Malabon
Introduction
Malabon is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, sitting just north of Manila. It is primarily residential and industrial, and its compact land area makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the metropolis.
Expect an urban setting rather than a resort one: built-up, busy and closely packed, with the everyday life of a working city around you.
Getting there
Malabon is reachable from anywhere in Metro Manila by bus, jeepney, taxi, or tricycle, so you can pick whichever of these suits your starting point. The city is also the current terminus of trains running from central Manila, which makes the railway a straightforward option if you are coming from there.
- Governor Pascual railway station, also known as Malabon station, is the stop to use for the train.
- The North-South Commuter Railway, still under construction, will add a station in Malabon when it opens in the late 2020s.
Getting around
Getting around Malabon means leaning on public transport, since buses, jeepneys, taxis, and tricycles serve the city from essentially any part of Metro Manila and the same mix works once you are inside it. If you are unsure which vehicle reaches a particular destination, the trip-planning service sakay.ph shows you the right type of transport for your route — worth checking before you set out, as the dense street network is not always intuitive for a first-time visitor. Rail is a viable way in and out: Malabon is the current terminus of trains from central Manila, at Governor Pascual railway station, also known as Malabon station. A broader metro network is not yet available, so plan around that existing terminus rather than assuming one. For buses, the streets with public transport stops give you a working map of the transit spine. Governor A. Pascual Street is the most useful corridor for a visitor, with a substantial concentration of stops; Don Basilio Bautista Boulevard also has several, F. Pascual Street a small number, and the residential Ilang-ilang Street and M. Blas Street one each. Jeepneys and tricycles fill in the gaps, and tricycles are the standard way to cover the last stretch to a specific address — they also carry the Malabon Tricycle Tours run by the city tourism office to heritage sites and home-based eateries. Taxis can be flagged from anywhere in Metro Manila, and ride-hailing is convenient when flooding disrupts fixed routes or when you are heading somewhere jeepneys and buses do not serve directly. Walking suits short hops between nearby stops, but the flat terrain is offset by narrow residential lanes and recurring flooding, with water in low-lying areas sometimes several feet deep, so switch to a vehicle without hesitation when rain or high tide has left water on the streets. Build extra time into your plans during the rainy season and around high tide, and expect occasional rerouting in heavy rain. English is an official language, so asking for directions is generally straightforward.Where to stay
Malabon's accommodation is limited, with options concentrated along MacArthur Highway and in Potrero. Meaco Royal Hotel - Malabon sits at the corner of MacArthur Highway and Reparo Road in Potrero, with check-in at 2PM and check-out at noon. Victoria Court - Malabon is also on MacArthur Highway, and follows the same check-in and check-out times.
If you'd prefer a private resort stay, Hidden Garden Private Resort is on Honradez Street and can be reached by email for inquiries.
Food & drink
Malabon's food scene leans on Filipino comfort cooking, with seafood and grilled meats well represented. For a sit-down meal, Belly's Restaurant on Elias Street serves seafood alongside sisig, kare-kare and pancit in a romantic, relaxing setting, while Master Garden on Gen. Luna Street offers Filipino food in a similarly casual restaurant format. Grilling is a theme: Byco's Barbecue on Oro Street corner Bronze Street turns out grilled stuffed squid, pork barbecue and samgyeopsal, Moinks Chicks Chops & Chips on Rivera Street does sizzling porkchop and sizzling liempo (plus a choco waffle), and Bamboo BBQ on Leoño Street keeps late hours. JT's Manukan Grille on Araneta Avenue in Potrero specialises in chicken inasal, and there is a 24-hour McDonald's on Lanzones Street, also in Potrero.
For something sweet to take away, Don Benito's Cassava Cake and Pichi Pichi has a Malabon branch on Governor Pascual Avenue. To drink, Antahan Café on Pureza Street covers milk tea, fruit juice and coffee, hot or iced, and Pirate's Grill on F. Sevilla Boulevard (formerly Kubo Resto) is another spot to settle in for a meal or a drink.
What to see and do
In Malabon you can trace the city's long history at San Bartolome Church, a Roman Catholic church whose roots reach back to the late sixteenth century. For a look at local life and governance, Malabon City Hall sits on F. Sevilla Street in Barangay San Agustin, while Malabon People's Park on Governor Pascual Street in Catmon offers open space to stroll. Other stops include the Malabon Zoo and Hwa Chong Temple on North Polytech Street in Potrero. If you want to be outdoors, head to the Dampalit Megadike Bike Trail on M. Sioson Street in Dampalit, a park and cycling route that stays open around the clock and is a fine spot to watch the sunset in the early evening.Three days in Malabon
Day one: Base yourself in Malabon, in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, and start by getting your bearings. Governor Pascual Street and Don Basilio Bautista Boulevard are useful anchors for a first wander, with Ilang Street and Blas Street nearby if you want to drift deeper into the neighbourhood. Jeepneys, taxis and walking will cover most of your ground, and the Malabon Tricycle Tours are a way to see the area without plotting every turn yourself. Expect warm and humid conditions, so pace yourself and keep the first day loose.
Day two: Head out along MacArthur Highway toward Potrero, then work your way back through Reparo Road and Honradez Street. Elias Street and Blas Street are worth folding into the same loop, and if you want a slower afternoon, the Master Garden area gives you somewhere to linger. For a meal, look to Filipino cooking along the way. If you are relying on rail, the North-South Commuter Railway and Governor Pascual are the names to keep in mind when planning how you move around Metro Manila.
Day three: Use the morning for the streets you missed, whether that means returning to Governor Pascual Street or wandering the lanes around Ilang Street. Meaco Royal Hotel, Victoria Court and Hidden Garden Private Resort sit within the wider Malabon area if you need a sense of where you are relative to your base, and Manila is close enough to combine with your last day. Build in time for one more meal before you go, and keep English handy for asking directions. Expect traffic to shape your timing, so leave slack in the schedule rather than cutting it fine.