Angeles City is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines. It is a first-class high-urbanized city, located within the province of Pampanga. It has a population of around 314 thousand people. The city once was the home of the largest United States Air Force, Clark Air Base. This base was abandoned in 1991 after the eruption of Mopunt Pinatubo. Angeles City and Pampanga are also referred to as “the culinary center of the Philippines”.
The history of Angeles City is a long one with a great heritage. The city started in 1796 as Culiat and became a separate municipality in 1829, renamed as the Town of the Angels. In 1899 the Philippine Army battled with the American forces over the city. It was then that the Americans founded their Clark Air Base. After the Second World War the Philippines gained independence from the United States. Tourists can visit lots of historical sites in the city, such as Fort Stotsenburg, Founder’s Residence, Camalig, Santo Rosario Church, Clark Museum.
Angeles City is very popular thanks to its booming nightlife and entertainment. Balibago is the center of the city and has fine restaurants, hotels and shopping malls. It has a neon-lit Fields Avenue where tourists can go to bars, nightclubs and go-go bars. The city also consists of Clark Freeport Zone, an area with world-class resorts, duty-free shops, casinos and golf courses. There are no beaches in Angeles City, but many resorts for swimming. Adventurous people can choose for Mount Pinatubo Trekking, skydiving, drive off-road challenge.
Travelers to Angeles City must have a valid passport and visa. You need to follow general Philippine requirements. American citizens can stay for up to 21 days without a visa, provided your passport is valid for six months and you have valid return tickets. The best time to visit Angeles City is in the dry period from November through April. There tend to be typhoons from the east during summer and fall.
