Tourist Spots in Baguio City
Nestled in the Cordillera Mountains, Baguio City is a popular destination in the Philippines known for its cool climate, scenic landscapes, rich culture, and history. It’s often referred to as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” due to its refreshing weather, which provides a pleasant escape from the tropical heat of the lowlands. This guide will take you through the modes of transportation available in Baguio and highlight the must-visit attractions in the city.
A Brief Overview of Baguio City
Baguio City, located in the northern part of Luzon, was established by American colonizers in the early 1900s as a hill station. The city’s elevation of about 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) above sea level gives it a cool climate, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 23°C (59°F to 73°F), making it a year-round destination. The city’s unique blend of colonial architecture, local traditions, and modern conveniences has made it a vibrant cultural hub, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
Getting to Baguio City
Before diving into the local transportation options, it’s essential to understand how to get to Baguio City from major points in the Philippines.
- By Bus:
The most common way to reach Baguio from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is by bus. Several bus companies, such as Victory Liner, Genesis Transport, and JoyBus, offer daily trips to Baguio. The journey takes about 4-6 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Buses are comfortable and equipped with amenities like air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and Wi-Fi on some routes. - By Private Vehicle:
Driving to Baguio is another option, especially for those who prefer a more flexible travel schedule. The trip from Manila to Baguio takes approximately 4-5 hours via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). Once you reach the Kennon Road, Marcos Highway, or Naguilian Road, you’ll begin the ascent to Baguio, winding through scenic mountain views. - By Air:
While Baguio has its own airport (Loakan Airport), commercial flights are limited and sporadic. Most travelers flying in opt to land in Clark International Airport in Pampanga, which is about a 3-hour drive from Baguio, or Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Tourist Spots in Baguio City
LOURDES GROTTO (Dominican Hill Road, Baguio City
A well-known Catholic pilgrimage site in Baguio City, Lourdes Grotto honors the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Lourdes). Visitors must ascend more than 250 steps to reach the shrine at the top, which is situated on a hillside. People pray, light candles, and make intentions at the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top.
Visitors come here to deepen their spiritual relationship with the Virgin Mary and to express gratitude for blessings. It is a hallowed location for reconciliation, prayer, and devotion.
DIPLOMAT HOTEL (Baguio City, Benguet)
The Diplomat Hotel is primarily recognized by the public as the most haunted hotel in the Philippines. This proverb originated from individuals who had previously visited the hotel and encountered strange emotions and situations there.
Due to its historical significance, eerie reputation, distinctive architectural ruins, and expansive view, the Diplomat Hotel is a popular tourist destination in Baguio City.
Additionally, this hotel is broadcasted on various news channels, including KMJS, ABS-CBN, and others, where people discuss their eerie encounters and share footages believed to support claims that the Diplomat Hotel is haunted. Due to that, many are curious about the place and wanted to experience it themselves.
LA TRINIDAD STRAWBERRY FARM (La Trinidad, Benguet)
Baguio is known for being the main hub for strawberries. La Trinidad Strawberry Farm, which is located in Benguet, is the largest strawberry farm in the Philippines.
With approximately 79.49 hectares, it harvests around 1,400 metric tons of strawberries annually.
You can experience harvesting fresh, red strawberries there. You can grab a basket for you to fill, but you will be charged based on the weight. The sprawling, scenic views are also perfect for photos for you and your family.
You should try to savor its strawberry-infused refreshments and delicacies. Like strawberry taho, strawberry ice cream, strawberry juices and shakes, strawberry jams, strawberry wine, strawberry fudges like crinkles, muffins, cupcakes and many more.
A wide selection of handmade souvenirs is also available, serving as perfect remembrance of a memorable trip to Baguio.
BURNHAM PARK ( Benguet, Baguio City)
Burnham Park, situated geographically in Benguet within Baguio City, is widely considered one of the most visited parks by tourists.
This vibrant urban space offers a variety of fun recreational activities that families and friends can easily enjoy together.
Many people choose to spend their time having a picnic and conversing about life while taking in the fascinating views of the central lake. Visitors can enjoy riding the iconic swan boats out onto Burnham Lake, or rent go-karts and bicycles to stroll around the paved pathways with their loved ones. For more active recreation, there is a dedicated skating rink to explore, alongside fun playgrounds built specifically for children to play in.
If you get hungry, a diverse selection of local food stalls is available throughout the area. These stalls offer various types of street food trips and snacks that you can buy and eat while continuing to enjoy the scenery.
The park is also a favorite spot for fitness enthusiasts. Many people jog and walk here every morning to breathe in the fresh mountain air and start their day with a beautiful view.
THE MANSION
The mansion, built in 1908 and is strongly inspired by Buckingham Palace in England, serves as a summer residence for American governors. When WWII happened, it was significantly damaged. Later on, it was rebuilt and is now considered to be the summer residence of the president of the Philippines. Due to its historical background and architecture, it makes it as one of the tourist spots in Baguio city.
The property has been fully opened to the public, featuring an official Presidential Museum where visitors can tour the interior galleries for free to view historical artifacts and presidential collectibles.
People can enjoy viewing the large mansion, and it’s big gate and takes pictures of it and enjoying its grand scenery.
IGOROT STONE KINGDOM (Baguio City, Benguet)
Igorot Stone Kingdom, much known as Stone Kingdom, is one of the tourist spots in Baguio. Its captivating Mountain View, man-made stone structures, and the history behind its establishment are the reasons why people visit it.
This spot is actually known for it’s stone stacks or rock formations. It looks like you are living in a kingdom where the stairs, towers, pathways, and houses are crafted with stones.
Behind it’s beautiful ambiance, this spot is full of meaning. It was mainly made to appreciate and showcase, as well as serve as a tribute to, the culture and craftsmanship of the Igorot people. It is inspired by their traditions, creations, and culture.
The entrance fee per head is the following:
Adults- 130
Senior Citizen- 100
Children (4-12 years old) – 100
Children (1-3 years old) – Free
To get there, you can take a Long Long or Tam-awan bound jeepney at Abanao Street in the city proper. While, you can ride a jeepney outside the stone kingdom to take you back home.
This spot is very suitable for those people who want to know, appreciate the craft skills of Igorot people and understand its culture.
This is also a good spot to take great pictures of mountains and stone structures, as well as to unwind and see different kinds of attractions.
TAM-AWAN VILLAGE (Garden in the Sky)Baguio City
Tam-awan Village is an attraction in Baguio City with the aspiration of establishing a village where the Cordilleran people’s history, arts, and heritage are preserved and showcased. It is like a museum where different works are displayed and properly labeled.
Before entering the village, visitors need to pay an entrance fee of 100 pesos.
Inside the village, you can witness different large huts built by the Ifugao and Kalinga communities. These huts were reconstructed to help preserve their architecture and culture. As you walk around the village, you will also see Bul-ul carvings that showcase the craftsmanship of the Cordilleran people and symbolize a bountiful harvest of rice.
The village also consists of different stations that display and showcase various artworks and cultural pieces.
One of those is what we called the Ugnayan gallery. This consist the different art pieces which are painted, drawn, and carvings by a Baguio artist. Through art, there you can totally see its passion, creativity, expression, and connection which bring people as one to appreciate the tradition and culture of cordilleran region.
After roaming around the area, tourists can relax by dining at Tam-awan Café. Visitors can enjoy drinks, snacks, and dishes while appreciating its peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by tall pine trees, mountain view, and greenery.
MIRADOR HERITAGE AND ECO PARK (Mirador Hill, Baguio City)
Mirador Heritage and Eco Park is a part of Mirador Hill, a branch of the Manila Observatory. This was originally taken as a study place for meteorological and seismic studies. Later, this was acquired by Jesuit and become a retreat area. This became what it is right now due to the aspiration to maintain Baguio’s heritage, nature, and history.
This attraction is often visited by tourists who want peace, reconciliation, and a connection to god.
People often enjoy walking to bamboo groves, hiking trails, the viewing deck, and their famous Torii gate, which symbolizes peace, spiritually, and harmony to life.
People can enjoy its scenic views and the cold breeze of wind, putting all distress away from your body while getting closer to god.
LIONS HEAD (Kennon Road, Baguio City)
One of the sign that travelers have reached Baguio City is by passing the Lion’s Head Stone.
The Lion’s Head is a famous landmark built by the Baguio Lions Club in 1972. The project was inspired by a naturally formed rock along Kennon Road that resembled a lion’s head. Over the years, the sculpture has been repainted several times to preserve its appearance and maintain its cleanliness for visitors.
Tourists often stop by the area to take pictures of the landmark and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. It serves as a memorable symbol and a sign that they have finally arrived in Baguio City.
Visitors can also buy souvenirs and enjoy the food stalls available nearby, making the place both sightseeing and resting spot for travelers.
CAMP JOHN HAY (Loakan Road, Baguio City)
Camp John Hay is the most well-known attraction in Baguio City. Due to the abundance of recreational opportunities and other interesting locations, a large number of tourist travel here.
During American colonization, Camp John Hay was constructed in 1903 to serve as a retreat and recreational space for officials and soldiers. In honor of the American secretary John Milton Hay’s significant contribution during the American Colonial Era, this was named after him.
A serene and revitalizing atmosphere is created by the many pine trees that surround this location. There are also a variety of hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums within it. Horseback riding, golfing, hiking, picnicking, photography, biking, sightseeing, and dining are a few leisure pursuits that people can take part in. People of all ages can enjoy the place because of these activities.
Camp John Hay is a popular destination for families and friends who want to unwind, connect, and spend time together. The area is ideal for outdoor recreation, strolling, dates, and staycations due to its abundance of establishments and activities.
Camp John Hay continues to be one of Baguio City’s most popular tourist destinations due to its historical significance, scenic beauty, and range of activities.
Serving as a recreation area for Americans before, it is now fully enjoyed by Filipinos and other tourists across the globe.
Mines View (Good Shepherd, Baguio City)
Mines View Park is one of the most visited tourist spots in Baguio City because of its scenic mountain view and refreshing atmosphere. From the viewing deck, visitors can also see the abandoned gold and copper mines of Benguet, which is why the place was named “Mines View.” People often visit this destination to relax and appreciate its beautiful landscape and cool weather.
Visitors can take pictures, experience horseback riding, buy souvenirs and local delicacies, and rent traditional Cordilleran outfits for photography. These activities make Mines View Park an enjoyable and memorable destination for tourists visiting Baguio City.
Valley of Colors (La Trinidad, Benguet)
The Valley of Colors is mostly famous for tourists due to its colorful houses along the mountain hills. This mountain consists of houses painted in different colors, making it vibrant, colorful, and appealing to people. Due to the beautiful scenery, people will not miss visiting it.
This kind of spot only proves the artistry, joy, and color of Baguio City, and its community.
Visitors can enjoy taking pictures, enjoying mountain views, and breathing fresh air together with their loved ones, family, and friends.
BAMBOO SANCTUARY (Pinsao Proper, Baguio City)
Bamboo Sanctuary is an eco-tourist attraction in Baguio City. This consists of tall bamboo grass everywhere over the place. This is mainly established to preserve different kinds of bamboo grasses.
People visit it to unwind and relax by appreciating the bamboo scenery, walking around the trail, breathe fresh air, and appreciate nature.
Visitors can take numerous bamboo grass pictures and also learn about how to conserve bamboo and its sustainability.
Wright Park (Upper Session Road, Baguio City)
Wright Park, a well-known recreational park in Baguio City, is well-known for its long reflecting pool, surroundings of pine trees, and horseback riding. This park is named after Governor- General Luke E. Wright during American colonialism.
Visitors enjoyed this place by riding a horse along the pool, strolling up the stairway, appreciating the pine tree ambiance, feeling the cold atmosphere, buying different souvenirs and food in the nearby stalls.
For informations in Tourist Spots please visit: Tourist Attractions
For informations of Baguio please visit: Baguio Travel Informations
To receive updates on travel, like and follow us on Facebook: 2go Cheap Travel