Top places to visit in Dumaguete City

• Dumaguete Cathedral

  church · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral — a 19th-century coral-stone church at the center of Dumaguete.

• Pulangbato Red Falls

  Waterfall · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry ₱30 (≈ ₹45)

  A scenic red-tinged waterfall caused by iron-rich volcanic rock — a hidden gem above Valencia town.

• Casaroro Falls

  Waterfall · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry ₱60 (≈ ₹91)

  A dramatic 30-m waterfall at the end of a steep jungle canyon hike — one of Negros Oriental's most beautiful.

• Twin Lakes Balinsasayaw

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · entry ₱50 (≈ ₹76)

  Two volcanic crater lakes in the mountains above Dumaguete — a serene highland escape.

• Silliman University Museum

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

  Anthropology and natural history museum on the Silliman University campus — oldest US-founded university in Asia.

• Manjuyod White Sandbar

  Beach · 4.5 rating · about 4 h · entry ₱300 (≈ ₹450)

  A 7-km-long white sandbar dubbed the Maldives of the Philippines — only fully exposed at low tide.

• Silliman Beach

  Beach · 4.0 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A relaxed stretch of grey sand fronting Silliman University — popular for sunset strolls and student hangouts.

• Mabinay Crystal Cave

  Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₱50 (≈ ₹76)

  A vast cave system with stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground stream — inside one of Negros's karst mountains.

• Rizal Boulevard Dumaguete

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The beloved seaside promenade of Dumaguete — lined with cafes, restaurants, and benches facing Tañon Strait.

• Apo Island Marine Reserve

  Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 6 h · entry ₱250 (≈ ₹380)

  A world-renowned community-managed marine sanctuary — snorkel with sea turtles and thriving coral gardens.

Things to do

• Apo Island Snorkeling & Turtle Watch Water Sports · 4 h · from PHP 530 per person
• Dumaguete Dolphin & Whale Watching Wildlife · 4 h · from PHP 430 per person
• Casaroro Falls Trek Hiking · 4 h · from PHP 180 per person
• Dumaguete Boulevard Evening Walk & Food Stalls Food Tour · 1.5 h
• Twin Lakes (Balinsasayaw & Danao) Day Trip Nature · 5 h · from PHP 180 per person
• Manjuyod Sandbar Day Trip Boat · 6 h · from PHP 430 per person
• Silliman University Cultural Walk Cultural · 1.5 h
• Forest Camp & Highland Resort Zip Tour Adventure · 4 h · from PHP 250 per person

Where to stay in Dumaguete City

• City Center about PHP 2,000 per night

  Waterfront city with accommodation

Hotels

• Harold's Mansion Dumaguete 3-star · PHP 2,500 to PHP 5,500 per night
• South Sea Resort Dumaguete 3-star · PHP 3,000 to PHP 7,000 per night
• Florentina Homes Dumaguete 2-star · PHP 1,500 to PHP 3,200 per night
• Bethel Guest House PHP 900 to PHP 1,800 per night
• Hotel Palwa PHP 1,000 to PHP 2,000 per night
• Vintage Inn PHP 700 to PHP 1,400 per night

Where to eat

• Why Not Restaurant & Bar Filipino, International · about PHP 350 per person
• Sans Rival Bistro Filipino, Bakery · about PHP 150 per person
• Casablanca Restaurant International, European · about PHP 800 per person
• Hayahay Treehouse Bar Filipino, Seafood · about PHP 350 per person
• Harbor Lights Seaview Restaurant Filipino, Seafood · about PHP 400 per person
• Café Antonio filipino, international · about PHP 350 per person
• Gabby's Bistro filipino, international · about PHP 400 per person
• Chapters Cafe DGT cafe · about PHP 200 per person

Getting to Dumaguete City

Airport: Dumaguete City (DGT)

How visitors arrive in Dumaguete City

• Flight into Dumaguete airport By air from Manila, Cebu · common

  The airport at Sibulan, just outside the city, takes flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Cebu By ferry from Cebu City · common

  Dumaguete port receives ferries from Cebu City, which has the most sailings, plus Siquijor, Bohol and Manila. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Cebu or Bacolod By road from Cebu City, Bacolod · possible

  Ceres buses run from Cebu City (crossing by ferry) and from other Negros towns such as Bacolod. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Tricycle from Sibulan Airport

  Sibulan airport is in the next town, a short distance from downtown. Tricycle rates are posted on a sign at the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Jeepney from the highway

  Walk a short way from the terminal to the highway and take a jeepney to the public market downtown. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• Ferries to Dumaguete Port

  Direct ferries from other islands arrive at Dumaguete Port, with ticket offices along the road into the port. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Scooter Rental

  Motorcycles are popular in Dumaguete and rental shops are found along Perdices Street.

• Tricycle main way to get around

  Tricycles, motorcycles with a sidecar, are the main way to get around Dumaguete town, and rides are often shared with other passengers.

• 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 Dumaguete City

• Jan 29°C
• Feb 29°C
• Mar 30°C
• Apr 31°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 32°C
• Jul 32°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 30°C

More in Philippines

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

Frequently asked questions about Dumaguete City

How many days do you need in Dumaguete City?

A typical trip to Dumaguete City is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Dumaguete City?

The highest-rated places in our Dumaguete City guide are Dumaguete Cathedral, Casaroro Falls, Mabinay Crystal Cave, Rizal Boulevard Dumaguete, Pulangbato Red Falls.

Where should I stay in Dumaguete City?

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

How do I get around Dumaguete City?

Ways to get around Dumaguete City covered in our guide: Scooter rental, Tricycle, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Dumaguete City?

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

What is the weather like in Dumaguete City?

Average daytime highs in Dumaguete City run from 29°C in Jan to 32°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Dumaguete City?

The nearest airport to Dumaguete City has the code DGT.