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Major city · Philippines

San JuanSan Juan del Monte

Give San Juan one half-day for the Pinaglabanan museums, then use Greenhills for shopping and food; sleep in Manila or Makati, not here.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
PHP
Best months
Dec–Apr (dry, less rain)
avoid Jul–Sep (wettest), Holy Week and Christmas week (malls packed)
Airports
MNL · CRK
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

San Juan is a small city of about 6 km2 wedged between Manila, Mandaluyong and Quezon City, chartered only in 2007. Its draw is narrow and real: the Pinaglabanan shrine complex with two free museums on the 1896 revolution, and Greenhills Shopping Center with its tiangge stalls and pearl market. Hotels are few and spread out, so most travellers visit on a half-day from Manila or Makati and sleep elsewhere.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about San Juan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee in a café₱120–220 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a store₱120–250 (≈ US$3–5)₱60–110 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmGrab, 5 kmSurge pricing at rush hour.₱200–350 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Metro or bus rideJeepney or city bus ride₱13–30 (≈ under US$1) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Pinaglabanan complex)Free (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or budget inn bed, a night, per person₱700 (≈ US$13)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₱3,200 (≈ US$60)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₱5,500 (≈ US$100)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₱1,500 (≈ US$30) · Mid ₱3,000 (≈ US$55) · High ₱6,000 (≈ US$110)

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.

Pinaglabanan Shrine and Museo ng KatipunanMuseo El Deposito and the old water reservoirGreenhills Shopping Center tiangge and pearl marketLittle Baguio restaurant strip
Airports
MNL Ninoy Aquino International (About 8–14 km south; 20–60 min by car or Grab depending on traffic) · CRK Clark International (About 90 km north; bus or car, 2–3 h with traffic)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

San Juan: 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

30°C

23°C

4 rd

Feb

31°C

23°C

3 rd

Mar

33°C

24°C

3 rd

Apr

34°C

25°C

4 rd

May

34°C

26°C

9 rd

Jun

33°C

26°C

15 rd

Jul

32°C

25°C

19 rd

Aug

31°C

25°C

20 rd

Sep

31°C

25°C

19 rd

Oct

31°C

25°C

15 rd

Nov

31°C

24°C

10 rd

Dec

30°C

23°C

7 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The city is small enough to cross on foot or by tricycle and jeepney. LRT Line 2 has one station here, J. Ruiz on Aurora Blvd, but it sits away from the sights and the walk to the centre is not pleasant. City bus route 2 runs along N. Domingo St and Ortigas Ave between Quiapo and Taytay. From MRT Ortigas station, walk to Robinsons Galleria and pick up a jeepney or bus toward San Juan. Grab works but surge pricing at rush hour is normal.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Manila (Intramuros, Quiapo)go

Door to door: 45–90 min

Bus route 2 or jeepney toward Quiapo, then walk or short ride

The obvious pairing: San Juan museums in the morning, Intramuros in the afternoon.

Makati

go

Door to door: 30–60 min

Grab or taxi via EDSA; jeepney plus MRT is slower

Better hotel and dining base if San Juan lodging does not suit you.

Quezon City

go

Door to door: 40–70 min

Jeepney to Cubao, then MRT or jeepney onward

Arayat Market jeepneys from Agora Market head to Cubao.

Pasig (Ortigas Center)

go

Door to door: 30–60 min

Jeepney from Agora Market toward Rosario via Greenhills

Short hop for malls and offices; skip at rush hour.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Greenhills / Annapolis

Hotels and the mall on the doorstep; the most practical base if you must sleep in San Juan.

Little Baguio (Wilson, P. Guevarra, J. Abad Santos)

Restaurant strip with a few guesthouses; walkable at night, quiet after 22:00.

Pinaglabanan / Corazon de Jesus

Closest to the museums and city hall; limited lodging, mostly budget rooms.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₱1,200–2,200 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
Mid
₱2,200–4,500 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
High
₱4,500 (≈ US$80)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × ₱3,200₱3,200
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₱3,000₱6,000
Grab across Metro Manila, one way1 × ₱350 · check₱350
Jeepney or bus ride2 × ₱20 · check₱30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₱500₱1,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₱1,060
Trip total≈ ₱5,820 per person per day, bed included₱11,640≈ US$250

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Jeepney or city bus ride₱13–30 (≈ under US$1) (check)
Coffee in a café₱120–220 (≈ US$3–4)
Rice meal at a food alley₱120–250 (≈ US$3–5)
Restaurant main in Little Baguio₱350–800 (≈ US$7–15)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a store₱120–250 (≈ US$3–5) / ₱60–110 (≈ US$2)
Grab, 5 kmSurge pricing at rush hour.₱200–350 (≈ US$4–7)
Museum entry (Pinaglabanan complex)Free (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

San Juan is a normal Metro Manila city: petty theft and phone snatching are the realistic risks, mostly in crowded markets and on jeepneys. Keep bags zipped in front at Greenhills and Agora, avoid unlit side streets after dark, and use Grab at night rather than walking.
  • Traffic on Ortigas Ave and N. Domingo St is heavy from about 07:00–09:30 and 16:30–20:00; add 30–60 min to any cross-town plan.
  • Museo ng Katipunan is closed Mondays; Museo El Deposito hours differ — check before you go.
  • The Marcos Mansion on Mariano Marcos St has been closed to visitors; do not plan around it.
  • Greenhills tiangge prices are negotiable; agree the price before paying and count your change.
  • Midday heat and sudden downpours: carry water and a compact umbrella.

Emergency numbers

National emergency
911
San Juan City Hall
+63 2 7729 0005

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

San JuanSan Juan del Monte

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Dito po, sa address na itoTo this address, please

Emergency

  • National emergency911
  • San Juan City Hall+63 2 7729 0005

Embassy

Most embassies sit in Makati or Taguig, not San Juan; the US embassy is in Manila (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Grab, San Juan → Makati: ₱250–450 (≈ US$5–8), 30–60 min (check)
  • Grab, San Juan → NAIA: ₱400–700 (≈ US$8–13), 30–90 min (check)
  • Jeepney, Agora Market → Cubao: ₱15–25 (≈ under US$1) (check)

Say or show

  • Salamat — Thank you (sa-LA-mat)
  • Magkano? — How much is it? (mag-KA-no)
  • Nasaan ang CR? — Where is the toilet? (na-SA-an ang see-ar)
  • Pwede bang tawaran? — Can you lower the price? (PWE-de bang ta-WA-ran)
  • Dito na lang po — I will get off here (di-TO na lang po)
  • Tulong — Help (tu-LONG)

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 San Juan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, less rain) · avoid Jul–Sep (wettest), Holy Week and Christmas week (malls packed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MNL: Grab and taxi bands, last sensible arrival hour, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Pinaglabanan complex, Greenhills, Little Baguio, Agora Market.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Museo ng Katipunan, Museo El Deposito, Pinaglabanan Church) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Greenhills tiangge and pearl-market fixture so the shopping block can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Philippines

Sources