More about hotels in Davao
About Davao accommodation
Davao City is the largest city on Mindanao and one of the most laid-back big cities you'll find in the Philippines. It's well-organised and easy to navigate, with wide roads, a proper mall culture, and a slower pace than Manila. Whether you're after a beach resort on nearby Samal Island or a comfortable city hotel close to the airport, Davao has accommodation to suit most budgets and trip styles.
Where should you stay in Davao?
Most visitors base themselves in one of two spots. Davao City centre, around the Poblacion and Bajada areas, puts you close to Rizal Park, the big malls (SM Lanang Premier and Abreeza), and the airport, and it's the easiest base if you want restaurants, shopping, and city sights on your doorstep. For a beach holiday, head across the water to Samal Island, a short pump boat or ferry ride from the city, where the resorts sit right on white sand with views back over the Davao Gulf. Some travellers split their stay between the two, a couple of nights in the city and a couple by the beach.
How much is Davao accommodation?
Budget rooms in Davao City start from around AU$20 to AU$40 a night, covering simple inns and budget hotel chains. Mid-range hotels, including well-known city and business hotels, generally run from AU$50 to AU$100 a night. Samal Island's beach resorts and the higher-end city hotels sit from around AU$100 to AU$250 a night depending on the room type and season, with private villas and premium beachfront suites going higher again.
What is Davao known for?
Davao is best known for the Philippine Eagle Center, a wildlife conservation park in Malagos that's home to the critically endangered Philippine eagle, one of the largest eagles in the world, along with other native wildlife. It's also the gateway to Samal Island, prized for its beaches, clear water, and easy day trips or overnight stays just across the gulf. Durian is a genuine local obsession here, and Davao is considered the fruit's home turf in the Philippines, with markets and stalls selling it fresh and turned into cakes, candy, and even durian-flavoured treats. Outdoorsy travellers use Davao as the starting point for treks up Mt Apo, the country's highest peak, while families and garden lovers enjoy Eden Nature Park, a cool-climate mountain retreat with gardens, ziplines, and views over the city, and nearby Malagos Garden Resort, known for its butterfly sanctuary and cheese and chocolate tastings.
What are the best hotels in Davao?
In the city, well-rated options include Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Seda Abreeza Davao, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, and Park Inn By Radisson Davao, all handy for the malls and the airport. Over on Samal Island, Pearl Farm Beach Resort and Discovery Samal are popular beachfront picks, while Club Samal Resort and Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort suit a more relaxed island stay. If you'd rather be up in the hills, Eden Nature Park and Resort offers a cooler, garden setting outside the city centre.
Tips for booking a stay in Davao?
Book your Samal Island resort with transfers included where possible, since most properties run their own boat service from the mainland jetty and it saves the hassle of arranging one yourself. If your main goal is the Philippine Eagle Center or Malagos Garden Resort, a city centre hotel keeps you closer to the day trip than a Samal Island base does. Davao's airport (Francisco Bangoy International) is close to the city centre, so a hotel in Poblacion or Bajada cuts down on transfer time if you're only stopping over for a night or two. And if you're travelling during durian season, roughly from August through October, expect the fruit stalls to be at their busiest and the freshest.
