Philippines
Baguio
November to February (coolest and driest); February (Panagbenga Festival)
$25-60 USD
Ilocano, Kankanaey, Filipino, and English
UTC+8
About
Discover Baguio
Baguio City is the summer capital of the Philippines, a highland city in the Cordillera Administrative Region at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. The cooler temperatures — averaging 15 to 23 degrees Celsius year-round — make it a popular escape from the heat of Manila and the lowland cities, particularly during the hot season from March to May.
The city was developed as a hill station by American colonial administrators in the early 20th century, and its street grid, parks, and some of its older buildings still reflect that era of town planning. Camp John Hay, the former American military recreation facility, has been converted into a leisure and commercial complex and remains one of the city's most visited destinations.
Burnham Park, named after city planner Daniel Burnham, is the central green space of Baguio and a focal point for recreation. The park features a boating lake, cycling paths, and open lawns that fill with locals and tourists on weekends. Nearby Session Road is the main commercial artery of the city, lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants and the site of the weekly Baguio City Market.
Baguio is the gateway to the Cordillera highlands and the indigenous Igorot communities that have inhabited the mountain region for centuries. The Benguet and Mountain Province areas surrounding Baguio are accessible as day trips, offering terraced rice paddies, weaving villages, and the remarkable Banaue Rice Terraces several hours further north.
The city has a strong arts culture, with numerous galleries, craft markets, and cultural events. The Baguio City Public Market and the Easter Weaving Room are important stops for visitors interested in traditional Cordillera textiles, silver jewelry, and woodcarvings. The Panagbenga Festival, held in February each year, is a major flower festival drawing thousands of visitors with street parades, float competitions, and performances.
La Trinidad, the neighboring municipality just outside Baguio, is home to the strawberry farms that supply much of the Philippines' strawberry production. Visitors can pick their own strawberries and buy fresh produce directly from the farms.
Baguio has no commercial airport and is reached by road from Manila, a journey of approximately five to six hours by bus or private vehicle via the TPLEX and NLEX toll expressways. Victory Liner, Genesis, and Philippine Rabbit operate regular coaches from Manila. The city also serves as a transportation hub for buses heading further into the Cordillera.
Where to Stay
Best Hotels in Baguio
Luxury Hotels
Le Monet Hotel
Le Monet Hotel is a four-star property in Camp John Hay, set within the pine forests of the former US military reservation and offering spacious rooms with European-inspired design, a restaurant, and access to the John Hay golf course and walking trails. The hotel provides one of Baguio's most elegant highland experiences.
Azalea Hotels & Residences Baguio
Azalea is a four-star serviced residence in Leonard Wood Loop, Baguio, offering fully equipped apartments ideal for families and extended stays, with kitchen facilities, living rooms, and a highland garden setting. The property is one of the better options for travelers wanting the comforts of home in a quality setting.
Boutique Hotels
Casa Vallejo Hotel
Casa Vallejo is a heritage three-star hotel on Upper Session Road in an early 20th-century building with character-filled rooms and a courtyard restaurant known for serving Filipino comfort food. The hotel's colonial architecture and central location make it one of Baguio's most distinctive stays.
Log Cabin Hotel
Log Cabin Hotel is a characterful three-star inn on Leonard Wood Road, styled around a pine wood interior that references the city's highland forest setting. The property has a loyal following among returning guests and offers a warm, cozy atmosphere well-suited to Baguio's cool climate.
Villa Silvina Hotel and Restaurant
Villa Silvina is a guesthouse-style hotel on Outlook Drive behind the Presidential Mansion, set in a residential neighborhood with a restaurant and comfortable rooms. The property has a quiet, local feel and is well-regarded for value among travelers who prefer to be away from the busier commercial areas.
Mid-Range Hotels
Hotel Elizabeth Baguio
Hotel Elizabeth is a well-established three-star hotel on J. Felipe Street, known for its consistently high guest satisfaction scores and central location near the main Baguio attractions. The property features comfortable rooms, a restaurant, and a rooftop area with views over the city.
Microtel by Wyndham Baguio
Microtel by Wyndham on Upper Session Road is a reliably comfortable three-star chain hotel with clean, modern rooms and a prime location near the main commercial and recreational areas of Baguio. The property is popular with business travelers and families who want a predictable standard of comfort.
Paladin Hotel
Paladin Hotel is a three-star property on Abanao Extension with one of the highest review volumes in Baguio, offering comfortable air-conditioned rooms at mid-range prices with a central location near shops, restaurants, and the weekend Ukay-Ukay street market.
Golden Pine Hotel
Golden Pine Hotel is a three-star property on Carino corner Yandoc Streets, well-rated for its clean rooms, friendly staff, and proximity to Burnham Park and the city center. It is a practical choice for couples and small groups looking for comfortable accommodation at a fair price.
Budget Options
Tuscany Basic Urban Stay
Tuscany Basic Urban Stay is a three-star hotel on Abanao Extension offering straightforward, clean rooms at budget-to-mid-range prices in the heart of the city near the main commercial strip. The property is popular for its value and no-frills efficiency.
El Cielito Inn - Baguio
El Cielito Inn is a highly rated two-star budget hotel on Engineers Hill, offering clean, compact rooms at some of the most affordable rates among Baguio's well-reviewed hotels. The property punches above its star rating for friendliness and value.
Inn Rocio
Inn Rocio is a well-regarded budget inn on Kisad Road near Burnham Park, offering clean rooms at very affordable prices in a central location. The property is consistently praised for its value and welcoming atmosphere and is a popular first choice for budget travelers.
Hotel Henrico Kisad
Hotel Henrico Kisad is a budget two-star hotel on a side street off Kisad Road, popular with Filipino domestic travelers for its affordable rates and convenient location near Burnham Park. The property offers straightforward, clean accommodation at some of the lowest prices in the city.
Experiences
Things to Do in Baguio
Strawberry Farm Visit at La Trinidad
A visit to the strawberry farms in La Trinidad Valley, just north of Baguio, where visitors can pick their own strawberries directly from the rows and purchase fresh fruit, strawberry taho, wine, and jam from roadside stalls. The farms are most productive from November to May.
Burnham Park Boating and Cycling
An afternoon at Burnham Park, Baguio's central green space, featuring pedal boat rental on the man-made lake, bicycle hire along the park's path circuits, and picnicking on the lawns. The park is liveliest on weekend mornings and is free to enter.
Camp John Hay Heritage Walk
A guided or self-guided walk through the Camp John Hay Historic Core, the former American military rest camp, exploring colonial-era buildings, memorials, the US Cemetery, and the Bell House. The area is well-maintained with walking trails through pine forest.
Mines View Park
A visit to Mines View Park, Baguio's most iconic overlook, offering panoramic views of the Cordillera mountains and the old gold and copper mines of the Benguet region. The park is lined with souvenir stalls selling indigenous crafts, silver jewelry, and traditional clothing.
Baguio Public Market Shopping
A visit to the Baguio Public Market, the city's largest and most atmospheric market, where vendors sell fresh highland produce including vegetables, strawberries, ube, dried beans, traditional woven goods, woodcarvings, and silver jewelry from Cordillera artisans.
Session Road Café Crawl
A walking tour along Baguio's main commercial street, Session Road, stopping at the city's celebrated café culture — from traditional Filipino breakfast spots serving champorado and tuyo to specialty coffee roasters, artisan bakeries, and creative Filipino restaurants.
Panagbenga Festival Parade
Attendance at the Panagbenga Flower Festival parade held in February, one of the Philippines' largest annual festivals. The Grand Street Dance Parade and Float Parade feature elaborate floats decorated with fresh flowers, indigenous cultural performances, and marching bands.
Easter Weaving Room Visit
A visit to the Easter Weaving Room in the Easter School of Weaving, one of Baguio's oldest craft institutions where weavers produce traditional Cordillera textiles. Visitors can watch the weaving process on traditional looms and purchase authentic handwoven products.
SM Baguio Sky Terrace Views
A visit to the SM Baguio Mall's Sky Terrace, a unique outdoor terrace garden on the roof of the mall offering unobstructed 360-degree views over Baguio City, the Cordillera mountains, and the City of Pines on clear days. Admission is free and the terrace has a café and sculpture garden.
Camp John Hay Forest Bathing Walk
A gentle guided walk through the pine forests of Camp John Hay for nature therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku), passing through over 200 hectares of pine trees with views over the Cordillera. The activity is beneficial for stress reduction and is guided by trained local naturalists.
Sagada Day Trip
A day trip or overnight excursion from Baguio to Sagada in Mountain Province, approximately five to six hours away, known for the Hanging Coffins of Echo Valley, Sumaguing Cave spelunking, Kiltepan viewpoint for sunrise over the sea of clouds, and Bomod-ok Falls.
Banaue Rice Terraces Tour
An overnight excursion from Baguio to the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved by Ifugao indigenous people over 2,000 years ago. Visitors can hike into the terraces, stay overnight in a Banaue guesthouse, and combine the trip with Batad village and Tapiya Falls.
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