Where to stay in Dumaguete

Dumaguete is the capital of Negros Oriental, a relaxed university city on the south-east coast of Negros island, nicknamed the 'City of Gentle People'. Its seafront promenade, Rizal Boulevard, and the old campus of Silliman University give it a laid-back, walkable centre.

For many travellers it's a gateway rather than a destination: ferries leave from here for Siquijor, and the diving at Apo Island and the black-sand beaches of Dauin are a short drive south. A night or two here is an easy way to break up a trip.

Airport
Dumaguete–Sibulan Airport, a short drive north of the centre
Ferries
To Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol and other Visayan islands
Getting around
Tricycles, taxis and jeepneys
Day trips
Apo Island, Dauin, Twin Lakes and Casaroro Falls

Places to stay in Dumaguete

5 hotels

"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Dumaguete, area by area

All our places to stay are in or close to the compact city centre.

Rizal Boulevard and the centre

Best for walking and eating out

The seafront promenade of Rizal Boulevard, lined with acacia trees, cafés and restaurants, is the city's living room, busy with joggers in the morning and families in the evening. The public market, Quezon Park, the cathedral and the bell tower are all a short walk inland, and the ferry port is close by.

Near the airport

Best for early flights

The north side of the city, towards Sibulan and the airport, has malls such as CitiMall and a handful of budget hotels. It's practical for early flights, with the centre a short tricycle ride away.

What Dumaguete is like

Silliman University, founded in the early 1900s, sits right in the centre, and its tree-shaded campus and students give the city a young, unhurried feel. Rizal Boulevard is at its best at dawn and around sunset, when locals walk the seafront and street vendors set up.

Food is cheap and good: the public market is the place for local snacks such as budbud kabog, a millet rice cake often eaten with thick hot chocolate, and the streets around the boulevard have cafés, bakeries and international restaurants catering to students, expats and divers passing through.

Getting to and around Dumaguete

Dumaguete–Sibulan Airport has flights from Manila and Cebu, and is only a few minutes by taxi or tricycle from the centre. The ferry terminal near the boulevard has frequent departures for Siquijor, as well as routes to Cebu, Bohol and further afield.

The centre is easy to explore on foot. Tricycles are the cheapest way to get around town, and buses and vans head south along the coast to Dauin, Malatapay and Zamboanguita, where boats leave for Apo Island.

Day trips from Dumaguete

Apo Island, a protected marine sanctuary known for its sea turtles and coral, is one of the best-known diving and snorkelling spots in the Philippines. Inland, the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao sit in rainforest, and the town of Valencia gives access to Casaroro Falls and cooler hill air.

Questions about staying in Dumaguete

Is Dumaguete worth staying in?

Yes, for a night or two. It's a pleasant, walkable city with good food and a lively seafront, and it's the easiest base for ferries to Siquijor and trips to Apo Island.

How do I get from Dumaguete to Siquijor?

Fast ferries leave from the port near Rizal Boulevard several times a day; the crossing usually takes about an hour.

How far is the airport from the city centre?

Usually 10 to 15 minutes by taxi or tricycle, depending on traffic.

Can I visit Apo Island from Dumaguete?

Yes. Most trips go by road south to Malatapay or Zamboanguita, then by boat to the island; many dive shops run day trips.

When is the best time to visit Dumaguete?

The drier months are usually from around December to May. From about June to November there's more rain, and typhoons occasionally affect ferry services.

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