Pagadian
Philippines · Asia
About Pagadian
Pagadian, officially the City of Pagadian, is a component city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. It is the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula and the second-largest city in the region, after the independent city of Zamboanga. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 206,483 people. The city will be converted into a highly urbanized city by virtue of Proclamation No. 1247, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on November 8, 2021. But it shall still take effect after ratification in a plebiscite.
Pagadian began as a stop-over for traders who plied the road between the old Spanish fort-town of Zamboanga on the southwestern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and other bigger towns to the north of the old Zamboanga Province. Except for its sheltered bay and good fishing grounds, it was not a promising site because it is situated on steeply rolling terrain. In the course of its local history, waves of different kinds of people came to stay and eventually called themselves "Pagadianons".
The iconic symbol of Pagadian is its uniquely designed tricycle built to adapt to the city's hilly terrain. It is the only place in the Philippines with a public transport vehicle inclined at about a 25-40° angle. In recent years, these iconic inclined public transport have been slowly being replaced by modernized tricycles that are locally called "bao-bao", a kind of auto rickshaw, due to the latter's fuel-efficiency, less noise and being environment-friendly due to its smoke-less emissions.
Pagadian travel guide
Understand
This city has a fishing industry. The bus terminal is accessed easily and finding the right bus is easy.
Getting there
By bus Pagadian can be reached from neighboring cities such as Dipolog, Ipil, Zamboanga, Ozamiz, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro by Rural Transit buses.
Pagadian Integrated Transport Terminal, North Diversion Road. (updated Jan 2020)
By plane 1 Pagadian Airport (PAG IATA). Cebu Pacific and Philippines airlines has daily flights from Manila. Cebu Pacific has flights from Cebu. (updated Jun 2020)
By car Pagadian is along Asian Highway 26, and is a 6-hour drive from either Zamboanga City or Cagayan de Oro.
Getting around
Most local transportation within Pagadian is on tricycle. Pagadian tricycles are distinctive for having sidecars with an exaggerated height designed for the city's hilly terrain, though as of 2025, gasoline or CNG-powered Bajaj auto rickshaws are increasingly displacing them. You can get a tricycle from the airport for ₱150-200.
See
1 Plaza Luz and Pagadian Boulevard. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Pagadian Rotonda (a few meters away from the bus terminal). It is a park within a large roundabout between two of the city's major streets. Every night, the park has dancing fountains which are accompanied by music, and during the Christmas season, it hosts illuminated Christmas displays, with themes that change annually. (updated Jan 2020)
Buy
Shopping malls & supermarkets 1 Gaisano capital mall & Gaisano Supermarket., Rizal street, ☏ +63 62-215-4088. 10AM-8PM. Has a McDonald's and Jollibee. 2 Robinsons Supermarket, Fs Fajares and J P Rizal avenue, ☏ +63 62-3100-464. 9AM-8PM.
Eat
Searching for good food at an affordable price is easy in Pagadian. Fast food chains including Jollibee main which is located at the heart of the city. Gaisano Capital and Robinson Pagadian are also the places where you can find a lot of fast-food stores. Food courts in malls are also a good choice (People's Plaza & Best Emporium). A night market with many BBQ choices is located near Plaza Luz.
Drink & nightlife
1 Uptown Cafe & Resto, Ariosa Street, Santiago District, ☏ +63 0976 152 6432. 10AM-10PM. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Happy Pill Cafe, Tuburan District, ☏ +63 0970 037 8342, [email protected]. 8AM-9PM. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 3 CoCon Cafe, ☏ +63 0981 424 8273, [email protected]. 10AM-midnight. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 4 Brew 'n Bake, Trace Arcade, F.S. Pajares Avenue, [email protected]. 9AM-8PM. Brunch, coffee, and pastries. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 5 Brown Butter Café, Urro roxas st., ☏ +63 0966 006 3123. 11AM-8PM. Healthy eats and comfort treats. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 6 Kai Coffee - Boulevard Branch, Boulevard, [email protected]. 8:30AM-9:30PM. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 7 La Pergola Cafe, Mercedes Street, F. S. Fajares Ave. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025) 8 Bo's Coffee, C3 City Commercial Center, Rizal Avenue, Corner F.S. Pajares Avenue, ☏ +63 62 215 4514. Noon-midnight. ₱200-400. (updated Jul 2025)
Sleep
Mardale Hotel and Convention Center, Cabrera St, ☏ +63-62-2154366. Check-out: noon. Hotel and convention center. ₱700, ₱998. Lexx Pensionne, corner Datoc street and Rizal aveune, ☏ +63 62 2154485. A/C double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. ₱500. JRC Grand Hotel and Restaurant, new Tudela san Pedro District (Behide the Gaisano Mall), ☏ +63 62-9250921. A/C double with own bathroom for 12 hours. A/C double with own bathroom for 24 hours. Has 36 rooms. Cable TV in all rooms. Free Wi-Fi. ₱250/450. GV Hotel, Rizal avenue, ☏ +63 62-310-0834. A/C single and double rooms all with own bathrooms and cable TV. The GV Pagadian has 50 rooms. There is also a GV Hotel in Ipil which has 33 rooms and rates from ₱450 a night. ₱450/590/620/750. Napsally Pension House, Cabrera Street, ☏ +63 62-2213079. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. A/C double room with own bathroom and cable TV. ₱499. (updated Jul 2016) Citi Hotel Uno, FS pajaras Street, Pagadian City 7016, landline number: 062-9452948 , mobile number: 09460746820/09538952855 email:[email protected] 1 RedDoorz @ Pilgrims Hotel, ☏ +63 02 8248 7369. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. ₱958. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Rotunda Inn home stay, Purok Malipayon Dao Rotunda, ☏ +63 9367332729. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. ₱815. (updated Jul 2025) 3 Hotel Alindahaw Pagadian City, ☏ +63 62 215 4000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jul 2025) 4 Hotel Guillermo, Alano Ave, ☏ +63 09177798956. (updated Jul 2025) 5 Pagadian Bay Plaza Hotel, Cabrera St, ☏ +63 62 215 4048. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jul 2025) 6 Raim Hotel and Convention, Sanson St, ☏ +63 62 308 2525. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jul 2025)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.