Olongapo Hotels

Over the years, Olongapo City has proven itself to be more than just the Subic beach. It still continues to be Instagram-worthy though, but now with more breathtaking views and incredible activities to choose from.

At A Glance

If you want to go on a quick and satisfying trip but can only spare a limited time, Olongapo city is the place to be. Situated in Central Luzon and is almost four hours away from Manila, the city would give you that much-needed breather from the stress of the metro.

How to Go

By plane

By traveling by plane, you're sure that you're not wasting any time on the road. Major airlines offer daily trips to Olongapo; some even have offerings whether you're from Davao, Cebu, Taipei or Hong Kong.

By land transportation

Road trip your way to the north by and enjoy the journey, preferably with more friends for more fun! If you wish to commute, bus companies like Victory liner offer one way or round trip schedules to the city.

Getting Around

The best way to get around the city depends on your itinerary. If you're looking forward to lounging around their popular beaches like Anawangin Cove and Capones Island, obviously the best way to travel is by boat. To go around the different attractions in the city, there are jeepneys and taxis available almost 24/7.

Tourist Attractions

Looking for something totally different? Animal lovers and nature lovers alike would highly enjoy sightseeing in Bat Kingdom, where you could find Bamboo bats, the Golden Crowned Flying Foxes and the Philippine Giant Fruit Bat.

And would we forget to mention the famous Zoobic Safari? Get up close with the tigers of Zoobic, but unlike any other zoo, you'd be the one who will be locked up in a four-wheeled cage. Zoobic Safari is the perfect combination of a traditional and petting zoo, so you could feed the crocodiles and do other things you could do in a traditional zoo as well.

Top Things to Do

For adrenaline junkies, an all-day trek is a good way to unwind. In Olongapo, having Mount Pinatubo in the area is the perfect place to start. Discover hot springs and reignite your love for nature as you go and reach the top.

There are also a number of parks worth visiting around the city, so make sure you visit a few. One of the best ones are Friendship Park, Marikit Park and Subic Bay Industrial Park.

Do you still not know where to buy your pasalubong? Visit Harbor Point Mall in Rizal Highway for over 300 shops to choose from.

Where to Eat

In Olongapo, you'll never run out of good places to eat. Check out a few favorites including Rico's Fastfood and Restaurant. Located in West Tapinac, it is the place to go for your lutong bahay cravings at an affordable price. Their bagnet ensalada is only P110, and you can enjoy a bowl of Rico's bulalo for P150.

You might exert a little extra effort to go to this second restaurant as the place is a bit remote, but rest assured that your visit to Magic Lagoon (716 Bicentennial Park, Rizal Highway, Subic) will be oh-so-worth-it! You could even catch your own fish and ask their chefs to cook it for you. How's that for a relaxing afternoon?

For the biggest tacos in town, drop by The Coffee Shop Restaurant (2 Rizal St. Center National Highway, Barrio Barretto). The place, ironically, is not famous for their coffee, but for their giant tacos filled with cheese, ground beef, chili and lettuce for only P90. They also offer other equally sumptuous meals like shrimp with garlic and butter sauce (P260) and the classic sizzling sisig (P180).

Nightlife

Spend your nights in Olongapo on their various bars and pubs. Let D-MC Comedy Restobar make you laugh your cheeks hurt, or let Magic Box KTV Bar help you unleash your inner Adele or Sam Smith.

Where to Stay

Feel at home with Olongapo's range of hotel offerings, such as Arizona International Resort, Subic Residencias and Treasure Island Resort. You could also search their websites and social media pages to be updated if they have any ongoing discounts and promos.

Travel Tips

• If you're going to the beach, switch your phone into Airplane mode. There is no cell phone signal over there and having your phone in flight mode would prevent it from spending too much battery in looking for signal.
• If you're going trekking, wear clothes that will cover your arms and legs.
• Don't forget to bring sunblock and mosquito-repellant lotion!