Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa: BEST Neighborhoods & Hotels
When planning a trip to Palawan Island in the Philippines, you'll undoubtedly spend at least a night in Puerto Princesa. Finding the right place to stay in a slightly chaotic city can be a challenge and can drastically affect your experience. Puerto Princesa City, though the largest city in the Palawan region, is usually considered a stop-over on the way to El Nido or Coron.
While Palawan is a beautiful island with a lot to see, it's worth spending a day or two in the city, visit Sabang Beach, the Palawan Museum, and the UNESCO World Heritage site Puerto Princesa Underground River.
Whether you're seeking luxury, mid-range comfort, or budget-friendly accommodations, Puerto Princesa has a spot for you. In this guide, I’ll show you where to stay in Puerto Princesa, breaking down the best neighborhoods and top hotels, including where I stayed.
Top 4 Neighborhoods in Puerto Princesa: An Overview
When looking for the best hotels in Puerto Princesa, I would choose one of the below four neighborhoods. Each has its own personality, so read carefully and choose the barangay that best fits your vibe:
Near Rizal Avenue: Ideal for first-time visitors and those seeking easy access to city attractions and tours.
San Pedro Neighborhood: Offers a range of top hotels, combining convenience with local charm.
Bancao-Bancao: Perfect for beach lovers, offering easy access to sun, sand, and waterfront activities.
Sabang: Best for beach access and proximity to the famous Underground River, ideal for nature enthusiasts.
1. Best Area for First-Timers, City Lovers and Tours: Near Rizal Avenue
The busiest area in Puerto Princesa, Rizal Avenue is the heart of the action. The road runs east to west, parallel with Puerto Princesa International Airport, across the base of the island.
Staying within walking distance of Rizal puts you close to restaurants, shopping, and tourist sites, making it a great spot for first-time visitors. Rizal Avenue is also the most convenient location for island hopping tours to Balabac or surrounding islands or those taking public transit to the rest of Palawan Island.
Best Hotels in Puerto Princesa Around Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa hotels range from backpacker hostels to 4-star chains. The choices for true luxury hotels in the city are meager, but you have plenty of options for a modern hotel with nice amenities. Here are a few of the best options along the city's main thoroughfare.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Option: Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel
Located right on Rizal Avenue, The Ivywall Hotel is a 4-star accommodation offering modern amenities with an elegant touch. The hotel offers easy access to the museum and Honda Bay. It's perfect for travelers who want comfort and convenience.
Top Amenities: Indoor swimming pool, fitness center, free airport shuttle, room service, and a restaurant/bar.
Why Stay Here: The Ivywall Hotel offers luxury amenities right in the city center.
Price From: US$94/night
⭐⭐⭐ Mid-Range Option: Canvas Boutique Hotel
This Puerto Princesa hotel offers a vibrant and artistic design, with colorful murals and a modern pool area. Canvas Boutique Hotel is just north of Rizal Avenue (when it turns into North Road) and is surrounded by local restaurants and shops including Balinsasayaw Restaurant and Pasalubong Center.
The hotel features spacious rooms and lovely gardens. It's also conveniently located just across the street from the Puerto Princesa Airport.
Top Amenities: Amazing pool, restaurant, and airport shuttle.
Why Stay Here: Canvas Boutique Hotel is a stylish choice for travelers who want mid-range comfort with a fun twist.
Price From: US$72/night
⭐⭐ Budget Option: Mariner's Pension House
Mariner's Pension House is located just off Rizal Avenue and offers a wonderful stay for a budget price. When it comes to cheap hotels in Puerto Princesa, Mariner's offers the best benefits like private bathrooms and air conditioning in all rooms.
Top Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, terrace with lounge chairs, excellent breakfast buffet, free parking
Why Stay Here: The hotel is built with rooms facing the interior over the outdoor pool. It's one of the best hotels in this price range, in the city center, because it feels safe and quiet.
Price From: US$24/night
2. Best Area for a Local Experience: San Pedro
San Pedro is a quieter residential neighborhood, just north of Puerto Princesa International Airport. It offers easy access to markets and local eateries.
This is a great choice for those looking for a slightly quieter stay that’s still within reach of city life. You can also easily visit Honda Bay from San Pedro.
Best Hotels in Puerto Princesa San Pedro Neighborhood
Located north of the airport, San Pedro offers a convenient location for most travelers as the major highway, North Road, provides easy access to everything. It's a prime spot to get a nice hotel at a decent price.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Option: The Funny Lion
The Funny Lion gets my vote for the best hotel in San Pedro, but the boutique chain also has “dens” in El Nido and Coron. All locations offer a hip bar, good food, and excellent service. This Puerto Princesa hotel also boasts a small private beach!
Top Amenities: Gorgeous pool area, hotel restaurant, free parking
Why stay here: The Funny Lion has a good reputation amongst Palawan hotels. It's a beachfront resort just 15 minutes from the airport.
Price from: US$161/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Alternative: Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa Managed by HII
Hue Hotels and Resorts is another fantastic option for the luxury category. This Puerto Princesa hotel is located on North Road and offers a stunning rooftop bar with an infinity pool, a highly-rated breakfast buffet, and welcome drinks. It's a solid choice if you want a clean and stylish hotel in Puerto Princesa.
⭐⭐⭐ Mid-Range Option: At-Home Bed & Breakfast
At Home is a newly renovated bed and breakfast with a traditional Filipino design. Though you'll stay in a thatched-walled villa, you get every modern amenity. With a garden like this one, you'll never want to leave the property!
Top Amenities: Nice pool in a lush garden, on-site restaurant and bar, private balconies with pool view.
Why stay here: At Home feels like a little community. It's a comfortable accommodation with easy access to Honday Bay and daily yoga classes.
Price from: US$61/night
⭐⭐⭐ Mid-Range Alternative Option in San Pedro: Carpe Diem Villas & Resort
Carpe Diem is another mid-range option (US$55/night) that sits closer to the beach. It's a more traditional resort with a good buffet breakfast, and each villa features a private outdoor swimming pool!
⭐⭐ Budget Option: Mongki's Pensionhouse
Mongki's Pensionhouse is a modern and highly-rated condo hotel in San Pedro. It features a funky design with a selection of room options, including deluxe family suites. The property is enclosed, so it feels safe and rates very highly with Booking.com guests.
Top Amenities: Large outdoor area, free scooter rental, gated property
Why Stay Here: Mongki's offers simple accommodation in a quiet neighborhood with a family-home feel.
Price From: US$17/night
3. Best for Beach Bums: Bancao-Bancao
This coastal neighborhood offers a laid-back vibe, with many accommodations set near the water. It lies on the peninsula's southern tip and offers a more peaceful atmosphere. Bancao-Bancao is perfect for those who want to be closer to nature and enjoy beach activities, while still being a short drive from the city center.
Best Hotels in Puerto Princesa Bancao-Bancao
Moving to the other side (south side) of the airport, Bancao-Bancao occupies the southern tip of the peninsula with beachfront properties on Honda Bay. If you're looking for a cheap hotel in Puerto Princesa that's not in such a busy area, Bancao-Bancao is a nice spot.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Option: Hibiscus Garden Resort
Hibiscus Garden Resort is a long-standing resort with a massive landscaped garden. It offers 4-star amenities at a very fair price and features multiple lounge areas, a bar, a large outdoor swimming pool, and spacious rooms.
Top Amenities: Two-way airport shuttle, lovely garden
Why Stay Here: If you want something within walking distance of the airport, Hibiscus is your best option.
Price From: US$81/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Alternative in Bancao-Bancao: Princesa Garden Island Resort
The most famous hotel in Puerto Princesa Bancao-Bancao is probably Princesa Garden Island Resort. It's a well-established resort with timeless appeal that offers a waterpark, overwater bungalows, and a host of family-friendly activities. It's my backup choice because, as some guests recently noted the amenities and service quality may not fully align with the current pricing.
⭐⭐⭐ Mid-Range Option: Munting Paraiso
Munting Paraiso is n great hotel with multiple lounge areas, in a lush garden, built around a central pagoda. It features an outdoor pool, private bungalows, and high reviews for cleanliness and location.
Top Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, airport shuttle, gym, highly-rated restaurant
Why Stay Here: Munting Paraiso offers convenient access to the airport and the beachfront in a contained garden that feels private and lux.
Price From: US$67/night
⭐⭐ Budget Option: Acacia Tree Garden Hotel
The closest Bancao-Bancao hotel on our list to the beach, Acacia Tree Garden Hotel provides an excellent value for your dollar. It's a really beautiful property with 25 modern and well-appointed rooms, just five minutes from the airport.
4. Best for Access to Beaches & the Underground River: Sabang
Located about an hour from the city, Sabang is famous for its proximity to the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
Staying here gives you direct access to one of the best beaches in the area and a more natural, adventurous side of Palawan. Sabang Village is ideal for nature lovers and those seeking a quieter experience.
Best Hotels in Puerto Princesa Sabang Beach
Sabang is a 90-minute drive north of Puerto Princesa City proper. It's a fantastic location for nature lovers and those who want a break from the city. It features a lovely stretch of beach along Honda Bay and the most famous tourist activity in the area, the Underground River tour!
Though not in the city, I have included this area on the list because of its popularity with both local and international tourists and accessibility to some of Puerto Princesa's best attractions.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Luxury Option: Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort
Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort is one of the top luxury accommodations in Sabang and is often voted one of the best hotels in Palawan. It offers direct access to the sand and sea. The resort features thatched, two-story bungalows, surrounded by dense palms, on the beach.
Top Amenities: Unspoiled beach area, airport shuttle for charge, three swimming pools
Why Stay Here: It's a gorgeous resort with excellent amenities and an untouched strip of beach. You get excellent service and both mountain and beach views!
Price From: US$246/night
⭐⭐⭐ Mid-Range: Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa
Bordering on the luxury category, the Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa offers similar amenities to Daluyon but in a more standard hotel setting. It features an astronomically large swimming pool and beach access with all the amenities you expect from the Sheraton chain.
Top Amenities: Beach area, airport shuttle for charge, gym, restaurant/bar
Why Stay Here: Four Points offers all the comforts of home at a more reasonable price than Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort. While it lacks uniqueness, it's another great option in the area.
Price From: US$152/night
⭐⭐ Budget: Bambua Nature Cottages
for the cheapest hotel on this list! It features a large garden with water features, and each room boasts a private terrace with mountain views.
Top Amenities: Gorgeous landscaping, free parking, family rooms
Why Stay Here: Staying at Bambua feels like living in a nature resort.
Price From: US$7/night
Whether you're looking for luxury, mid-range, or budget-friendly stays, Puerto Princesa has a neighborhood and hotel to suit your style. From the bustling center of Rizal Avenue to the serene shores of Sabang, you're sure to find the perfect place to make your stay memorable.
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Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa: Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is it worth staying in Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa City is worth a day or two of your trip. It's a great jumping-off point for tours of Balabac, and it's the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Puerto Princesa Underground River.
📅 How many days do you need in Puerto Princesa?
I would recommend spending two nights and one full day in Puerto Princesa. Do some shopping at Robinsons Mall Palawan, visit the famous Underground River, and enjoy the chaos of Rizal Avenue. With two full days, you can add the museum, the city's colonial historic sights, and a couple of beaches.
📍 Which is better Puerto Princesa or El Nido?
Puerto Princesa and El Nido are two totally different beasts. El Nido is a small beach village, famous for its island hopping tours. Puerto Princesa is a large city and the financial and transit hub of the island. For beaches and nature, El Nido wins. For a city break, it's Puerto Princesa all the way!
Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa: Final Words
Puerto Princesa sometimes gets a bad rap, but if you're willing to take on the crowded streets, it's worth a day or two of your time. When deciding where to stay in Puerto Princesa, if you thrive on that chaotic Southeast Asian city vibe, book a cheap hotel on Rizal Avenue.
If you want a little more peace, opt for the neighborhoods of Bancao-Bancao or San Pedro, and if you need sun and sand, head north to Sabang.
Wherever you decide to stay in Puerto Princesa, give the city a chance to capture your heart. It's home to some of the best hotels in Palawan, and it's the beating heart of the island. For more great ideas for your Palawan vacation, check out the best things to do on Palawan island, and get planning your Philippines vacation.
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