Major city · Philippines
Quezon CityLungsod Quezon
Give Quezon City 1–2 nights only if you want food, malls and nightlife; it is a base, not a sight list — most travellers sleep in Makati or Manila instead.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PHP
- Best months
- Dec–May (dry season)
- avoid Jun–Oct (wet season, typhoons), Holy Week
- Airport
- MNL
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Philippines ↗Complete the free eTravel registration on the official government site within 72 hours before arrival; ignore lookalike sites that charge.
- Philippines ↗Typhoon season runs roughly June to November: flights and boats are cancelled at short notice; buy flexible tickets and keep a spare day.
- Philippines ↗Carry pesos in small notes; many stalls, jeepneys and taxis are cash-only.
Quezon City is Metro Manila's largest city by population and the country's former capital (1946–1972). It has no single centre: Cubao, North EDSA, Eastwood and the Tomas Morato/Scout area are separate commercial hubs, 20–60 minutes apart in traffic. It is the best value base in the metro for food and nightlife, but the sights are thin and the sprawl is real. Use it for 1–2 nights, or as a transport base at Cubao.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Quezon City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.Philippines-wide
- SIM or eSIMGlobe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.Philippines-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.Philippines-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% if no service charge.Philippines-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Philippines-wide
- SafetyQuezon City is a working metropolis, not a resort: petty crime, snatching and street harassment are real, and some barangays (Commonwealth, Payatas…
- RestroomsCalled 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.Philippines-wide
- Emergency numbers911 National emergency · 117 Quezon City Police District · (02) 8426-0219 (≈ US$150–4) Bureau of Fire Protection (QC)
- Sundays & holidaysHoly Week shuts much; malls open daily; banks closed weekends.Philippines-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMNL Ninoy Aquino International Airport (In Pasay/Parañaque, south of the metro; taxi or Grab to Quezon City is 45–90 min depending on traffic.
- Getting aroundNo single centre: plan by hub, not by distance.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a mall café₱120–220 (≈ US$3–4)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a convenience store₱120–250 (≈ US$3–5)₱60–120 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miGrab across Quezon CitySurge pricing in rain and rush hour.₱250–500 (≈ US$5–9)
- Metro or bus rideMRT-3 or LRT-2 single ride₱15–35 (≈ under US$1) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₱400–800 (≈ US$8–15)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person₱600 (≈ US$11)
- Mid-range bedBudget-hotel double room, a night, per room₱2,800 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedBudget-hotel double room, a night, per room₱5,500 (≈ US$100)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₱1,800 (≈ US$35) · Mid ₱3,500 (≈ US$65) · High ₱7,000 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MNL Ninoy Aquino International Airport (In Pasay/Parañaque, south of the metro; taxi or Grab to Quezon City is 45–90 min depending on traffic. UBE Express point-to-point buses run to Cubao.)
Weather and climate
Quezon City: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
5 rd
Feb
32°C90°F
21°C70°F
4 rd
Mar
33°C91°F
22°C72°F
4 rd
Apr
35°C95°F
24°C75°F
5 rd
May
35°C95°F
25°C77°F
12 rd
Jun
34°C93°F
25°C77°F
17 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
22 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
24°C75°F
22 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
20 rd
Oct
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
17 rd
Nov
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
12 rd
Dec
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
8 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No single centre: plan by hub, not by distance. LRT-2 and MRT-3 cover Cubao, North EDSA and Katipunan; the EDSA Carousel bus runs a dedicated lane on EDSA. QCityBus is a free city-run bus network from Quezon Memorial Circle. Jeepneys serve UP Diliman (the 'UP Ikot' loop) and residential lanes; tricycles cover side streets. Grab and metered taxis are the practical default for cross-city trips. Driving yourself is not recommended.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 45–90 min
LRT-2 to Recto, then walk or short taxi; or Grab
Do it early; the walled city is hot and exposed by midday.
Makati (Ayala and Greenbelt)
goDoor to door: 45–75 min
MRT-3 from Cubao or North EDSA to Ayala
Best for upmarket dining and malls; avoid 17:00–20:00 return.Best for upmarket dining and malls; avoid 5:00 PM–8:00 PM return.
San Juan (Greenhills)
goDoor to door: 30–50 min
Grab or taxi from Cubao, about 20–40 min
Greenhills Shopping Center for pearls and electronics; watch your bag in the tiangge.
Taguig (BGC)
cautionDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Bus 18 BGC–North EDSA, or Grab
Worth it for the walkable high street, but the return in rush hour is slow.
Pasay (MOA and PITX)
cautionDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
EDSA Carousel bus or MRT-3 plus LRT-1
Mall of Asia and the bay; PITX is the southern bus terminal.
Door to door: 5–7 h
Provincial bus from Cubao (Araneta City Bus Port)
Cool-climate mountain city; leave early to beat Manila traffic.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Cubao
Araneta City malls, LRT-2 and MRT-3 interchange, provincial bus terminal. Best for transport and one-night stops.
Triangle and Scout Areas
Tomas Morato and Timog: restaurants, bars, clubs. Best for nightlife; walkable at night within the belt.
Diliman and Katipunan
UP and Ateneo campuses, Maginhawa Street food. Student area, cheaper food, quieter nights.
North EDSA
Trinoma and SM North EDSA malls, MRT-3 and EDSA Carousel. Mall-first stays.
Eastwood (Southeast)
Mixed-use, upmarket, walkable pocket; far from the rest of QC.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₱1,500–2,800 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₱2,800–5,500 (≈ US$50–100) excl. bed
- High
- ₱5,500 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Budget-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ₱2,800 | ₱5,600 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₱3,500 | ₱14,000 |
| Grab across the city, one trip1 × ₱350 · check | ₱350 |
| MRT-3 or LRT-2 single ride2 × ₱30 · check | ₱60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₱500 | ₱1,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₱2,100 |
| Trip total≈ ₱5,780 per person per day, bed included | ₱23,110≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a mall café | ₱120–220 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Filipino rice meal (carinderia) | ₱80–180 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Restaurant main in Tomas Morato | ₱300–700 (≈ US$6–13) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a convenience store | ₱120–250 (≈ US$3–5) / ₱60–120 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Grab across Quezon CitySurge pricing in rain and rush hour. | ₱250–500 (≈ US$5–9) |
| MRT-3 or LRT-2 single ride | ₱15–35 (≈ under US$1) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₱400–800 (≈ US$8–15) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Traffic on EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue is heavy most of the day; allow 45–90 min for cross-city trips.
- Snatching, pickpocketing and robbery are common in crowded areas — keep phones and bags close.
- 'Budol-budol' and 'dugo-dugo' scams target locals more than foreigners; never hand over valuables or leave with a stranger who claims to know you.
- Street harassment (cat-calling) is reported; women should travel in groups at night.
- Avoid Commonwealth and Payatas slum areas and parts of the Scout Area after dark.
- Metered taxis may refuse crowded destinations at rush hour; Grab avoids the argument.
- Number coding (road space rationing) applies on weekdays if you drive.
Emergency numbers
- National emergency
- 911
- Quezon City Police District
- 117
- Bureau of Fire Protection (QC)
- (02) 8426-0219
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Quezon CityLungsod Quezon
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Sa address na ito poTo this address, please
Emergency
- National emergency911
- Quezon City Police District117
- Bureau of Fire Protection (QC)(02) 8426-0219
Embassy
Most embassies are in Makati and Manila, not Quezon City; check your embassy's site for the current address.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- MNL airport → Cubao, Grab: ₱500–900 (≈ US$9–16), 45–90 min (check)
- MRT-3 Cubao → Ayala: about ₱30 (≈ under US$1), 25–35 min (check)
- EDSA Carousel bus, one ride: ₱15–45 (≈ under US$1) depending on distance (check)
Say or show
- Paumanhin po — Excuse me / Sorry (pa-oo-man-heen po)
- Salamat po — Thank you (sa-lah-mat po)
- Magkano po? — How much is it? (mag-kah-no po)
- Nasaan po ang banyo? — Where is the toilet? (na-sa-an po ang ban-yo)
- Paki-on po ang metro — Please use the meter (pa-kee-on po ang met-ro)
- Ayaw ko po, salamat — I don't want that, thank you (a-yaw ko po, sa-lah-mat)
Keep the hotel's address and phone number written down — drivers may not know street names in residential barangays.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Quezon City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–May (dry season) · avoid Jun–Oct (wet season, typhoons), Holy Week · month by month →
- 1 airport and 5 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 7 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MNL: taxi, Grab and UBE Express to Cubao field-checked, plus a late-night fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Cubao/Araneta City, Tomas Morato and Timog, Maginhawa Street, Eastwood.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Quezon Memorial Circle, La Mesa Watershed, Araneta Coliseum, UP Diliman) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-season and typhoon fixtures so gates A–D can go green.