Baguio Christmas Itinerary

Typical flowers in Baguio

Excited to wear those cozy sweaters and strut your fashionable layers, then head to Baguio for a chilly Christmas breeze in the Philippines' summer capital.

Here are some things you can do while feeling the cold Christmas breeze.

1. Have your shot taken at the Lion's Head along Kennon Road

Via Kennon Road when entering Baguio from Pangasinan, the Lion's Head is the first stop. Have your pictures taken or shop along the roadside stores for souvenirs.

2. Visit the different parks

You'll have a lot of choices - Burnham, Wright, Mines View - are among the few parks you can visit. There are several activities you can do aside from eating and buying souvenirs. At Burnham, you can try out the lake, although the smell might turn you off.

Photo from CityofPines.com

At Mines View Park, you can go down the hill where you can have a picturesque view of the pine trees of the City. Buy souvenirs or even plants and flower seedlings. You may even have a picture taken with horses and Saint Bernard dogs in the area.

View from Mines View Park

At Wright Park, the very nice Pool of Pines is a postcard-worthy picture to take. You may walk up the stairs that lead all the way to the Mansion, the Philippine President's official residence in the City. I don't know if you can enter with or without permit. But I never had the chance to go inside.

Pool Of Pines

3. Shop at Good Shepherd

Buy that ever popular ube (purple yam) jam, snow balls, cashew crunch, peanut brittle while actually supporting the foundation in bringing children to school. Queue for buying will be very long as this is a very popular destination in Baguio.

Yummy Pasalubong from www.goodshepherdsisters.org.ph

You may also try the iced calamansi-lemon-strawberry tea or the cheese bread and pastries. You may also have a freshly brewed Benguet coffee or Civet coffee while waiting for your turn to buy the ube jam.

4. Visit the Bencab Museum

The place is owned by the Philippine national artist Bencab and it is an arts gallery where you could buy pieces made by Bencab himself and other guest artists. You need to pay the entrance fee if you are just visiting.

If you opt to not pay the entrance fee, you may tell the receptionist that you plan on eating at Cafe Sabel, the restaurant at the basement 2. Here you can have another set of postcard-type of pictures with the stunning view of the mountains, the greens and a pond at the bottom of the hill. Plan on spending half a day at the very serene place. It is also around 7km away from the city proper, hence, the place is great for peace and quiet, especially in this chilly weather.

5. Stroll Along Session Road and Baguio City Market

Feel the city vibe along Session Road where numerous shops and restaurants are located. As the center of commerce in the city, the place is full of locals and tourists looking for nice bargains while filling their stomachs with good food.

At the end of the road, Baguio City Market is where you can buy all the fresh produce that is uniquely Baguio - from strawberries, fresh vegetables, sweets, souvenirs and even fresh meat. Get that uniquely Baguio house broom (walis tambo). Bring it home. It's truly unique.

6. Camp John Hay

I personally like CJH - from the restaurants, to the outlet stores, and the general pine tree lush of the area. Visit Treetop Adventure, the pet cemetery, Manor Hotel, and Chocolate De Batirol Cafe inside.

7. Churches

There are two popular churches in the city - Baguio Cathedral and Pacdal / St. Joseph the Worker Church and marvel at the architecture of these structures.

Baguio Cathedral Church (Image from CityofPines.com)

St. Joseph The Worker Church (Pacdal Church, from leanandrachewedding.com)

8. Philippine Military Academy

Visit the premiere military school of the Philippines and have your pictures taken with the cadets roaming the area. As this is a military institution, visitors are restricted to freely roam the areas. Only designated points are allowed for visitors.

PMA Parade Grounds (restricted access)

9. Get scared

Baguio City is also popular among those looking for supernatural thrill.

In 1990, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the city and Hyatt Hotel was one of the those wrecked and damaged killing almost 100 people inside. Although the public is not allowed to go inside the place where Hyatt Hotel used to be, you can check out the perimeter at night and feel the eeriness of the area.

Before and After the July 1990 Earthquake

The Diplomat Hotel is another destination if you want to checkout if the urban legends are true. Believed to be a seminary during World War 2 before converted into a hotel, the Diplomat Hotel has its own stories of ghost apparitions and unexplained sounds coming from inside the hotel.

Teacher's Camp used to be a teachers' training camp by the Americans during World War 2. It was believed that apparitions of nuns and white ladies are common occurrences inside.

10. Eat!

Aside from the restaurants in Camp John Hay and BenCab Museum, Baguio City is truly a delight to the sense of smell and taste as it is home to different restaurants that can satisfy any amount of hunger. You can try out Hill Station and Forrest House for some steaks and salad treats. Enjoy Chinese-Filipino fusion cuisine at Good Taste. Treat yourself with local food selections at Cafe by The Ruins. Enjoy some pizza and pasta at Don Henrico's. Eat the different street foods you'll find - strawberry soy (taho), grilled dried squid, grilled corn, shawarma, etc.