Townapedia
Gensan
Gensan · User: (WT-shared) Naplee12 at wts wikivoyage, CC BY 3.0
View at Queen Tuna Park General Santos City
View at Queen Tuna Park General Santos City · Michael E. Peligro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lagao, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines - panoramio
Lagao, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines - panoramio · Kenneth Rangas, CC BY 3.0
SM City General Santos - panoramio (1)
SM City General Santos - panoramio (1) · Kenneth Rangas, CC BY 3.0
SM City General Santos - Starbucks - panoramio
SM City General Santos - Starbucks - panoramio · Kenneth Rangas, CC BY 3.0
J Catolico Avenue, Lagao, General Santos City - panoramio
J Catolico Avenue, Lagao, General Santos City - panoramio · Kenneth Rangas, CC BY 3.0

General Santos, Philippines

Heneral Santos

General Santos is a city of 722,059 people in Soccsksargen, Philippines, founded in August 18, 1947.

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Population722,059 GeoNames
Local nameHeneral Santos
RegionSoccsksargen
Elevation197 m 646 ft
FoundedAugust 18, 1947
Time zoneAsia/Manila
Land area492.9 km²
Nearest airportGeneral Santos International Airport (GES) 10 km

Why visit General Santos

Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 175 places to eat, 66 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.

About General Santos

General Santos, officially the City of General Santos and abbreviated as GenSan, is a highly urbanized city in the Soccsksargen region of the Philippines. It has a population of 722,059 people according to the 2024 census, making it the most populous city in Soccsksargen Region.

From the Wikipedia article General Santos (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: General Santos on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do3

Movie World

Cinema and theater · 2.4 km

Digos-Makar Road

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MSU Ampitheater

Cinema and theater · 7.0 km

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SM Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 1.1 km

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Museums and landmarks4

FED Building

Monument and historic site · 1.9 km

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General Paulino Santos Memorial Grave

Monument and historic site

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General Paulino Santos Museum

Museum

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Jose Rizal Memorial Statue

Monument and historic site

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Parks, trails and playgrounds15

Children’s Park

Playground

Fr-Su 08:00-17:00

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Plaza Heneral Santos

Park

Mo-Su 05:00-00:00

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Queen Tuna Park

Park · 0.8 km

Mo-Su 05:00-22:00

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Gensanville Phase 1 Playground and Basketball park

Park · 3.6 km

Villaraza Street, General Santos City

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Hadano Park

Park · 2.9 km

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Pioneers' Park

Park · 0.7 km

A park built to commemorate the landing site of the pioneers of the city

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Alumni Park

Park · 7.3 km

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Barangay Buayan Park

Park · 6.5 km

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Botanical Garden

Park · 7.0 km

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Carlos P. Garcia Freedom Park

Park

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Founding Mayors Park

Park · 1.1 km

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Laktanan

Park · 7.0 km

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3 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes175

Kuya Romys Food Services

Restaurant · Cheesy Milky Donut, Empanada, Empanaditas, Ngohiong · 6.5 km

Mo-Su 09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · 09979953243

Fire & Flavor Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza, Pasta · 1.6 km

Leopoldo Dacera Sr. Avenue

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +63 943 205 8510

SorrideTea

Cafe · Milk Tea

Ramos Street, General Santos

Open in Google Maps · 0946 650 4129

GENERAL WINGS & BOOZE

Restaurant · Chicken, Pasta, Barbecue · 1.9 km

Gervacio Aparente Street

Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00

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Outback Steakhouse and Wines

Restaurant · Steak House

Camia Street, General Santos City

24/7

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Pick-up Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 3.3 km

Digos-Makar Road, General Santos City

24/7

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Red Corner Burger bar & Cafe

Restaurant · 1.8 km

Gervacio Aparente Street

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +63 83 877 1847

Streetfood Asia

Restaurant · Asian · 0.9 km

Gervacio Aparente Street, General Santos

Mo-Tu 17:00-23:00; Th-Su 17:00-23:00

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The Outdoor Burger

Restaurant · 0.6 km

19 Osmeña Street

Mo-Sa 02:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +63 917 715 2768

Zed Frozen Foods

Restaurant · Chicken, Lechon · 6.5 km

220 Sarangani-Davao Del Sur Coastal Road, Buayan

24/7

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Baywalk Food Hauz

Restaurant · Regional · 2.1 km

Mo-Sa 08:00-21:00

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J. Kro Acoustic & Resto Bar

Bar and pub · 2.5 km

Digos-Makar Road

Mo-Sa 00:00-24:00, Su off

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163 more on the map.

History

The nomadic Blaan people are the original inhabitants of present-day General Santos, and traces of their early settlements of the area are found in the city's place names, which are derived from their vocabulary. Their name for the city, Dadiangas, is from the Ziziphus spina-christi tree that was once abundant in the area and is now a protected species under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 2007. The Blaan now lives alongside the city's new generation of settlers and other immigrants.

Beforehand, the Blaan would have been forced upland into the surrounding hills after the Muslims settled in the area under the rule of the Sultanate of Maguindanao.

After the fall of Maguindanao, Datu Uto of Buayan expanded his domain south towards Sarangani Bay. Dadiangas remained as a port under the Sultanate of Buayan until the Spanish conquered the Sarangani Bay area by the end of the 19th century.

From the History section of General Santos on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay66

Churches and places of worship63

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Shopping50

Gas and EV charging47

Schools, colleges and libraries96

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Healthcare45

Map of General Santos

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

General Santos International Airport (GES) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 km away.

  • Alabel 13 km east, about 13 min by car
  • Polomolok 17 km northwest, about 17 min by car
  • Lake Sebu 52 km west, about 52 min by car
  • Surallah 55 km northwest, about 55 min by car
  • Koronadal 56 km northwest, about 56 min by car
  • Banga 56 km northwest, about 56 min by car
  • Sulop 57 km north, about 57 min by car
  • Malita 59 km northeast, about 59 min by car
  • Malalag 59 km northeast, about 59 min by car
  • Padada 62 km north, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 8, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.