How To Get To Cubao and Araneta Center?

Cubao, a district in Quezon city, can be classified as one of the most recognized and commercial-heavy area in the country. It should be noted that Cubao is synonymous to Araneta Center, which has brought life to this already bustling district. Cubao, widely known to be the destination of most public transports from provinces north and south of Metro Manila, has most of the prominent bus terminals to any point in the Luzon, and some parts of Visayas and Mindanao (through ro-ro). Two commuter train transit lines, the Blue and Purple lines, also meet in this district.

Cubao is home to the following attractions:
1. Araneta Coliseum - who does not know this 25,000-seater sports and concert venue, also known as the Big Dome?
2. Araneta Center - If Makati has the huge Ayala Center, Cubao is known to have the Araneta Center, a wide commercial area with an estimated 1 million visitors daily.
3. Gateway Mall - an upscale place for shopping, dining, and entertainment. This also connects to the Cubao LRT2 Purple Line station.
4. Ali Mall - dubbed as the first fully enclosed shopping center in the country, the mall still stands and is still frequented by visitors.
7. SM Cubao - Of course, the brilliant tycoon Henry Sy would not let this very profitable area unmarked by SM. The department store was opened in 1978.
5. Farmers Plaza - found at the corner of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard, this shopping complex is Araneta Center's link to the MRT line station in Cubao.
6. Cubao Expo - a haven for artists as small concerts, gatherings, and poetry reading events are held here. Also a wonderland for bargain hunters since this is also the usual site choice for weekend flea markets.
7. Other big establishments such as Shopwise, National Bookstore, Rustan's, and Makro as well as BPO establishments can be found here as well.

Directions on how to commute and travel to Cubao:



From the north:

Option 1. MRT or Bus: From EDSA, ride a bus southbound to Baclaran or Ayala (make sure signboard says "Cubao Ibabaw") or take an MRT and go down at Cubao.

Option 2. From outside Metro Manila: Bus. If you are coming from the nearby northern provinces such as Bulacan or as far as Baguio or Laoag, the key destination in Metro Manila is Cubao, so there is no problem reaching this area. 

From the south:

Option 1.MRT or Bus:From EDSA, ride a bus northbound to Fairview or Monumento (make sure signboard says "Cubao Ibabaw") or take an MRT and go down at Cubao.

Option 2.From Alabang or Muntinlupa, ride a bus northbound to Fairview or Monumento (make sure signboard says "Cubao Ibabaw") go down at Cubao.

Option 3.From outside Metro Manila: Bus. If you are coming from the nearby southern provinces such as Laguna and Cavite or as far as the Visayas and Mindanao, the key destination in Metro Manila is Cubao, so there is no problem reaching this area.

From Manila (Recto, Quiapo, Sta. Mesa) and Katipunan/Rizal area:

Option 1. Jeep or Bus: One can ride a jeepney that is bound for Cubao; these jeepneys pass through Aurora Boulevard and would not fail to stop at Cubao to pick up passengers from the perpendicular EDSA.

Option 2. Bus:  There are also MALTC buses coming from Montalban, Rizal bound for Baclaran, that passes through Cubao.

Option 3. LRT2 (Purple Line): Take the Purple Line LRT2 trains and get off at Cubao Station.

Option 4. LRT1 (Yellow Line) + LRT2 (Purple Line): If the LRT1 line is near your area, ride the LRT1 going to Doroteo Jose and transfer to the Recto Station of LRT2 via the connecting footbridge.

If you are in the Makati area:

Option 1. Bus: there are buses passing through Ayala Avenue coming from Leveriza/Buendia and Baclaran that are bound for Fairview or Monumento, make sure to ride one that has a signboard "Cubao Ibabaw".

Option 2. Jeep + MRT: You can take a jeepney ride going to any of the following stations: Magallanes, Ayala, Buendia, Guadalupe and then ride an MRT.

Option 3. Bus + MRT: Or you can take the bus bound for Cubao, get off at the Ayala, Buendia, Guadalupe MRT station and board the MRT train until Cubao.

For private vehicles: Cubao is just mostly concentrated along the northbound side of EDSA between P.Tuazon Avenue and Aurora Boulevard. The area is very traffic-heavy during normal days (as this is a very busy area compounded by provincial buses for commuters) and expect bumper-to-bumper heavy traffic during Christmas season on both sides.

Of course, you can ride a taxicab from any area around the metro and just mention "Cubao" or "Araneta Center" and the driver already knows where to go.

Here's a map around the Cubao area via Google Maps:

Other landmarks and structures around Cubao: Victory Transit, Genesis, Philtranco, and Baliwag Bus Terminals, Cubao Elementary School, Stella Maris College, Superstore Arcade, Farmer's Market, Eurotel, Isetann, New Arayat Market, Samson Institute of Technology.