Roxas City (Capiz)

Overview

Roxas City is the capital of Capiz and calls itself the seafood capital of the Philippines, a claim it supports each morning at the Baybay fish port, where scallops, oysters, and shellfish are cooked to order along the waterfront. The city keeps a relaxed, walkable character, with a river and greenbelt, a coral-stone church nearby whose belfry holds one of Asia's largest bells, and a craft tradition built on the translucent Capiz shell. Offshore, Olotayan Island offers a white-sand day within reach of the city port.

Standout experiences

• 01 Baybay Fish Port

  A dawn seafood market and cook-to-order stalls, the city's defining experience.

• 02 Seafood cooking

  Scallops, oysters, and fresh catch prepared simply along the waterfront and in local restaurants.

• 03 Panay Church and belfry

  A coral-stone church with a giant historic bell and a climbable belfry nearby.

• 04 Olotayan Island

  A white-sand island offshore, reached by boat for swimming and snorkeling.

• 05 Palina river cruise

  A mangrove river trip with seafood dining aboard, a gentle way to see the greenbelt.

Getting there

Roxas Airport (RXS), also called Roxas City Airport, is a small domestic airport inside the city, near the center in Barangay Baybay. Cebu Pacific and PAL Express fly there from Manila. The terminal sits minutes from the downtown, so transfers are short. Longer Panay itineraries can also reach Roxas City by bus or van from Iloilo and Kalibo.

When to go

Sinadya sa Halaran, held December 5 to 8, marks Roxas City's founding and the feast of the Immaculate Conception, with a grand parade, fireworks, a food festival, and the Capiz dance festival. The dry season from December to May otherwise gives the best conditions for the seafood markets and nearby beaches. Rain is heaviest from June to November.