Zamboanga Peninsula · Philippines
Where to stay in Zamboanga
Zamboanga is a city in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, home to about 1,019,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- ZAM3 km · Zamboanga International Airport
- Currency
- PHPPhilippine peso
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Language
- English, Filipino, Taglish
About
About Zamboanga
Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano/Spanish: Ciudad de Zamboanga; Subanen: Bagbenwa Sembwangan; Sama: Lungsud Samboangan; Tausug: Daira sin Sambuwangan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Zamboanga; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Zamboanga), is a highly urbanized city in the Zamboanga Peninsula region of the Philippines, with a total population of 1.02 million inhabitants.
Zamboanga City is one of the largest cities in the Philippines by land area, with a size of about 1,500 sqkm, coming third after Puerto Princesa and Davao City. It is also the second largest city in Mindanao (after Davao City) and the sixth largest in the Philippines by population, with about 977,000 residents as of 2020. The city is close to being classified as a metropolitan area under these conditions. The city is an important seaport, being the main transportation to the south.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Zamboanga
See
- R.T. Lim Boulevard
- Fort Pilar Shrine
- Fort Pilar National Museum
- Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
- Old Normal School Building
- Pasonanca Park
- Plaza Pershing
- St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish Church, Tetuan
- Sta. Cruz Island
- Taluksangay Mosque
- Yakan Weaving Center
- Zamboanga City Hall
Do
- Bathe in Pasonanca's natural pools
- Sta Cruz Island
- Savour the area's delicacies
- Visit Abong Abong Park
- Visit the Aviary at Pasonanca Park
- Visit the Fort Pilar Shrine
- Visit the Maria Clara Lobregat Park
- Visit the Zamboanga Museum at Fort Pilar.
- Mangroves Boat Tour (Sta. Cruz Grande Island)
- Vinta Rowing
- Little Sta Cruz Island & Sandbar
- Once Isla Cruise (11 Islands)
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Zamboanga
5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cityinn Hotel | 0.8 km | |
| Ever O Business Hotel | 0.3 km | |
| Grand Astoria Hotel | 0.6 km | |
| Marcian Garden Hotel | 2.0 km | |
| Winzelle Suites | 0.3 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Zamboanga
Zamboanga has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 255 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 Zamboanga: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zamboanga International Airport (ZAM), about 2.7 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Jeepneys are widely available, with routes connecting the downtown from the airport and bus terminal. Routes are numbered (as of 2022), but are not visible; you generally find their destination from markings on the side and signs on the windshield. Route of interest to visitors are between Sevilla Street downtown and the bus terminal in barangay Divisoria, and Reyes Street downtown and the airport at Canelar.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ZAM · Zamboanga International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Zamboanga
Stay safe
Today, Zamboanga City has recovered mostly from the scars that the insurgencies and incursions have left on its past. After the September 2013 Siege of Zamboanga, which flattened many areas across the coast, the city has risen back, and has had steady economic and infrastructural progress. Zamboanga City is generally safe for tourists, however it is not known to be one of the safest cities in Mindanao. International travel agencies have repeatedly cautioned against visiting the city, so consider checking on with your travel agency about their word of Zamboanga before visiting. Nonetheless, exercise increased cautionary measures when going around Zamboanga.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Zamboanga: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Zamboanga?
Zamboanga has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 255 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Zamboanga?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Zamboanga International Airport (ZAM), about 2.7 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Zamboanga?
Philippine peso (PHP).
Nearby
Destinations near Zamboanga
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.