Top places to visit in Davao

• People's Park Davao

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central urban park featuring giant durian sculptures, ethnic warrior statues, and tropical gardens.

• Malagos Garden Resort

  Nature · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · entry ₱100 (≈ ₹150)

  Sprawling botanical garden and chocolate farm featuring heritage cacao and award-winning Malagos chocolates.

• Roxas Night Market

  Market · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Street food heaven — grilled meats, exotic fruits, and local delicacies along Roxas Avenue from dusk onwards.

• Davao Crocodile Park

  Wildlife · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₱150 (≈ ₹230)

  Zoo and wildlife park featuring saltwater crocodiles, exotic birds, tigers, and an orchid garden.

• Jack's Ridge

  hilltop viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop leisure park on Shrine Hills (former WWII Japanese Imperial Army watchtower site) with panoramic views over Davao City and the Gulf of Davao, dining decks, and a small zipline.

• Eden Nature Park

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 4 h · entry ₱150 (≈ ₹230)

  Sprawling highland eco-park at 1000m elevation with gardens, zip-lines, orchid houses, and misty mountain views.

• San Pedro Cathedral Davao

  church · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The mother church of Davao — a Spanish-era heritage structure at the heart of the city's historic district.

• Philippine Eagle Center

  Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry ₱200 (≈ ₹300)

  Sanctuary and breeding program for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle — the world's largest eagle by length.

• D'Bone Collector Museum

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry ₱50 (≈ ₹76)

  Eccentric private museum housing over 700 species of animal skeletons, including a whale and rare endemic creatures.

• Garden City of Samal

  Beach · about 4 h · entry ₱50 (≈ ₹76)

  Island paradise across Davao Gulf with white-sand beaches, snorkeling reefs, and cave swimming.

• Mount Apo National Park

  Nature · about 8 h · entry ₱150 (≈ ₹230)

  The highest peak in the Philippines at 2954 m — challenging multi-day trek through volcanic terrain and cloud forest.

Things to do

• Philippine Eagle Center Visit Wildlife · 2.5 h · from PHP 140 per person
• Davao City Food Tour — Durian & Pomelo Trail Food Tour · 3 h · from PHP 290 per person
• Eden Nature Park Day Trip Nature · 5 h · from PHP 360 per person
• Mount Apo Day Hike (Lower Slopes) Hiking · 8 h · from PHP 530 per person
• Samal Island Beach Day Trip Day Trip · 6 h · from PHP 360 per person
• Davao Crocodile Park & Wildlife Tour Wildlife · 2 h · from PHP 140 per person
• Kadayawan Festival Cultural Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PHP 250 per person
• Davao Nightlife — Roxas Night Market Food Tour · 2 h · from PHP 140 per person

Where to stay in Davao

• City Center about PHP 2,000 per night

  Main commercial area with mid-range accommodation

Hotels

• Marco Polo Davao 5-star · PHP 8,000 to PHP 18,000 per night
• Seda Abreeza Davao 4-star · PHP 5,500 to PHP 11,000 per night
• Berjaya Hotel Davao 4-star · PHP 4,000 to PHP 8,500 per night
• Lilian's Room Davao 2-star · PHP 1,200 to PHP 2,800 per night
• Park Inn by Radisson Davao PHP 4,500 to PHP 9,000 per night
• Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao 4-star · PHP 5,500 to PHP 11,000 per night

Where to eat

• Claude's Le Artisan Bistro European, Filipino · about PHP 1,200 per person
• Kolam Restaurant Indian, Vegetarian · about PHP 200 per person
• Bulaluhan sa Bankerohan Filipino · about PHP 150 per person
• Isla Sugbu Seafood City Davao Filipino, Seafood · about PHP 400 per person
• Jack's Ridge Restaurant Filipino, International · about PHP 600 per person
• Roxas Night Market Eateries Filipino · about PHP 100 per person
• Malagos Farmhouse Restaurant Filipino, International · about PHP 450 per person
• Tsoknat Grill Bar Filipino, BBQ · about PHP 250 per person

Getting to Davao

Airport: Davao (DVO)

How visitors arrive in Davao

• Flight into Davao International Airport By air from Manila · common

  The airport is described as the main entry point, served from Manila and many other Philippine cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus to the overland terminal in Ecoland By road from Mindanao · common

  Most long-distance buses arrive at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance ferry via Cagayan de Oro or Nasipit By ferry from Cebu · possible

  Long-haul ferries to Manila, Cebu and the Visayas leave from other Mindanao ports, not Davao. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Metered taxi from Davao airport

  Use a metered taxi from the taxi stand near the terminal. Decline touts who offer a fixed fare and ask for the meter. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Jeepney from the highway

  Walk out to the highway in front of the airport and flag a jeepney heading to the town centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Jeepney

  Jeepneys run around the clock across Davao; ask locals which route to take.

• Taxi main way to get around

  Taxis are a straightforward option in Davao and can issue a receipt listing the company and taxi number.

  Get Grab (Philippines)

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Money exchange short-change

  Major tourist zones

  Cashier counts notes quickly, palms one, then re-counts and accuses you of being short.

  How to avoid it: Use credit card. Count change yourself before stepping away.

Best time to visit Davao

• Jan 31°C
• Feb 31°C
• Mar 32°C
• Apr 33°C
• May 33°C
• Jun 32°C
• Jul 32°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 32°C
• Dec 32°C

More in Philippines

• Manila
• Boracay
• Siargao Island
• Cebu
• Coron
• El Nido

Frequently asked questions about Davao

How many days do you need in Davao?

A typical trip to Davao is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Davao?

The highest-rated places in our Davao guide are San Pedro Cathedral Davao, People's Park Davao, Eden Nature Park, Philippine Eagle Center, D'Bone Collector Museum.

Where should I stay in Davao?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Davao: City Center.

How do I get around Davao?

Ways to get around Davao covered in our guide: Jeepney, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Davao?

Scams reported to us for Davao include Money exchange short-change. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Davao?

Average daytime highs in Davao run from 31°C in Jan to 33°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to Davao?

The nearest airport to Davao has the code DVO.