Baguio City: Your complete weekend itinerary 1

Baguio City: Your complete weekend itinerary 1

Go up to Baguio City to enjoy the cool breeze, dine on fresh local food, and admire the arts of the Cordillera region
Baguio´s cool climate is always a welcome respite from the lowlands´ heat and humidity any time of the year.

Explore Tam-Awan Village

Pinsao Proper, Baguio City

Should there be no screening at the Cinematheque on the day of your visit, you can head to Pinsao Proper instead for Tam-Awan Village.

Marrying the city´s rustic mountain ambience with original works from Cordillera artists, Tam-awan Village is perfect for those who want to learn more about the regions indigenous art forms. The village also holds regular exhibitions, workshops, and cultural shows. Entrance fee for adults is at P50, senior citizens and students at P30, and kids 12 years and below at P20.

Visit the Baguio Museum

If Tam-Awan Village is too far for you, opt for the conveniently located Baguio Museum instead along Governor Pack Road. This four-level museum features an extensive collection of artifacts and media about the different regions of the Cordillera: Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra. The museum also holds regular workshops and seminars, as well as a library for research and exhibit purposes.

The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Adults enter for P40, senior citizens for P30, college students for P20, high school students for P15, and elementary students for P10. The Baguio Museum is at the DOT-PTA Complex along Governor Pack Road, near Sunshine Park and UP Baguio.

Restaurants to try for lunch:

For lunch, dine in one of the local restaurants along (or near) Session Road: Tea House (for Chinese-style dishes), Jack´s (for affordable rice meals), Solibao (for traditional Filipino fare), Hill Station (for some of Baguio´s best fine dining), Oh My Gulay (Kidlat Tahimik´s fascinating vegetarian restaurant), and the newly opened Cafe by the Ruins Dua (for hearty Asian Fusion dishes and freshly baked pastries).

If you´re dining at Hill Station, you may also check out the other establishments located inside the historic Casa Vallejo building, such as Mt. Cloud Bookshop for some select Cordillera titles, North Haven Spa for coffee or strawberry scrubs, and Baguio Cinematheque for screenings of Filipino films, old and indie.

 
You may also try Japanese restaurant Chaya along Legarda Road, or Ketchup Food Community along Romulo Drive across Wright Park. Ketchup Food Community has 5 restaurants ?Canto (for lomo ribs and burgers), Happy Tummy (for Thai food), Rumah Sate (for Malay and Indonesian food), Green Pepper (for pastas and sandwiches), and Rancho Norte (for home-cooked Filipino food).

Visit Baguio´s numerous parks

If you´re traveling with family, you´re most likely going to visit some beloved Baguio spots, such as Burnham Park, Botanical Garden, Wright Park, The Mansion, and Mines View Park.

While in any of these places, snack on strawberry taho, which goes for P15 to P20 a cup.

From Mines View Park, drop by Good Shepherd Convent and stock up on ube jam, alfajor, cashew peanut brittle, and strawberry jam

Proceed to Fort Del Pilar to visit the Philippine Military Academy, with its Relics Point and museum (admission is at P10, from 8 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 5 pm).