Baguio Sightseeing

Baguio has a long list of tourist attractions with plenty of variety. The cathedral is one of the most important buildings in the city and is an impressive site, as is the Mansion House, the holiday home of the Filipino president. The Ifugao Woodcarvers Village is the place to buy fantastic woodcarvings, while Maryknoll Park has some nice walking trails. The nearby town of Sagada is well worth a visit to see its renowned ‘hanging coffins’.

Baguio Cathedral
There are numerous important religious landmarks around the city however Baguio Cathedral is the most significant. With its two tall, pink towers the cathedral is a beautiful sight on the Baguio skyline and once acted as a shelter for thousands of people during WWII bombings. Phone: +63 74 4424256.

Benguet Provincial Capitol 
Located a short distance from Baguio in La Trinidad, Benguet Provincial Capitol is a three-floor building which has fantastic panoramic views of the valley, which is famous for its vegetable farming. There are also some mummies from the Kabayan Burial Caves on display in the governor’s office. Phone: +63 74 422 2301.

Good Shepherd Convent
Many visitors choose to visit the Good Shepherd Convent after a trip to Mines View Park. Aside from being a pleasant place to stroll around, the main reason to pay a visit here is to buy some of the delicious products made by the nuns that inhabit the convent. The jams and preserves are especially popular, along with the cashew and peanut brittle. If you can’t make it to the convent, then you will find some of the products on sale at the Baguio Public Market and other places around the city.

Ifugao Woodcarvers Village
Ifugao Woodcarvers Village is located about three miles from the city on the road to Asin and is a fascinating place to visit. The master craftsmen here are considered some of the best woodcarvers in the world. At the village, you can watch in awe as the woodcutters perform their work. It is also a good place to buy some beautiful hand-carvings at relatively low prices.

Lourdes Grotto
Another of Baguio’s important religious sites, the shrine of Lourdes Grotto houses the image of the Lady of Lourdes. Pilgrims flock here year round to offer devotions and sacrifices, and pray. You’ll need to be reasonably fit to reach the shrine as there are 252 steps to the top. If you have the energy, it is well worth the effort as the panoramic views from the shrine are stunning.

Mansion House
Baguio’s majestic Mansion House is one of the most impressive attractions in the city. It was built in the early 20th century for the US Governor General and re-built after being significantly damaged in WWII. It now acts as the holiday home of the President of the Philippines. The mansion’s impressive gates are said to be a replica of those at Buckingham Palace in London, and this is a popular place to take photographs. There is also an interesting museum inside with a wealth of presidential memorabilia.

Maryknoll Park and Bio Centre
The park and bio centre is accessible from Marcos Highway and is a pleasant place to spend some time, especially if you have children. Described as ‘a nature walk of play and discovery into the earth's deep interconnectedness’, there is a small trail that you can follow around the park which passes by Igorot huts, beautiful gardens, and a pedestrian suspension bridge. On a clear day, you will also be rewarded with some scenic views of Mount Santo Tomas.

Sagada
The town of Sagada, famous for its ‘hanging coffins’ set a limestone cliff, is of great historical interest. The oldest coffin here is over 100 years old. People had to meet certain qualifications before being buried using this traditional method. There is much more to occupy your time in Sagada, with a network of limestone caves, the clear waters at Bokong Waterfall and the impressive works of photographer Eduardo Masferres, whose studio is located here.

Cruise the Halsema Mountain Highway. Driving along a road might not sound like a top holiday adventure, but the Halsema Mountain Highway is a stunning scenic route. The road passes some wonderful sights along its 60-mile route which starts in La Trinidad and travels north to Bontoc, passing through gorges and around mountainous peaks. At the highest point you’ll be some 2,255m above sea level and have fantastic views of Mount Pulog, the Agno Valley, the vegetable fields of Atok and the town of Kabayan. From the highway you can also hike to the Timbac Caves, where there are well-preserved mummies.

Drive along Kennon road. Another road trip worth doing is the drive along Kennon road, a beautiful road that connects Baguio with the lowlands. The road is named after Colonel Lyman Kennon, who with the help of local labourers was responsible for building the Benguet road. The road was seriously damaged in the 1990 earthquake, but has since been re-opened. The beautiful Bridal Veil Falls are an excellent stopping off point, and the local legend says that the water here has healing properties.

Explore Mount Pulog: second in height to Mount Apo in Mindanao, Mount Pulog provides some great hiking and exploring opportunities. The mountain peak is at 2,934 metres above sea level and dominates the skyline. At the base of the mountain are Bulalakaw, Incolos, Datep-Ngapos and Tabuyo lakes, great for boating or a relaxing picnic in a beautiful setting.

Relax in the Asin hot springs. There are some wonderful hot springs in the area, giving visitors the chance to indulge in some serious relaxation. The Asin hot springs in Tablay, 10 miles north of Baguio, are some of the best in the country and feature a large swimming pool surrounded by the hot springs and attractive greenery. A little farther away, just north of Kabayan, are the Asin-an sulphur springs which can be tied in with a visit to the mummies of Kabayan.

Visit the Bokong and Bomod-ok waterfalls. The Bokong falls are a pleasant 30-minute hike from Sagada through rice terraces. The falls are small and have an equally small swimming hole which is popular with children. For something a little quieter, a two-hour hike from Sagada will take you to Bangaan, from where you can wind down a mountain trail to reach the beautiful Bomod-ok falls. Swimming is possible here and it’s a great spot for a picnic.

Visit Rizal Park. Tucked away between City Hall and Burnham Park is the rectangular Rizal Park. The park was named after Dr Jose P Rizal, a national hero in the Philippines, and is a pleasant place to relax after a visit to City Hall. If you’re in Baguio in December, then you should head to the park on the 30th when there is an annual celebration to honour Dr Rizal.