Baguio is located high in Cordillera Central and is considered the summer capital of the Philippines. People can hide from the Philippine lowlands’ heat and attract tourists from all over.
There are many exciting places to visit in Baguio, such as Burnham Park, Botanical Garden, Laperal Ancestral Home, Burnham Park, and Camp John Hay. The Camp was once a recreation area for US soldiers and is now a full-fledged resort. Local festivities such as the Panagbeng Festival also attract local and international tourists.
How to get to Baguio
You can reach Baguio by bus or taxi from Manila and Clark International Airport.
From Manila to Baguio by bus 
Pangasinan Solid North Transit buses to Baguio leave from Manila eight times daily. They depart from Paranaque Integrated Terminal and Kamias Terminal. Here you can pre-purchase bus tickets from Manila to Baguio. Travel in Super Deluxe W/CR buses will cost $14, and in Luxury buses – it will cost $18-22. The journey will take 5-6 hours.
Manila to Baguio Schedule
| Transport Name | Route Time | Price |
| Victory Liner First Class | 00:30 - 07:25 | $22 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 03:40 - 08:40 | $14 |
| Pangasinan Solid North Transit Luxury | 04:00 - 10:00 | $18 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 06:30 - 11:30 | $12 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 08:30 - 14:30 | $14 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 11:45 - 16:45 | $14 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 12:30 - 17:30 | $12 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 14:30 - 20:30 | $14 |
| Victory Liner First Class | 16:15 - 23:10 | $22 |
| Pangasinan Solid North Transit Luxury | 18:00 - 00:06 | $18 |
| Victory Liner Regular AC | 21:40 - 04:35 | $12 |
| Pangasinan Solid North Transit Luxury | 23:30 - 05:36 | $18 |
From Manila to Baguio by taxi 
You can also rent a taxi to Baguio, which will pick you up directly from the hotel.
From Clark International airport to Baguio 
Genesis Transport buses to Baguio depart from Clark International Airport four times daily and take five hours to Baguio. The journey will cost $10 – $4.
7 Things to do in BAGUIO
1. Mount Pulag National Park
Are you looking to experience a wild, natural environment? Then Mt. Pulag is an excellent choice for you. The park is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the nation, thanks to its extensive pine forests. Challenging trails and stunning scenery are waiting for you.
The route you choose to hike depends on how long you want to spend there. While the Mt. Pulag-Akiki trail hike is a strenuous, multi-day hike for experienced hikers, beginning climbers take the Ambangeg trail. You can complete it in one day.
Trekking Mt. Pulag is a must-try for all outdoor and adventure lovers, and it is one of the most sought trails in the Philippines.
2. Visit Camp John Hay
Camp John Hay is an area located three kilometers from Baguio on the site of a former American military base.
This area, popular with tourists and locals, is also a protected forested watershed in Baguio. A shady eco-trail for walking and running runs through the pine forest. There are ziplines in the Tree Top Adventure Park.
Bell House Museum
Up on a hill in the historic center of the area (Historical Core) is the Bell House Museum, a well-preserved colonial-era American mansion. It has this name after Major General Franklin Bell. He designed the Bell Amphitheater next to the house and other buildings in the camp.
History Trail and the Secret Garden
The arena has a gazebo surrounded by a charming tiered garden. Also, the History Trail and the Secret Garden are a few steps away. Here you can find signs detailing the history of the camp. The standard entrance fee to the Historical Core is PHP 75.
Camp John Hay Golf Club
Camp John Hay Golf Club resides on the territory of the area with a field designed by Jack Nicklaus. You can also play golf at the Baguio Country Club. In addition, Camp John Hay is home to the Manor Hotel and Forest Lodge. They are managed by Camp John Hay and have good reviews on Tripadvisor.
Camp John Hay Leisure and Recreational Activities Schedule:
Tuesday – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thursday – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday – 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM is for the enjoyment of Senior Citizens and those below the age of 21.
3. Enjoy Panagbenga Festival in Baguio
The Panagbenga Festival is an annual Baguio flower festival. It was first in 1995 to cheer people up after the devastating July 16, 1990 earthquake in Luzon. Since then, the tradition of holding the festival has not been interrupted. It happens every year, starts in February, and lasts a month. The word Panagbenga is of Kankanai origin and means “blooming season.”
During the month, the city hosts many events: cultural shows, a landscape competition, and pony rides. Baguio residents decorate the streets, houses, and shops.
Grand Street Parade
But in the festival’s last week, the most impressive and massive events occur. Panagbenga Festival Grand Street Parade and the Grand float parade occur on the city’s central streets.
On the first day, dance groups in floral costumes move in a street dance parade to the accompaniment of orchestras in various choreography and the rhythm of the Cordillera.
And the next day, the city hosts a charming flower parade of floats. Platforms turned into excellent sculptural compositions of flowers.
Road in Bloom
After the parades in Baguio, Session Road in Bloom begins. It is a week-long fair during which tourists can purchase the country’s best handicrafts, goods, and Filipino dishes on the main street of Baguio. You can buy souvenirs, clothes, food, modern gadgets at the fair, and much more. You can see artists’ performances at concerts under the sky.
Annual Pony Boy’s Day
At the Annual Pony Boy’s Day event in Wright Park, tourists can take part in scenic horse rides. At this event, ranchers from various equestrian clubs in the Baguio area gather with their horses for the day of the show. They celebrate the holiday with racing competitions, theatrical performances, and games with the favorite horses of the inhabitants of the whole city.Everything comes to an end someday
The Panagbenga Festival in Baguio ends with grandiose fireworks; however, for some time after the end of the festival, beautiful concerts and variety shows take place in the city.Since there will be crowds of tourists at the festival, you will need to try your best to find a good place from where you will see the most during the flower parade. Choose an area near the post office, on a hill – you will have an excellent view. And come there early in the morning, by five or six in the morning.
4. Have a rest at Bell Church
The Bell Church is one of Baguio City’s famous attractions. This Taoist temple is in a quiet area, so it’s a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has a pagoda, and landscaped gardens.
The temple was built by the Chinese community in Baguio in memory of their church destroyed during World War II. The church’s design was inspired by Taoism.
The interior architecture is not only beautiful but also interesting. It contains many Chinese symbols like statues of Buddha on top of pillars or dragon heads around windows and doorways.
How to Reach Bell Church
- Jeepney: Quirino Hill Jeepney Terminal
- Bus: Nueva Ecija Terminal Stop
- Taxi
All visitors must pay the fee for entrance. If you love photography, you can explore this place and take pictures. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside the temple. We have to remind ourselves, this is a temple after all.
The Bell Church is a peaceful place to enjoy the smell of pine trees and relax.
5. Explore Botanical Garden
The Baguio Botanical Garden is a haven of peace and tranquility, where you can relax under the towering pine trees and take in the beauty of nature. The Botanical Garden was reopened after the renovation on March 6, 2022, in time for the resumption of the Panagbenga Festival.
Renovated Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden has been renovated and expanded to become a more beautiful place for everyone to enjoy. The renovated areas include the orchidarium, Dahlia Garden, Cosmos Bed, Azalea Mountain, Sunflower Section, Milflores River, Colors of Impatiens, Waves of Yellow Marguerite, Lilies of Baguio, Asian Garden, and Everlasting garden.
They added new features to the Gardens of Versailles and French Gardens, including the Flowers of Royal Poppy section, the Japanese Garden, and other places. The Botanic Garden is now more accessible to visitors with improved pathways and signage.
How to get to Baguio Botanical Garden
Take the Pacdal-Liteng Jeepney (terminal resides at Lakandula St.) and ask to be dropped off at Botanical Garden. Regular jeepney fare costs Php 10.
The entrance fee at the botanical park for adults is Php 10, and the entrance fee for kids is Php 5.
The botanical garden is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
6. Take a walk in the Burnham Park
Burnham Park is a large park in the heart of Baguio, Jose Abad Santos Drive, named after American architect and urban planner Daniel Hudson Burnham.
Here you can stroll through the park on a sunny day, chat with friends and family in the picnic area, ride swan boats, and also have a bite to eat in one of the eateries. But besides this, the park has many more opportunities to relax and have fun – after all, there are twelve different sections – for every taste.
Here are the most popular sections:
- artificial lake with boats for rent;
- a picnic grove where visitors can have picnics;
- a skating rink where you can go skating (in addition, there is a small amusement park inside the rink);
- сhildren’s playground where the young ones can run around and play;
- orchidarium with an orchid house displaying various species of orchids and other flowers;
- rose garden with a statue of Daniel Burnham and fountains;
- Igorot garden with statues of the five main Igorot tribes – a place where you can play chess;
- athletic bowl – sports grounds of the park;
- pine trees of the world – part of the park where trees from all over the world grow, marked with their Latin names, and here is the Japanese peace tower.
7. Take an unusual photo in Mines View Park in Baguio
You managed to enjoy Baguio but still want to take an unusual photo with you from here; come early in the morning (by five o’clock, probably) to the observation deck of Mines View Park.
Mines View Park is a country park on a high hill overlooking the northeastern outskirts of Baguio. Therefore, visitors can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the mining town of Itogon and the Amburayan Valley from the park’s terrace.
Take beautiful photos of the sunrise
Come here early in the morning, and you can see the sunrise and take beautiful photos from the observation deck without squeezing through the crowd of tourists. The best time to watch the sunrise is summer when the sky becomes clear.
Take hot coffee with you. The aroma of warm coffee, the cool, pine-scented air, the crimson streak of dawn against the indigo sky, and the valley below are all it takes to have a wonderful experience (and a photo, I hope).
In addition, there are many restaurants near the park where you can have a good breakfast after watching the majestic sunrise and walking through the park. The observation deck is under a spiral stone staircase next to the parking lot. You don’t have to pay to enter the park.
How to reach Mines View
One way to get to Mines View is to use a jeepney. Take a jeepney with the “Baguio Plaza – Mines View” signs and disembark at the last stop near the Good Shepherd Convent. You will have to walk a few steps towards Mines View Park. The jeepney terminal to Mines View resides on Governor Pack Road.
Recommendations for visiting Baguio
January is the coldest month in Baguio, so it’s best to avoid traveling during this time.
February is an excellent time to visit Baguio, but you expect to pay more for your hotel room and meals.
March is when summer begins in Baguio, so expect very few tourists to be around.
From April to May, the heat is coming. These months are good for visiting Sagada, Mount Province, Ifugao, and Mount Pulag. Currently, it is pleasant to go hiking.
The rainy season starts in June and lasts until November. During this period, typhoons are common, and we recommend you avoid traveling until it’s over.
The Philippine Islands are close to the equator. From March to May, a warm, dry season starts here. This period is the hottest on the islands. During the day, it reaches +34 °C. It’s also warm at night. The temperature does not fall below +25 ° C. Read more about the climate on the “Weather in the Philippines” page.
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