14 Places to Visit in Davao + Things To Do

Davao City is the largest urban center in Southern Philippines and the third-largest metropolitan area in the Philippines after Manila and Cebu.

Davao is famous for its natural attractions, many of which are easily reached from the city center. Within an hour’s travel from the airport or Davao City hotels, you can already enjoy the pristine white sand beaches of Samal Island or visit the highland nature parks at the foot of Mount Apo, the Philippines’ tallest peak.

A trip to Davao isn’t complete without a taste of the iconic Durian fruit and meeting the gigantic Philippine Eagle, the country’s national bird.

Davao City is also the gateway to surrounding provinces in the Davao Region as well as nearby regions in the southern & eastern parts of Mindanao.

Davao travel essentials: (click below to view prices online)

Where to stayTours + discountsDavao fares

See also: Siargao Tourist Spots | Places to visit in General Santos | Best Places to Visit in the Philippines | Top Philippine Beaches | The Philippines’ Most Beautiful Waterfalls.

1. Philippine Eagle Center

Location: Barangay Malagos, Calinan district, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

Mindanao’s rainforests are home to the great Philippine Eagle, the country’s national bird and one of the largest eagles in the World. Visit the Philippine Eagle Center and meet the critically endangered Philippine Eagle. Here, the eagles are bred for eventual release into the wild. Resembling a typical rain forest, it’s a great place to get a feel of nature. There’s a number of other birds, mammals and reptiles as well, most of which are endemic to the country and some are considered rare.

To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. I’ve also shared photos from my Instagram feed. Use Instagram’s save feature for quick access to your travel/feed goals.

Follow me on Instagram

2. Eden Nature Park

Location: Barangay Eden, Toril, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

Explore a pine forest, breathe the cool mountain air, and enjoy the breathtaking viewpoints. Eden Nature Park is a relaxing highland area that you can easily visit from the city center. This park resort offers homey accommodations, various restaurants that use ingredients food freshly harvested from gardens in the area, fun outdoor activities, hiking trails, and a cultural village.

Eden Nature Park Shuttle Tour

See discounts

Davao Countryside (Eden/Malagos) Private Car Charter

See discounts

Samal Island

Location: Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCOS), Davao del Norte. Save on Google Maps.

Looking for a beach near Davao City? Samal Island is the go-to destination for locals and visitors alike. Samal, officially the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCOS) is part of Metro Davao and Davao del Norte Province. Easily reached from the city, it is known for its many white-sand beaches, beautiful resorts, island hopping tours, and inland attractions.

Samal Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discounts

3. Samal Beach Resorts

Samal Island is home to one of the most famous luxury resorts in the Philippines ⁠— The Pearl Farm Beach Resort, a former pearl farm made iconic by its stilt-house inspired villas. You can also find more beach resorts dotted around the island…. from accommodations offering peaceful retreats to resorts featuring fun water sports and activities.

Popular resorts in Samal

4. Samal Islands & Beaches

Go on a tour of Samal’s beautiful white-sand beaches and underwater sights. There are many places to go in the main island of Samal, remote Talicud Island and off-short islets.

Beautiful islands, tourist spots and beaches in Samal

5. Monfort Bat Colony

Location: Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Babak, Samal Island. Save on Google Maps.

This is one of the most unusual sights in the Philippines! The Monfort Bat Colony is a must-visit when in Samal. Here, you can see small caves filled with millions of Geoffroy’s Rousettes fruit bats, which call the sanctuary home. The caves are so tightly covered with these bats that the cave walls look like one dark living mass.

6. Davao Crocodile Park

Location: Riverfront, Corporate City, Diversion Highway, Ma-a, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

The Davao Crocodile Park is one of Davao’s top tourist spots. Thousands of cultured crocodiles can be found here including Pangil, one of the largest captive crocodiles in the Philippines. If you’re fascinated with these giant reptiles, this is the place to go. Nearby, you can also visit the Tribu K Mindanawan Cultural Village and Davao Butterfly House.

Tourist spots near Davao Crocodile Park

Davao City Center

Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares

7. People’s Park

Location: Palma Gil Street, Poblacion, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

A well-maintained public park in the city center, People’s Park features a gigantic statue of the Philippine Eagle, a Durian-inspired dome, fascinating sculptural works by local artists, and paved walking paths covered by shady trees.

8. Davao Cathedral (San Pedro Cathedral) & San Pedro Street

Location: San Pedro Street, Poblacion, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

The oldest church in Davao City. The Davao Cathedral, also known as San Pedro Cathedral, is a historical landmark, recognized as a National Cultural Treasure. One of the first things you’ll notice is its distinct curved roof said resembling a vinta (traditional sailboat)

Other places of interest in San Pedro Street area

9. Jack’s Ridge

Location: Shrine Hills Road, Matina. Save on Google Maps.

Make your way up the mountain and get a panoramic view of Davao City while enjoying a sumptuous dinner at Jack’s Ridge. Taklobo restaurant offers open-air dining and Filipino comfort food while Karlo’s Gourmet serves coffee and pastries.

10. Davao Durian & Fruit Stands

“Tastes like heaven but smells like hell”, Durian is considered as the symbol of the city. There’s no better place to try the exotic Durian than at the fruit markets in Davao. Head to the street-side fruit stalls fronting Magsaysay Park and have the sellers crack open a fruit. After you get used to the strong signature odor, take a pinch of the golden pulp and savor the creamy goodness. Bangkerohan Market is also a great place to go for a more local market feel.

Where to buy durian and fruits in Davao City

11. Chinatown

Location: Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Poblacion, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

Davao’s Chinatown is the largest in the Philippines by land area and the only one in Mindanao. It is the primary residential area of the Filipino-Chinese community in the city. There are four Chinese-style archways in Davao Chinatown. A large arch is located across the street from Magsaysay Park). Within the area, you can go the temples including the Long Hua Buddhist Temple, Polian Temple and Mindanao Taoist Temple.

12. Mount Apo

Location: Near Davao City-Kidapawan City, Cotabato border. Save on Google Maps.

13. Malagos Garden Resort & Chocolate Museum

Location: Malagos, Davao City. Save on Google Maps.

After a visit to the Philippine Eagle Center, drop by Malagos Garden Resort. This 12-hectare nature park is a popular tourist spot for its butterfly sanctuary, waling-waling orchid forest, a bird feeding dome, and the Chocolate Museum.

14. Davao Malls & Shopping

Davao is not spared from the mall-craze in the Philippines. Huge shopping malls can be found all over the city offering cool comforts, great shopping, food courts, and a wide selection of restaurants.

Popular malls and shopping centers in Davao

Other places of interest in Davao City

Davao Museums

Aliwagwag Falls

Location: Cateel, Davao Oriental. Save on Google Maps.

Aliwagwag Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines. It is truly a must-visit for all waterfall lovers. This is Aliwagwag Falls, often remarked as the “Highest Waterfall in the Philippines.” Unlike most falls with only one or a few vertical drops, Aliwagwag Falls is composed of 84 steps with a combined height of 340 m (1,110 feet), and what’s more, it is surrounded by one of the largest remaining blocks of tropical lowland rainforest in the Philippines.

How to go:

Aliwagwag Falls is located in the quiet town of Cateel in Davao Oriental Province. The drive from Davao City to Aliwagwag Falls is around 4 to 5 hours. You can get a nice view on the bridge along the Compostela-Cateel Road. No hiking required!

Explore more spots near Davao

General Santos

Location: South Cotabato Province. Save on Google Maps.

Located 2 to 3 hours away from Davao by land, General Santos City is the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines” and the gateway to the Soccsksargen Region, which occupies the South Central part of Mindanao Island.

General Santos Travel Essentials

Where to stayCheck Fares

Paragliding Experience in South Cotabato

See discounts

Lake Sebu

Location: South Cotabato Province. Save on Google Maps.

Visit the scenic lakeside town of Lake Sebu known for its beautiful waterfalls, 180-meter high 7 Falls zipline (the highest in Asia), and T’boli mountain tribe culture. Travel time from General Santos to Lake Sebu is around 2 hours.

Lake Sebu Travel Essentials

Where to stay

Balut Island & Sarangani Islands

Location: Sarangani (islands), Davao Occidental. Save on Google Maps.

Go on an adventure to remote Balut Island in Davao Occidental Province. Go on a trek to the forest-topped summit of Balut Volcano, see the Sabang Hot Spring and go on an island hopping tour to see the pink sand beach in Olanivan Island.

Beyond Davao

Cebu

Location: Central Visayas region, central Philippines. Save on Google Maps.

Cebu Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discountsTours + discountsCheck Fares

Manila

Location: Metro Manila, Luzon, northern Philippines. Save on Google Maps.

Manila Travel Essentials

Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares

What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Davao that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Places to visit in Davao

Davao tourist spots, things to do in Davao, where to go in Davao & more.

Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank.

Don’t Stop Here

Click below for more travel inspiration: