Balanga is the provincial capital and the only city in Bataan.
Formerly a barrio of nearby Abucay, Balanga was created as a Franciscan mission in 1739. When Bataan became a province in 1757 out of territories belonging to Pampanga, it was made the provincial capital.
Balanga has been made a city since 2000, but it still has a large town feel. The city remains reliant on agriculture, most areas in town are residential, and the city proper is much typical of many small Philippine cities. Balanga is also the educational center of Bataan, and houses the main campus of the Bataan Peninsula State University.
Most buses arrive at a common terminal at Balanga Transport Mall, 14.68256°, 120.53763°. 2020-04-07 along the highway, but the large bus companies like Bataan Transit, Genesis Transport, and Victory Liner arrive at their own terminals not far away from the downtown.
Balanga is along the Roman Superhighway, as well as an older route which passes directly through the downtown.
Balanga has a small downtown area, and is easily explored on foot. Sights within downtown are not far apart. To get into the wetland park, you can take a tricycle.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division