The Philippines is one of the best – and easiest places! – to visit over and over again, as there’s over 7,600 beautiful islands to explore. As a traveler, the most difficult decision to make, is figuring out where exactly are the best places to visit in the Philippines.
Every corner of every region contains much of the country’s history that you will never run out of facts and trivia to learn. We’re here to help you out with our guide to the top Philippines tourist spots.
Ready to around the Philippines? In this article, we present to you the different, beautiful regions of the country with some of the best cities to go sightseeing.
The best places to visit in the Philippines
1. Baguio
Since the Philippines is a tropical country, it’s rare to experience seasons of cold weather. You can, however, travel to Baguio City, which is known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Baguio City is known for its year-round cold and misty weather, beautiful views, history-filled tourist spots, and delicious strawberries.
Top tourist spots in Baguio:
- Minesview Park – This is a famous sightseeing spot located way up north on the outskirts of Baguio. There’s a scenic view of the Amburayan Valley, mountains and mountain ranges, and old gold and copper mines. You can also try on traditional Ifugao clothes and take pictures for only about 25 pesos.
- Burnham Park – Burnham Park is another famous park in Baguio where you can do a lot of fun activities such as rollerskating, boating, eating strawberry taho and ice cream, biking, and so much more.
- The Mansion – What was once the official summer palace of the president of the Philippines is now a historical sightseeing spot. It’s a lovely place to visit and take pictures from a distance.
These are only some of the most famous Baguio tourist spots. A few more include Wright Park, Session Road, Baguio Night Market, Camp John Hay, Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
2. Tagaytay City
If you’re not in the mood to travel to and from the north with about 5 to 6 hours of driving, there’s another option for you down south. Tagaytay City is known as the “Little Baguio” of the south and is a popular weekend getaway spot.
Tagaytay’s proximity to Manila makes it an ideal `weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life, with only about an hour to an hour and a half of drive away from the metro.
Top tourist spots in Tagaytay City:
- People’s Park in The Sky – This was intended to be a presidential palace during the Marcos era. Apparently, construction stopped because a visit from a former US president had to be canceled. Today, it offers beautiful panoramic views of Tagaytay.
- Picnic Grove – Picnic Grove is a park within the city of Tagaytay, where you can go on picnics, ride zip lines and cable cars, trek along the hanging bridge, ride on ponies and horses, and so much more. At Picnic Grove, you’ll never run out of fun things to do!
- Sky Ranch – Sky Ranch is one of the newest attractions in Tagaytay. It’s an amusement park that has scenic views of the Taal Lake and Volcano (and the sunset, if you get the chance). You’ll get the best views from riding the Sky Eye, which is the park’s giant ferris wheel.
More than a tourist spot, Tagaytay has also started becoming a second home for most families – especially for retirees – because of the city’s peaceful way of living. Nestled just along Tagaytay’s ridges is Tagaytay Highlands, home to Asia’s most exciting golf course.
More than golf itself, Tagaytay Highlands is also well-known for its premier residential communities offering only the best of services and quality to guests, residents, and members alike. Looking for property lots away from the busy Manila? You might have just found the perfect one for you here.
3. Manila
Most people tend to skip Manila and jump right off to faraway places scattered along the Philippines, which is not a bad thing, really. However, there’s just a lot more to Manila than congested traffic and pollution. Manila itself is a beaut. Don’t miss out on the chance of exploring its streets full of history, culture, food and partying.
There’s a reason why Manila is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines. For one, Manila has the Intramuros, known as the Walled City. Intramuros is where a lot of history happened, two of the most significant colonisations took place here: the Spanish and Japanese imperialism.
You can can then jump right into modern Manila that in Bonifacio Global City (famously known as BGC or The Fort). Here, you can bask in endless streets full of restaurants with cuisines ranging from Filipino to Chinese, Japanese, American, and so much more!
4. Cebu City
Cebu is yet another popular tourist destination in the Philippines, because of its handy location in Central Philippines, which is accessible via plane and ferry rides. When visiting Cebu, you should definitely check out historical places – particularly Spanish-colonial heritage sites – like Magellan’s Cross. This is a Christian cross planted by the Spanish colonisers as per the order of Ferdinand Magellan, upon his arrival in Cebu on March 1521.
There’s more than just historical sites too; make sure to check out Cebu’s beautiful beaches, one of which you can swim with the butandings, or whale sharks, down in Oslob. And of course, who could even forget Cebu’s famous lechon (a crispy pork dish)? Make sure to get a taste of Cebu lechon while you’re here!
There’s just so much to explore in the Philippines. What places have you been to in this country? If you haven’t, then you’re clearly missing out! The Philippines is a must-visit country, and a place you definitely need to add to your bucket list.
