18 Places to Visit in Baguio and Benguet + Things To Do

Baguio is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” or as the “City of Pines” because of its cool temperature and verdant pine trees. Situated on the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon, Baguio is the perfect destination for those wanting to escape the tropical heat. The city was established in the 1900s as a hill station by the American’s for this very reason.

But, Baguio is more than just the crisp, alpine breeze, amazing views, and its cultural heritage! And it’s a great destination even after the summer has ended. It boasts of the perfect blend between cultures and you’ll love exploring the local crafts, parks, museums, and the traditional Cordillera way of life. Baguio is located in Benguet, the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” where the La Trinidad strawberry fields flourish. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring the rest of the province of Benguet, and to other nearby places such as Kalinga, Sagada, and Banaue.

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See also: Best Places to Visit in the Philippines | Where to go in Sagada | Top Banaue Tourist Spots.

1. Camp John Hay

A former R&R spot for American soldiers in the 1900s and now a privately owned resort, Camp John Hay is the most famous tourist attraction in Baguio. It’s nestled in the mountains and offers a rustic atmosphere despite the rapid development of the city. A visit to Baguio wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Camp John Hay. It offers a relaxing respite from the bustling city life. With so many things to do here, you will want to spend the night in the luxurious Manor Hotel or in the picturesque Forest Lodge. The resort is equipped with many restaurants and picnic spots, so you sure won’t go hungry either.

The mountainous resort offers many amenities that everyone can enjoy. You can revel in a relaxing scenic sunrise stroll in the Eco Trail and Butterfly Sanctuary or have some fun with rappelling, horseback riding, mini-golf, and paintball as well. If you’re up and for an adrenaline rush, why not try their treetop adventure. From skywalks, to canopy rides or even jumping from a 60-foot tree, it’s sure to get your heart pumping!

Location: Baguio City, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

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2. The Manor at Camp John Hay

Location: Ordonio Dr, Camp John Hay, Baguio, 2600 Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

3. La Trinidad Strawberry Farm

Just three kilometers away from Baguio City, is La Trinidad, and here is where you can visit vast strawberry fields and go strawberry picking. The rates vary, and the price for the strawberries is actually more expensive than those you can buy in the city’s local markets. That’s only because strawberries are very delicate and a lot of them are easily ruined by inexperienced strawberry pickers. For me, the price is worth it, since you aren’t just paying for the strawberries but for the enjoyable experience as well. And there’s no minimum amount to pay, they’ll just weigh what you have picked.

You can buy homemade strawberry jams, and at lower prices compared to commercial ones. They also sell freshly-picked strawberries, ube jams, and other homemade delicacies and souvenir items.

Location: Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Road, La Trinidad, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

4. Burnham Park

Right at the heart of Baguio City, is the “mother of all parks” – Burnham Park. With more than 30 hectares of recreational areas, Burnham Park is sure to add a punch to your day. It’s a popular attraction among locals and tourists. At the center of the park is a manmade lake, and you can go boating or paddle-boating in it. You can hire a boatman or maneuver the boat yourselves. Other popular activities include biking, ice-skating, and taking photos while wearing traditional and tribal costumes which you can rent. If you love flowers, then you will adore the Orchidarium and Sunshine Park. Other popular areas of the park include the Picnic Grove, Rose Garden, and Athletic Bowl.

Location: Jose Abad Santos Drive-Lake Drive, Baguio City. Save on Google Maps.

5. Session Road

Located in the main hub of Baguio City, Session Road is the major thoroughfare of the city. It’s a lively street with a dramatic view of the different building facades inspired by 20th century American and Art-Deco styles. The street is a great way to mingle with friends and loved ones or to meet new people as you explore different restaurants, cafes, boutiques, bazaars, and old movie theaters.

Location: Downtown. Save on Google Maps.

6. Baguio Cathedral

Just adjacent to Session Road is Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, or more popularly known as Baguio Cathedral. It’s a beautiful church that sits right on top of Mount Mary Hill and is an iconic landmark you wouldn’t want to miss. Aside from the majesty of the church, you’ll also enjoy the view from the hill that includes the vivid Session Road.

Baguio Cathedral can be accessed through Session Road via a concrete staircase that takes more than a hundred steps. It’s a good way of burning some calories if you’ve indulged yourself too much in the sumptuous meals at Session Road. But, if you’re not up for the stairs, you can just take the escalators at the Porta Vega Shopping Mall which exits at the parking grounds shared with the cathedral. Alternatively, you can also get to Baguio Cathedral by car through access roads just behind the Baguio Post Office.

Location: Mt. Mary Hill, Cathedral Loop. Next to Session Road. Save on Google Maps.

7. Bell Church

Bell church is an important cultural and religious site to the Chinese community in Baguio and Benguet. It is an iconic site to visit because of its architectural design. It isn’t usually included in tours, making the place more serene than other tourist spots. Its current location at the kilometer-3 mark in La Trinidad and just near the border to Baguio City. The location was actually chosen due to good Feng Sui.

The architecture at Bell Church is of traditional Chinese design, and for a moment you’d forget that you are still in the Philippines. At the entrance is an ornate arch with dragons and in front of the main temple are two octagon-shaped lotus ponds. There are numerous lavish Chinese gates and pagodas nestled in the hills and make for great photos especially during the golden hours just before sunset when the sun hits the lush trees and the elaborate Chinese structure at just the right spot.

Location: Baguio-La Trinidad Road. Save on Google Maps.

8. Wright Park

Wright Park is located just across from The Mansion. The park’s main feature is a long, reflective rectangular pool that’s lined with pine trees. It’s known as the “Pool of Pines.”

Wright Park is a family-friendly attraction. Aside from the tranquil pool, there’s also an observation deck for enjoying the view of the park and for watching horses. Adults and kids will enjoy horseback riding here. There are even ponies for smaller children! If you like taking photos, you can rent Igorot costumes for a photo session. You can even take photos with Igorots wearing their full traditional costumes, they may charge you but it’s usually just a very small fee. You can buy native handmade crafts or get henna tattoos there as well.

Location: In front of the Mansion House.. Save on Google Maps.

9. The Mansion

Originally built as the summer residence of American Governors-General, The Mansion House or The Mansion is now the official summer house of the President of the Philippines since the Commonwealth period. The main building is of Spanish-Colonial design. Inside The Mansion is a small museum, filled with art collections of former presidents, that is open to tourists. The grounds make a great photo-op site because of the elaborate main gate made of intricate ironwork and because of the beautiful gardens around the area.

Location: Romulo Drive. Save on Google Maps.

10. Mines View Park

Just past the Mansion House and Wright Park is Mines View Park. It is one of the most frequented attractions in Baguio. Located on a ridge overviewing the town of Itogon, the park has an observation deck that allows a panoramic view of the copper and gold mines around the area with alluring and majestic mountains in the background.

It’s also a great place to do some souvenir shopping as there are plenty of shops that offer handmade crafts such as silver works, wood carvings, and woven products. You can even buy plants for decorating your home. The park also offers traditional native attires for rent.

Location: Gibraltar Road. Save on Google Maps.

11. SM City Baguio

Because of the naturally cool climate of the area, SM City Baguio is the only non-airconditioned SM supermall. It is the largest mall in North Luzon. The mall is located at the top of Luneta Hill, at the end of Session Road, and overlooks Burnham Park. You can easily enjoy a view of Baguio City from the mall’s observation deck.

SM City Baguio makes use of natural lighting, natural ventilation, and recycled water. They have also started using green roof technology to promote vegetation growth and have ongoing tree-planting projects to keep the greenery vibrant. Just a quick tip, don’t forget to bring your umbrella during the rainy season because the mall has a lot of open areas.

Location: Upper Session Road. Save on Google Maps.

12. Panagbenga Festival

The Panagbenga Festival is an annual month-long celebration in Baguio City. It’s a flower festival that reflects the culture, traditions, and history of the city and of the Cordillera region. It is a grand event that the entire local community celebrates and attracts tourists from all over the world.

The term Panagbenga literally means “season of blooming” and is celebrated in February, when the flowers flourish in abundance. It is truly a celebration unlike any other in the Philippines because of the overflowing blossoms. For the entire month, the city’s streets come alive with vibrant flowers and rhythmic music. The event starts off with a grand parade and there’s a plethora of activities you can enjoy and take part in – from landscape exhibits, dance competitions, float parades, bazaars and so much more. And all of these come with spectacular flowers and colors. You can also participate in the Flower Tee Golf Tournament and in the Open Kite Flying Competition.

The Panagbenga Festival is packed with locals and tourists but if you love the sight aroma of blooming flowers and the Filipino’s festive spirit, then you wouldn’t want to miss the highlights.

13. Baguio food trip & drinks

Where to eat in Baguio

14. The Valley of Colors

Located just along the main highway in La Trinidad is the Valley of Colors. It’s a great detour that will give you Instagram-worthy shots when going to the strawberry fields. It is located in Barangay Balili and covers three sitios – Stone Hill, Botiwtiw, and Sadjap, thus it’s locally known as the StoBoSa Hillside Homes Artwork.

The Valley of Colors looks like a giant kaleidoscopic, vibrant mural. All the houses along the hills are painted in bright and vivid colors, and in different patterns. This giant artwork was inspired by the Favela Painting Community Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and just like the inspiration, the Valley of Colors was also completed through the help of the local community.

Location: Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Road, La Trinidad, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

Places to visit in Benguet

15. Atok Flower Farms

The Northern Blossoms Flower Farm in Atok, Benguet is a two-hectare plantation that is open to tourists and is rapidly gaining attention thanks to social media. It is owned by florist Melany Ganayan, who together with her husband owns a popular flower shop in Manila that supplies exotic and rare flower varieties, and has even decorated the Malacanang Palace along with celebrity weddings.

The farm is almost two hours away from Baguio City, but I promise you, visiting it at sunrise is worth the effort. Thanks to the cool climate, the farm is home to both native blooms and exotic ones that you can only typically see abroad. You can feast your eyes on endless rows of snapdragons, matthiolas, hydrangeas, rose cabbages and so much more. Plus you can also enjoy a beautiful view of Mt. Pulag and other neighboring mountains.

You can get to the Northern Blossoms Flower Farm either by private car, passenger van, or by bus. There are a lot of buses that pass by it, and trips usually start off at 5:30 A.M. There are buses, and vans that can take you back to Baguio at Marosan’s restaurant, which is just a short walk away. There’s no time limit on how long you want to enjoy the fresh flowers but if you want to avoid the traffic and long lines for public transport, then you should go by 3:00 P.M.

Alternatively, you can also spend the night in Atok and book a sunrise tour that also includes other tourist attractions such as the Sakura Park and Halsema highway nearby. There are different tours offered by Brgy. Paoay tourism office that even includes a car for transport, and there are plenty of hotels, homestays, and transient houses to stay in.

Location: Halsema Highway, Atok, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

16. Buguias Vegetable Terraces

Further up north from Atok, Benguet, and connected by the scenic Halsema Highway is the town of Buguias. Buguias is a great stopover especially if you are heading over to Sagada or Bontoc, or if you’re heading to Baguio from up north. The town produces around 70% of the vegetables distributed in Luzon that even reaches farther south in the country. It is considered as the “Vegetable Capital of the Philippines” and along the highway, you can feast your eyes on endless rows and layers of vegetable terraces. There are view decks where you can enjoy taking photos of them. You can even explore some farms, pick your own vegetables, and get them at very low prices.

Location: Halsema Highway, Buguias, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

17. Mount Pulag

Location: Kabayan (trail head), Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

18. Mount Kabuyao View Deck

If you want a stunning eagle-eye view of Baguio, then you need to visit the view deck in Mount Cabuyao in Tuba, Benguet. Going there is easy since you can get to the summit even by car. If you want a little adventure, then you can trek through the summit because it’s only about five kilometers from Green Valley – the jumpoff point in the city. Green Valley is easily accessible via a short jeepney ride from Baguio.

It usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to get to Mount Cabuyao’s summit by foot – depending on how many times you stop for a breather or to take stunning photos. The hike is relatively easy because most of the trail is through cemented roads, and cellphones have a good signal. They even offer snacks and cold beverages at the summit. I would still recommend hiking in the summer since some parts of the roads can get muddy during the rainy season, but more importantly to get better views and photos because of the clearer skies.

Once at the summit, you will be greeted by two giant discs, which the locals call “Radar” and locals often joke that they are electric fans that keep Baguio cool. From here, you’ll be able to enjoy a panoramic view of Baguio, vegetable terraces, and the regal mountains of the cordilleras. Along the trail and on a clear day, you can even view four out of five of the highest peaks in the Philippines forming a line – the mountains of Singakalsa, Tabayoc, Panotoan, and Pulag.

If you’re still up for it, you can trek up to Mt. Sto. Tomas, the highest point in the area. It’s only about four kilometers away and takes about another 1-2 hours to get there. The last 20 minutes of the hike is a little steep, though. At the top is a cross marked with “Mt. Sto. Tomas is the highest ‘commutable’ peak in the Philippines.” The view is of the same surrounding areas at Mt. Cabuyao, but from a higher viewpoint and locals suggest that the best time to appreciate the stunning view is in the morning to avoid the obscuring clouds in the afternoon.

Location: Santo Tomas Road, Tuba, Benguet. Save on Google Maps.

Other interesting tourist spots

Museums and galleries in Baguio

Haunted sites in Baguio

Where to go near Benguet

Sagada

Surrounded by spectacular mountain views, Sagada is most-known for the bizarre hanging coffins, a burial tradition that has survived for over 2,000 years. When in town, don’t miss the cave connection tour (Sumaging-Lumiang Cave), sunrise view from above a sea of clouds at Kiltepan Peak, the local coffee (best in PH) & hike to the many waterfalls in the area including Bomod-ok Falls and Pongas Falls. Travel time from Baguio to Sagada is 5-6 hours by bus.

Location: Mountain Province. Save on Google Maps.

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Banaue

The land journey to Banaue takes around 6 hours from Baguio

Location: Ifugao. Save on Google Maps.

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La Union

La Union is famous for the beach town of San Juan, the surfing capital on this side of North Luzon. Travel time from Baguio to La Union is around 2 hours.

Location: Ilocos Region. Save on Google Maps.

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Beyond Baguio

Vigan

Location: Ilocos Sur province, Luzon, northern Philippines. Save on Google Maps.

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Clark

Location: Central Luzon region, northern Philippines. Save on Google Maps.

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Manila

Location: Metro Manila, Luzon, northern Philippines. Save on Google Maps.

Manila Travel Essentials

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What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Baguio that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Places to visit in Baguio

Baguio tourist spots, things to do in Baguio, where to go in Baguio & more.

Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank.