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Things to Do in Davao, Philippines
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Davao, Philippines
The top things to do in Davao, Philippines range from scaling the country's highest peak to spotting endangered species in their natural habitat. Mount Apo stands at 2,954 meters and draws hikers from around the world. The Philippine Eagle Center on Malagos Road houses over 30 eagles. Samal Island offers white sand beaches just a 15-minute ferry ride away.
1. Mount Apo
Stand on the roof of the Philippines and watch two oceans glow at sunrise. Your legs will burn on the steep climb, but the crater's steaming vents and endless sea views make every step unforgettable.
Quick facts: Rising 2,954 meters above sea level, this dormant volcano is the highest peak in the entire Philippine archipelago. More than 600 plant species thrive on its slopes, including the famous waling-waling orchid that grows wild in the mountain's mossy forests.
Highlights: At the summit, sulfuric vents hiss steam as the sun rises over both the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea in a single sweeping view. Local Bagobo communities still perform ritual offerings at the crater's edge, believing the mountain is home to their supreme spirit, Apo Sandawa.
2. Philippine Eagle Center
One of the rarest eagles on Earth soars inside this forest sanctuary. Watch seven-foot wingspans glide overhead and learn how each chick is a victory for survival.
Quick facts: Over 30 Philippine eagles inhabit this 8.4-hectare forest sanctuary, a critical refuge for one of the world's rarest raptors. Pag-asa, the first eagle bred and hatched in captivity in 1992, still lives here as a living symbol of conservation success.
Highlights: Standing a few meters from a seven-foot-wingspan raptor as it unleashes its piercing territorial cry is an electric experience. More than 50 Philippine eagles have been bred here since the 1980s, each one a critical addition to a species teetering with fewer than 400 pairs remaining in the wild.
3. Eden Nature Park and Resort
Escape the tropical heat and breathe in cool pine-scented mountain air at this forested highland retreat. Spend the day hiking shaded trails, ziplining over the canopy, and picking fresh vegetables from the garden.
Quick facts: Sprawls across 80 hectares of reclaimed forestland in the mountains of Davao. Sits 3,000 feet above sea level, giving visitors cool mountain air and panoramic views of Davao Gulf.
Highlights: Over 100,000 pine trees were hand-planted here, transforming a former logging site into a lush mountain sanctuary. Wooden cottages and swinging bamboo bridges connect treehouses that blend naturally into the forest canopy.
4. Samal Island
White sand beaches, freshwater pools, and the world's biggest bat colony all on one island. Spend your days island hopping, diving coral gardens, and ending every night with grilled seafood on the shore.
Quick facts: More than 2 million Geoffrey's Rousette fruit bats roost inside Monfort Bat Cave, the largest single colony of its kind on the planet. The island also hosts the Philippine Eagle Center, where you can see the critically endangered national bird with its 7-foot wingspan up close.
Highlights: At Monfort Bat Cave, you'll feel the cave walls pulse with warmth from 2.3 million bat bodies packed tightly against each other. Just before dusk, they pour out in a living river across the sky to forage for fruit, a nightly spectacle that has been ongoing for centuries.
5. People's Park
Four hectares of lush greenery and orchid gardens right in downtown Davao. Watch local families picnic under century-old acacia trees while colorful street food vendors hawk grilled corn and banana cue nearby.
Quick facts: Sprawled across four hectares in the heart of Davao, this urban oasis showcases over 1,200 species of tropical plants and trees. A striking 12-meter brass statue of a waling-waling orchid anchors the park's central plaza, celebrating the city's title as the Orchid Capital of the Philippines.
Highlights: At dusk, the park's life-sized bronze sculptures of indigenous Bagobo tribespeople seem to come alive under amber lights, each figure frozen mid-dance or harvest. The park also houses a rescued Philippine eagle named Davao in a dedicated sanctuary, one of the few urban eagle enclosures in the country.
6. Davao Crocodile Park
Come face to face with over a thousand crocodiles, from hatchlings to 18-foot giants. Get within arm's reach during feeding shows, then hold a baby croc in your hands.
Quick facts: Over 1,000 crocodiles of various species call this conservation facility home, including one massive saltwater croc measuring nearly 18 feet long. The park doubles as a research and breeding center that has successfully released hundreds of hatchlings back into the wild since opening.
Highlights: Watch handlers step into the enclosure during feeding shows and dangle fresh meat just inches from jaws that snap shut with 3,700 pounds of force. The park's breeding program has produced one of the highest hatchling survival rates in Southeast Asia, a quiet conservation victory rarely seen by visitors.
7. Museo Dabawenyo
One building holds four decades of Davao's transformation in vivid, walkable galleries. Trace the city's journey from jungle settlements to a thriving urban center through photographs, artifacts, and everyday objects.
Quick facts: Three floors of exhibits trace Davao's past, from indigenous Lumad communities to the Japanese occupation and modern urban life. The museum occupies a 1950s American-era building that originally served as the city's post office and later a public library.
Highlights: A single room on the second floor re-creates a 1970s Davao classroom, complete with wooden desks, vintage textbooks, and a chalkboard still bearing faded math equations. Visitors can flip through actual yearbooks from Mindanao high schools decades before Davao became a major metropolis.
8. Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague
One of the largest statues of the Holy Infant Jesus in Asia stands inside a hillside grotto. Visitors walk through a candlelit cave path to reach the towering figure and leave their prayers tucked into the rock walls.
Quick facts: A massive 30-foot statue of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague stands inside a cave-like grotto carved into a hillside. The shrine draws thousands of pilgrims each year, especially during its January feast day celebrations.
Highlights: The grotto setting itself feels like stumbling into a hidden sanctuary, with cool cave walls surrounding a 30-foot figure illuminated by soft candlelight. Visitors often leave handwritten prayers tucked into crevices of the rock walls, creating a mosaic of hopes and petitions over decades.
9. Malagos Garden Resort
A 12-hectare playground where chocolate-making, bird shows, and goat cheese production happen just steps apart. Walk through rainforest gardens, watch macaws swoop overhead, then taste chocolate still warm from the stone grinder.
Quick facts: Sprawled across 12 hectares of forested hillside, this family-owned resort doubles as an educational farm where cacao meets cheese-making under one roof. Its bird park stages daily shows featuring 200+ tropical birds, while the on-site chocolate factory grinds single-origin cacao from trees growing right on the property.
Highlights: The resort grows, ferments, and roasts its own cacao beans on-site, producing single-origin Malagos Chocolate you can watch being made from pod to bar. A working cheese facility next door churns out fresh kesong puti using milk from the property's own goats, creating an unexpected farm-to-table experience in the middle of a garden paradise.
10. Jack's Ridge
Dine on a hilltop where history and panoramic city views collide. Explore WWII tunnels, then settle in for grilled seafood as the sunset paints the gulf.
Quick facts: Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of Davao Gulf, this spot was once a Japanese stronghold during World War II. An American soldier named Jack later settled here after the war, giving the place its name.
Highlights: Tucked into the hillside are original Japanese tunnels and foxholes you can still walk through, a raw piece of war history hidden beneath a lively restaurant complex. Grab a table at sunset and watch the city lights flicker on below while the cool mountain breeze rolls in.
Where to Stay in Davao, Philippines
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Durian Candy
Davao's most iconic pasalubong, this creamy sweet confection is made from the flesh of the durian fruit mixed with sugar and coconut milk, giving visitors a gentle introduction to the king of fruits.
Binignit
A warm coconut milk dessert stewed with saba bananas, sweet potatoes, taro, and tapioca pearls, this comforting Davao staple is especially popular during Holy Week and rainy evenings.
Mango Float
Made with layers of sweet Carabao mangoes, cream, and graham crackers, this no-bake Davao dessert showcases the region's world-famous mangoes that are considered among the sweetest on earth.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Kinilaw na Tuna
Davao's version of ceviche uses freshly caught tuna cured in local coconut vinegar with ginger, chili, and citrus, reflecting the city's status as the tuna capital of the Philippines.
Inihaw na Panga ng Tuna
The grilled tuna jaw is a prized Davao delicacy where the collagen-rich cheek meat is marinated in calamansi and soy sauce, then charred over hot coals for a smoky, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Sinuglaw
This unique Davao dish brilliantly combines two cooking styles, pairing smoky grilled pork belly with fresh tuna kinilaw in a single plate that showcases the region's land and sea bounty.
Traditional Beverages
Durian Milkshake
A thick and creamy Davao specialty that blends ripe durian flesh with milk and ice, transforming the notoriously pungent fruit into a surprisingly smooth and addictive cold drink.
Buko Juice
Fresh coconut water served straight from the husk is a Davao roadside staple, with vendors lining the streets offering ice-cold buko to beat the tropical heat.
Sago at Gulaman
A sweet Filipino drink made with tapioca pearls, gelatin cubes, and brown sugar syrup diluted in water or shaved ice, this refreshing beverage is sold by Davao street vendors in tall plastic cups.
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Most popular day trips
Eden Nature Park
Mountain resort with gardens, pine forests, and adventure activities
Malagos Garden Resort
Eco-park featuring chocolate museum and butterfly sanctuary
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Mindanao Railway Project (planned)
Take a taxi or Grab ride from DVO airport to downtown Davao in about 30 minutes. Fixed-rate airport taxis are available at the arrivals area.
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Comments (6)
Eagle Center was cool but the real highlight was just walking around Roxas night market. So much good street food for cheap.
Honestly found Davao a bit too quiet for my taste. Stayed 4 nights and that was plenty. The durian smell everywhere is no joke either.
Davao exceeded my expectations. The people were incredibly warm and the city felt much safer than Manila. Only downside was the humidity hit me hard in April.
Skip the tourist restaurants on Roxas Ave. Walk into the side streets near Obrero and eat at the local carinderias. Half the price and twice the flavor.
The weather was brutal, nonstop rain for 2 days straight. Made it hard to explore. But when the sun came out, wow the views of Mt Apo were stunning.