Batangas City - city of the Philippines and capital of the province of Batangas

Batangas, the capital of Batangas province, is a major seaport, second to Manila among the ports on Luzon, and a gateway to the rest of the archipelago. With a population of 486,000 (2015), Metro Batangas is seeing fast growth, but its prominent sights like the city's religious sites and heritage homes are yet to have a mention to the tourist trail.

Understand

The name "Batangas" can be ambiguous; it can either refer to the city, the minor metropolitan area, Metro Batangas, or the province. The term is far more used to refer to the province, but "Batangas" is also the original name of the town before it became the city it is today. Media will use "Batangas City" to disambiguate it from the province, but in ordinary speech, the city is just referred to as "Batangas", the same as the eponymous province.

The city is home to the Philippines's second most important seaport, the Batangas Port, making this an important entry point to Luzon and the rest of the Philippines. Batangas City also serves as the provincial educational center, having 7 colleges and universities, with the three major ones being Batangas State University, Lyceum Philippines University and University of Batangas. Being a port city, Batangas is a fast-growing commercial and industrial center, being developed to become the regional center of the Calabarzon region.

History

The area served as the center of the ancient barangay of Comintang (Kumintang) long before Spanish colonization. Spanish settlement began in 1572 and the original town center was founded in 1581, on the present-day area of sitio Hilltop in barangay Kumintang Ibaba. After the destructive eruption of Taal Volcano in 1755 destroyed the original capital at Bonbon (present-day Taal), the settlement became the new administrative center and capital of Batangas, then called the province of Bonbon.

The current local government was set up by the American military in 1901. During World War II, the town served as a landing point by the Japanese, and dive bombers devastated most of the original town and its air field. The town was rebuilt after the war. The current city, originally intended to be named Laurel City after Philippine president Jose P. Laurel, was chartered in July 14, 1969. The completion of STAR Tollway in 2007 further boosted Batangas City's status as an international port, alongside the expansion of it port complex. In 2017, the city was affected by an earthquake swarm that originated off Balayan Bay to the west.

People

Batangas City has a population of 330,000 as of 2015.

The locals are mostly Tagalogs, with a large Visayan (especially Cebuano) and Chinese minority. There is also a small Muslim minority as well, mostly settled in Cuta and Malitam. The city also has a growing African, especially Nigerian, community, mostly living to study in the universities, and a few have formed their families in the city. There are a few who leave for Metro Manila for work and study.

Orientation

The city is divided into 105 barangays, ranging from an urban neighborhood to a rural village; many barangays with suffixed names are grouped into unofficial clusters (e.g. Kumintang, Pallocan). In general, the city can be divided into five broad areas, but this guide considers the area around Batangas port a separate district.

• Poblacion - The city proper, and the old downtown, further divided into 24 numbered barangays; has most of the shopping and higher education institutions. Batangas City Hall, Plaza Mabini, and the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception lies in this district. Various ancestral houses, most notably the Pastor Mansion, have Poblacion their home.
• East - Much of this area's activity is centered on five suburban barangays east of the Calumpang. You can find most food and shopping at SM City Batangas, but there are also scattered local food destinations. The rest is rather mountainside country off the beaten path
• North of Poblacion - Includes barangays Alangilan, Balagtas, Kumintang Ilaya and Kumintang Ibaba . It has the capitol and government offices, growing nightlife, mid-class subdivisions, and another major university, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas. Along the Diversion Road are ongoing commercial developments surrounding the new central terminal, Largely agricultural lands with scattered barangays.
• Pier Area - Low to mid-class area west of Poblacion, composed of barangays Cuta, Malitam, Santa Clara, and Wawa. This district hosts the Philippines' second major seaport, Batangas Port. Not far from the port are low-cost hotels, guest houses, recreation, and the city's second major market, Julian Pastor Memorial Market (Bagong Palengke or simply, Bago).
• Southern Batangas City - More of seaside and foothill communities. This area houses new industrial developments, Pilipinas Shell's refinery, and Monte Maria.
• Western Batangas City - Coastal suburbs, with inland barangays to the north. There is not much any food destinations here, but you can find places to relax not too far from downtown.

The Calumpang River serves as an important reference point: everything west is highly urbanized, and everything east is generally rural, save for Gulod, Pallocan, and Libjo.

The Poblacion is the old downtown, with P. Burgos Street dividing the district into a commercial area and residential district. The western part is the classic commercial center, while the eastern part of Poblacion is largely residential. Most accommodations within Poblacion are east of P. Burgos.

Climate

The city has a dry and wet climate, but it greatly influenced by the monsoon climate that cause frequent rainfall to the east. Temperatures can be as high as 34.5 °C or as low as 22.1 °C, with little difference by month, as in tropical countries. The dry season is very short, running only between January and April, but sporadic thunderstorms still occur. The rainy season starts as early as May or late as June. Batangas City is not as rainy as its nearest large city, Lipa or even Manila, but it is relatively hotter than the two.

Location

Batangas City is surrounded by of San Jose and Cuenca to the north, San Pascual and Bauan to the west, Ibaan, Taysan and Lobo to the east, and Verde Island to the south. The city covers of lowland, mountains, and the island of Isla Verde. Most parts of the city remains rural, and the population is largely concentrated on the mouth of the Calumpang River.

Batangas City is prone to typhoons, but the city is less prone to earthquakes. The last recorded earthquake was an earthquake swarm in 2017 that damaged some buildings, especially its historic Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Typhoons frequently pass through the city, especially from June to September. Some of them made major damage, especially on crossings between the Calumpang River.

Tourism information

• Batangas City Tourism Office, City Hall Complex, P. Burgos Street. 2018-12-03.

Get in

Batangas's nearest airport is in Manila, but the city is a major sea transport hub, with good connections to the rest of the archipelago through frequent ferry and boat services. You will most likely to have a layover in Batangas if traveling from Manila to Mindoro and/or Visayas through a combination of land and sea travel; most travelers from either way stop at Batangas before continuing onward in either direction.

By bus

Most travelers come to Batangas City by bus; most buses come from Manila, but there are services within the province and from nearby Quezon province.

• Batangas City Grand Terminal (Batangas Central Terminal), Diversion Road, Alangilan, 13.78993°, 121.06235°. Central bus station, serving trips to and from Metro Manila and Lucena. Buses boarding RoRo ferries also stop here to drop off passengers. Jeepneys and UV Express are available from there. 2019-06-22
• Batangas Port Bus Terminal (Batangas Pier Terminal), 13.75440°, 121.04340°. Terminal for southbound buses from Manila, and stopover for buses taking ferries. 2019-06-24

From about 2013, all bus services terminating at Batangas City share a common terminal at Diversion Road, with connections to local jeepney services to downtown. Bus companies used to have their own terminal within the urbanized area, rather like the situation in Manila until today. Southbound buses, however only stop at the Central Terminal to drop off some passengers, and head for the port (where they terminate, or take the ferry).

Jeepneys to downtown or Mabini are available from the Grand Terminal; there are convenience stores, food stalls, pasalubong shops, a Shopwise supermarket, and a two-story strip mall, Transit Point. Nearby, along Diversion Road, are some fast food restaurants and some mid-range dining. Public restrooms are available inside.

The terminal at Batangas Port has good connections with boat services and one local jeepney route to downtown (BP-01 Batangas-Pier). There are some food stalls, but food prices are often high.

Companies

Between Manila and Batangas City, there are multiple operators, the most prominent being ALPS, Ceres Transport, DLTBCo and JAM Liner. All these companies provide frequent bus service from Manila, either on standard air-conditioned or luxury buses. Other companies with service from Manila are N. Dela Rosa Liner and RRCG Transport, with basic air-conditioned buses.

From other points:

• Batman Starexpress runs buses from Nasugbu every hour, stopping along towns along the way.
• JAPS runs air-conditioned buses from Crossing in Calamba.
• ALPS also runs buses from major cities in in Panay.
• Ceres Transport has buses from Zamboanga City, Iloilo City, and San Jose de Buenavista. Ceres Liner also has air-condition Ed buses from Bacolod, Dumaguete and Iloilo City.
• P&O Transport has a daily trip from Tagkawayan in Quezon
• Supreme Transport has both air-conditioned and ordinary buses from Lucena via San Juan
• RORO Bus has buses from Puerto Princesa, which rides with ferries by Montenegro Shipping Lines between El Nido and San Jose, and Calapan and Batangas City.

Premium buses

There are two existing premium express bus (P2P) services to Batangas City, one from PITX (operated by RRCG Transport) and one from Ortigas Center (operated by ALPS). Both terminate at the Grand Terminal, and have no intermediate stops.

By car

Batangas City serves as the southern terminus for the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), and a drive from Metro Manila may take 1½-2 hours. Tolls are required to be paid upon entry and exit, so a toll-free option is the parallel but congested Jose P. Laurel Hwy (Hwy 4). Another option is to drive through STAR and exit at Lipa, then head for Jose P. Laurel southbound.

A bypass road is under construction to the east of Batangas City, which will shorten travel times to Monte Maria, part of it being already open to traffic. It will connect to STAR, but it is an at-grade national road with 4 lanes at most; construction is ongoing for the remainder.

By boat

• Batangas Port, Santa Clara (Jeepney route: BP-01 Batangas-Pier. Southbound buses from Manila terminate here before deadheading to their depots or starting their return trips from the Grand Terminal.). Locally known as the Pier (pronounced as pee-YUHR locally), this is the sea transport hub for the Southern Luzon region, and the alternative to Manila's congested seaport for both passenger and freight boats. 2019-06-29
• Sitio Berberabe boat pier, Pinamucan Proper (Take any of the jeepneys with destinations beyond San Isidro or Tabangao, then walk from the nearby jeepney stop), 13.70446°, 121.05626°. Serves smaller wooden motorboats (bancas) from Sabang pier at Puerto Galera, since those boats are banned from Batangas Port since 2018 (see the Sabang article for further information). 2019-06-29

Batangas City is a major seaport serving ferry and shipping services to and from the rest of the archipelago. There are roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry service connecting Calapan in Mindoro, and interisland ships that call at Batangas Port. The port becomes congested during major holiday periods (Holy Week, All Saints' Day, Christmas and New Year), so better avoid travel by sea during those times.

Motor boats with wooden hulls used to leave at Batangas Port, but are since banned, and only depart from the smaller boat pier at Sitio Berberabe, far to the south, and only accessible by rather inefficient and infrequent jeepney services from the city proper.

Shipping companies

• 2Go Travel/SuperCat - Calapan, Caticlan (Boracay), Odiongan (in Romblon)
• Montenegro Shipping Lines - Abra de Ilog, Calapan, Odiongan
• Super Shuttle - Calapan, Roxas (Mindoro), Caticlan, Odiongan, Dumaguit, Culasi, Masbate City, Iloilo City, Bacolod, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro
• Starlite Ferries - RORO ferries from Puerto Galera, Calapan, and Romblon.

By train

Train service to Batangas City at around the 1960s and 70s, but there are plans to restore service on the 54 km railway line from Calamba and onward to Manila.

The nearest train station with service is at Calamba, served by a few commuter trains. From there, you take a tricycle from the train station to Calamba Crossing, then take the bus to Batangas City, or take a jeepney to Turbina bus station and take the bus from there.

By plane

The only nearby airport with passenger flights is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila, but there are proposals to construct a new airport out of the existing Fernando Airbase in Lipa. From NAIA, you can drive directly to Batangas City, or take a provincial bus.

Get around

By jeepney

The traditional way to get around Batangas City is by jeepney, which follow a numbered network divided into 5 color-coded sector arranged by direction and destinations they serve:

• BE (eastbound routes. color code: orange) - Routes run from the poblacion or Pallocan to eastern barangays, as well as Taysan and Lobo; however, little of the routes are of use to the visitor, except for routes BE-01 (Batangas-Lobo) and BE-05 (Batangas-Dagatan) which can be used to reach Mount Banoy.
• BN (northbound routes. color code: red) - Serves northerly barangays, but most routes run onto the towns of San Jose, Ibaan and Rosario and the city of Lipa via the highways. Some useful routes are BN-01 Batangas-Balete, which provides a shorter alternate route to routes BP-01 and BP-05 between Poblacion and the Grand Terminal.
• BP (routes within poblacion, as well those serving major urban barangays, color code: yellow, white (for BP-03 Batangas-Capitolio-Hospital)) - Routes connect the poblacion with suburban barangays. Four of its five routes are the routes most useful to visitors: BP-01 Batangas-Alangilan, BP-02 Batangas-Pier, BP-03 Batangas-Capitolio-Hospital (color-coded white) and BP-05 Batangas-Balagtas. Routes BP-01 (southbound via National Highway, northbound via Evangelista and P. Herrera streets) and BP-05 (southbound via Hilltop, northbound via Bay Mall/UB) connects the poblacion with the central bus station, BP-02 with the port, and BP-03 with Pallocan via a longer route through Gulod (around Pontefino) and Kumintang (around the provincial capitol and the LPU campus).
• BS (southbound routes. color code: green) - Routes serve the southern barangays. Useful routes are BS-01 Batangas-Libjo and BS-05 Batangas-San Isidro (both practically the same route), which directly connects the poblacion with barangay Pallocan, and the BS-09 Batangas-Pagkilatan, which can be used to reach Monte Maria without a car.
• BW (westbound routes. color code: blue) - Routes links the poblacion or Grand Terminal with western barangays, and the towns of San Pascual, Bauan, Mabini, and Lemery. One useful route is BW-05 Batangas-Caltex, which provides a connection between downtown and the Calicanto commercial area (though it is possible to just walk along P. Burgos instead).

Routes have numbers, being in the form of network sector-number (e.g. BP-01), but are rarely used by residents, and instead, routes are referred to their primary destination. Nonetheless, visitors can easily find their route without asking by looking on the painted route name signs on the front and sides.

Jeepneys are frequent, and routes reach most of Batangas City's nooks and crannies. Jeepneys congregate at the Grand Terminal (for Poblacion-bound, northbound, and westbound routes), Pallocan (in front of SM, for eastbound routes) and SM Transport Terminal (behind SM, for southbound routes except BS-01 from barangay Libjo and BS-05 from San Isidro). Fares start at for the first 4 km, increasing by for each additional kilometer. Jeepneys get crowded during rush hour, so beware of pickpockets or gropers.

By tricycle

Within the city proper, it is possible to get around by tricycle, which have terminals scattered at important spots within the poblacion. Tricycles are coded by color and number, and they prowl Batangas City's inner streets not served by the extensive jeepney route network. Fares start at (as of 2019) for the first 2 km, increasing by for each additional kilometer. Watch out for scams, especially for trips from the downtown to Pallocan (and vice versa) at night, when jeepneys are less frequent once the malls close.

On foot

The poblacion area is just almost a kilometer wide, and as such, is compact and easily explored on foot. Pallocan is also just 1 km away from downtown, and if you have the energy, it is possible to walk across Calumpang Bridge rather than to take a jeepney, though it can be unpleasant with the humid climate, and it may feel unsafe to walk around at night. A jeepney ride between the city proper and Pallocan (and the other way around) should not cost more than , so is a tricycle ride at on the same way.

By car

Driving in downtown Batangas City is difficult, with slow traffic, many one-way streets, limited parking, and narrow streets. Public transportation coverage in the city is good, with most places relevant to travelers reachable by jeepney, and exploring the poblacion is easy on foot. Nonetheless, car travel is advised when going to places like Monte Maria, where it can take over a hour on a jeepney.

See

While it is often viewed as a mere layover point for travelers between Manila and the Visayas by land and by sea, Batangas City is rich in historical heritage, from religious sites to heritage buildings.

• Acosta-Pastor House, C. Tirona Street, 13.75875°, 121.05934°. Built in 1883, it is the ancestral home of Don Alejo Acosta, who served as a capitan de barrio. It remains the property of Acosta's descendants, and has been turned into a museum 2018-12-03
• Assemblyman Rafael Recto People's Park (Batangas Provincial Community Park), Tolentino Road, Kumintang Ibaba (behind the Provincial Capitol complex and beside Lyceum Philippines University Batangas), 13.76518°, 13.76518°. Provincially-maintained park, with wide grassy spaces and mini-amphitheatre 2018-11-24
• Bahay Pamahalaan, Lungsod ng Batangas (Batangas City Hall), P. Burgos Street (Near Plaza Mabini), 13.75578°, 121.05833°. The historic city hall which has been renovated in 2009 with a newer facade. 2018-12-03
• Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Basilica de la Immaculada Concepcion, Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception), M.H. del Pilar Street (In front of Plaza Mabini), 13.754073°, 121.059227°. The historical Roman Catholic church at the downtown, it has a Baroque façade and interior, and houses both the images of the Infant Jesus (Santo Niño) and the Immaculate Conception. 2018-08-17
• Batangas Provincial Capitol Building, Jose P. Laurel Highway, Kumintang Ibaba (Past Telecom Road), 13.76510°, 121.06416°. A Neoclassical capitol building housing the office of the governor of Batangas. First built in 1926, it was destroyed by bombing twice, during World War II and in 1950. Around the façade is a tall flagpole, the provincial seal of Batangas, a marble terrace, and two fountains 2018-10-15
• Borbon-Rosales House, P. Panganiban Street. Dating back to 1870, it was the ancestral home of the Borbon family, as well as the Rosales family, where the former archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Godofredo Rosales, is part of 2020-07-06
• Laurel Park, National Highway cor. Telecom Road, Kumintang Ibaba, 13.76522°, 121.06553°. A fenced circular park dedicated to the historical contributions of the Batangueños (people of Batangas). Inside the park is sculptures representing the five Batangueño virtues of nobility, bravery, industriousness, wisdom, and beauty, as well as 2018-11-24
• Monte Maria Batangas, 13.64218°, 121.04342°. Constructed in 2013, this Catholic pilgrimage site includes the Santo Niño Chapel (a replica of the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Prague) and the statue of the Virgin Mary, the Mary, Mother of All Asia, which will become the largest in Asia. The location in the coast also provides views of Puerto Galera and Verde Island. 2018-08-17
• Museo Puntong Batangan (Museo ng Lungsod Batangas), City Hall Complex, P. Burgos (Near the post office), 13.7548974°, 121.0584488°. Opened in 2006, it presents the city's cultural heritage and history, as well as the history and culture of Batangueños. 2018-12-03
• Plaza Mabini, P. Burgos Street, Poblacion (Near the city hall), 13.7552988°, 13.7552988°. A Spanish-era downtown plaza in Poblacion, named in honor to revolutionary Apolinario Mabini. The present plaza dates to 1915, and has been redesigned in 2004 by the firm under renowned Filipino architect and urban planner Jun Palafox. It has a monument to Apolinario Mabini, pedestrian space with sunrays design, dancing fountains, playground, a covered amphitheater, flower stalls, souvenir shops, and tourism office. 2018-11-24

Do

Travelers to the rest of Batangas Province use Batangas City as a jumping off point, but the city serves also as a starting point for travelers to Puerto Galera. There are few any unpolluted beach areas around the city, and one beach in the Santa Rita area near the port complex, while popular with some locals, is badly littered with waste from seaside residential areas. In-city beach resorts can be found in Pagkilatan, just south of the Monte Maria pilgrimage site. Nearby seaside resorts are found in Mabini and San Juan. Inland resorts are also numerous, but access is mostly poor in many of them.

Festivals

See also: Festivals in the Philippines

• Feast of the Holy Child (Santo Niño) - Held every January 16, and dedicated to the Santo Niño ng Batangan. The festivities start with the fluvial parade of the Santo Niño on Calumpang River. Residents invite everyone into lavish feasts they prepared for that day. Major streets in the Poblacion are closed, causing traffic jams outside. The city is heavily packed, making the local festivities an alternative to the ones in Cebu and Iloilo, but not as lively as the celebrations in Visayas.
• Good Friday procession - A solemn procession where various Catholic religious images are paraded through the Poblacion and is returned to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Devotees hold candles throughout the parade. Major streets are closed to traffic.
• Sublian Festival - A week-long festival reviving the old Batangas Tagalog tradition of subli, a rain-making dance. Festivities last a week, culminating with the Batangas City Founding Day. Various schools and companies send groups to compete in dance competitions, with winning groups parading in Batangas City Founding Day.
• Batangas City Founding Day - July 23 - The most colorful of the local festivities in Batangas City, commemorating its cityhood since 1969. Various local businesses are also promoted in the festival.

Sports

• Batangas City Sports Complex, 13.7531°, 121.05133°. Has a 20- by 50-meter 8-lane swimming pool, running track and basketball courts. 2018-11-12
  • Batangas Coliseum. Multi-purpose arena, sometimes hosts professional league games held in Batangas, as well as local sports events and concerts. 2018-11-12

Learn

Batangas City is the education center of Batangas, and hosts the province's major higher education institutions. Major higher education institutions include the Batangas State University (including annex in Alangilan), Lyceum Philippines University Batangas, St. Bridget College and University of Batangas, and a number of colleges and vocational schools. There are a few international schools that cater to children of foreigners. There have been an increase in foreign students, especially Nigerians, in local universities.

There is one public library along P. Burgos, between the central police station and University of Batangas' elementary department, but is being reconstructed as a 3-storey building since 2018 and is not expected to open until about late 2019 or early 2020.

Buy

The major shopping area is found on the area in Poblacion approximately bordered by P. Burgos to the east, Rizal Avenue to the south, and P. Genato, Evangelista and D. Silang to the west and northwest.

Poblacion

• Bay City Mall, 13.75863°, 121.05726°. 10AM-9PM daily. Owned by a local retail company, it is a local favorite. It houses a Citimart department store and supermarket, a National Book Store, numerous ukay-ukay outlets, Jollibee and Chowking, and other local businesses. 2018-10-15
• Citimart, Rizal Avenue (Beside Jollibee), 13.75648°, 121.05775°. 10AM-9PM daily. Owned also by the retailer owning Bay Mall, this is a large department store building with a supermarket below. The department store remains closed, but it hosts a Greenwich and a Chowking restaurant. 2018-11-12
• Nuciti Central, 13.75863°, 121.05726°. 9AM-10PM daily. A more upscale shopping mall, owned by the same retailer running Bay Mall, with mid-range restaurants and a Robinsons Supermarket. Has a PNB ATM. 2018-10-15
• Unitop, A. Evangelista Street (Beside Novo.), 13.75786°, 121.05735°. A local favorite, with its own supermarket, in the basement. It sells household items, clothes, and groceries. 2018-11-12

Outside Poblacion

• SM City Batangas, National Highway, Pallocan West (Behind Days Hotel), 13.7557°, 121.0689°, +63 43 722-0276. 10AM-8PM. Opened in 2005, it hosts a large department store, hundreds of shops, and movie theaters. It underwent expansion that added more restaurants, and a Kidzoona children's play area. Also has a SM Supermarket. The rear parking lots hosts terminals for jeepneys headed south to as far as Ilijan. 2018-10-15
• Xentro Mall Batangas, Diversion Road, Alangilan (Beside the Grand Terminal), 13.78925°, 121.06113°. 10AM-9PM. Opened May 2018. Single-story mall with a Savemore supermarket, and some shops and restaurants. 2018-12-03
• WalterMart, Lawas, Calicanto (Near Caedo Commercial Center), 13.78925°, 121.06113°. 2018-12-03

Public markets and talipapas

There are also public markets and talipapas (wet markets) in the downtowns and some major barangays, and are good for local fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Batangas City has two major public markets, with a number of talipapas in key barangays.

• Batangas City Public Market (Lumang Palengke), D. Silang Street (reachable by jeepney from almost all routes on Poblacion), 13.75696°, 121.05532°. 5AM-7PM daily. An important marketplace for the city for years since the 1900s, it hosts small services, clothing stalls, and local meat, fish and produce. It also has some small restaurants specializing in the regional cuisine and a McDonald's ice cream stall. Parking is also available at a fee of . 2018-11-12
• Julian Pastor Memorial Market (Bagong Palengke; New Market), DJPMM Access Road, Cuta (served by numerous jeepney routes through Poblacion, except for the Batangas-Capitolio-Hospital route), 13.74972°, 121.05621°. 6AM-3PM daily. A newer public market built to the south, with separate buildings for the wet and dry sections. 2018-11-14

Eat

Batangas City has a lot of restaurants, but a more local experience is to eat at the plainer restaurants selling homemade dishes or Batangas specialties. The city abounds in places catering to local tastes, and better locations for local specialties are not hard to find. For a mid-size city like this, items are in overall, moderately priced.

Budget-friendly options are mostly found downtown, but upscale local dining is mostly in suburban locations like Alangilan.

Poblacion

The downtown has many restaurants, not limited to fast food chains, and you can also find the Filipino-style eateries, which are plain but they can provide cheap and local food.

West of P. Burgos

• Bafoo's (B & A Foods), Ricardo Building, Rizal Avenue (near the traffic light with DJPMM Access Road 2), 13.7554047°, 121.0521937°. Specializes in the Batangueño favorite, lomi, but also serves other regional dishes. It now has branches in Pallocan West (near Calumpang Bridge) and Kumintang Ibaba (near University of Batangas). 2018-11-12
• Batangas City Restaurant formerly known as Canton Restaurant, 190 Evangelista Street (across Lumang Palengke), 13.7574994°, 121.0551063°, +63 917 504 0155. 7AM-8PM. Best noted for their affordable pancit and chop chicken. Location is also not too far from downtown shopping areas. 2018-12-03
• Johanna's Grill, 13.7608245°, 121.0571397°, +63 43-723-2289. 10AM-9:30PM. Retro-themed restaurant specializing in baby-back ribs. 2018-12-02

East of P. Burgos

• Eat n' Be Well Vegetarian Haven, 25 C. Tirona Street (near the corner with P. Canlapan), 13.7583659°, 121.0587763°. 7AM-7PM. Cooperative-owned restaurant serving vegetarian dishes. 2018-12-02
• Ho Tsai, A. Evangelista Street (at the corner with P. Dandan), 13.75766°, 121.05920°. 8AM-8PM. One of the first Filipino-Chinese restaurants in the city. Serves Filipino-Chinese fast food like pansit, lomi and mami, as well as common Filipino favourites, like Filipino-style spaghetti, fried rice and pulutan dishes. From 2018-12-02
• Hungry Hippo, National Highway (on commercial building outside University of Batangas), 13.7636950°, 121.0587392°. Small hamburger restaurant with stall below and tables above. 2018-11-12
• Mirellis Diner, Lt. Col. D. Atienza Street (beside Golden Gate Colleges Integrated School), 13.75715°, 121.06068°, +63 43 984-3846. 8AM-8PM. Little sit-in restaurant serving Filipino and Western meals, including burgers, sandwiches, pancit, silog, and others. 2018-12-03
• Nung Ru Thai, M.H. Del Pilar Street (beside Zenaida Arcade), 13.7549174°, 121.0605053°, +63 943 335-5079. 5PM-midnight. Owned by a Filipino who lived in Thailand, this is only one of a few restaurants that serve Thai and Indian cuisine in Batangas. 2018-12-03
• Purple Beetle Cafe, 69 P. Burgos Street (below World Trade Hotel), 13.7598589°, 121.0577180°. Small, but nice and chic place to hang out and eat if you stay on the hotel just above. 2018-12-03
• Mr. Kimchi, The Plaza, P. Dandan Street (behind Plaza Mabini), 13.75561°, 121.05975°. 11AM-10PM. Korean dining, complete with hot pot, barbecue, and soju, within the downtown at a reasonable price. 2018-12-03
• Taza Mia!, P. Dandan (behind Plaza Mabini), 13.7558610°, 121.0597210°. 7AM-11PM. Part of local coffeeshop chain, serving coffee and pastries. 2018-12-03

East of Poblacion

• Big Mike's Grill House, 5 Pastor Avenue, Pallocan West (in front of Ford Batangas), 13.75358°, 121.06712°. 10AM-10PM. Serves sizzling favorites like sisig, bangus and gambas. You can also try their house style baby back ribs, fried rice, and burger. 2018-12-03
• F. Baylosis Crispy Pata, G.C. Berberabe Subdivision, Pallocan West, 13.75293°, 121.07269°, +63 43 708-6820. 10AM-10PM. Houses the city's favorite crispy pata and chicken, for locals and tourists alike. There is also a wide variety of Filipino dishes and sides, starting at . The restaurant has an ambient atmosphere and friendly staff, and prices of meals are reasonable. You can eat with the sounds and voice of an acoustic guitar player. Private karaoke rooms are available for rent for those who want a feast with eating, drinking and singing. There is also a function hall, "Hall of Fame" for large events and meetings. 2018-12-02
• Wanam sa Bukid, Doña Romana Building, National Highway, Gulod Labac (near Gulod Labac Barangay Hall, just past Santisima Trinidad Parish), 13.7584504°, 121.0711979°. 7AM-9PM. Serves various Filipino favorites, such as chop suey, miki noodles, fried chicken, fried lumpia (spring rolls), and crispy pata. 2018-11-12
• Jocas Lomi Haus, 13.7431845°, 121.0704081°, +63 43 402-0558. Open-air eatery specializing in lomi, Batangas's major contribution to the Filipino cuisine. 2018-12-03

North of Poblacion

• A&M Village Restaurant, Arce Subdivision, Kumintang Ibaba, 13.7698381°, 121.0590281°. Serves a variety of Filipino dishes, but its specialty is its beef caldereta and tadyang 2018-11-23
• Al Goto King, Diversion Road, Balagtas (near the bus stop in front of Talipapa), 13.7975422°, 121.0701305°, +63 43 783 0702. 24 hours. Small and often crowded restaurant, specializing in bulalo and goto. The restaurant has parking spaces beside. 2018-12-02
• Brand X Burgers, National Road, Balagtas (in front of the Epic Center), 13.7919417°, 121.0699674°, +63 43 984-7859. 10AM-2AM. Restaurant serving a fusion of Filipino breakfast and American fast food. From 2018-12-03
• Cafe de Alps, Ciudad Food Avenue, Diversion Road, Alangilan (past Batangas Grand Terminal), 13.7935009°, 121.0629013°. 9AM-10PM. Bus-themed restaurant and cafe, serving Western and Filipino dishes From 2018-12-02
• Hinomaru, Diversion Road, Alangilan (1 km away from Batangas Grand Terminal, near Honda Cars Batangas), 13.78397°, 121.05808°. 2018-11-14
• Jhorjanes, National Highway, Balagtas (beside 7-Eleven near Balagtas Rotonda; annex beside car repair shop), 13.79699°, 121.07061°. Specializes in the lomi and bulalo recipes, but they also serve local seafood, chicken, and vegetable dishes. 2018-11-11
• Kainan sa Sawali, Antonio Carpio Road, Kumintang Ibaba (after Arceo and Santuray Road), 13.76882°, 121.06825°. 2018-10-15

Port Area

• Jovita Cafe, DJPMM Access Road, Santa Clara (in front of RLR Travellers Inn), 13.7571767°, 121.0519228°. 9AM-9PM. Casual restaurant not far from 3 nearby hotels, and another branch near SM City Batangas. They serve coffee, pasta, pastries, and other. This is the only place in town that serve bagel sandwiches. From 2018-12-02
• The Other Place, Rizal Avenue Extension, Santa Clara (near the traffic light with DJPMM Access Road), 13.7553702°, 121.0517117°, +63 43 723 1891. Filipino-themed restaurant serving common local fare. From 2018-12-02

Food parks or food courts

Drink

There are rather a few bars found in town, in contrast of Lipa, but if you are seeking a drink for the night, you can find some bars scattered around the city proper.

• 8th Avenue Restobar (The Ultimate Party Hub), Pastor Avenue, Pallocan West (beside Ford Batangas. Jeepney routes: Batangas-Libjo, Batangas-San Isidro), 13.7538929°, 121.0672800°, +63 43 702-5754. 16:00-02:00. Perfect place to jam and drink through the night, also near to hotels. No WiFi is available in-restaurant. 2018-12-03
• D' Brothers Sports Bar, G.C. Berberabe Subdivision, (between F. Baylosis Crispy Pata and St. Therese of the Child Jesus Multiple Intelligence School annex), 13.75344°, 121.07257°. 10:00-02:00. Sports-themed restaurant and bar, perfect place to talk, drink, and watch sports. Popular among locals and foreigners alike 2018-12-03

Sleep

Batangas City hosts many hotels and guest houses, many of which are not listed. Guest houses and apartments are increasing in demand as both local and foreign students flock the city. DJPMM Access Road near the port is home to hotels popular for travellers who will stay in the city for the night before going to board. Many of the available accommodations are found in Cuta, Santa Clara, and Sorosoro Karsada.

Budget: under {{php|1000}}, mid-range: {{php|1000-2000}}, splurge: over {{php|2000}} (standard double room).

Budget

• Avenue Pension House 1, now the PGR Travelers Inn, 30 JP Rizal Avenue Batangas city. +63 43 300-1964. from per night.
• City Star Travel Lodge, Jose P. Laurel Highway, Sorosoro Karsada (near SIDC Feed Mill), 13.80738°, 121.07558°, +63-43-702-1467. 2018-10-15
• {{listing | type=sleep | name=Yellowbell Country Inn | alt= | url=https://www.facebook.com/YellowbellHotel | email=yellowbellhotel@yahoo.com | address=P. Panganiban Street | lat=13.75594 | long=121.06174 | directions= | phone=+63 917 446 8441 | tollfree= | checkin= | checkout= | price=double | lastedit=2019-02-05 | content=Clean, has parking, cold water shower, TV, free Wi-Fi, generator. They also have some 2-bedroom 2-storey apartments with kitchen at a night. Tricycles can usually be found parked right outside. }}
• Mac-Ro Lodge, P. Panganiban Street (at the corner with Lt. Col. D. Atienza Street), 13.7561005°, 121.0608870°, +63 43 722 1038. Air-conditioned rooms with cable TV and backup generator. from for 12 hours 2018-12-02

Mac-Ro and Yellowbell are on the same street a short block apart, and their signs are visible from the other, so if one is full it will be convenient to try the other.

• RGR Traveller's Inn, DJPMM Access Road, 13.75559°, 121.05206°, +63 43 723-6021. Air-conditioned rooms, but without cable TV or Wi-Fi. You can board a jeepney if you are going to Mabini once you check out. 2018-12-03
• Hotel Quinio, P. Burgos Street, 13.7575197°, 121.0580031°, +63 43 723-8395. Cheaper option downtown, but lacks most frills. Has no Wi-Fi or elevator 2018-12-03
• La Tropicana Motorists' Lodge, Jose P. Laurel Highway, Sorosoro Karsada, 13.80498°, 121.07619°. 2018-10-15
• RLR Travellers Inn, DJPMM Access Road, 13.75734°, 121.05174°, +63 43 723-2309. AC rooms with cable TV, hot water shower and free Wi-Fi. No free breakfast and swimming pool. 2018-12-02
• Meaco Royal Hotel Batangas City, 7 A. Evangelista Street (at top of Novo Department Store), 13.75776°, 121.05760°. Relatively new mid-range choice not far from cheap shopping spots at Poblacion. You can either stay in a single or twin room, or family rooms, all with air-conditioning, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. Refreshments are available just on the third floor. Free parking available. 2018-12-02

Mid-range

• D' Mariners' Hotel, Arceo Road, Kumintang Ibaba (turn left from National Highway before Kainan sa Sawali), 13.77011°, 121.06776°, +63 925 853-7928. Air-conditioned rooms, with an option of Deluxe (single or twin) and Family, with cable TV, telephone, and room service. Has WiFi, free breakfast and swimming pool. From 2018-10-15
• The Alpa Hotel and Restaurant, Tolentino Road, Kumintang Ibaba, 13.7675419°, 121.0653538°. Under new management and ongoing refurbishment. Air-conditioned rooms with cable TV, but without much of the frills carried over by the old management. Has swimming pool. 2018-12-02

Splurge

• Batangas Country Club, Bolbok Road, Bolbok, 13.78142°, 121.05023°. Classy hotel and resort within 5 km of Batangas Port, mostly serving travellers to Mabini or Puerto Galera. A/C rooms with cable TV, Wi-Fi, laundry, coffee or tea makers, and restaurant. Has amenities like swimming pool, billiard hall, and gym. From 2018-12-02
• Days Hotel Batangas, Pastor Avenue, Pallocan West (from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, car rentals are readily available in the form of taxi cabs that are waiting outside the airport; the hotel is in the Pastor Village), 13.7544487°, 121.0690301°, +63 43 980-7321. Tours to churches and communities in Taal, Lipa, Malvar and Tanuan can be arranged.
• Hotel Pontefino, Pastor Village, Gulod Labac, 13.75837°, 121.07364°, +63 43-723-3466. A/C rooms equipped with internet access and cable TV. Some of its facilities and services are business center, fitness room/ gym and recreational room. From
• Luks Lofts Hotel, Juaning Road (beside the IntegrityNet call center and near Days Hotel Batangas and SM City Batangas), 13.7542941°, 121.0687712°, +63 43 302 1000. Though housed in a small 3-story building, it is the most luxurious in town, having air-conditioned rooms with cable TV, free Wi-Fi, living room and kitchen. Amenities include indoor pools, sauna, billiard room, café, and spa. and up 2019-02-05
• SM Travelodge, Batangas-Quezon Road, Tinga Labac, 13.7928136°, 121.0747340°, +63 43 723-4101. Luxury traveller's hotel, with air-conditioned bedrooms with cable TV, living room, and hot tub bathrooms. You can also arrange tricycle services to Poblacion or to the port once you check out. From 2018-12-02

Long-term stays

Stay safe

Common problems include beggars, pickpocket and tricycle scams. The city's crime rate is relatively low, but do beware of pickpockets if riding jeepneys.

Beware of tricycle scams after sunset, and it is best to arrive before 7PM (or generally, after sunset), where after it, jeepneys become hard to find (most will abruptly turn around at the middle of their route after unloading their remaining passengers). Otherwise, wait with a local seeking a tricycle, wait for the next jeepney with passengers, or walk to the nearest stop where jeepneys still serve. The scam is most commonly encountered on tricycles between downtown and Pallocan.

Traffic in Batangas City is hectic, and congestion has become a problem during rush hour. Local traffic police can be corrupt.

In the rural areas of the city, there are fewer problems, but there are still some communist holdouts.

Emergencies

• Batangas City Police, Gusaling Pangkalikasan at Pangkapayapaan, P. Burgos (beside the city hall), 13.7551956°, 121.0584127°, +63-43-723-2030. 2018-11-12

Stay healthy

Tap water supplied by the city-owned Batangas City Water District, while potable, can still taste like cough syrup in many places, and water supply outages remain a problem. Locals, however, enjoy drinking tap water no matter how it tastes like. Also, better avoid buying ice chopped from blocks, as their cleanliness is often questionable. Better buy bottled water from convenience stores, or boil your water before drinking.

Hospitals

• Batangas Medical Center, Ebora Road, Kumintang Ibaba (served by jeepneys bound for SM City Batangas), 13.7668°, 121.06672°. 2018-11-12
• United Doctors of St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital, Diversion Road, Bolbok, 13.7822°, 121.0560°. 2018-10-15
• Saint Patrick's Hospital, P. Panganiban Street (near the corner with P. Mendoza Street), 13.75568°, 121.06022°. Open 24 hours. Offers all-day emergency service. 2018-12-03

Pharmacies

• BP Generic Express, P. Burgos Street (beside Metrobank), 13.7568147°, 121.0581973°. Local pharmacy chain with numerous branches in Batangas City 2018-11-12
• Cantos Pharmacy, National Road, Kumintang Ibaba (near Jollibee), 13.7716104°, 121.0658542°. Another local pharmacy chain with 2 branches. 2018-11-12
• Farmacia ni Dok, A. Evangelista Street (near Unitop and Novo), 13.7575568°, 121.0575181°. 2018-11-12
• Generika, Rizal Avenue (near 7-Eleven, just before the traffic lights D. Silang), 13.7560244°, 121.0561683°. 9AM-10PM. Part of nationwide chain with numerous branches in Batangas City and nearby municipalities. Provides low-cost medicines and blood pressure check. 2019-06-23
• South Star Drug, A. Evangelista Street (on the intersection near Lumang Palengke), 13.7576182°, 121.0561006°. 9PM-10PM. Most of this nationwide chain's locations have been converted to Chavez Pharmacy branches. 2019-06-23

Cope

• Bureau of Immigration Batangas, Diversion Road, Bolbok (quite hidden from view, but is found beside the north end of the flyover leading to Batangas Port), 13.7729447°, 121.0523032°. 2018-11-12
• PHLPost, Batangas City Hall complex, P. Burgos St (behind Gusaling Pangkalikasan at Pangkapayapaan), 13.75505°, 121.05822°. 2018-11-12

Plastics

Batangas City banned the use of single-use plastics and Styrofoam from 2011, but eating utensils (spoons, forks, and straws) remain exempt. Supermarkets use paper bags for packaging, and may offer reusable cloth bags for a fee. Bring your own bag when doing any shopping.

Smoking

Batangas City enforces ordinances that ban smoking in public places. Smoking is banned in public transport, and many public places, like parks, churches, shopping malls, public markets, and government offices. Smoking is prohibited in most restaurants, though some may offer smoking areas.

For vapers, components and juice can be bought at convenience stores (e.g. 7-Eleven), but here is a local vape shop:

• Vape Xtreme, Hilltop Rd, Kumintang Ibaba (Get off at the corner with National Hwy), 13.7645329°, 121.0609833°. Vaporizers, spare parts, and juice. 2018-11-12

Newspapers

Newspapers published in Metro Manila are also sold in Batangas City, but the city also has its two local newspapers: Sun Star Daily Courier (in English) and Balikas (in Tagalog).

Churches

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception holds Masses every Sunday (in Tagalog).

Connect

You can top up (load) your SIM cards almost everywhere, from sari-sari stores to convenience stores. There are not many internet cafés anymore because of increased cell phone ownership, but you can find pisonet Internet cafés if you're lucky. Free Wi-Fi is available at malls, on Plaza Mabini, and most hotels.

Go next

Most travellers use Batangas City as a stopover to visit the other destinations in the province, such as the diving spots in Mabini, or as a stop en route to the white sand beaches in Puerto Galera in Mindoro, half hour away by boat.