Metro Manila · Philippines
Caloocan travel guide
Caloocan is a city in Metro Manila, Philippines, home to about 1,713,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- MNL17 km · Ninoy Aquino International Airport
- Currency
- PHPPhilippine peso
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Language
- English, Filipino, Taglish
About
About Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan, is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,712,945 people, making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Once a large municipality of Rizal, Caloocan today is divided into two non-contiguous areas, urbanized South Caloocan and suburban North Caloocan (also known locally as Bukid as it used to be countryside of rice paddies), a result of the absorption of its several barangays (then barrios), most notably Novaliches, into Quezon City, established to be the capital of the Philippines.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Caloocan
See
- Bonifacio Monument
- San Roque Cathedral
- Caloocan City People's Park
- Thai-To Taosit Temple
- Ung Siu Si Buddhist Temple
Do
- Green Paddle (Caloocan City)
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Caloocan
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Gwapotel | 3.1 km | |
| RedDoorz @ Manila Venetian Hotel - Quarantine Hotel RedDoorz | 3.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Caloocan
Caloocan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; August is the wettest, with about 630 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Caloocan: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base (CRK, 74 km) and Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point (SFS, 76 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
The city, like the rest of Metro Manila, is served internationally by NAIA. Take the LRT Line 1 and alight at either 5th Avenue or Monumento stations. You can also take the MRT and transfer to a bus at North Avenue and continue onward to Monumento, or take the LRT from Roosevelt or Balintawak stations up to Monumento. Philippine National Railways (PNR) operates commuter trains between Tutuban or FTI stations (in Manila and Taguig respectively) and Governor Pascual station in Malabon. Trains call at 5th Avenue, 10th Avenue (Asistio) and Caloocan (Sangandaan).
Getting around
If you need to use public transportation try sakay.ph, it will show you the right type to your destination. Small but convenient and very affordable tricycles ply around the city. Just say where you are going and they will bring you as fast as possible.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
MNL · Ninoy Aquino International Airport
CRK · Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base
SFS · Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Caloocan
Stay safe
Northern Caloocan has a bad reputation for giant slums; exercise caution and stay away from any obvious slum area if you travel alone. Illegal drugs and petty crime is a major concern, so better stay away from those areas. Women travelers must avoid walking alone, especially near run-down areas. Rape cases are all too common in the city, though most cases involve local females. After a controversial ordinance was signed, wearing skimpy shorts in public locations, including city streets, can lead to a fine.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Caloocan: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Caloocan?
Caloocan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; August is the wettest, with about 630 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Caloocan?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base (CRK, 74 km) and Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point (SFS, 76 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Caloocan?
Philippine peso (PHP).
Nearby
Destinations near Caloocan
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.