My cousins from Davao visited me and my mom here in Quezon City last Christmas of 2021, and they were eager to tour Baguio. Fast forward to Christmas of 2024, I visited Baguio again—this time with my high school friends.
Why Baguio is the Best Tourist Spot?
Baguio is fondly known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”. It offers a refreshing retreat from the tropical heat of the Philippines. No wonder that upon visiting, you would see a lot of foreigners that are living here due to the cool weather.
Its unique natural beauty, rich culture, and vibrant arts scene that makes it a must-visit destination for travelers going to Manila.
How Many Hours Drive from Manila to Baguio
Common Routes:
- Via TPLEX (Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway): Fastest and most efficient route, especially if you’re starting from northern Metro Manila. Travel time: 4 to 5 hours.
- Via Kennon Road: Scenic and shortest in distance, but often closed during heavy rains or maintenance. Travel time: 4 to 5 hours when open.
- Via Marcos Highway or Naguilian Road: Slightly longer but more stable routes in bad weather. Travel time: 5 to 6 hours.
2 Days Baguio Itinerary
Here’s a list of our 2 days Baguio itinerary!
Day 1
- 2 AM – Manila
- 6 AM – Baguio
- 7 AM – Breakfast at Mines View Park
- 8 AM – Mines View Park
- The Wright Park, The Mansion, Bell Church, Colorful Houses
- 12 NN – Lunch at Strawberry Farm and Buying of Pasalubongs
- Check in at your accommodation (depends on the location)
- Lourdes Grotto, Diplomat Hotel
- Check in at your accommodation (depends on the location)
- Ili Likha
- 5 PM – Burnham Park
- Night market at Session road
Mines View Park
One of the Baguio’s scenic spots. It offers panoramic views of the Cordillera mountains and is a popular spot for souvenir shopping and cultural photo opportunities. You can also ride a horse and take a picture with the popular St. Bernard dog at Mines View Park.
Operating hours: 5 AM – 8 PM
Fees:
- Entrance Fee: 10 pesos per person
- Igorot Costume Rental: 50 pesos
- Horse Photo Session: 50 pesos
If you’re interested in exploring the rich culture of the Philippines’ indigenous communities, you might also want to check out the Tribal Village tour in Puerto Princesa.
The Wright Park
Wright Park is one of Baguio City’s most picturesque destinations, especially popular among families and first-time visitors. The place is named after Governor Luke E. Wright, a former American governor-general of the Philippines. This park has souvenir shops.
- Entrance fee: free
- Horse backriding: 300
The Mansion
Right across The Wright Park, the Mansion’s grand iron gate is a popular photo spot for visitors, just like us as you can see at the photo. The Mansion is a blend of Spanish Colonial Revival and American architectural styles, reflecting its historical elegance.
Opened to the public on September 8, 2024, the museum houses a collection of presidential memorabilia, artworks, and historical artifacts from Malacañang Palace.
Operating hours: Tues to Sun (8 AM to 5 PM)
Entrance fee: Free
Bell Church
What we visited next is Bell Church. It is a Taoist temple situated at the border of Baguio City and La Trinidad. It is established by Chinese immigrants and serves as a spiritual hub for the Fil-Chi community. You can see here the grand entrance arch, pagodas and temples, lotus pond, and the beautiful garden.
Operating hours: 7 AM -12 NN and 1:30 PM – 4 PM
Entrance fee: free
Colorful Houses
While it’s technically in La Trinidad, just a few minutes from Baguio City proper, the Valley of Colors has become a must-see attraction for visitors to Baguio. Over 150 houses in the Stonehill, Botiwtiw, and Sadjap (STOBOSA) area were painted in bright colors and patterns, forming a massive mural that covers the mountainside. Aside from the color blocks, you’ll spot murals of sunflowers, butterflies, native patterns, and even cultural symbols representing the Cordilleras.
Strawberry Farm
The La Trinidad Strawberry Farm is a must-visit destination located just a short drive from Baguio City. This farm is renowned for its vast strawberry fields and offers visitors a unique experience of picking fresh strawberries straight from the plants.
Visitors can pick their own strawberries during the harvest season, which typically runs from October to May, with peak picking months between February and March. This hands-on experience allows you to select ripe strawberries directly from the fields!
Apart from that, you can also buy souvenirs and pasalubong here, as there are stalls selling jam, ice cream, walis tambo, bonnets, peanut brittle, alfajor, Good Shepherd, choco flakes, and more. We also had our lunch here, as there are several carinderias in the area. You don’t have to worry about parking either—there’s ample space for tourist vans and private vehicles.
Operating hours: 7 AM – 5:30 PM
Entrance fee: Free
Strawberry picking: P700-800 per kilogram
Lourdes Grotto
The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Baguio City is a revered Catholic shrine situated on Mirador Hill, offering both spiritual solace and panoramic views of the city.
At the heart of the grotto stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from polychromed molave by renowned Filipino sculptor Isabelo Tampingco in 1913. Also experience 252-step staircase but there is also a road that leads directly to the top.
Upon reaching the summit, visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of Baguio City and the surrounding landscapes, making it a popular spot for both pilgrims and tourists.
Entrance fee: Free
Operating hours: 6 AM – 7:30 PM
Diplomat Hotel
Built between 1913 and 1915, Diplomat Hotel is originally served as a retreat house for the Dominicans. During World War II, it became the place for beheading priests and nuns by Japanese forces. Post-war, it became Diplomat Hotel as we know today. The hotel stopped its operation in 1987 following the death of the owner.
Due to its tragic history, Diplomat Hotel is known as haunted with eerie sounds and headless apparitions of the priests. The said place is now being called Baguio City Heritage Hill and Nature Park.
Ili Likha
Inside Ili-Likha, there are food stalls where you can dine and enjoy a variety of local and international dishes. It also serves as a platform for local artists to showcase their talents through exhibits and workshops. I also came across some souvenir items while strolling around the area.
Parking can be quite challenging, so we decided to park at a nearby mall and just walked to the village.
Operating hours: 10 AM – 6 PM
Entrance: Free
Burnham Park
Located in the heart of Baguio City, Burnham Park offers a variety of activities for all ages! Rent a swan or rowboat around the man-made lake, or bike around the park. Kids can also enjoy the playground.
Entrance fee: Free
- Standard pedal boats: ₱100 for 30 minutes.
- Larger boats or those with unique designs: ₱150 to ₱200 for 30 minutes.
- Optional boatman assistance: An additional ₱50 if you prefer someone to row the boat for you.
- Standard Mountain Bikes: ₱50 per hour
- Tri-Bike/Chopper: ₱80 per hour
- Go-Kart (3 or 4-wheeler): ₱100 per hour
- Kiddie Pedal Go-Kart: ₱50 per 30 minutes or ₱100 per hour
- Gran Family Tour Bike: ₱125 per 30 minutes
Price may vary.
Day 2
- 8 AM – Wet market
- 9 AM – Bell House
- 10 AM – Camp John Hay
- 11 AM – Choco-late de Batirol (long queue)
- 12 NN – Vizco’s strawberry cake
- 1 PM – BenCab Museum
Camp John Hay
Camp John Hay is a historic and scenic destination in Baguio City. We particularly visited the following:
- Bell House – originally the vacation house of Major General Franklin Bell. He played a big role transforming Camp John Hay into a major military resort during his tenure from 1911 to 1914.
- Cemetery of Negativism – a garden featuring humorous epitaphs, encouraging visitors to leave negative thoughts behind.
- Secret Garden and History Trail – just walking!
Choco-late de Batirol
Choco-late de Batirol is a beloved garden café nestled in Igorot Park, Camp John Hay, Baguio City.
The café is renowned for its traditional tsokolate batirol, a rich and thick hot chocolate made from local cacao beans. Prepared using a batirol (a traditional wooden whisk), this drink offers a nostalgic taste that warms both body and soul—perfect for Baguio’s cool climate.
Vizco’s
Vizco’s is best known for its iconic Strawberry Shortcake, featuring layers of soft sponge cake, light whipped cream, and fresh Baguio strawberries. I love how it tastes! I just forgot to take a photo
BenCab Museum
BenCab Museum is located at Km. 6 Asin Road in Tuba, Benguet, just a 15-minute drive from Baguio City. Established in 2009 by National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, the museum showcases a vast collection of contemporary and indigenous Philippine art.
The museum is set amidst lush gardens and offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and forests. There are ducks here, too—just like the ones I saw at South Farm in Panglao, Bohol!
There’s also a café inside the museum. Isn’t it such a wonderful feeling to be in a museum with a panoramic view of the forest, sipping coffee, enjoying a slice of cake, and catching up with old friends who used to be your constant companion within the four corners of a classroom?
On the way home, pass through the Tuba Tunnel and chase the sunset as it paints the road in gold.
