Palawan’s capital is the arrival point for many travelers who decide to visit one of the most beautiful islands in the world. From here, planes, buses and vans depart to spectacular places such as El Nido and Port Barton, so many people only look for where to stay in Puerto Princesa as a stopover. As we already told you, there are plenty things to do in Puerto Princesa as well and, if you have time to spare on your trip through the Philippines, we encourage you to devote at least one day to it.
Whatever your purpose, in this article we’re going to give you our recommendations for the best areas to stay in Puerto Princesa and the top hotels for all kinds of budgets and situations.
Best areas to stay in Puerto Princesa
Whether you’re staying to enjoy what the city has to offer or you’re heading out the next day to another part of the Philippines, our advice is to stay around Puerto Princesa North Road and Rizal Avenue.
On the former you’ll find Puerto Princesa International Airport with the city center, and the latter runs perpendicular, where most restaurants are located. In addition, as main arteries, they are served by tricycles, multicabs and jeepneys heading both to the airport and to San Jose Terminal, the bus station for El Nido, Port Barton, Sabang…
If you have an early-morning flight from Puerto Princesa, we suggest booking a Puerto Princesa hotel near the airport. You’ll find lots of options and we’ll point them out clearly in these recommendations on where to stay in Puerto Princesa.
Another great area is the one located between Malvar Street and North Road. On the first you have SM City, a huge mall with multiple choices for eating and buying souvenirs. It’s also a good place to get internet SIMs or withdraw cash.
If you’re searching for accommodation in Puerto Princesa because you want to do the whale shark trip or the Balabac island hopping, don’t worry too much about the location, as almost all companies (if not all) will pick you up at your hotel. That said, it will be more convenient if you stay in the areas mentioned, as you’ll have better access to restaurants and more.
If you want to save a little on transport, we also recommend staying near San José Terminal, since catching buses or vans from there is a bit cheaper.
Comparison table of the best places to stay in Puerto Princesa and summary
Although we’re going to talk in detail about the best places to stay in Puerto Princesa organized by type and price, if you want to get straight to the point, have a look at this table. You can swipe it with your finger to see location, rating and price. Plus, you can click each name to go directly to view/book.
| ACCOMMODATIONS | AREA | RATING | PRICE/NIGHT |
| BACKPACKER HOSTELS | |||
| Guni Guni Hostel | Airport | 8,7 – Fabulous | From $8 |
| Mojo Hostel | Near SM City | 9,4 – Fantastic | From $9 |
| LArtista Hostel | San José bus terminal | 8,8 – Fabulous | From $8 |
| BUDGET HOTELS | |||
| Pagdayon Traveler’s Inn | Airport | 8,4 – Very good | From $19 |
| Wilnags Inn Puerto Princesa near airport | Airport | 9,2 – Fantastic | From $20 |
| Abeth’s Haven | Airport | 8,7 – Fabulous | From $16 |
| MID-RANGE HOTELS | |||
| Greenspace Palawan | Airport | 8,3 – Very good | From $29 |
| OYO 1063 Manuela’s Suites | Airport | 9,5 – Exceptional | From $23 |
| Wanderlust Bed and Breakfast | Airport | 8,5 – Very good | From $26 |
| Golden Pension House | Airport | 9,3 – Fantastic | From $29 |
| HIGHER-END HOTELS WITH POOL | |||
| Canvas Boutique Hotel | Airport | 8,3 – Very good | From $67 |
| Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel | Airport | 8,8 – Fabulous | From $96 |
| Hibiscus Garden Inn | Airport | 9,0 – Fantastic | From $49 |
In any case, at the end of each section we leave you more recommendations.
WE HELP you with your accommodation here—will you help us?
Each “Where to stay in…” guide requires visiting properties, comparing prices and constantly updating information. If you end up booking through our links, we receive a small commission that doesn’t increase your price and is the only thing that helps us keep the website going.
You don’t have to choose exactly the hotel we recommend: as long as you access from the link and then select the accommodation you prefer, you’ll already be supporting this project. Thank you for keeping the website alive!
Best hostels for backpackers in Puerto Princesa
If you’re traveling as a backpacker and want to save a bit, you’ll see there are several hostels in Puerto Princesa perfect for you. You can share a room with other travelers, meet people and perhaps join an adventure or two in Palawan. These are the best hostels in Puerto Princesa.
Guni Guni Hostel
This was our last choice to stay in Puerto Princesa on the way to Cebu. We chose this hostel for its location, also on Manalo Street, not far from the airport and with loads of tricycles that took us to the airport for 10 pesos per person. We were also swayed by the photos of the rooms—and we weren’t wrong.
Brand new, you’ll find very spacious shared dorms with air conditioning and, most importantly, super comfy beds. Besides having your own space and lots of privacy, you have a huge shelf to leave your things, an individual light and a power outlet. They have women-only and mixed rooms with 6 beds, and all of them have a private bathroom (with hot water, shampoo and soap).
If you also want to socialize and meet people, this Puerto Princesa hostel has some really cool common areas. At reception they even have a video game console and outside there’s a bar/restaurant serving hearty breakfasts at a good price. No doubt, the value for money is great and it’s one of the best hostels in the Philippines.
Book your bed at Guni Guni Hostel
© Guni Guni Hostel
Mojo Hostel
This is the best-rated hostel in Puerto Princesa (9,4 on Booking). Why? It’s one of the most modern, with spotless facilities and common areas that include a rooftop perfect for sunset with sea views and a super-modern bar. You can choose between mixed or women-only dorms with 8 beds for $9 and double rooms from $17. In the former, you’ll have a very comfy bed with curtain for more privacy, an outlet and a couple of lights, as well as a locker with key underneath. They also have a private bathroom so you don’t have to wander far.
Add to that the extremely friendly staff who will help you with transport or any doubts you may have, great Wi‑Fi, very cheap laundry service and the fact you can walk to SM City, and we can confirm it’s a winning option. Without a doubt, a cheap place to stay in Puerto Princesa for the quality offered.
© Mojo Hostel
LArtista Hostel
Located very close to San José bus station (from where buses and vans leave for Port Barton) and not far from the airport, this is another hostel in Puerto Princesa we recommend. It opened very recently (2024) and what we liked most were the spacious, pretty and clean facilities, the hot-water bathrooms and the lockers. They have shared rooms for 4 and 8 people, all with air conditioning.
This Puerto Princesa hostel also has a very nice restaurant with delicious pizzas, so you don’t have to worry about finding places for dinner. Just one minute’s walk away you have a super-cheap laundry and they also organize tours. All in all, a comfy place to stay in Puerto Princesa.
Check available dates at LArtista Hostel
© LArtista Hostel Puerto Princesa
More hostel recommendations in Puerto Princesa
If the above don’t convince you or they’re full, take a look at:
- Green Turtle Backpackers Guesthouse: comfy beds, a clean air‑conditioned room, sparkling bathrooms and the Wi‑Fi works well. It’s close to the bus station. You can book here.
- La Vida Hostel: although we like it much less than the above for décor and location, it’s another budget alternative and its terrace is super pleasant. Have a look from this link.
Best budget hotels in Puerto Princesa
If you’re looking for budget hotels to stay in Puerto Princesa, where you have your own bathroom and a bit more privacy, check out these for under $20 per night.
Pagdayon Traveler’s Inn
The photos aren’t amazing, but we promise it’s a nice little hotel with nipa walls (a type of palm typical of the Philippines), air conditioning, good Wi‑Fi and comfy beds. The double room costs $19 and the owner, Gerry, is lovely, so we left without any complaints.
As for the location, it’s very close to the airport and has several restaurants around it, among which the spectacular Kalui stands out—possibly the best in the city. All in all, a cheap and convenient place to stay in Puerto Princesa.
Book at Pagdayon Traveler’s Inn
© Pagdayon Traveler’s Inn
Wilnags Inn Puerto Princesa (near airport)
As its name suggests, we’re talking about a hotel in Puerto Princesa very close to the airport, on Manalo Street almost at the intersection with Fernandez St., the one that runs down from the airport. It’s a new property with spotless, modern rooms featuring air conditioning, television and a water heater for just $20 a night. The shower deserves a mention: completely new and with good pressure—something you sometimes miss in the Philippines.
It’s also a perfect option to stay in Puerto Princesa whether you’re traveling solo, with family or friends, as they have single, triple and quadruple rooms without the price going up too much. What’s more, it’s in a great spot to explore the city and you have Bona’s Chaolong very close by, one of Puerto Princesa’s most famous restaurants for its noodle soup.
© Wilnags Inn Puerto Princesa
Abeth’s Haven
Absolutely perfect location, between the airport and the center, in a very quiet area—we’ll fall into the easy joke of saying this place is a paradise for those looking for cheap places to stay in Puerto Princesa because you get clean rooms, comfy beds, air conditioning, coffee and tea for just $16 a night. You couldn’t ask for more from a Puerto Princesa hotel, and on top of that the staff are super friendly, breakfast costs just 120 pesos (about $2) and the Wi‑Fi works well.
Like the previous one, it’s a nice place to stay as a couple, but also with family or friends, as the family rooms can accommodate 6 people for just $47, which we think is more than fair.
© Abeth’s Haven
More budget hotels in Puerto Princesa
If you want more alternatives, we suggest taking a look at these cheap places to stay in Puerto Princesa:
- Keen’s Place: another Puerto Princesa hotel close to the airport (just a 15‑minute walk) with basic but clean rooms and private bathroom for $18. The owners are delightful and there’s a nice terrace to catch the breeze in the afternoons. Have a look here.
- Balai Vivencio Hostel: located on Malvar Road, very close to our favorite restaurant (Ver De Palawan), this guesthouse has rooms from $15 with air conditioning. They aren’t very big and have a shared bathroom, but they’re super clean. Book from this link.
- Amor’s Place: rooms for about $20 (with a small breakfast) very close to the airport with nice staff. A staple of our many visits to Puerto Princesa. Book your room here.
Best mid‑range hotels in Puerto Princesa
For those seeking a little more comfort, these places to stay in Puerto Princesa offer excellent value for money. We’ve set the range at $25 to $45 to give you an idea.
Greenspace Palawan
This is one of our favorite places to stay in Palawan. It’s a fairly new building with spacious, clean and bright rooms. The beds are great and the shower has hot water (something you sometimes miss in the Philippines). It’s located downtown, close to the airport and right in front there’s a supeeeer complete food court with lots of options; plus you have Gold Cup café next door, with TOP specialty coffee.
The price is around $30 for a double room, including a quite complete breakfast, and they also have very spacious family rooms. For us, one of the best value‑for‑money options in Puerto Princesa and we won’t hesitate to return.
Check available dates at Greenspace Palawan
© Greenspace Palawan
OYO 1063 Manuela’s Suites
This is a branch of an Asian hotel chain called OYO. Like the rest, it’s a functional hotel with modern facilities, new furniture and great beds. It has air conditioning, Wi‑Fi and a flat‑screen TV.
It’s close to the airport, with restaurants very near, and thanks to the attention of its owners it scores 9,5 on Booking. The price is very competitive: from $23 per double room you can stay in Puerto Princesa with every comfort. Truly, we recommend it 100%.
See prices for Manuela’s Suites
© Manuela’s Suites Puerto Princesa
Wanderlust Bed & Breakfast
Another of our favorite places to stay in Puerto Princesa is this little hotel located on Rizal Avenue, very close to the airport and surrounded by restaurants, including a well‑known Spanish one (El Txoco). It’s a charming spot with modern, pretty single, double and family rooms from just $21 including breakfast. All of them have air conditioning, television and private bathroom, but what makes the difference is the treatment from Andrea, the owner, who will give you spectacular tips to enjoy your stay in Palawan.
The hotel has a restaurant where they serve breakfast (included in the price) and dinner, so if you don’t feel like it, you don’t even have to go out.
Check out this Puerto Princesa hotel here
© Wanderlust Bed & Breakfast
Golden Pension House
We could say the owners of this Puerto Princesa hotel are our little grandparents in the city because we’ve been many times and they always treat us like their grandchildren. They’re lovely and every morning they prepare breakfast and bring it to the room terrace, they store our backpacks while we go on trips outside the city, they pick us up and take us to the airport… In short, they spoil us and we appreciate them a lot.
The location, although not super central, is good because you can walk to the main places in Puerto Princesa; it’s close to several restaurants and SM City, but best of all are the very spacious rooms, with air conditioning, fan, modern bathrooms and Wi‑Fi that runs like silk.
Although we’ve already told them, the deluxe room is valid for 2 people even though the booking process only shows “1” and it costs just $28 a night with breakfast included. Seriously, you can’t go wrong!
More mid‑range hotels in Puerto Princesa
If you want more alternatives, we suggest taking a look at these Puerto Princesa hotels, which are also very good:
- Cleon Villas Pension: little cabins in a quiet area of Puerto Princesa where for $30 a night you get a private bathroom, air conditioning and TV, as well as a nice terrace for breakfast. No complaints from us. Have a look and book here.
- Dolce Vita Hotel: the room décor isn’t wonderful (it has a rocky vibe), but you can have a Puerto Princesa hotel with a pool for just $30 a night for 2 people. It’s close to the airport with places to eat nearby. A winner. Book from this link.
Best hotels with pool in Puerto Princesa
Since the beaches in Puerto Princesa aren’t the best, you might want a dip to relieve the heat. Don’t worry—there are great Puerto Princesa hotels with a pool and very good value for money if you’re looking for a higher‑end stay. Here’s a selection:
Canvas Boutique Hotel
Canvas Boutique Hotel is located on the road that leads to the bus terminal and the one for the airport and would, without the slightest doubt, be our choice if budget isn’t very important. This is the most chic hotel to stay in Puerto Princesa, with facilities and (huge) rooms decorated with great style and a bed and pillows truly worth mentioning.
The pool is wonderful, perfect for relaxing after a day of transfers, and the restaurant—although there are options nearby—is to die for if you don’t feel like going out. Prices are around $60 and include breakfast and free airport transfer. Without a doubt, a very good value‑for‑money option if you’re looking for where to stay in Puerto Princesa with a pool.
Book now at Canvas Boutique Hotel
© Canvas Boutique Hotel
Best Western Plus The Iviway Hotel
With slightly more classic décor than the above but with the Best Western brand’s quality seal, this is a fantastic hotel for a comfortable stop in Puerto Princesa. The pool is ideal for swimming and unwinding from the city’s chaos, and it also has a gym and very pleasant common areas. The hotel closest to the airport includes the transfer, and it’s also right in front of Kalui which, as we said above, is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Princesa. The best part: the breakfast buffet is spectacular.
It’s true it’s the most expensive of those we’ve mentioned today (about $96 for the double room), but if you’re looking for a top‑category hotel in Puerto Princesa—not only for a quick stay, but to spend a few pleasant days in the city—this is the best alternative.
More info on Best Western Plus The Iviway Hotel
© Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel
Hibiscus Garden Inn
After Canvas, this is one of our favorite hotels in Puerto Princesa. Why? Because once you go in, despite being so close to the airport and in the very center, it’ll feel like you’ve left the city and you’ll enjoy a green setting with a pool and peace. If you don’t want to, you won’t even have to go out, as the hotel has its own restaurant with good dishes at a good price.
The rooms, although not very modern in décor, are super pleasant and spacious, all with air conditioning, TV, Wi‑Fi and private bathroom. The staff are lovely and will help you spend some very comfortable days in Puerto. Prices start at $49, which we think is reasonable for what we’re talking about.
© Hibiscus Garden Inn
More hotels with pool in Puerto Princesa
Don’t worry if the above don’t convince you—these other Puerto Princesa hotels will:
- Dolce Vita Hotel: we already mentioned it in the previous section, from $30 per night. Book here.
- Hue Hotels and Resort: another international chain hotel you might like, located along the same airport road. From $46 per night with breakfast included and even a rooftop pool and spa—book as soon as possible from this link.
- Michelle Pension: we don’t love the location (you’ll need to rely on tricycles), but you can have a double room with pool and breakfast from just $33 a night. No wonder it has almost a 9 on Booking.
Location of these Puerto Princesa hotels
Here you can see the location of the places to stay in Puerto Princesa a bit better in relation to the airport and the bus station:
If you’ve already decided where to stay in Puerto Princesa, take a look at this Puerto Princesa Guide, where we tell you what to do and how to reach Palawan’s capital.
