3 / 5 - One review
How to get there
Eight hours from Manila by bus
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
One day
Baguio City (The Philippines)
©
Nicolas Hillaire
Practical information on Baguio City
Reviews of Baguio City
The gateway to the central mountains of northern Luzon, this student city has an eternally spring-like climate and makes for an enjoyable place to visit.
My suggestion:
Spend two or three nights in Baguio, a city which gets lively and festive after dark but is quiet and peaceful during the day. But be careful where you light your cigarette: the centre of Baguio is a non-smoking area!
My review
If you arrive here from the south, the cool air in this medium altitude city will feel more than pleasant after enduring the occasionally humid heat of the plains. Plus if you come here after visiting the magnificent rice terraces of Banaue, you'll definitely enjoy the urban hustle and bustle!
There's a very nice park in the city centre - somewhere you can simply sit on a bench and relax, sail around the lake by boat, or lie on the grass reading a book for example. It's also the perfect place to plan the next stages of your trip. Yet the main advantage the park offered me was that it gave me the chance to meet students who congregate in the park once lessons are over for the day, and families out for a walk together.
Something else I enjoyed doing was strolling around the shopping area and making the most of the restaurants and shops (I recommend going there if you need to buy anything). The city's inhabitants are very warm and welcoming too, and they won't hesitate to hand you the mic at karaoke evenings - you won't easily be able to get out of it when they do! It will be your chance to try your hand at a something they take very seriously in the Philippines.
Don't expect this city to be exceptional or out of the ordinary when you come here: the main attraction of Baguio is the daily life and activities taking place. .
©
Nicolas Hillaire
