkers' palate. It has become the quintessential pulutan fare — the default order that comes with every round of beer.

Other not-to-be-missed local mouth-watering cuisines are Dencio's kare-kare (another Kapampangan menu, which is a Philippine stew made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef and occasionally offal or tripe), fresh papaya lumpia, tilapia in tausi sauce, adobong pugo, morcon, tortang bangus (milkfish stuffed with ground pork), Everybody's Cafe's camaru (fried cricket adobo), kilayin baboy (pork meat and lungs pickled in a marinade of vinegar or calamansi juice, usually along with garlic, onions and hot/sweet peppers), bringhe (local Spanish paella), bulanglang (meat or fish broth soured with guava fruit), Aling Luring's batute (a frog stuffed with ground and seasoned pork, then deep fried to a crisp), burong isda (fermented rice with fish or small shrimps), pork and carabao tocino, Bale Dutung's burong talangka (the fat of salted little crabs, very rich and laden with cholesterol but hard to resist), Filipinized pizza in a bilao at Armando's Pizza, brazo de mercedes, halo-halo from Razon's and Corazon's (a popular dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk, added with various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a glass or bowl), Susie's Cuisine's famous pancit luglog (palabok), tibuk tibok (made from carabao's milk and also known as "maja blanca"), tocino del cielo (a richer version of leche flan) and turron de casoy.

If you like drinking beer and eating barbecue, then Frank & Jim, Ikabud, Whythaus Grill, Wishing Well, Marisol Steakhouses and the eateries along Angeles railroad crossing are certainly the spots for you. Street foods, such as fishballs and kikiams on sticks, are a must-try at Nepo Compound vendor stands.

If local cuisine is not your type, no need to worry as the city has a wide range of pretty decent restaurants to choose from with American, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and Korean cuisines.

A number of coffee shops are also to be seen even in the outskirts of the city that serve drip regular coffee, decaff, brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, other hot and cold drinks, and snacks.

• Angeles Fried Chicken, 1992 Marlim Ave., Diamond Subd., Balibago (near Casino Filipino-Angeles- 2 km away from Clarkfield), +63-453224448. The oldest restaurant in Angeles City, offers a wide array of food. Locally famous for its juicy chicken (crispy or regular) with coleslaw and gravy. Also popular: gambas, sisig, calamares,Japanese fried chicken, pancit canton, bihon, clubhouse sandwich, iced tea.
• Frontera Tex-Mex Cantina, 580 Don Juico Ave (Next to Horizon Condo in Perimeter), 15.16661°, 120.56512°, +63 916 369 0548, manager@frontiercantina.com. Noon - 10PM. Very good Texas/Mexican cuisine. Also a standout among many others serving a similar style of cuisine for its young age. US$5 2016-07-10
• Mother's Cakehouse & Restaurant, 1982 Marlim Ave., Diamond Subd., Balibago (near Casino Filipino- 2 km away from Clarkfield), +63-456257593. The oldest cakehouse in Angeles City. Known for its traditional and personalized cakes. The restaurant is so cozy that gives you a homey feeling ambience with pink and white motif. Its baked macaroni is excellent. Other specialties include spareribs, sisig dinuguan, palabok, tacos, spaghetti and Salisbury steak. The restaurant is a sister company of the Famous Angeles Fried Chicken and you can order from their menu too.
• Tequila Reef Cantina (Tequila Reef), Corner of A. Santos and Real Streets (Just off of Fields Avenue), +63 45-892-4397. 9AM to 2AM. Authentic Mexican cuisine, Bar-B-Q chicken & ribs, New Orleans “Cajun” specialties, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and Filipino food.
• Camalig, 292 Sto. Rosario St, 15.135169°, 120.589172°, +63 45 322 5641, camalig@comclark.com. A long-time local restaurant open since 1973 known for "Armando's Pizza" which is billed as "the national pizza". It is purported to be made in-house using classic homegrown Pinoy pizza recipe. Camalig has a selection of 18 pizza flavors. It is housed inside a historic structure built in 1840 by Don Ciriaco de Miranda, the first gobernadorcillo of Angeles, and was used as a grain storehouse. It was restored in 1980 by Armando L. Nepomuceno. 2021-01-01

Drink

The infamous nightlife scene on Fields Avenue sprang up to service American military men stationed at the nearby Clark Air Force Base. But now, the adjoining Balibago district is home to many decent bars and karaoke joints. It has a number of clubs which fit any budget and personality. There are traditional clubs with DJs and live band clubs. For an endless evening of dancing and pulsating music, head for the bright lights of Balibago. Fields Avenue and McArthur Highway are the places to head for go-go bars, comedy bar shows, sing-along or karaoke bars, nightclubs and drinking beer - it is a non-stop pleasure seven days a week, every day of the year.

• The Mansion, The Enclave, Friendship Road, Balibago, +63 918-889-2222, villasattheenclave@gmail.com. F Sa from 9PM onwards.
• Sax Bar, Diamond Service Road, McArthur Highway, Balibago, +63 45 892-3574.
• Whythaus Grill & KTV, Severina Lim Avenue, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, +63 45 624-6092.
• Wishing Well Music Lounge (KTV & Grill), Severina Lim Avenue, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, +63 45 322-4857.
• Spencer's Fusion Bar & Restaurant, Saver's Mall, McArthur Highway, Balibago, +63 45 892-5826, +63 45 323-6888.
• R&B Music Venue, Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias.
• S.O.S., Fields Avenue, Balibago.
• Skytraxx, Fields Avenue, Balibago.
• Suave's Music Lounge, A. Santos and Real Streets, Balibago. Nightly, from 8PM to 2PM
• The London Bar, 4370-B Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.
• Topsy Turvy, 4370-B Arayat Street, 1st Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.
• Klub Caterva, 4370-G Arayat Street, 2nd Floor, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago.
• Pinatubo Brewing Point, 355 Yukon Street, Riverside Sub., Friendship Subdivision. Microbrewery run by a German expat brewing German style beers and serving German snacks. 2016-07-26 One of the famous attractions of the area is prostitution which is illegal in the Philippines but widespread, especially in some areas including here. See the Philippines article for discussion.

Sleep

There are many nice hotels around the city, furnished with the luxury of modern day living with upgraded facilities to accommodate your needs. Some can be found along the Clark Perimeter Road while others within the Clark Freeport Zone. Lower-cost accommodation in the main entertainment area near Fields Ave., however, tends to be expensive by Asian standards, with prices starting around , and the cheapest places are often fully booked. If you look for the budget options, while still in the bar area and walking distance from Fields Ave. proper, head along the Fields Ave. to the west, where it is no more traffic-free and continues along the Clark Freeport Zone fence as the Perimeter Road (Don Juico Ave.). Numerous cheap () rooms can be found here, and more upmarket hotels (ABC Hotel, for example, which is also a well-known landmark in the area). The Perimeter Road is quite busy even at night, and so is relatively safe to walk home late, compared to the other streets around. Another option is to accept tricycle driver's "cheap hotel" tout - but, as everywhere, this may mean overpricing due to the driver's commission, more concerns about hotel security, and a or more for a trike ride every time you go in and out (or a long walk, which may be not safe in the night time also).

Budget (under )

• C Palace Hotel, 1080 Jake Gonzales Boulevard Malabanias. (near the Abacan bridge.), +63 45 6261880. Fan double rooms with own bathrooms 12/24 hours. Jeepneys go passed the door of the C Palace Hotel to Clark gate and Angeles city . /
• Big Tommys Hotel and Resort, Mc arthur highway balibago (at the back of sumpan and rosalino restaurant), +639185885487. More than 100 A/C and fan double rooms with own hot water bathrooms. Cable TV, refrigerator, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Free Wifi. Surrounded by fruit bearing trees. Spacious parking. 24 hour security. Can pay day or by the month. per day , per month
• Vistillana Hotel, charlotte street and Arayat avenue Balibago. (on a side street off mac arthur hwy.), +63 45 892-5004. Fan and A/C double rooms with own bathrooms. Cable TV add . Double room

Mid-range

• Hotel V, Block 1,4,5,6 Lot-1 Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, +63 45 625 5642. Well-maintained rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen cable TV and private toilet and bath. Facilities and services are room service, airport transfer and laundry service. From
• Affinity Condo resort, 107a Sofia St, Malabanias (100), +63 9272634675, affinitycondoreservation@gmail.com. Feel at home with your own kitchen, dining room, separate bedrooms, built-in-robes, linen cupboards and low-cost laundry facility. We offer fully furnished studios, 1-bedroom and 2 -bedroom condominiums.
• Holiday Inn Hotel and Resort - Mimosa, Mimosa Drive, Clark Field, +63 2 845-1888, +63 45 599-8000, hircf@comclark.com. The region's only Holiday Inn Resort, it has deluxe rooms which range from about US$60/night on up. This is by far the largest hotel in the Angeles area, having over 300 rooms, suites and villas. It is on the Mimosa Leisure Estate, which has the best golf course in the region and a casino. This is a business-class convention hotel for Clark. No problem bringing in a guest (or two). It has smoking and non-smoking rooms. Government rate is generally the lowest available. This location within the Clark Freeport Zone is only a few miles away from the entertainment district. Taxi service is available 24/7 for to the bar area.
• Angeles Beach Club Hotel (ABC Hotel), Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias (in front of SM City Clark), +63 45 892-2222, info@angelesbeachclubhotel.com. This four-star hotel is known as "The Party Hotel," with unique furnishings such as an in-room party Jacuzzi and a sauna cabin. Its main attractions are its tropical beach pool and bar, and the Sky Bar and Lounge on the ABC Hotel rooftop, which allegedly offers the best views of the sunset over the mountains west of Angeles City. The hotel has a free shuttle service for its guests to and from Clark International Airport, as well as a helicopter service to Manila, Subic, and Mt. Pinatubo. All its guestrooms have Wi-Fi internet access, and are furnished with imported king-size to XXL mattresses among other five-star caliber.
• Eureka Hotel, Don Juico Avenue, Balibago. Eureka Hotel has furnished rooms equipped with basic amenities like, Wifi, air-conditioner and LCD TV with cable. The hotel also has an affiliate travel agency that arranges day tours in the city and trekking in the famous Mt. Pinatubo. It is near Field's Avenue, the center of Angeles City's entertainment.
• Oasis Hotel, Clark Perimeter Road, Clarkview Compound, Malabanias, +63 45 322-3301, reserve@oasishotel.com.ph. Once a favorite of visiting US Air Force officers, this quiet, respectable hotel is in a secure residential compound. The hotel has all the services you will need including a 24-hour room service, 24-hour foreign currency exchange, 24-hour high security and dual-key safe deposit boxes, laundry service, a beautiful swmimming pool, a business center with internet access and a gift shop. The hotel restaurant, Maranao Grill, is open 24 hours and there is an English pub. Standard and deluxe rooms. This is a place where you can bring your wife and kids if you are not able to leave them at home.
• Fontana Leisure Park, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark Field, +63 45 599-5000, +63 45 599-8118, resortsales@fontanaleisureparks.com. It features a world-class wave pool that can electronically produce various types of waves and three giant aqua thrill slides. The park also has other attractions like the mad scientist water laboratory, the buccaneer ship and the lazy river. A prelude to the coming 18-hole championship course, the pitch and putt of the golf course is a perfect place for golfers to practice their game. It also has a casino which offers over a hundred slot and video machines and 40 gaming tables with games like Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette and Pai-Gow.
• Clarkton Hotel, 620 Don Juico Avenue, Balibago, +63 45 322-3424, info@clarkton.com. This is a German-managed hotel that has 93 rooms. Large suites are available on the 3rd floor. It has an excellent restaurant, on-site go-go bar, a 24-hour room service and a large, clean pool. The pool area is a popular gathering place. Single deluxe room is while a suite is for or .
• Hotel Stotsenberg, Gil Puyat Avenue corner A. Soriano Street, Clark Field, +63 45 499-0777. This resort, with a casino, enjoys the best of worlds as it is a serene sanctuary, yet only a breeze away from an exciting nightlife. Just five minutes away from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, the hotel is accessible from all points in Greater Luzon via the North Luzon Expressway and other arterial highways - making it an excellent base for the discerning business as well as leisure travelers. Deluxe room is US$83, executive suit is $98, Clark suite is $263 and Stotsenberg suite is $299.
• Pacific Breeze Hotel and Resort, 1888 Vian Street, Balibago, +63 45 625-6494, +63 45 625-6495, +63 45 892-5293, info@pacificbreezehotel.com. It offers the most complete set of services and it is one of the better facilities in Angeles. With the completion of the Oahu Wing, they have also added a large conference rooms that may be rented for meetings, parties or other social functions. Here is a brief list of some of the amenities that await you: a 56 guest-room main building with elevator access to the roof top; a 50 guest-room Oahu Wing annex; and a large rooftop conference room for meetings, or other social functions.
• Oxford Hotel, M.A. Roxas Avenue corner N. Aquino Avenue, Clark Field, +63 45 599-7888. It features small function and meeting rooms and a very large convention hall which can accommodate approximately 2,500 business, personal company team building or political guests. Stay at this hotel and get Mount Pinatubo Trek discounts.
• Hotel Royal Amsterdam, 648 Fields Avenue, Balibago, +63 45 892-3392, info@hotelroyalamsterdam.com. It is one of the newest hotels in town and right in the middle of all the action on Fields Ave. Built from the ground up, room rates range from US$20 to $150.
• Mo's Place, Fields Avenue corner A. Santos Street, Balibago, +63 45 892-0509. Budget hotel with its own sports bar, swim-up bar and swimming pool. Rooms are a bit worn, and extra towels will cost you each. It has an in-house travel agency that can arrange tours around Angeles. Rooms rates start at about US$36.
• Clark Hostel Hotel, Ninoy Aquino Avenue corner M.A. Roxas Avenue, Clark Field, +63 45 599-7500,+63 45 599-7501. Stay in a cozy, unique boutique condotel with many amenities and most importantly, good old fashioned warm and friendly Filipino hospitality. If you are planning an extended trip to Clark, this is the place to lodge. It is a favorite lodging facility for budget minded games-of-chance players as various casinos abound in and around the area, some within walking distance. It has a coffee shop, bar and grill with seating capacity of 200 persons at the garden coffee shop/bar with live music performances Friday nights.
• Swiss Chalet Hotel, A. Santos Street corner Real Street, Balibago, at the site of the former Lollipop Bar, +63 45 888-2618, info@swisschaletph.com. Rooms are priced from . It has no swimming pool but has an excellent restaurant.
• Orchid Inn Resort, 109 Raymond Street, Balibago, +63 45 322-0370, +63 45 892-2653, info@orchid-inn.com. This resort has 84 rooms in the heart of the Balibago entertainment area. The resort has three buildings: the 24-room original inn, a 27-room extension and a third building, a 33-room annex completed in November 2001, called the Jasmine Wing. The family superior deluxe rooms in the extension are huge. A large tropical garden of lawn and shrubs surrounds the new 50 feet by 25 feet swimming pool. 24-hour room service is available from the hotel restaurant. Safe deposit box access is available 24 hours. Orchid rooms are priced from US$32-66.
• Wild Orchid Resort, A. Santos Street corner Johnny Street, Balibago, +63 45 625-6335, info@wildorchidresort.com. Prices range from US$80-100. The resort is in the center of the entertainment district for easy walking to all of Angeles' finest clubs.
• Central Park Tower, 888 Lourdes Street, Balibago, +63 45 458 0122.
• Century Resort Hotel, MacArthur Highway, Balibago, +63 45 322-7454, century@comclark.com. The Casino Filipino-Angeles and Klownz Comedy Bar are just right next to this hotel and it is very accessible to Angeles' vibrant nightlife of Balibago district. Rate ranges from .
• Maharajah Hotel, Texas Street, Villa Sol Subdivision, Anunas, +63 45 625-6973, mahatel@mozcom.com. Price ranges from .
• Phoenix Hotel, 1810 Malabanias corner Perimeter Road, Malabanias, +63 45 888-2195,+63 45 888-2196, info@phoenixhotel.com.ph. This hotel has 33 spacious, comfortable rooms including non-smoking rooms. Each room is fully carpeted and includes cable TV, mini-bars, air-conditioning, telephones and a 24-hour room service with a full international menu. Same-day laundry and dry cleaning service are available.
• Swagman-Narra Hotel, S.L. Orosa Street, Diamond Subdivision, Balibago, +63 45 322-5133, bookings@angelescity.info. Named after the national tree of the Philippines, the Narra tree, it offers a spa, swimming pool, a bar and restaurant, pool, karaoke stage, barbecue cooking area and excellent food with a variety of steaks and seafood as well as Australian, Filipino, Thai and Chinese specialties. As an added bonus, there are night-time specials and a Sunday lunch roast. Fine wines are always available.
• Blue Bianco Suites, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark Field, +63 45 599-3956. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. From
• Patio Inn, 4410 S.L. Orosa St. Diamond Subd. Balibago, +63 45 322-4272,+63 45 892-0890, patioinnhotels@hotmail.com. With 16 well-appointed rooms, a 24-hour bar and restaurant, library and business center, the Patio is where you can escape, relax but still be in touch, when you want. It also has top-quality car rentals, van, trucks and motorcycle rentals.
• Widus Resort and Casino, 5414 M.A. Roxas Avenue, Clark Freeport, +63 45 499-1000. A tropical paradise hotel in Clark Freeport, this deluxe hotel is set in a lush green landscape of acacia and palm trees, where natural light and ventilation were given emphasis to achieve a breezy atmosphere. A host of first-class recreational facilities and accommodation amenities await travelers and guests. It offers you modern comforts in a traditional style, perfectly suitable for business and leisure. It has 119 modern Asian inspired hotel rooms, uniquely-shaped swimming pool and waterfalls, spa, gym, all-day dining restaurants that offer local and international cuisine, function rooms, 24-hour reception and room service, wireless internet and casino.
• Donald Paul Apartelle (& Country Kitchen), Surla Street (across from the city hygiene, near the casino, a few steps away from Fields Avenue), +63 45 322-5569, the_donald_paul_apartelle@yahoo.com. A relatively new establishment, in a quiet location, which offers queen and king size rooms, as well as two apartments that each have two bedrooms and a lounge. The whole building is very clean. The hotel has a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi/computers, and a kitchen that is open "24 & a half" hours with room service available around the clock. The staff are exceptionally friendly. Rooms start from a night.
• Best Western Metro Clark, Saver's Mall, MacArthur Highway, Balibago, +63 45 458 3423.
• Bourbon Street Condotel, Bourbon Street Apartments, A. Santos Street, Balibag, +63 45 625-6172. Bourbon Street Estate Apartments is centrally located in the Tourist District of Angeles City. We are not just a hotel. The suites are contemporary designed and furnished. Complete facilities and amenities, security system and internet services, spacious bathrooms and functional built-in kitchen system.
• Villa Santol, Fatima St, Santa Maria 1, +63 919-2201143. For any backpackers heading to Angeles after a Clark flight, this place was an inexpensive and friendly budget option. Not far from restaurants, Clark or Dau bus terminal (for buses north to Baguio, Banaue, Vigan and so on) and friendly, helpful staff. Make sure you tell your taxi or trike driver "Santa Maria 1", not to Santol Street. It is just south of Fields Avenue, and just west of the Macarthur Highway. for a double fan with TV
• Seinpost Hotel, 15 Rizal Street Plaridel I, +63 45 892-2585. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Renovated building, walking distance from the entertainment capital of Angeles City, Fields Avenue. Away from busy streets, with parking space.
• Princess Madison Hotel Angeles, RJK Zapata Bldg, 105 Zeppelin St. Balibago. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Princess Madison Hotel is in Fields Avenue. The hotel has 32 furnished rooms inclusive of basic hotel amenities. The hotel is also famous for its Zap Bar that serves specialty drinks, premium wines and beer.
• Surla Hotel, 1335-A Surla St., cor Sorluisa, Balibago. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Hotel Surla is a 10-room budget hotel.
• Perimeter Hotel, 464 Don Juico Avenue, Clark View, Malabanias, Pampanga , Philippines. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. A renovated hotel with fully air conditioned rooms. Hotel has Jacuzzi rooms, free Wi-fi access, cable tv, running hot and cold water, free hot tea or coffee, safety deposit box, safe parking 24/7, laundry service and transport service. The restaurant serves International cuisines and has two bars on the ground floor with pool tables. Near the nightlife localities of Angeles City.
• Rumi Apartelle Hotel, Malabanias Road. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. Rumi Apartelle Hotel caters to all types of travellers. The hotel offers budget, standard, deluxe and superior rooms. It is in the heart of Angeles City near the malls, bars and restaurants of the city.
• Hotel Inn Crown Apartelle (Hotel/Lodge), Lot 1 Makiling st. Cor. Arayat st. Clarkview Subd., +63 9183552829. Offers check-in and checkout at any time of day, 24 hours room service, hot and cold water, 32" LCD TV, internet access, food order, inter phone, air-conditioned rooms. , 3 hours , succeeding hour is only
• Tune Hotel, Don Juico Avenue, Malabanias, +63 3 7962 5888, enquiry@tunehotels.com. Check-in: 2PM onwards, check-out: 11AM. On Friendship Road where hotels, restaurants and bars are found. Oe of the many Tune Hotels in the Philippines and Asia. The hotel has 10 floors and 165 rooms. Each room features high quality spring mattress beds with pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and 250-thread count duvets, power showers, Internet connection, flat-screen TV, safe deposit box, and 24-hour security.
• Hostel C Hotel, 127 A Avenue, Balibago. Hostel C Hotel offers budget accommodation in Economy, Standard and Deluxe hotel rooms. Long term accommodation is also being offered.It is within the perimeter way of the famous Fields Avenue- the center of Angeles City's entertainment.

Splurge

• Quest Hotel Clark, Mimosa Drive, Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City, Clark Freeport Zone, 15.183335°, 120.524653°, +63 45 599 8000, clarkinfo@questhotelsandresorts.com. Price range from , or as high as for a private villa 2021-01-01

Connect

Internet cafes have become a common sight along university roads, at the malls, hotels and different establishments. You will have no trouble finding cheap and fast internet access. Usual rate ranges between and an hour. You will also find cheap gaming stations aside from internet access.

Prepaid SIM cards of local GSM operators (Globe, Smart, Sun) are widely available and cheap (). International calls, however, are not particularly cheap (though still much cheaper than roaming rates) and usually cost around US$0.40 per minute ($0.30 for Sun, but at the expense of network coverage quality). However, often they have promotions with lower call/SMS rates to the chosen countries - just ask the dealer about that.

Stay healthy

• Angeles City has a high rate of STD & HIV cases.
• Social Hygiene Clinic, RHWC/Bale Angeleno. C Suria Street Balibago (in front of Donald Paul Apartelle), +63 936-7789018. M-F 8AM-5PM. Free STD and HIV testing and treatment.

Cope

• Bureau of Immigration Angeles Office, Ground Floor, metro supermarket, Marquee Mall, +63 45-4040215.

Consulates

• 🇷🇴 Romania, 2-nd Floor Export Industry Bank Building, 343 Sta. Rosario Street, +63 458 886746, sol@philexport.ph. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Manila.)

Stay safe

The tourist and entertainment areas are generally safe as it is filled with pedestrians and police around-the-clock. If you're male, you will likely get heavily solicited by street vendors pitching cigarettes and trike rides. However, they are usually nothing more than minor nuisances. They aren't persistent as long as you show disinterest. It’s the same with the begging population, which is small but visible.

However, venturing into the Clark Perimeter bar areas (around the ABC Hotel) after dark is not recommended or along Santos Street south of Wild Orchid Resort. The rule of thumb is, if it's not well-lit and populated at night, don't go there.

Furthermore, be extremely vigilant of street strangers pretending to know you. These scammers, often middle-aged male trike drivers, usually target solo tourists. With an extended hand, they would say something like "Hi, my friend, I met you at the hotel last night" or "Hey, remember me? I was your driver." Their initial goal is simply to get you talking and drawing down your guard. But their ultimate goal is to transport you to an illegal gambling den, brothel, or to set you up for theft or mugging. They will try to entice you by offering a free ride or to show you a new or secret bar. Ignoring random street strangers is essential advice. It's best not to confront them but to walk past saying "sorry, I'm late!" And definitely never go anywhere with them or show your wallet. Filipinos are known for their hospitality, but they're not that friendly to the point where they'd appear out of nowhere just to befriend you!

Lastly, do not engage with street prostitutes, some of whom are underaged or have criminal intent. There are countless stories of male patrons bringing a street prostitute to his hotel room only to be startled minutes later by police knocking on the door. The girl may claim rape and the police may demand a bribe to "settle" matters.

Go next

• San Fernando — The provincial capital of Pampanga, famous for its Giant Lantern Festival on Christmas, the Cutud re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion on Holy Week as well as Hilaga Philippines which showcases the cultures, character and wealth of the four northern regions of Luzon. Beyond that, it has a downtown full of historic sights, most notably a train station that served as the end of the Bataan Death March.
• Southwest Pampanga is known for its towns and municipalities with a wide variety of sights and activities. Some of the most notable places on that region are:
  • Porac — Famous for lahar deposits which were the result of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
  • Guagua — takes its pride for having Pampanga's most beautiful church, the Betis Church, which is a fascinating work of religious art and architecture.
• Arayat — is known for its majestic Mount Arayat, also a national park.
• Candaba — is known for bird watching, thousands of birds migrate here from October to April of every year. It serves as a bird sanctuary and a haven for migratory birds, such as egrets and wild ducks during winter in China. Indigenous ones like the rare salaksak and batala are to be seen as well.
• Capas — a nearby city in Tarlac province, which also hosts the New Clark City portion of the Clark area.

If leaving by airport, remember to carry enough cash through security for the departure tax ( for domestic flights.) There is an ATM kiosk outside security, and at arrival times there is a change booth which sells pisos outside security, but it is closed when no flights are arriving. The change booth inside security will buy pesos for foreign currency but will not sell pesos, and there is no ATM inside security.