Tacloban

Tacloban is a city in Eastern Visayas and the capital of the province of Leyte. It's the home of the Pintados Festival, a cultural event in Leyte commemorating the life and culture of the early settlers of Tacloban.

Understand

Tourist Information Centers

City Tourism Operations Office, Tacloban City Hall. 2016-03-07
City Tourism Information and Assistance Counter, Arrival Area, DZR Airport, San Jose. 2016-03-07
Provincial Tourism Office, Leyte Academic Center, Pawing, Palo, Leyte. 2016-03-07
Department of Tourism Regional Office No. 8, Magsaysay Blvd, +63 53 3212048. M-F 9AM-5PM. free city map 2016-03-07

Get in

By plane

Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (Tacloban Airport, DZR Airport, IATA: TAC). This World War II US air base is the main entry point to Leyte (and Eastern Visayas in general) by plane. Tacloban Airport has one runway which can accommodate small passenger jets like the Airbus A320 family. This is badly damaged by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, but has been rebuilt, and in 2015, the airport is the venue of an open-air Mass during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. 2019-07-28

Cebu Pacific flies from Manila using an Airbus A320 jet, while its regional carrier Cebgo flies from Cebu using turboprop aircraft. PAL Express flies from Manila and Cebu using jets and turboprops, respectively. Philippines AirAsia has flights from Manila or Clark using jets.

By ferry

There are no passenger ferries to or from Tacloban, but you can take a bus or van to Ormoc port, Baybay port or Naval port then get a ferry to Cebu City from there.

By bus

There are buses going to Manila via Catbalogan, Calbayog, Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Naga, Lucena, and to Davao and Cagayan de Oro via Surigao and Butuan.
There are small buses going from Tacloban to Naval, Sogod, Maasin, Baybay, and Ormoc.
Long-distance buses arrive at the Tacloban Bus Terminal, 2 km from downtown.

Get around

There are many ways to get from the airport to all over Tacloban City, especially downtown, which is where most of the fun and excitement happens.
Jeepney are the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown and cost an average of for a one way trip downtown, for a taxi or pedicab you are looking at ; if asked for more, then you are being ripped off.
For visitors not familiar with the city, you hire a tricycle to get to your destination. It costs around per ride.
Taxis operate from the airport to any part of the city. MLHuillier Taxi have the most cars. Taxi service is now available from the hotel to fetch you to the airport or any destination within the city and sub-urban towns around Tacloban at a higher price. For pick-up from downtown hotels in Tacloban to the airport, the standard price is . More than this amount is above the norm. Be prepared with the exact amount as drivers may not always have loose change. When wanting taxi service at your hotel, ask the front desk, they have contacts with taxi operators and drivers. For out-of-city points, prices are negotiable.
Jeepneys are the cheapest way to travel all around the city. Although confusing at first, it may take you a while to adjust to the directions and the naming of the different sections of the city, if in doubt ask a local since everyone is very willing to help.
When walking around the city, crossing the streets, intersections, observe traffic rules as the city imposes its anti-jaywalking ordinance. Some tourists and visitors who are used to the indifference of pedestrians in other cities in the Philippines, Tacloban could be a different place for them. The feel of the city is not as urbanized as in other highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. So every visitor and locals alike who come from rural towns may mistakenly take for granted traffic rules. There is a tendency to disregard the local ordinances.

See

Price Mansion, Justice Romualdez Street, 11.243948°, 125.004198°. CAP Building served as the residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur for three months. 2016-03-06
Leyte Provincial Capitol, Senator Enage St, 11.250525°, 125.003831°. The seat of Philippine Commonwealth in 1944. 2016-03-06
Philippine-Japan Commemorative Peace Park, Magsaysay Boulevard. Stone's throw away from city hall. It was donated by the Tokyo Survivors Associations in honor of soldiers and paramilitary personnel who perished in the area. 2016-03-06
The Maria Kanon Madonna of Peace Shrine, Magsaysay Boulevard. Near the city hall. Carved out of a rare Miyagi rock and fashioned by Japanese sculptor Shiniche Tani. 2016-03-06
Tacloban City Convention Center, Real Street, Sagkahan District, 11.22168°, 125.005093°. Popularly known as the Astrodome. 2016-03-06
Calvary Hill. Larger than life statues of Jesus Christ and other personages, in tableaux, depict Christ's sacrifice and sufferings. 2016-03-06
Crucified Christ and the Map of Leyte Pilgrim Monument, Magsaysay Boulevard. 2016-03-04
Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, Real Street, 11.235792°, 125.002218°. 2016-03-06
Balyuan Amphitheater, 11.242055°, 125.009292°. 2016-03-07
Boy Scout Monument, Fatima Village. 2016-03-07
World War II Japanese Pillboxes, Baluarte, San Jose. 2016-03-07

Do

Indoor climbing at Bukid Outdoor Shop, P. Burgos Street. 2016-03-06
San Juanico Bridge. It is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines. It connects the city to the third biggest island of the Philippines, Samar. The bridge spans 2.14 km and is one of the major tourist spots in the city. 2016-03-06
San Juanico Golf Park and Country Club, Cabalawan Hills. 2016-03-06
The People's Center and Library, Real Street. It houses volumes of books from the US and Europe and other countries. 2016-03-06

Events

Grand Santacruzan. May 30 2016-03-07
Tacloban City Charter Day. 2016-03-07
Balyu-an Rites. 2016-03-07
Subiran Regatta. It is a race of one-man native sailboats with outriggers locally called "subiran" along scenic and historic Leyte Gulf. The race is done without using a paddle but only skills and techniques to manuever the sail. 2016-03-07
Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival. 2016-03-07
Sangyaw Festival. June 29 2016-03-07
Barrio Fiesta. Leyte Landing Anniversary, October 20. 2016-03-07

Learn

Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Salazar Steet. 2016-03-06
Leyte Normal University (LNU), Paterno Street. 2016-03-06
University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC), Magsaysay Boulevard. 2016-03-06

Buy

Malls & supermarkets

Robinsons Place Mall & Robinsons supermarket. 10AM-8PM.
Gaisano Capital Department Store and Supermarket., J Romualdez street, +63 53-321-3993. 8AM-9PM.
SM Savemore Supermarket, Justice Romualdez Street. 8AM-9PM. 2016-09-18
Gaisano Central Mall, Justice Romualdez Street.. 8AM-9PM. Has a Gaisano Supermarket. 2016-09-18
Puregold Supermarkets, Calanipawan Road & marasbaras Street. (one is near Tacloban City Hospital). 8AM-9PM. 2016-09-22
Unitop Department Store, Zamora Street, +63 53 3254389. 7:30AM-7:30PM. lower prices 2017-03-21

Eat

Calle Z, Independencia St. (Just ask the tricycle driver to bring you to this restaurant.). It has a homey ambiance. 2016-03-06
Pindoko's, Real Street. Barbecues at very reasonable prices. 2016-03-06
Fahrenheit Food Center, M H Del Pilar Street. 8AM-8PM. lower prices 2017-03-21
J C O Roasters & J C Food Spot, Justice Romualdez Street. 8AM-8PM. lower price 2017-03-21
Kenny's fast food, 88 Zamora Street, +63 53 52-36363. 8AM-8PM. lower price 2017-03-21

Drink

Zaibatsu Cafe Bar, Sen. Enage St (at right going to the provincial capitol from downtown Tacloban.). 2016-03-06
Bo's Cafe, Avenida Veteranos. 2016-03-06

Sleep

Budget

GV Hotel, Corner of Juan Luna and Veteranos, +63 53 325 3142. Fan and a.c. single/double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. 137 rooms. free wifi. from
Matthews Loding House, M.H Del Pilar Street, +63 53 3211820. Fan single/double rooms with own bathroom. From 2016-09-18
Welcome Home Pensione, 161 Sto Nino Street, +63 53 5230378. Fan/a.c. single/double rooms with or without own bathroom. Most rooms have cable TV. from 2016-09-18
Cecilias Lodge, 178 P. Peterno Street, +63 53 3212815. Single/double rooms with own bathroom. From 2016-09-18
Travellers Suite, Rizal Avenune, +63-53-8321572. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Fan single room. Shared bathroom. Free wifi. From 2018-05-14
Yellow Doors Backpackers Hostel, Corner of Burgos & Juan Luan Streets, +63-9216000165. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A hostel with dorm beds and single/double rooms that has its own bar. from 2019-05-28

Mid-range

Asia Star Hotel. In the downtown area. 2016-03-06
Leyte Park Hotel. This used to be one of Tacloban's well kept charms, now totally destroyed. You will see a bird's eye view of the Canacabato Bay. 2016-03-06
Hotel Canelsa, Realmstar Building, corner Rizal Avenue and P. Burgos Street, Tacloban, +63 53 325-2342, +63 53 325-2343.
Etsu Hotel, GYT Building, corner Rizal Avenue and Tarcela Street, Tacloban, +63 53 321-4165.
XYZ hotel, Zamora Street. 2016-03-06
Hotel Consuelo, Veteranos Avenue. 2016-03-06
Go Hotels, Robinson's Place. 2016-03-06
Hotel La Rica, Zamora Street. 2016-03-06
Hotel Rodolfo, Sto. Nino street. 2016-03-06
Hotel Lorenza, Veteranos Avenue. 2016-03-06

Connect

The international telephone country code for the Philippines is 63. The area code for Tacloban is 53.

Cope

Hospital

Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center. Senator Enage Street. Phone 53-3213129. (DOH Hospital).

Immigration office

Bureau of Immigration Tacloban office. Kanhuraw Hill. Magsaysay Blvd. phone 053-3256004.

Laundry services

Lavada Express Laundry and Dry Cleaning.

Religious services

Redemptorist Church, Real Street. 2016-03-07
Santo Niño Church, corner Real and Zamora Streets. It is considered as the main church of Tacloban City. It is home to the miraculous image of the Senor Santo Nino. 2016-03-06

Tacloban - city of the Philippines and capital of the province of Leyte