Baguio

Understand

Baguio, to many, is best known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", with its cool climate making this a spot to escape the chaotic scenes in Manila. The city is also home to tropical pine forests, lending the city the nickname "City of Pines". It serves as a tourist hub in the Cordilleras, serving as a jumping point to other tourist spots like Mount Pulag, Sagada and Banaue. Baguio is considered a city separate from the province of Benguet, but it is considered part of Benguet practically, and it is the economic center for both the province and the Cordillera region. Some of the city's tourism promotions also point to nearby La Trinidad, which is both administratively and geographically in Benguet, and is the provincial capital.

History The city originated as a hill station built by the Americans in the 1900s. Road connection is provided by the zigzagging Kennon Road, and the city is planned by the renowned American architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham. It was intended to be the summer capital of the Philippines, then an American colony. It soon gained its position as a popular tourist destination to many Manila residents escaping the heat, noise, and crowds of the metropolis. The city has been badly damaged by the destructive Central Luzon earthquake in 1990, but the city since recovered.

Climate

Lying at 1,540 m (5,050 ft) in the Cordilleras, Baguio has milder temperatures, and is quite temperate compared with the rest of Luzon and the country as well. The climate is highland subtropical, with temperatures 7–8 °C (13–14 °F) cooler than the lowlands, and conditions reminiscent of spring. The coldest temperatures ever recorded in the city is 6.3 °C (43.3 °F). Chilly northeastern monsoon winds from Siberia can cause nighttime lows to drop almost near freezing, with frost forming from moisture turning into ice due to wind chill. Despite its altitude, Baguio has not experienced any snowfall. The city is best visited during the dry season between November and April, when the northeast monsoon blows through northern Luzon, and rainfall is at its lowest. The cool dry season is Baguio's peak season for tourists. The rest of the year is rather rainy, and it is the off season for tourists.

Local information Baguio Tourism

Getting there

To get to Baguio from outside of Luzon, you still have to pass through Metro Manila or Clark airport and from there get to Baguio by either of the following ways:

By bus

From Manila This is the most common and economical way to get to Baguio from Metro Manila. Several bus lines ply the Metro Manila to Baguio route with terminals scattered across the metro. It generally takes about 5-7 hr to get to Baguio by bus. An hour longer than it would by car due to stopovers along the way. 1 Victory Liner, ☏ +63 2 727 4534, +63 2 833 5019. Victory Liner has hourly bus service to Baguio from its Monumento main terminal in Caloocan City, Cubao and Pasay terminals. Buses are generally modern and air-conditioned, but seats are sized generally for Filipinos and tall people would need to take advantage of the various stopovers to stretch their legs. Fare is ₱616 per person one way (most expensive among Aircon buses going to Baguio). A non-stop deluxe bus service is also available for ₱999 per person one way, water and snack are served during the trip. Some buses have free WiFi. (updated Mar 2023) 2 Dagupan Bus, New York St., Cubao, Quezon City, ☏ +63 2 929 6123. Also serves the Manila to Baguio route via its Cubao Terminal. Buses leave on an hourly basis. (updated Dec 2018) 3 Genesis. Buses depart every hour from Cubao, Pasay, and Avenida bus stations. Since July 15, 2019, they operate a premium bus service (via the expressways) from Parañaque with stops at all terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, between 5AM and 9PM. (updated Jul 2019)

From Clark airport Partas Bus operates a bus service that stops at Clark airport and heads north from there, departing the airport at 5PM. Get off at Sison, Pangasinan (arrival there around 8PM) and cross the road to the restaurant stop opposite and get on a Victory Liner bus that does a dinner stop there. The fare from Clark airport to Sison on Partas Bus is ₱193, then from there by Victory Liner to Baguio is an additional ₱90. Travel time is 3 hours Clark to Sison, then 1½ hours Sison to Baguio, plus some waiting time at Sison.

From Angeles City Philippine Rabbit operates from Dau Terminal. ₱306. Journey takes about 4-5 hr.

By plane Baguio has an airport, the 4 Loakan Airport (BAG IATA). (updated Mar 2023) Visibility challenges, its high altitude, and the short runway affect operations to this airport. As of 2024, there is no commercial service to Loakan after PAL Express canceled flights from Cebu due to low passenger numbers.

By car From Manila to Baguio by car, the fastest route is through the expressw

Getting around

By jeepney

Similar to Manila, jeepneys ply various routes within Baguio and its immediate surroundings. Majority of jeepneys going out of the city (P.M.A., Country Club, etc.) are stationed in Burnham Park where they normally load passengers to their destinations. It is possible to a rent a jeepney but it is not advisable when trekking long distances.

By taxi More convenient for tourists perhaps, taxis are also common but once you are in the outskirts may be a bit hard to come by. Taxis abound in Baguio. The rate is ₱35 for the first 500 m (1,600 ft), with ₱1.50/100 m (330 ft) increments thereafter. All Baguio taxi cabs are painted white and have the proper identification markings on them. Maximum capacity in each taxi is 5 persons (4 passengers, 1 driver). Taxis can also be booked for a whole day tour at ₱1800-2000 for an 8-9 hr tour of all the main attractions in and around town. Find a taxi at the Tourist Information Counter at the Victory Liner terminal or through your place of accommodation.

By car Car rental in Baguio is a good option for short out-of-town trips and traveling around the city. There are several agencies offering car hire in Baguio and there are self-drive and with driver options available. To rent a car in Baguio you should have an international driver's license. Baguio usually involves navigating a series of winding mountain roads.The traffic is on the right side of the road. As the Session Road and the public market have a very limited parking space, consider leaving your car outside the city center. Rates for car rental Baguio companies can go by the hour, the day or by the week.

See

1 Burnham Park. Go for a walk or go rowing on Burnham Lake. Visit the Rose Garden or have fun with the kids in the Burnham Park Playground. 2 Camp John Hay. This former R&R facility for American military personnel during the American occupation was turned over to the Philippine Government in 1991. Now under the auspices of the Bases Conversion & Development Authority (BCDA), Camp John Hay is a sort of country club complete with an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and camping, among other activities. A condotel is in operation. Renovations in the resort have added different activities such as a paintball arena and zip-lining. This place can get very crowded on weekends. 3 Mines View Park. Enjoy the view of the beautiful mountain scenery with other various attractions... And that's just it. This place is more of a tourist trap. The scenic view is honestly mediocre - with lots of houses dotting the hills; not too breathtaking. There are lots of vendors selling plants and souvenirs. Probably the best place to buy garden plants in Baguio, but there is no need to hastily buy souvenirs and trinkets here, they are just as available elsewhere in the city. The park itself kinda looks makeshift, with garden plant stalls hugging the winding stairs.The "various attractions" are more like animals really. There is a horse with tacky pink dyed hair, and a big St. Bernard dog with red eyes (why?). Keep in mind that these animals are probably already part of the local tourist landscape for being here so long. Take note that having the "guides" take a picture of you with the animals will cost you ₱50-100. There is also a wishing well. You can also have your picture taken while dressed up in Igorot costumes, but this is best avoided, for not only do the costumes look tacky, but it smacks of cultural appropriation. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Session Road. The main thoroughfare of Baguio, where most of the city activity is centered. SM Mall and Burnham Park are walking distance. Take a look at the cool robot sculptures and the mascots that sometimes pass by. (updated Jun 2025) 5 Lion's Head, Kennon Road, Camp 6. Limestone sculpture of a lion by the Baguio chapter of the Lions Club. It is carved by Ifugao artist Anselmo Bayang Day-ag and is considered as the Baguio's "entrance marker" for tourists coming from south of the city. (updated Feb 2018) 6 Igorot Stone Kingdom, Long-long Road, Pinsao Proper. A contemporary stone attraction made through the traditional method of riprap and reinforced with concrete. Made from the concept of an Igorot child's fantasy of castles, the Igo

Do

Panagbenga: The Baguio Flower Festival is held every February. Street parades, colorful floats and costumes and native dance displays have drawn huge crowds to Baguio every year. Horse back riding: Wright Park and its surroundings. It costs ₱300 per hour (₱150 for half an hour), plus a guide fee if you want to ride beyond the park. 1 North Haven Spa, Session Road, ☏ +63 74 3005022. 10AM-10PM. Aside from the usual Thai, Swedish and combination massage, you can have a Baguio strawberry, Benguet coffee or Cordillera rice scrub, an indigenous head massage or the Dagdagis or Kolkolis, the region’s traditional foot massage using runo sticks to stimulate the soles of the feet. 2 Burnham Park Biking and Boating, Kisan Road. 6:30AM–7PM. (updated Jun 2025) 3 Skating Rink, Lake Drive. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Public Swimming Pool, Kisad Road (Baguio City National High School). (updated Sep 2023) 5 Sky Ranch Baguio, Luneta Hill, Upper Session Road. 11AM–8PM. Amusement park. (updated Sep 2023) 6 Ambiong Nature View Deck, Ambiong. Open 24 hours. Hiking area. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

1 Good Shepherd Convent, 15 Gibraltar Rd, ☏ +63 74 442 3865. Peanut brittle, strawberry jam, sesame crunch and ube (purple yam) jam. They ration some products to one to two jars per customer only, so if you want to buy lots of products, it might be better to bring everyone with you to buy. (updated Jun 2025) You will see Good Shepherd products such as ube jam, strawberry jam, etc. being sold at street stalls or souvenir shops outside the convent. It is better not to buy from them because Good Shepherd doesn't sell directly to retailers outside. Instead, the vendors just buy the products from the convent themselves and sell it by God knows how long, meaning, their products are not as fresh and new as the ones sold directly in the convent.

2 Baguio City Night Market, Harisson Road, Session Road, and surrounding streets. 9PM–midnight. Around 11PM, when the normal hustle of the city cools down, the night market takes to the street. Buy clothes, shoes, and accessories at low prices. Make sure to bring a tumbler of coffee to fight off the cold as you peruse their goods. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Kurio Gift Shop, 3rd Flr. Porta Vaga Mall, Upper Session Rd, ☏ +63 9175533965, [email protected]. Souvenirs: t-shirts, keychains, magnets, notebooks, planners, tumblers, bags, sticky notes, memo pads, greeting cards, etc. Temporarily closed as of September 2023. (updated Jul 2022)

Malls 4 Porta Vaga Mall, Session Road, ☏ +63 74 304-0109. 9AM-8PM. Also hosts a Robinsons Supermarket. (updated Sep 2016) 5 SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill, Upper Session Road, ☏ +63 74 6197838 42. 10AM-9PM. A large shopping mall in Baguio. It hosts a SM Supermarket. This mall is unusual among most Philippine malls you generally find because it lacks air conditioning; instead, cooling is provided by Baguio's naturally cool air. (updated Sep 2016) 6 Baguio Center Mall, 421 Magsaysay Avenue, ☏ +63 923 595 3213, [email protected]. 9AM-7PM. (updated Jul 2022)

Specific products Woven articles - various articles ranging from wristbands and bookmarks through hand bags and rucksacks to slippers, all hand woven. Wood carvings - rice god figurines, traditional Ifugao houses and other nice carvings made from hard wood. One curiosity popularly touted in Baguio is the infamous "Barrel Man". It is better for you to see it yourself! Mika'San Choco Flakes - Kinda mediocre, because it is dry. Nonetheless, it is edible, does taste like chocolate, and a Baguio trip will not be complete without it. Available everywhere in all streetside stalls you see.

Eat

Baguio has the usual fastfood joints that are so ubiquitous in major Philippine cities. For a true taste of Baguio, have a bite at the following establishments:

Budget 1 Edsyl Canteen and Refreshment, Queen of Peace Rd. (updated May 2022) 2 Good Taste Café & Restaurant, Otek St. Chinese cuisine (updated May 2022) 3 Jamil kebab house halal, assumption road. (updated May 2022) 4 Rose Cafe, 35 Diego Silang St. (updated May 2022) 5 Mang Inasal, 102 Upper GF. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range 6 Café by the Ruins, 23 Chuntug St., ☏ +63 74 4424010. Quaint ambience, hearty salads, pastas and juices and good coffee or tea. (updated May 2022) 7 New Good Taste Cafe & Restaurant, 8 2600 Lapu Lapu St (behind Center Mall). (updated May 2022) 8 Pizza Volante, Session Theatre Building, Session Road. Always open. Traditional Italian pizza and pasta. ₱100-250 per person (Dec 2018). (updated May 2022) 9 Punchy Palate Gastropub, #37 Military Cutoff Road. 7AM–10PM. Filipino food. (updated Sep 2023) 10 Som Tam, #21 Ecco Building #144 Military Cut-off Road, ☏ +63 746373862. 10:30AM–8:30PM. Thai restaurant. (updated Sep 2023) 11 Fatboy's Grill House, #14 Loakan Road. 10AM–midnight. (updated Sep 2023)

Splurge 12 113 Wagner Café, #113 Wagner Road. 11:30AM–2PM, 6–8:30PM. Private home dining by reservation only. Book through the link. (updated Sep 2023) 13 Tajimaya Charcoal Grill, Military Cutoff Road. 11AM–10PM. Japanese restaurant. (updated Sep 2023) 14 Mario's 8 Loakan Road, #8 Loakan Rd, Camp John Hay. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink & nightlife

Most of the nightlife centers around Nevada Square, where you'll find a variety of bars, from lively, crowd-pleasing spots to more laid-back, relaxed venues. It’s definitely the place to be. There are some good bars outside the square like Urban Sessions and Purple which is a stone's throw away from Nevada Square. 18 BC (Fridays - Reggae Night, Saturdays - Acoustic Night) and Padi's Point draws out bargoers with their regular band.

Sleep

Baguio has a fine selection of accommodations, mostly cozy pension houses and small hotels that reflect this Philippine province's delightful homey atmosphere.

Budget 1 Darlyn's Transient House, AB028 SLU Subdivision, Ambiong, La Trinidad, ☏ +63 918 520 8006. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Five huge rooms that could accommodate three to five guests each. A 20-minute taxi ride away from the different points of interests in Baguio. ₱350-500 per person in shared rooms. (updated Mar 2017) 2 Babsplace Baguio Transient Room, 508 Hillside road, ☏ +63 923 349 8481. Single/double rooms. (updated Sep 2015) 3 Baguio Harisson Inn (Harrison Inn), 37 Harrison Road, ☏ +63 744427803. Check-out: 11AM. Double room with own bathroom. (updated Sep 2015) 4 Mountainside Lodging House, 51 Bokawkan Road, ☏ +63 927 339 5888, [email protected]. Single/double rooms with outside bathroom. 450/night. (updated Sep 2015) 5 Baguio Village Inn, 355 Magsaysay Road (Approximately 20 min walk from down town (Session Road).). Check-out: noon. Clean single/double rooms with common bathroom. It has free wifi. single ₱400, double ₱750. (updated Sep 2016) 6 456 Hotel, #59 Legarda Road, ☏ +63 746191273. Check-out: noon. Fan single/double room with own bathroom. (updated Sep 2016) 7 Citylight Hotel, 245 Upper General Luna Road (near Baguio Cathedral). Check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2016) 8 Log Cabin Hotel-Safari Baguio, Leonard Wood Road, ☏ +63 74 4422419. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Set in a forested area 5 minutes' walk from Baguio Botanical Garden, this Safari-themed lodge is 2 miles from Mines View Park. (updated Sep 2016) 9 YMCA Hostel, Post office Loop (just off session road. opposite SM mall), ☏ +63 74 4424766. Community-focused nonprofit established in 1844 with recreational programs & services for all ages. Dorm bed ₱390 per person. (updated Oct 2016) 10 Baguio City Guest House, Pinesville Subdivision Kias block 10 Lot 2. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A bed in a dorm, free Wi-Fi, terrace. (updated Jun 2019)

Mid-range & Splurge 11 AIM Conference Center Baguio, Igorot Lodge, Camp John Hay, ☏ +63 74 442-8878, [email protected]. 27 hotel rooms and 6 cottages. Does not have a restaurant. Temporarily closed as of September 2023. ₱2800. (updated Jul 2022) 12 Azalea Hotels & Residences Baguio, No. 7 Leonard Wood Loop, Barangay M. Roxas, ☏ +63 2 535 0519. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Deluxe and two bedroom suites with balcony, living area and kitchen. Coffee shop, lobby lounge, tour services, spa and massage services. From ₱3600. 13 Baguio Burnham Suites Hot

Go next

La Trinidad (Benguet) San Fernando (La Union) Vigan Dagupan Sagada Mount Pulag in Benguet is the highest mountain in Luzon (2922 MASL) and a very popular hiking destination with its stunning scenery and "sea of clouds" views of the Cordillera mountain range. Different trails offer a diverse range of difficulty and days required. A must-visit trekking destination for outdoor enthusiasts travelling in the Philippines. TrailAdventours (info@trailadventours) arranges trips to Mt. Pulag either from Manila or Baguio City. Take a bus heading north to Sagada from the Lizardo Trans bus terminal. The first bus is at 6AM and there are several services afterward. The fare is ₱220 and the ride takes 6-8 hours.