Calabarzon · Philippines
Santa Rosa travel guide
Santa Rosa is a city in Calabarzon, Philippines, home to about 431,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- MNL24 km · Ninoy Aquino International Airport
- Currency
- PHPPhilippine peso
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Language
- English, Filipino, Taglish
About
About Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, officially the City of Santa Rosa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Santa Rosa), is a component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 430,920 people.
Santa Rosa is one of the largest cities in Laguna, forming the urban sprawl along the western coast of Laguna de Bay. The city is one of the most densely-populated cities of Laguna, ahead of San Pedro. Despite the industrial and commercial developments in the city, Santa Rosa still serves as a bedroom community 38 km south of Manila. It is best known as a regional industrial center, home to major producers like Toyota Motors Philippines, Monde Nissin and Coca-Cola Philippines, lending its nickname "Lion City of the Philippines".
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Santa Rosa
See
- Enchanted Kingdom
- Santa Rosa Arch
- Santa Rosa de Lima Parish Church
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Santa Rosa
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newport World Resorts | 7.9 km | |
| Southpick Resort and Hotel Laguna RedDoorz | 0.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; October is the wettest, with about 347 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 Santa Rosa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), about 24 km from the city centre in a straight line; Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point (SFS, 105 km) and Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base (CRK, 114 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Some bus companies from Metro Manila have terminals in Balibago, along the junction with the Manila South Road and the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay. Another city bus connection is by way of Biñan. Take the route 15 Ayala-Biñan bus, and transfer to the Biñan-Balibago jeepney. From the south, some bus routes terminate at the Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal, beside SM City Santa Rosa, but as of 2025, the terminal remains deserted and bus companies that used to serve it terminating at Manila terminals instead.
Getting around
You can bring your car with you to visit most attractions in the city, but beware: traffic jams and driving behaviors are not for the faint-hearted. Most tourist spots like Enchanted Kingdom, Paseo de Santa Rosa and Nuvali can be easily reached by car, but alternatives are available. You can also take a jeepney once you get down the bus or express jeepney in Balibago, and it will bring you to most locations in the city.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
MNL · Ninoy Aquino International Airport
SFS · Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point
CRK · Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Santa Rosa
Stay safe
The dreaded West Valley Fault extending from Metro Manila also passes through Santa Rosa, roughly forming the boundary with Silang, Cavite.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Santa Rosa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Santa Rosa?
Santa Rosa has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; October is the wettest, with about 347 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Santa Rosa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), about 24 km from the city centre in a straight line; Subic Bay International Airport / Naval Air Station Cubi Point (SFS, 105 km) and Clark International Airport / Clark Air Base (CRK, 114 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Santa Rosa?
Philippine peso (PHP).
Nearby
Destinations near Santa Rosa
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.