Quezon City, Philippines: travel guide
Manila's biggest northern suburb of parks, museums and food streets
Philippines' largest city by land area — a vibrant urban center with business districts, museums, and cultural venues.
About Quezon City
Quezon City is a sprawling urban area on the north-eastern edge of Metro Manila, and it is home to universities, studios, government offices and a long list of restaurants. Though it lacks the old-town sights of central Manila, it is a lively, modern part of the capital.
Things to do in Quezon City include walking around the Quezon Memorial Circle, visiting the Vargas Museum on the university campus and eating along Maginhawa Street, which is lined with small cafes and eateries. The city also hosts several of the country's major arts and theatre venues, along with weekend markets and the Cubao Expo area.
It suits travellers who want a local view of the capital and good food. The dry season from December to May is the most comfortable.
- Country
- Philippines
- Currency
- PHP
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Nearest airport
- MNL
- Typical trip
- 1-2 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in Quezon City
University of the Philippines Diliman
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The flagship campus of UP — stunning Oblation sculpture, acacia-lined Academic Oval, and lagoon jogging path.
Quezon Memorial Circle
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Elliptical park dedicated to President Manuel Quezon — a grand neoclassical monument at the heart of Quezon City.
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife
Wildlife · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Urban wildlife reserve in Quezon City home to Philippine deer, wild pigs, and hundreds of bird species.
La Mesa Eco Park
watershed park · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Forested recreation park within the La Mesa Watershed Reservation featuring a butterfly trail, wet and dry trails, a swimming pool, and a boardwalk over the reservoir.
Eastwood City Walk
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Al fresco lifestyle mall in Libis — open-air dining, entertainment, and a lively weekend events scene.
Cubao Expo
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A retro strip of independent shops, record stores, antique dealers, and vintage bars along Aurora Boulevard.
Maginhawa Food Strip
Market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Quezon City's beloved bohemian food street — hole-in-the-wall restaurants, dessert shops, and themed cafes.
Things to do
- Quezon Memorial Circle Morning Walk Heritage · 1.5 h
- Maginhawa Street Food Crawl Food Tour · 3 h · from PHP 290 per person
- Art in Island QC — Trick Art Museum Cultural · 1.5 h · from PHP 180 per person
- UP Diliman Campus Heritage & Nature Walk Cultural · 1.5 h
Where to stay in Quezon City
- City Center about PHP 2,500 per night
Main commercial and residential area
Hotels
- Seda Vertis North 5-star · PHP 7,000 to PHP 15,000 per night
- Quest Hotel Quezon City 4-star · PHP 3,500 to PHP 7,500 per night
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Quezon City 3-star · PHP 2,000 to PHP 4,500 per night
Where to eat
- Farmers Table QC Filipino · about PHP 500 per person
- Lugang Café Eastwood Chinese, Taiwanese · about PHP 450 per person
- Maginhawa Street Food Crawl Filipino, International · about PHP 200 per person
- Antonio's Garden Restaurant QC European, Filipino · about PHP 1,800 per person
Getting to Quezon City
Nearest airport: Manila (MNL), about 14 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Jeepney useful for some trips
Jeepneys fill gaps where city buses do not reach, such as the UP Ikot loop at UP Diliman; on main roads like Commonwealth Avenue buses are suggested.
- Ride Hail
Ride-hailing apps such as Grab and several others operate across Metro Manila, which includes Quezon City.
- 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 Quezon City
- Jan 31°C
- Feb 32°C
- Mar 33°C
- Apr 35°C
- May 34°C
- Jun 33°C
- Jul 32°C
- Aug 31°C
- Sep 32°C
- Oct 32°C
- Nov 32°C
- Dec 31°C
More in Philippines
Frequently asked questions about Quezon City
- How many days do you need in Quezon City?
- A typical trip to Quezon City is 1-2 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Quezon City?
- The highest-rated places in our Quezon City guide are University of the Philippines Diliman, Maginhawa Food Strip, Eastwood City Walk, Quezon Memorial Circle, Cubao Expo.
- Where should I stay in Quezon City?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Quezon City: City Center.
- How do I get around Quezon City?
- Ways to get around Quezon City covered in our guide: Jeepney, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Quezon City?
- Scams reported to us for Quezon City include Money exchange short-change. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Quezon City?
- Average daytime highs in Quezon City run from 31°C in Jan to 35°C in Apr.
- Which airport is nearest to Quezon City?
- The nearest airport to Quezon City has the code MNL.