Planned during the 1900s by renowned urban planner Daniel Burnham, Baguio City was developed as a summer destination for Americans in the Philippines during the early 1900s. The City sits atop a mountain and is characterized by zigzagging streets, pine trees, houses built on the mountainside and the much lower temperatures compared to the rest of the country. If you’d want to escape the noise of the Metropolis, love art and the Bohemian lifestyle then the City of Pines is the place for you.

How to Get to Baguio

To get to Baguio, one can either take the land route or a plane. The trip to Baguio over land takes roughly 6-8 hours, it used to be much longer but the improvements in infrastructure, most especially in the North Luzon Expressway, have made travel much faster. A bus to Baguio can cost you about P350.00 for regular and P700.00 for the de luxe trip. Although you can also just rent a car or van from Manila to get you there but the prices of these vary. Ideally, if you’re heading to Baguio by land you should leave Manila in the evening around 10pm would be the best schedule so that you get to the city around 4 or 5am to be greeted by the chilly morning air. The best bus company to take is Victory Liner.

Where to Stay in Baguio

There are so many places one can stay at in the wonderful City of Pines, apartments, hotels, small inns, pension houses and transient houses abound in the city to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visit the city every year. Let me mention a few of the larger and more famous hotels in the city the rest you can find for yourself to suit your budget. The Burnham Hotel in the City has standard rooms for $25, De Luxe for $32, Junior Suites and Suites and $32, and US$45 respectively.

There is also The Manor Hotel within Camp John Hay offering stunning views of the surrounding forest and gardens of the camp. Room rates begin at P5,000.00 for the standard rooms and go as high as P12,000.00 for suites.

The Baguio Country Club is one of the monuments of City, it’s been around for more than a hundred years but with the continuous upgrading of its facilities it remains one of the best hotels in the City. The BCC has 112 Standard rooms (P5,096.00), 17 cottages (P11,256.00), 19 Executive Suites (P10,696.00) and 3 Presidential Suites (P17,416.00).

Where to Go in Baguio

One of the places you should visit is Camp John Hay, a former US Military Camp which has now been transformed into a recreation venue for tourists. Camp John Hay has, among other facilities, an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding areas for adults and children and fine picnic spots for families.

Based in Baguio city, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is also a good destination on Sundays when the cadets perform field exercises and demonstrations for visitors and family, this are very interesting so trust me, you don’t want to miss this. The PMA grounds are a good 20-30 minute drive from the City center and the field demonstrations on Sundays begin at 7 am.

Just go to Session Road to get a good feel of the City of Pines. Apart from being the summer capital of the country, the City is also known as one of the artist hubs of the country. In Baguio artists flourish and there are a number of galleries, showrooms, stages and venues for the graphic and performing arts. There are countless clubs and bars which feature live bands and the music scene is alive every night and the food is so varied and exciting. The Bohemian lifestyle of the residents creates an atmosphere which seems conducive to self expression the artistic freedom that is distinctly found in Baguio.

Every February Baguio celebrates the fantastic Panagbenga flower festival. The month-long festival is characterized by flower floats, dancers, live band performances and street parties commemorating the recovery of the City of Pines after the devastation of the 1990 earthquake. Thousands of people flock to the city during this time so if you plan to see it, better reserve early.

What to Eat in Baguio

Baguio’s culinary scene is very diverse, from Asian to American and European you’ll probably not have enough time to eat at all of them but just check out some of the best. For Italian cuisine I suggest going to Palizzata near the Baguio Cathedral and to Pizza Volante on Session Road. The former serves amazing pasta and has refreshing al fresco dining with a view while the latter serves thin crust pizzas 24-hours a day.

The Forest House Bistro and Café near Camp John Hay in Baguio exudes an aura of a mountain side cottage with its wooden planks and brick fixtures, The Forest House features a number of amazing dishing including Lamb Tapa, Osso BUco, Forest House Oxtail and grilled prawns.

Café by the Ruins is another one of the  more famous tourist destinations in Baguio not only because they lie beside the ruins of the last residence of the Spanish Civil governor in Baguio but also because of its culinary delights which would appeal to foodies and healthy eaters alike. Contact them if you’re ever in town

When in Baguio be sure to visit the 50′s Diner, a recreation of an American diner complete with large servings, great burgers, fries and milkshakes. It’s got a very American feel to it that you half expect the waitresses to serve you in roller skates. They’ve got a Facebook account!

If you’re looking for bars and clubs to party at then you can head to Nevada Square or Session road and get your pick of the many happening places in the city.

Baguio Markets and Bazaars

Shopping is also a fun activity to do in Baguio, there are night markets popping up around the city and the city market sells more than just produce and meats. There you can find everything from native delicacies, clothes, souvenir items and other knick-knacks. The night markets on the other hand offer imitation signature clothes, accessories and shoes usually, although bags appear every so often.

Getting Around

Getting around the streets of Baguio, I’d usually recommend walking if you aren’t headed too. If you’re planning to go a bit further, then just take the taxis, they’re fast (and I mean fast so strap on your seatbelt and hold tight) and they know the city like the back of their hand. Also the taxi drivers are courteous and give exact change, unlike many cab drivers in Metro Manila. There are also jeeps, buses and tricycles in the city.

Baguio’s charm lies in more than its balmy climate or the fact that when you’re there surrounded by pine trees, its the entire laid-back atmosphere of the City and the people which makes visitors stay longer than they initially plan to.  Its bars and pubs are alive in the evenings and its restaurants and cafes are teeming with people during the rest of the day. The city, although much smaller than Metro Manila offers much for visitors to see and do. My advice, avoid the huge SM Mall (I believe it ruins the ambiance of the city) and look through the markets and smaller stores for the things you need. Don’t be afraid to walk and smell the pine scent and sounds of music in laughter in the summer capital of the Philippines.