You Won’t Believe How Safe, Clean, and Walkable Iloilo City Is (Even the Cats Prove It)

Iloilo City feels like a bigger version of Ayala Vertis North, but better. It has the perfect balance of city life and nature. Even in the busiest parts of the city, the greens are kept intact. We stayed near Megaworld Iloilo and SM City Iloilo, so I cannot speak for the whole province, but for the city proper itself? It is the BEST! So clean, so safe, so walkable! I kept thinking how much I would love to walk those streets EVERY SINGLE DAY of my life. By the end of the trip, I was already planning in my head if I could stay here for a month or two, maybe even move with my cats someday.

The Esplanade is everything I wish I had in other cities. It is clean, calming, and free of litter. What stood out most was not just the riverside view, but the atmosphere. People were out jogging even in light rain, walking at an unhurried pace and simply enjoying the weekend. It is the kind of place where you slow down without feeling like you are wasting time. No wonder Pasig wanted to have their own esplanade like Iloilo's.

And then there are the cats. Dozens of them, lounging around or greeting passers-by. They were calm, healthy, and friendly. None of them looked mistreated or malnourished. For me, that says a lot about how locals treat animals and how safe the environment really is. Cats only stay where they feel secure, and here they clearly do.

I even got to pat one and it was so chill. You can see locals interacting with them too, feeding them, letting them walk freely, or just giving them space. It’s not just cute, it’s a subtle vibe check for the city. If the cats are relaxed, you know people are relaxed, traffic isn’t wild, and streets are safe. Walking past them, you can literally feel the calm energy.

It’s also funny how they almost become part of your stroll. You’ll notice a few perched on benches, one sunbathing on a wall, another casually crossing your path like it owns the place. They’re not shy, they’re not scared, and that little sense of freedom they have somehow makes the whole Esplanade feel even more welcoming.

This is the thing that stood out to me while getting around the city. Even outside the Esplanade, walking through Iloilo feels different. Near Megaworld and SM, the urban planning actually considers pedestrians. Wide sidewalks, bike lanes, and a layout that does not force you to give way to cars all the time. It feels like developers cared about how people move, not just how cars move.

What really surprised me was how respectful drivers are. In Manila, crossing the street can feel like a battle where cars always try to get ahead of you. In Iloilo, drivers actually stop and let you pass. It sounds like a small thing, but when you are used to the chaos of Manila, it feels like a completely different world.

The vibe is the opposite of Manila, where everyone seems to be rushing, scrambling for a spot on the train or weaving through traffic. In Iloilo, people walk slower. They are not in a hurry. That pace makes the streets feel safer and friendlier. At night, it was the same. Peaceful. No tension, no chaos.

I even noticed small cafés and bistros tucked into the business district. We did not get to try them because most of our budget went to island hopping in Guimaras, so we stuck with fast food. But the cafés and pastel-coloured buildings around Megaworld made me want to come back just to experience that side of the city too.

Also read: A Guide to Iloilo City’s Hippest Cafes

You’d be surprised how many museums and cafés there are in Iloilo City. For a place that’s not as hyped as Cebu or Manila, it’s got a stacked lineup of cultural stops. Museo Iloilo and the National Museum Western Visayas give you the big-picture history, while heritage spots like Molo Mansion, Casa Mariquit, and Camina Balay nga Bato make you feel like you’ve time-travelled a bit just by stepping inside.

On the flip side, you’ve got ILOMOCA bringing in modern and contemporary art, and even niche places like the Brandy Museum, where I had this caramel macchiato spiked with brandy. It was honestly the best drink I’ve had in a long time, and it’s just 100 pesos. Not tourist-trap expensive, just a casual “wow, this city gets it” kind of moment.

Also read: This Iloilo Museum Serves Coffee With a Shot of Brandy

That’s Iloilo for me. It’s the 'City of Love', sure, and the 'City of Gastronomy' but it’s also where culture and coffee casually mix into your everyday. You don’t have to look for it... it just finds you! We literally didn't plan an itinerary when we got to the city. We just went out of our stay and walked around and the city didn't disappoint. It's packed with lots of food, business, and art & culture establishments nearby... … it’s all right there! You can just step into whatever feels fun!

By the end of the trip, I realised Iloilo was not just a nice getaway. I really do want to live here. It has all the things that make city life convenient: malls, cafés, transport, even a business district, but without drowning you in the chaos that usually comes with big cities.

Also read: Iloilo City Hailed as UNESCO’s First Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines

It is safe, it is walkable, and it is calm in a way that makes you want to be out on the streets instead of hiding from them. Even the stray cats are proof of this. They are calm and friendly, a small but telling sign that life here is kinder.

Iloilo shows that city living does not always have to mean stress. It is complete with malls, transport, and modern comforts, but without the endless traffic and overcrowding. The whole place feels more intentional, like it was built with people’s comfort in mind. Ideal city for real!

Iloilo is peaceful and that peace does NOT mean boring. It means you can breathe, enjoy your walks (without overthinking if someone's going to harass or snatch something from you) and still know that whatever you need is just nearby. That is exactly the kind of environment I want for myself every day.