Travel Guide: Legazpi City in Albay

Legazpi City Travel Guide

Legazpi is the Capital City of Albay Province. Situated on the eastern portion of Albay, approximately 534 km. South of Manila and centrally located at the heart of the Bicol Region. It was named after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Philippine islands in 1565, and whose family name came from Legazpi, a town in Guipuzcoa, Spain.

This post provides Legazpi City Travel Guide complete with tourist attractions, restaurant guides, shopping tips, landmarks, and transportation tips.

Legazpi’s most popular tourist attraction is Mayon Volcano. More than just your gateway to Bicolandia, Legazpi has so much to offer when it comes to food and adventure activities.

Legaspi City Tour Sample Itinerary – Tour Dura­tion: 2–4 hours

• 0:00     Hotel Departure
• 0:15     Visit: Lignon Hill Nature Park
• 0:30     Option to visit: Albay Park & Wildlife or Japan­ese Tunnel
• 1:00     Rov­ing Tour of the Albay Dis­trict of Legazpi City

• Bicol Uni­ver­sity
• Camp Gen­eral Simeon Ola
• Albay Cathe­dral
• Legazpi City Hall
• Albay Provin­cial Capitol
• Penaranda Park
• Albay Astrodome

• 1:30   Visit: Guadalupe Shrine

• Ibalon Grave­stone
• Head­less Monument
• Bat­tle of Legazpi Trylon
• Legazpi Rizal Park
• Legazpi Parish Church
• Regional Cen­ter Site

• 2:15     Visit: Rawis Black Sand Beach
• 2:45     Visit: Legazpi Sea­port Side / Boule­vard / Embarcadero
• 3:15     Sou­venir Shop­ping at Legazpi Grand Ter­mi­nal Pasalubong Center
• 4:00     End of tour

Places to visit in Legazpi City

• The Albay Park and Wildlife – located along Binitayan Road, is a popular picnic grove and a zoological park combined.
• The Embarcadero de Legazpi is a major waterfront development in Legazpi, fronting Legazpi’s main harbor with views towards Mayon Volcano. It consists of shopping areas, restaurants, markets, a major civic space, and a landmark lighthouse.
• The Japanese Tunnel is an L-shaped tunnel used as an arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The tunnel is located in Brgy. EM’s Barrio South in the Albay District.
• Kapuntukan Hill or Sleeping Lion Hill is located at the point south of the Port of Legazpi. A scenic view of the Embarcadero, the Legazpi Port District, Albay Gulf with Mayon in the backdrop can be viewed from the hill’s top.
• The Legazpi City Museum showcases the heritage and culture of the city. It is currently the only public museum in the entire Bicol Region.
• Liberty Bell is a bronze bell installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Peñaranda Park, in front of Albay Provincial Capitol. It is enclosed with a dome-shaped concrete structure with this inscription, “Whenever oppression knocks at your door, feel free to ring this bell.”
• Ligñon Hill Nature Park is located off Binitayan Road behind Albay Park, and Wildlife is one of the best places to view Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City. A winding road takes visitors to the observation station on top. The park includes nature trails, ziplines, view decks on the southwestern slope, located in the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) station, where any activities of Mayon are monitored.
• The Magayon Art Gallery at the Albay Provincial Capitol’s lobby serves as the avenue for artists to show off their visual creations.
• Rizal Park is located in front of Saint Raphael Church on Peñaranda Street. It’s dominating features are the fountain located at the center of the park, and the monument of Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva in 1966.
• Legazpi Boulevard is one of the newest attractions in the city and is poised to become the new industrial, commercial strip of the city and the new urban district’s site. The Legazpi Boulevard is the second-longest boulevard in the country, after Roxas Boulevard in Metro Manila.

Festivals in Legazpi City

• The Ibalong Festival is among the renowned non-religious festivals in Bicol and is celebrated in August. The epic story of Ibalong, a Bicolano legendary hero and other ancient heroes, is the theme of the Ibalong Festival. People involved in this clamorous merriment parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made its way into Bicol’s history. Continuing the joyful event up to the present time, the Ibalong Festival aims to express warmth and goodwill to all people; visitors and tourists are always encouraged to celebrate with the Bicolanos.
• Legazpi is also home to Albay’s annual Magayon Festival, which is held throughout April.

Monuments and Landmarks

• The Legazpi Heroes Memorial Pylon at the intersection of Quezon and Rizal Streets is a 16-meter (52 ft) high monument built to commemorate Filipino fighters’ defeat by American forces in 1900. The city went through raids by Dutch and Muslim pirates before the Spanish arrival and was the sight of a much bloody battle during the Philippine-American War and World War II.
• The General Simeon Ola statue is located at Bicol Heritage Park located inside the police camp named in his honor, Camp Simeon A. Ola.
• The Jose Maria Peñaranda Monument was built as a tribute to Albay’s late Governor, who served from 1834-1843. It is located at the Peñaranda Park.
• The Headless Monument was constructed as a dedication to the unknown heroes who died and shed their blood during the Japanese military occupation of Legazpi City in World War II. The memorial is located within the city’s Post Office Compound in Barangay Lapu-Lapu,

What to Eat in Legazpi

Local culinary is known as Bicolano food. Coconut milk is the most important ingredient to be added during cooking. Mains can be pork, seafood, or poultry. The flavor will be hot from chili, sweet and sour to savory, enriched by coconut milk base. Most famous amongst the Bicolanos’ menu is Bicol Express, which consists of pork and intestine slow-cooked in coconut milk, vinegar, and some spices. Common Filipino menus also can be found quite easily. They include dishes like pork adobo, silog (fried rice in garlic), milkfish (bangus), and longganisa (pork sausages). The taste of the longganisa is sweet, quite similar to Ilocano’s longganisa.

Recommended Restaurants:

• Small Talk
• Biggs Diner

Places to Stay in Legazpi – complete with address and telephone numbers

FIRST CLASS

HOTEL ST. ELLIS
Rizal Street, Legazpi City
#480-8088

THE ORIENTAL HOTEL
Taysan Hill Sto. Niño Village, Legazpi City
#(+6352)742-8888
www.theorientalhotels.com

STANDARD

ALICIA HOTEL
Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#481-4444/ 481-0801

CASABLANCA HOTEL
Peñaranda Street, Legazpi City
#480-8335/480-8334

HOTEL VENEZIA
Renaissance Gardens, Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#481-0877

PEPPERLAND HOTEL
Airport Road Legazpi City
#481-8000

EXECUTIVE

HOTEL VILLA ANGELINA
32 Rosario Street, Legazpi City
#480-6345

ECONOMY

CASABLANCA SUITES
Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#481-0788

DOUBLE MOTHERS RESORT
Buyuan Legazpi City
#435-3234/+639283869723

ELLIS ECOTEL
3rd Flr. Embarcadero de Legazpi,
Port Area, Legazpi City
#481-4888

JENNIFER’S KABABAYAN HOTEL
J.Estevez St. Albay, Legazpi City
#480-1086

LA PIAZZA HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER
Tahao Road Legazpi City
#437-3782 / 480-3377 / 480-7733

LA ROCA VERANDA SUITES
Lakandula Drive, Gogon, Legazpi City
#480-3247

MAGAYON HOTEL
Peñaranda Street, Legazpi City
#480-7770/820-4174

TANCHULING HOTEL
Imperial Subd., Legazpi City
#480-6003/820-2912

TYCHE BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Gov. Forbes Corner Rizal Street Legazpi City
#480-7799/ 480-5555

VILLA AMADA HOTEL
Rizal Street Sagpon, Daraga, Albay
#483-5243/ 483-4254

HOMETEL/HOSTEL/APPARTELLE

AMIGOS HOMETEL
J.Estevez St. Guevarra Albay District Legazpi City
#437-3783

ANDAMAR APARTELLE
Admaron City Home/ Diversion Road Legazpi City
#483-1331

CARLOS HOMETEL
Rawis Legazpi City
#482-0738

CORNER PLACE HOMETEL
Barriada Legazpi City
#480-5821

MAYON VIEW APPARTELLE
Pag-asa Rawis Legazpi City #+639209329581/ #482-0463

SEDCEN HOSTEL
Sedcen Bldg. Landco Business Park, Bitano, Legazpi City
#480-6368/ 481-2344

TOURIST INNS

AVIA INN
Bañag Daraga Albay
#204-0120

DREAMS INN & CAFÉ
F. Imperial Street, Legazpi City
#480-0885

GREAT PACIFIC INN
Rizal Street, Legazpi City
#820-6348/ 214-5435

JY TOURIST INN
Rizal Street Legazpi City
#481-1777

LA EDLEY
Aeroville TechnoHomes, Washington Drive, Legazpi City
# 481-4408/435-0401

LEGAZPI AIRPORT HOTEL
Airport Site, Legazpi City
#481-0232

LEGAZPI TOURIST INN
Lapu-Lapu Street, Legazpi City
#820-4880

MENDEZ SPA
Lanco Business Park, Bitano, Legazpi City
#480-2277

NEUHAUS INN
Magayon, Daraga Albay
#481-9188/ 483-7288

SALVADOR MANOR DE LEGAZPI
Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#480-2330

SAMPAGUITA TOURIST INN
Rizal Street Legazpi City
#480-6258

SHELL INN
Arimbay Legazpi City
#482-0387

SIVILLE INN
667 Vibal Street Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#481-2883

TWILIGHT ZONE HOTEL
Rizal Street Legazpi City
#480-9374

VISTA AL MAYON
Washington Drive, Legazpi City
#820-5814

DORMITORY

DENR DORMITORY
Rawis Legazpi City
#482-0269

TESDA DORMITORY
Rawis Legazpi City
#482-1252

LODGING HOUSE/PENSION HOUSE

CATALINAS LODGING HOUSE
96 Peñaranda Street, Legazpi City
#481-1634

EDEN ROSE LODGING
Guevarra Subd., Cabangan Leg City
#435-3235

REX LODGING HOUSE
Peñaranda Street, Legazpi City
#480-5489/ 820-4613

REYNALDO’S TRAVEL LODGE
140, Washington Drive Legazpi City
# 481-0290/ +639178732321

XANDRA LODGING HOUSE
Peñaranda Street. Legazpi City
#481-3309

How to Get There

Legazpi City is the center of transportation in the Bicol Region. It is strategically located in the middle of the region, between two other major cities in Bicol and is colloquially considered the “Gateway to South Luzon.” Legazpi also hosts the most modern airports, seaports, and transport terminals in the region.

By air

The city is served by Legazpi Airport, the busiest Domestic Airport in Luzon, and with its runway of 2,280 meters (7,480 ft), it is capable of handling international aircraft. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air have three flights each daily from Manila. Cebu Pacific’s third flight route is Manila-Legazpi-Cebu. Both Cebu Pacific and PAL use Airbus A319s and A320s. AirAsia Zest and PAL Express also have daily flights.

By land

Legazpi can be reached through land transport (by bus) from Manila in about 10 hours, two hours less if the new Andaya Highway route is taken. The city has one of the most modern van and transport terminals in the country. More than 10 bus companies operate daily transport to and from Manila to Legazpi, making the city very accessible to commuters and tourists alike.

By train

As of March 2012, The 10 1/2-hour Mayon Limited started traveling between Manila and Ligao, about 28 kilometers (17 mi) from Legazpi. That service would extend to Legazpi in 2013.

Source: Wikipedia, Wikitravel

Legazpi City Travel and Tour Packages

To help you plan out your visit to Saskatchewan, we listed places to visit and other amazing Legazpi City, Philippines. We also listed some of the best travel deals and tour packages and excellent flight deals and accommodation.

Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of affordable Legazpi City hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

Want more updates about new package tours and tourist spots in Legazpi City, Philippines? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

Also read: Ultimate List Of The Best Hotels In Legazpi City