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Highly urbanized city in Central Luzon, Philippines
Photo: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Olongapo (pronounced as “Olong-gapo”, colloquially shortened as “Gapo”) is a city in Zambales, known for the Subic Bay Freeport.
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A monument of a head of a chieftain in the middle of a roundabout in Rizal Avenue. According to local folklore, the area was once ruled by a benevolent chieftain who was known as "Apo" who was beheaded by rival tribes. The monument features the namesake of Olongapo (particularly from the phrase "Ulo ng Apo" or Apo's head).
A park beside the SM City Olongapo Central. At its entrance is a concrete mural/relief dedicated to Filipino workers, and a model of a RA-5 Vigilante aircraft. The park also has a children's playground.
Historical landmark.
Ruins of an American fort in Grande Island.
A hotspot for seeing bats, The best time to visit is sunset.
It’s a nice memorial to read about its history. The memorial does a great job conveying the history.
A historic monument, commemorating the Magnificent 12 Senators of the Republic of the Philippines who stood up and said "no" to the military bases in Olongapo and ended the foreign military presence in the country.
Symbolises the past event on how the volunteers saved the Subic Bay from the Mount Pinatubo eruption, transforming the former Navy Base.
The old Spanish Gate at Subic is the remnant of the naval installation established by the Spanish colonial authorities in 1885. Two cannons straddle the gate as a reminder of its military past. Two markers are installed on both sides of the gate giving information about its origin. One can visit the gate with no special permission needed and it is generally open to the public.
Nice forest and mountain green views along the way.
Sign.
Morning or evening walk, jog, bike, picnic, play frisbee or badminton, etc. This is definitely a good place to be.
Run by George AngDyPay, an experienced TDI and PSAI technical rebreather instructor. Set up to cater to both recreational and technical divers it has quickly become the dive center of choice for most tech divers. Guiding is done by local staff members who are all trained as divemasters and technical wreck guides. Accommodation is at the nearby hotels, Herbie's Mansion, Boardwalk Inn, and Mango Valley.
Runs PADI and TecRec technical courses from a luxury dive boat based in Subic Freeport Zone. The instructor, Andy Davis, is a highly qualified and experienced UK-trained instructor with PADI, SSI, BSAC, and DSAT TecRec. Daily scuba diving trips are offered to the wrecks and reefs of Subic Bay. These trips can be tailored to fulfill diver requirements at any level. Accommodation can be booked at any hotel inside SFZ, with pick-up/drop-off included.
Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp
Jungle survival training. Learn how to survive the harsh jungle environment through the courses that they offer.
An beachside amusement park dealing with just about every floaty imaginable (unicorns, castles, dragons, etc).
Barbecue restaurant.
Filipino restaurant that serves its food in banana leaves.
Chickens, pasta, salads, rice, coffee.
Japanese food restaurant.
This place is good for vegetarian people.The food here are so delicious at a cheaper price.
American/Filipino food restaurant.
Good for Western food. Great prices, quantity and quality.
Chophouse restaurant. Smoked meats and ribs. Numerous barbecue sauces. Attentive service.
A casual bistro style restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner The cafe is known to serve Italy's no. 1 coffee, Lavazza, and is famous for its unique collection of Italian menu.
Subic Bay's beloved restaurant that offers a variety of Filipino and international dishes. Famous for its Pineapple Rice. The place is always full so always be ready to go there early to save a seat.
Known by the locals as the authentic Japanese restaurant in Subic. They serve fresh sashimi and a variety of sushi choices.
Magic Lagoon Restaurant is near a man-made lagoon where you can catch your own fish and ask the staff to cook it for you. An ideal place for family outings and group activities.
American food restaurant.
Italian food restaurant.
Best Korean restaurant in Subic Bay.
Chinese restaurant.
Chinese food restaurant.
Formerly Dive In
Offers draft beer and beer on tap (Stella Artois or Heineken). This concept originated in the northern city of Baguio and features local beer brews and international selections.
Entertainment and dining. They have live bands, a dance floor and sports bar. They also offer a wide variety of dishes and beer food. Order beers by the bucket or try to get those beer towers. Located in the waterfront, sea breezes keep the place cool and airy.
Fan single/double room with own bathroom. has a restaurant. 20% off if you stay a month.
The hotel has a touch of Asian architecture and delicacies.
It has 40 renovated rooms and a spacious conference facility. The beach is safe for swimming and water sport activities like aqua bikes, jet skiing, and banana boat all at an affordable price.
Olongapo Travel Lodge offers modern rooms in a budget-friendly hotel.
Sea view rooms and suites overlooking the mountains. Also has an in house restaurant that serves Filipino and English cuisines.
22 deluxe rooms, all of which have an air-conditioning, an LCD television with cable connection, and a telephone with NDD and IDD access. Some of its amenities include an infinity and kiddie pools, and a massage service.
Rooms are cozy with warm lighting fitted with wooden furniture and modern decor.
One of the popular hotels & resorts in Olongapo and Subic.
Pared-back rooms feature free Wi-Fi and cable TV. Most offer hot water; some have cold-water bathrooms. Upgraded rooms offer bay views and/or minifridges. Suites add sitting areas. Room service is available. There's a casual bar/restaurant offering views of the bay and live music on the weekend. Other amenities include an outdoor pool and covered picnic areas. Activities consist of water sports, volleyball, badminton and table games. Massages are offered.
Warmly decorated rooms provide Wi-Fi, TVs and safes, plus minibars. All have balconies, some with bay views. Some rooms sleep up to 6 people. Suites add whirlpool tubs, kitchenettes and/or living areas. Room service is available 24/7. Amenities consist of a diner and a casual rooftop restaurant, as well as outdoor infinity pools. There's also direct beach access and secured parking.
Air-conditioned beachfront rooms and cottages. Bamboo huts, function rooms and pavilions are also available for family, business or special events.
The unassuming rooms with simple furnishings have Wi-Fi, TVs and minifridges, as well as tea and coffeemaking facilities. Upgraded rooms add verandas. Room service is available.
Fully furnished condo-hotel that has a pool side bar, Jacuzzi, and restaurant that serves international cuisine.
Air-con rooms equipped with cable TV, private toilet and bath with hot and cold running water. Business center, jet ski, bar, and restaurant.
Budget beachfront accommodation. Kayaking, banana boating, snorkeling, and jet skiing.
Set alongside a tributary of the Santa Rita River, this relaxed hotel is an 8-minute walk from SBMA Beach, 8 km from Subic Bay International Airport and 21 km from Ocean Adventures marine park.
Set in a building with a lighthouse, this casual hotel facing Subic Bay is 10 km from Fort Wint and 12 km from All Hands Beach.
Amid the nightlife district of Barretto. Seconds walk away from beachfront restaurants and bars as well as the famous go-go bars of Subic.
The hotel has 64 well-appointed rooms, private KTV rooms, a sports bar, swimming pool, conference and meeting facilities and its own Oriental spa. The hotel is near duty free shops, spas, and restaurants that serve international cuisine.
Labitan and Sta Rita Roads, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, This hotel used to be naval barracks.
All the guest rooms are equipped with a work area.
Along a boardwalk lined with restaurants, this informal hotel facing SBMA Beach is 11 minutes' walk from Harbor Point mall, and 3 km from both Olongapo City bus station and Inflatable Island, an amusement park set in Subic Bay.
Rooms equipped with TV with cable channels, coffee/tea maker and mini-bar. It also has a business center, rooftop patio, and swimming pool.
Set on palm tree-lined grounds overlooking the boardwalk and SBMA Beach, this low-key hotel is 11 km from Subic Bay International Airport, and 28 km from bird-watching and trekking in Bataan National Park. A Mediterranean-inspired hotel on the beach.
This casual hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is an 8-minute walk from SBMA Beach, 3 km from Inflatable Island water park and 11 km from Subic Bay International Airport.
This laid-back beachfront resort set along Subic Bay is 4 km from Zoobic Safari and 30 km from Fort Wint.
Set in a polished building overlooking Subic Bay, this modern hotel is a 4-minute walk from SBMA Beach and 5 km from the Magellan's Landing Maritime Museum.
A 5-minute walk from Grande Island Resort ferry terminal, this contemporary hotel overlooking Subic Bay is 7 km from boating and swimming at Baloy Beach. It's within 5 km of several amusement parks.
Formerly known as 'Olongapo City Mall', the SM City Olongapo is a mid-sized flagship shopping mall by SM Supermalls in Olongapo.
Shopping mall.
The city public market sells souvenirs including native crafts, as well as local food products such as "kakanin".
A meat shop. They sell good meats, such as steaks, chicken sausage, and ground beef. as it is one of the few places that has imported US meat.
Carries lots of useful things. All their products are imported from the US. They have lots of items that are very rare in the Philippines. American Hardware also runs the only car wash in Subic Bay.
The biggest department store in Subic. They carry imported and local housewares, cooking items, snacks, and branded clothing. Most of the items are surplus so they're actually cheaper. Has an extensive selection of cigarettes and perfumes.
Harbor Point or HP or Ayala Subic
The first Ayala Mall development in the province of Zambales. This sprawling mall offers a wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment choices. It also has its anchor stores such as Puregold Supermarket, Timezone (gaming arcade), Abenson Appliances, and four Ayala Cinemas. VIP lounges are available to special members so they could take a quick rest in the middle of their shopping or while they wait for their movie schedules. The Riverwalk area is a green park concept where people could enjoy the riverside park along with a dancing fountain. Shops and restaurants also dot this area. The mall has both indoor and outdoor activity areas where special exhibitions, shows, and bazaars are held. The mall also offers weekend and holiday sales usually extending up to the wee hours of the night.
A mini version of Royal Duty Free which is a stone's throw away from Harbor Point, this store offers duty free grocery items, clothing/apparel and other imported goods.
By car
Car rentals from Manila are also available. International car rental chains like Hertz, Avis and Europcar are some of the options.
By tricycle
This is basically a motorcycle connected to a modified cart that can carry up to 3 persons.
By taxi
You can hire a taxi from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The taxis have fixed rates depending on the distance of your destinations.
By car
The streets of Olongapo are well marked, so it's easy to navigate the city. Some street signs have Korean and Chinese translations due to the influx of Korean and Chinese investors in the area.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Olongapo · International · SFS
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