If you want to get a real taste of Davao City's local culture, you must visit Bankerohan Public Market! This is the most famous, largest and most vibrant traditional market in Davao City, where people come and go from morning to night with the authentic Filipino atmosphere. Not only can you buy the freshest tropical fruits, seafood, vegetables, and meats, you can also find a wide variety of local snacks, handicrafts, and even inexpensive and good-looking clothes. If you want to experience the daily life of Filipinos and feel the atmosphere of a local market, this is definitely the best place.
Advertisement
Bankerohan Public Market is so famous because it is not only the largest public market in Davao City, but also the “kitchen” of the Davao people.
Advertisement
The market's name, Bankerohan, is derived from the “Bangka” (a small Filipino fishing boat) that used to dock at Davao River near the market. Already in the early 1900s, it was the main trading place for local fishermen, farmers and merchants, and has since grown to become one of the most important markets in Davao.
Today, Bankerohan still maintains the lively atmosphere of a traditional market, where you can see casually dressed locals pushing carts, vendors shouting their wares, the smell of fruits, and the aroma of barbecued meat and rice in the air. This is the real Davao City!
Bankerohan Public Market has a wide variety of products that can be categorized as follows:
Advertisement
1. Fruit Stands: Davao's Fruit Paradise
Davao is known as the “Fruit Capital of the Philippines” and you must buy some fruits to try when you are here! Fruits in the market are much cheaper than supermarkets and are super fresh.
Must try fruits:
Durian: Davao's signature fruit, smells bad but tastes good!
Mangosteen: sweet and sour, known as the “Queen of Fruits”.
Marang: Tastes like a mixed version of banana + durian, it's super special!
Buko: You can drink fresh coconut water directly, which is healthy and relieves the heat!
Tips: Durian is not allowed to be brought into hotels and airplanes, so you can buy a small portion at the market and eat it on the spot.
2.Seafood & Fresh Food Zone
The seafood here is super cheap and fresh! If you have a kitchen where you're staying, you can buy some and go back to make your own.
Common Seafood:
Sugpo and Alimango: much cheaper than supermarkets.
Tuna: Davao's specialty, you can buy fresh fillets and grill them.
Tuyo & Danggit: Filipino specialty dry goods, very flavorful and good to take home.
3.Local Snacks & Desserts
You can't go to the market without having some local snacks. There are plenty of traditional Filipino dishes to eat while walking around!
Must-try snacks:
Bibingka: Baked rice cake wrapped in banana leaf, sweet and soft.
Kakanin: purple potato, mango, coconut and other flavors, it's so creamy!
Balut: duck eggs in hatching, heavy challenge, take a picture if you don't dare to eat it!
4.Clothing & Souvenirs
There are many cheap clothes and handicrafts in the market, suitable for buying some souvenirs to go back.
Recommended souvenirs:
Handmade rattan baskets & bags: Philippine specialty crafts that are practical and unique.
Tarsier Monkey Doll: A cute and iconic Filipino animal!
Philippine T-shirts: PHP 150 (USD 3) at the market.
The market is located in the center of Davao City and is very easy to get to, you can choose from the following ways to get there:
Taxi/Grab (most recommended): A taxi from anywhere in the city to the market takes only 10-15 minutes and costs around PHP 100-150 ($2-3 USD).
Jeepney: public transportation in Davao, cheap but can be a bit crowded, costs as little as PHP 10-20.
Walking: If you're staying in the center of Davao, it's easy to walk there.
Go early for the freshest stuff: 6:00am - 9:00am is when the market is at its busiest and the best time to buy fruits and seafood.
Bring some cash with you: the market basically only accepts cash, and you should prepare small pesos for easy change.
Pay attention to anti-theft: Be careful to keep an eye on your cell phone and wallet in crowded places, and don't carry a bag that is too expensive.
Try bargaining, but don't be too hard on yourself: it's not like a night market, so there's not much room for bargaining, but you can try bargaining if you buy too much.
Wear light clothes and shoes: the market is crowded and slippery, so it is best to wear sandals or sneakers, not high heels.
6:30 AM - Arrive at the market, visit the fruit stalls and buy some Davao specialties.
8:00 AM - Check out the seafood area, take some photos or buy some to take back to your hotel.
9:30 AM - Try the Filipino snacks and buy some souvenirs.
11:00 AM - After the market, take a break at a nearby cafe and have a cup of Davao specialty coffee.
12:00 PM - End the market tour and get ready to go to other attractions in Davao!
If you want to experience the real Davao local culture and love to shop, eat, and buy specialties, then Bankerohan Public Market is definitely worth a visit! It's full of authentic fireworks, where you'll find the warmest vendors, the freshest fruits, the cheapest seafood, and the most authentic Filipino snacks.
