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Baguio
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Baguio blends Cordilleran culture, pine-scented mountain air, art, markets and historic landmarks with cool-climate sightseeing in the Philippines.

A Highland City with Cordilleran Roots

At around 1,500 metres above sea level, Baguio occupies a cool, pine-covered plateau in the mountains of northern Luzon. Its climate, unusual by Philippine standards, helped shape its identity as a summer retreat, while the surrounding Cordillera continues to influence the city's food, art, festivals and daily life. Ibaloi heritage remains especially important, alongside the traditions of other Cordilleran peoples who have made Baguio a meeting place for the region.
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Historic Streets and Mountain Landscapes

The city centre combines American-period planning with dense modern development. Burnham Park provides an open green centre, while Session Road climbs through the commercial district towards Baguio Cathedral, the public market and views over the hills. Nearby Camp John Hay preserves a forested former military area, and the Mansion House, Wright Park and Mines View Park form a classic sightseeing circuit on the eastern side of the city. Roads are often steep and traffic can be slow, but the changing elevations reveal mountain ridges, balconies of houses and stands of Benguet pine.

Art, Markets and Contemporary Baguio

Baguio has a strong creative character, expressed through galleries, artist communities, woodcarving, weaving and the annual Panagbenga flower festival. Tam-awan Village offers a cultural and artistic setting inspired by Cordilleran architecture, while the Baguio Public Market and Harrison Road Night Market show the city's lively trading culture. Cafés, independent restaurants and small galleries have expanded around the central districts, creating a city where highland traditions, student life, tourism and contemporary art meet within a compact but often crowded mountain environment.

When is the best time to visit Baguio?

Best: January–March · 19°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)1930
February (best)1930
March (best)1935
April2040
May2045
June2050
July2055
August2050
September2045
October1940
November1935
December1930

Getting to and around Baguio

How to get there

Most visitors reach Baguio by road from Manila or other parts of Luzon. Regular provincial buses connect the city with Manila and some northern destinations, while private vehicles use the Kennon Road, Marcos Highway or Naguilian Road approaches; conditions and traffic can vary, particularly during rainy weather and public holidays. Baguio-Loakan Airport lies within the city, but it has not generally served as a major scheduled commercial gateway, so travellers should not assume that regular flights are available. The nearest major commercial air access is usually through Clark International Airport, followed by a road journey, while Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport offers the broadest range of domestic and international connections.

Transportation

Baguio's central districts can be explored on foot, although steep streets, crowded pavements and frequent rain make supportive footwear useful. Jeepneys and taxis are the principal forms of local public transport, with jeepney routes linking the centre to residential districts and nearby attractions. Taxis are widely used for point-to-point journeys and sightseeing circuits, while app-based vehicle services may also operate but should not be assumed in every area. Private cars can be inconvenient in the centre because of congestion and limited parking. Traffic is especially slow during weekends, festivals and holiday periods, so journeys between attractions require more time than distances on a map suggest.

Best attractions in Baguio

Baguio's sightseeing landscape combines parks, mountain viewpoints, creative spaces and former colonial retreats. Burnham Park is the city's central green space, with a lake, paths and open areas that show how Daniel Burnham's early plan shaped the urban centre. The Baguio Botanical Garden offers a quieter introduction to highland vegetation and Cordilleran-inspired structures, while Tam-awan Village brings together galleries, artists' spaces and traditional-style houses on a wooded slope. Camp John Hay provides pine forests, walking areas and remnants of a former military reservation, and Mines View Park looks across the surrounding mountain country from the city's eastern edge. The Mansion House and Wright Park form a nearby architectural and landscaped pairing, while Session Road, the public market and Harrison Road Night Market reveal Baguio's everyday commercial energy and local produce culture.

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Best landmarks in Baguio

Baguio's landmarks record its indigenous setting, American-era planning, religious life and post-war growth. Baguio Cathedral, formally the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, rises above Session Road on a prominent hill and is one of the city's most recognisable religious buildings. Burnham Park represents Daniel Burnham's early civic plan, while the Mansion House and Wright Park preserve an important ceremonial and landscaped area associated with the city's role as a summer retreat. The old buildings and grounds of Camp John Hay recall the American military presence and the transformation of the highland settlement into a colonial resort. The Ibaloi-inspired houses and cultural presentation at Tam-awan Village provide a contemporary landmark connected with Cordilleran identity, while the Lion's Head on Kennon Road has become a familiar roadside symbol of arrival.

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Explore Baguio on the map

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Neighbourhoods in Baguio

Best restaurants in Baguio

Baguio's food culture reflects both the produce of Benguet and the diverse communities drawn to the mountain city. Highland vegetables, strawberries from nearby La Trinidad, locally made preserves and coffee feature prominently in markets, cafés and contemporary restaurants. Cordilleran specialities such as pinikpikan and dishes using etag, a traditional cured pork product, are available in restaurants presenting regional cuisine, although preparation and interpretation vary. The central districts around Session Road, Legarda Road and the public market contain a broad mix of Filipino cooking, bakeries, cafés and casual eateries, while Camp John Hay has a more resort-oriented dining setting. Market stalls and small shops are useful for snacks and local products, but visitors should choose food carefully, particularly with raw produce, and avoid treating indigenous dishes as curiosities rather than part of living regional traditions.

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Best bars in Baguio

Baguio's evenings are generally more relaxed than those of the Philippines' largest urban centres, with activity concentrated around Session Road, Legarda Road and nearby central streets. Cafés and bars provide spaces for coffee, cocktails, beer and conversation, while some venues offer acoustic sets, local bands or open-mic performances. The city's student population supports a modest late-night scene, but entertainment varies and should not be assumed to continue at the same pace each night. Cultural events, gallery programmes and performances connected with the city's creative community can offer alternatives to drinking and clubbing. Rain, cool temperatures and steep streets influence evening plans, and visitors should use recognised transport, keep valuables secure and show consideration in mixed residential and commercial areas.

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Best nightclubs in Baguio

Baguio's evenings are generally more relaxed than those of the Philippines' largest urban centres, with activity concentrated around Session Road, Legarda Road and nearby central streets. Cafés and bars provide spaces for coffee, cocktails, beer and conversation, while some venues offer acoustic sets, local bands or open-mic performances. The city's student population supports a modest late-night scene, but entertainment varies and should not be assumed to continue at the same pace each night. Cultural events, gallery programmes and performances connected with the city's creative community can offer alternatives to drinking and clubbing. Rain, cool temperatures and steep streets influence evening plans, and visitors should use recognised transport, keep valuables secure and show consideration in mixed residential and commercial areas.

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Best shops in Baguio

Shopping in Baguio ranges from produce trading and second-hand clothing to indigenous-inspired crafts and contemporary art. The Baguio Public Market is the main place to browse Benguet vegetables, strawberries, preserves, woven goods, woodcraft and other regional products, while Harrison Road becomes known for its evening ukay-ukay, or second-hand clothing market, when conditions and local arrangements permit. Shops around Session Road and the central market sell woven textiles, silver jewellery, carved items, coffee and food products, though quality and provenance vary. Good Shepherd Convent products are associated with traditional preserves and baked goods, while galleries and craft shops offer more considered artistic purchases. Buyers should ask about materials and makers, avoid purchasing protected wildlife products and distinguish genuinely local work from generic souvenirs.

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Baguio essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the Philippine peso, written as PHP or ₱. Cards and contactless payments are accepted by many hotels, larger restaurants, shopping centres and established businesses, but smaller eateries, market stalls, jeepneys, taxis and independent shops commonly require cash. ATMs are available in central commercial areas, although machines can occasionally be out of service or have withdrawal limits. Carrying modest peso notes and coins is useful for public transport and small purchases. International visitors should use reputable bank ATMs where possible, check foreign-exchange charges with their card provider and retain some cash before travelling to less commercial mountain areas.
Safety
Baguio is a busy visitor city, and ordinary precautions are appropriate in crowded markets, transport terminals, nightlife areas and festival streets. Keep phones and wallets secure, particularly in dense pedestrian traffic, and use established taxis or clearly identified transport services. Steep paths, wet paving and uneven roads require care during rain, while traffic can be difficult to judge on narrow or winding streets. Avoid isolated forested areas after dark and take extra care with personal belongings when leaving vehicles unattended. Weather can change quickly in the mountains, so rain protection and warm clothing are practical safeguards as well as comforts.
Emergency Situations
The Philippines uses 911 as the national emergency number for police, fire and medical assistance. When calling, state that the incident is in Baguio City and provide a clear landmark or street name, as the hilly road network can make locations difficult to identify. For urgent medical treatment, visitors can seek assistance through a hotel, accommodation host or local authorities and use established hospitals in the city. Travel insurance details, passport information and any prescription medicines should be kept accessible. During severe rain, landslides or earthquake-related disruption, follow official local instructions and avoid blocked mountain roads rather than attempting to bypass closures.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when visiting churches and cultural venues, and ask before photographing people, ceremonies, artworks or private property. Treat Cordilleran symbols and displays as cultural material rather than costume props, and do not touch weaving, carving or ritual objects without permission. Queue patiently, keep noise down in residential and religious areas, and dispose of rubbish responsibly in a city already under environmental pressure. Tipping is not an absolute obligation, but a modest amount may be offered for attentive service where a service charge is absent. Do not assume that every local custom represents all Cordilleran communities, as traditions vary between peoples and places.
Local Tips
Use the central area around Session Road, Burnham Park and the public market as an orientation base, then explore the quieter slopes and artistic spaces at a slower pace. The market is useful for seeing the produce economy of Benguet, including highland vegetables and strawberries from nearby La Trinidad, but the strawberry farms themselves are outside Baguio. Weekday mornings are generally more comfortable for major sights than weekend afternoons. Carry small cash for jeepneys and market purchases, and remember that a short distance can take time because of gradients and traffic. Local festivals and school calendars can change the atmosphere and availability of transport across the city.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloKamusta[kah-mus-tah]
GoodbyePaalam[pah-ah-lahm]
YesOo[oh-oh]
NoHindi[hin-dee]
Please/You're welcomeMangyari po[mang-ya-ree poh]
Thank youSalamat[sa-la-mat]
Excuse me/SorryPaumanhin[pah-oo-man-een]
How are you?Kamusta ka?[kah-mus-tah kah]
Fine. And you?Mabuti. Ikaw?[mah-boo-tee. ee-kahw]
Do you speak English?Marunong ka mag-Ingles?[ma-roo-nong kah mag-een-gles]
I don't understandHindi ko maintindihan[hin-dee koh main-tin-dee-han]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseGusto ko makita ang menu, pakiusap[goo-stoh koh mah-kee-tah ahng meh-noo, pah-kee-oo-sap]
I don't eat meatHindi ako kumakain ng karne[hin-dee ah-koh koo-mah-kah-een nang kahr-neh]
Cheers!Tagay![tah-gai]
I would like to pay, pleaseGusto ko bayaran, pakiusap[goo-stoh koh bah-ya-rahn, pah-kee-oo-sap]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Tulong![too-long]
Go away!Lumayo ka![loo-mah-yoh kah]
Call the Police!Tawag sa Pulis![tah-wahg sah poo-lees]
Call a doctor!Tawag sa doktor![tah-wahg sah dok-tor]
I'm lostNawawala ako[nah-wah-wah-lah ah-koh]
I'm illMay sakit ako[mahy sah-kit ah-koh]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Gusto ko bumili ng...[goo-stoh koh boo-mee-lee nang]
I'm just lookingNagtitignan lang ako[nag-tee-teeg-nan lahng ah-koh]
How much is it?Magkano ito?[mag-kah-noh ee-toh]
That's too expensiveMahal masyado iyan[mah-hahl mah-syah-doh ee-yahn]
Can you lower the price?Pwede bang ibaba ang presyo?[pweh-deh bahng ee-bah-bah ahng preh-syoh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Anong oras na?[ah-nong oh-rahs nah]
It's one o'clockAlas-uno na[ah-lahs-oo-noh nah]
Half past (10)Alas-dyes y medya[ah-lahs-dyes ee med-yah]
MorningUmaga[oo-mah-gah]
AfternoonHapon[hah-pon]
EveningGabi[gah-bee]
YesterdayKahapon[kah-hah-pon]
TodayNgayon[ngai-yon]
TomorrowBukas[boo-kahs]
1Isa[ee-sah]
2Dalawa[dah-lah-wah]
3Tatlo[tat-loh]
4Apat[ah-paht]
5Lima[lee-mah]
6Anim[ah-neem]
7Pito[pee-toh]
8Walo[wah-loh]
9Siyam[see-yahm]
10Sampu[sahm-poo]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Nasaan ang...?[nah-sah-ahn ahng]
What's the address?Ano ang address?[ah-noh ahng address]
Can you show me (on the map)?Pwede mo akong ipakita (sa mapa)?[pweh-deh moh ah-kohng ee-pah-kee-tah sah mah-pah]
When's the next (bus)?Kailan ang susunod na (bus)?[kahy-lahn ahng soo-soo-nod nah]
A ticket (to ....)Isang ticket (papunta sa ....)[ee-sahng ticket (pah-poon-tah sa)]

History of Baguio

Ibaloi Homeland and Highland Trade

Before the modern city developed, the basin and surrounding hills were associated particularly with the Ibaloi people, whose communities cultivated the highlands, raised livestock and participated in regional exchange. Other Cordilleran groups, including Kankanaey communities, also maintained longstanding links with the wider area. The landscape was not an empty wilderness awaiting development: it was shaped by customary land relationships, farming, trade and local knowledge. Spanish colonial authority reached the Cordillera unevenly, and Baguio did not become a major lowland-style settlement during the Spanish period. Its high elevation and mountain approaches limited outside control, allowing indigenous social and economic systems to remain influential in the area that later became the city.

American Planning and the Summer Capital

Baguio's modern urban development accelerated after the United States established colonial rule in the Philippines. American planners selected the highland site as a retreat from the heat of Manila, and architect Daniel Burnham prepared an urban plan in the early twentieth century based on parks, broad avenues and civic spaces. Roads were built to connect Baguio with the lowlands, and public buildings, residences and hotels followed. The city was formally incorporated under its charter in 1909 and became known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Burnham Park, named after the planner, remains the clearest surviving expression of this early civic vision, although later growth has greatly intensified the original settlement.

A Multicultural Mountain Community

As Baguio expanded, it attracted government workers, teachers, traders, students and families from across the Philippines, while Cordilleran residents continued to shape the city's economy and cultural life. Public institutions and educational establishments strengthened its role as a regional centre. The result was a more diverse urban society in which indigenous heritage, lowland Philippine traditions and international influences overlapped. Markets became important meeting points, and the city developed a reputation for crafts, artistic production and educational life. This period also brought land pressures and changes to customary landscapes, issues that remain part of discussions about development and identity in the Cordillera.

War, Destruction and Liberation

During the Second World War, Baguio was occupied by Japanese forces and suffered extensive destruction during the 1945 fighting and liberation of the city. Areas associated with the American colonial administration were badly damaged, and many residents experienced displacement, shortages and insecurity. Reconstruction after the war restored Baguio's administrative and educational functions and reinforced its importance as a mountain retreat. The post-war city retained elements of its earlier plan, but rebuilding and population growth gradually altered the scale of the urban landscape. Surviving civic buildings, parks and older neighbourhoods therefore stand alongside later construction as reminders of both colonial planning and wartime disruption.

Artistic Renewal and Urban Growth

From the later twentieth century onwards, Baguio became increasingly associated with artists, writers, teachers and cultural organisations. The city's cool climate, universities and distinctive highland setting encouraged a creative community whose work often engaged with Cordilleran identity and contemporary Philippine society. Places such as Tam-awan Village helped connect visual art with indigenous-inspired architecture and cultural presentation, while annual events gave the city a stronger public identity. At the same time, tourism, traffic, construction and population growth placed pressure on forests, water resources and historic spaces. Modern Baguio is consequently a regional capital and tourist centre whose character continues to be negotiated between urban expansion and mountain heritage.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Baguio, Philippines

Discover the best of Baguio with Evendo - a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more. Plan your perfect trip effortlessly.

  • Comprehensive guide to attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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More about the Evendo app

Explore Baguio like never before with Evendo, your all-in-one travel guide app. From famous landmarks and attractions to local restaurants and tours, discover everything you need with ease. Download now for free!

  • History of Baguio and travel essentials
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near me' feature
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases

Welcome to Evendo, your ultimate travel companion for exploring the beautiful city of Baguio, Philippines. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, our app is designed to help you make the most of your trip. Baguio, known as the 'Summer Capital of the Philippines,' offers a plethora of attractions like Burnham Park, Botanical Garden, and The Mansion. With Evendo, you can easily navigate through these landmarks and uncover hidden gems such as the famous Strawberry Farm and the vibrant Tam-awan Village.

The app provides detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Baguio. Each location comes with rich information, including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details, making it easy for you to plan and organize your trip. Fancy a meal at the renowned Café by the Ruins or Arca's Yard? We've got you covered. Looking to explore the night scene at bars like Baguio Craft Brewery? Evendo is your go-to guide.

With Evendo, booking hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences in Baguio is a breeze. No more searching multiple websites or figuring out logistics; everything you need is in one place. Features like the history of Baguio, travel essentials, and curated local tips ensure you experience the city like a local. The 'Near me' feature helps you see what's around you, no matter where you are. And the best part? Evendo is 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs.

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