Make your Bacolod vacation worthwhile with these activities!
The City of Bacolod is the second most populous city in Visayas and is the capital of Negros Occidental. It is lovingly referred to as “The City of Smiles” because of the sunny disposition of its citizens. Wherever you go, you will feel welcomed.
This bustling metropolis has a lot in store for travelers both foreign and domestic, from a wide variety of mouthwatering local dishes and sweet desserts to well-preserved historic sites that have been standing since the country’s colonial years. There are also natural treasures to explore in the cities that make up its greater metropolitan area.
Whether you’re here for a food trip, to learn about the history of the city and the province, to embark on an outdoor adventure, or all of that during your stay, then you won't be disappointed. Here’s a list of the best things to do in Bacolod to make your stay there worthwhile.
- Learn about history and art by visiting the city’s museums
- Enter the famous San Sebastian Church and the Church of the Angry Christ
- Feast on authentic Chicken Inasal the way the locals do
- Visit Silay to marvel at well-preserved houses from the Spanish colonial period
- Dine and shop at The Ruins
- Enjoy some peace and quiet in the middle of nature at Mambukal Resort
- Go snorkeling at Carbin Reef
- Walk around Capitol Park and Lagoon and take in the scenery
- Immerse yourself in the local nightlife by going on a cocktail crawl
- Shop for delights like Piaya and Half-Moon Cakes to take home
Learn about history and art by visiting the city’s museums
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Bacolod has its fair share of museums for the history buffs and artsy travelers. A visit to a city isn’t complete without learning about its past and what it’s all about today.
The Negros Museum is the best institution to visit and learn about what it’s like to live in Negros Occidental and Bacolod. Through displays featuring antiques and furniture from ancestral houses that date back to the Spanish Occupation, you’ll get a glimpse of the lifestyles of people from a bygone age and an idea of how far it has come. If you’re lucky, you might even catch exhibits showcasing the works of Bacolod’s talent!
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There are similar attractions that you can go to like the Kapitana Gallery and Lim Guan Art Gallery, and Klook offers an exciting tour package that will take you to some of these spaces where you can marvel at the masterworks of local artists.
Enter the famous San Sebastian Cathedral and the Church of the Angry Christ
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If you love visiting religious sites, then Bacolod is one of the best places to visit thanks to its bevvy of historic churches, one of them being the San Sebastian Cathedral, which was built back in 1825 and is especially known for its stone facade and its regal interiors. If you’re looking to spend a few moments of silent reflection during your sightseeing adventure, this church is a good stop to offer a quick prayer or find some quiet. Klook even offers a tour that covers this cathedral as well as the Pope John Paul II Tower.
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Another one of the city’s iconic churches is the St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, also known as the Church of the Angry Christ, which was designed by Antonin Raymond, a Czech architect. It was designed to withstand the earthquakes that the Philippines gets struck by every now and then. Besides its functional design, it has garnered attention for its colorful mural by the artist Alfonso Ossorio, which depicts Jesus Christ with an angry expression.
Feast on authentic Chicken Inasal the way the locals do
Photo Credit: Elmer B. Domingo (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicken_Inasal.JPG)
Chicken Inasal is one of the Philippines’ culinary staples and a must-try for foreigners. The dish is so popular that there’s even a popular restaurant chain that specializes in Chicken Inasal. Nothing beats the original, though.
Bacolod is the home of Chicken Inasal. Whether you’re from another country or a domestic traveler, your stay in the city isn’t complete without munching on an authentic Chicken Inasal dish. One of the best places to eat is Manokan Country, where you can pick from a wide selection that offers Chicken Inasal, isaw, atay, and more!
Visit Silay to marvel at well-preserved houses from the Spanish colonial period
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Silay is a city that’s part of Bacolod’s greater metropolitan area and is a popular destination for those looking to immerse themselves in Bacolod’s heritage. Here, you will find numerous ancestral homes that are well preserved—the most popular one being the Balay Negrense, which has been converted into a museum dedicated to the life and times of Victor Gaston, a sugar baron.
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Other than the lifestyles of the locals, you can also dive deep into Silay’s food heritage by visiting its eateries and shops. One of the oldest is the El Ideal Bakery, which was established during the 1920s. There, you will find different kinds of bread, snacks, and pastries that were baked with techniques and recipes that were passed down from generation to generation, like their famous Angel Cookies and Guapple Pie.
Klook offers a whole-day tour that will take you around Silay, and through this adventure, you’ll be acquainted with its rich history and culture.
Dine and shop at The Ruins
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The Ruins is one of the most iconic historic sites in Bacolod. It was formerly an Italian-esque mansion where a notable sugar baron, Don Lacson and his wife, Maria Braga Lacson, used to live. Today, it is now a tourist attraction that’s on every visitor’s itinerary. Here, one can enjoy lovely strolls around its picturesque garden and even dine at its restaurant, which serves scrumptious pizza. It is also an events space for hire and is sometimes used as a wedding venue or exhibition area for artists.
The house is referred to as The Ruins because it was kept in its ruined state. What you will see there are simply what remains of it, and this is where it gets its charm. By taking a tour around Bacolod that covers this, you’ll be able to learn about its history, its owners, and the reason why it ended up the way it is now.
Enjoy some peace and quiet in the middle of nature at Mambukal Resort
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Bacolod is more than just its food and attractions. It also has its fair share of natural wonders for the outdoorsy travelers. One example is Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, a massive forest area that surrounds a volcano. It is home to numerous wildlife ranging from leopards to deers, with some of them being rare.
The gateway to this mountain is Mambukal Resort, one of Bacolod’s most popular accommodations. By staying here, you’ll be treated to a wonderful stay in the arms of mother nature. In the resort, there are plenty of exciting activities to try, like hiking, trekking, swimming, and paddling across a lagoon. There’s even a section where you can dine while feeling the rippling waters of a river beneath your feet.
If you book through Klook, you can avail of a day tour of this resort that will take you to its best places, like waterfall areas and hot springs, so make sure to bring extra clothes and swimwear!
Go snorkeling at Carbin Reef
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Within the province of Negros Occidental is the city of Sagay, home of the Sagay Marine Reserve. Within the reserve is Carbin Reef, which is slowly gaining popularity as a beach destination. If you’re in Bacolod and itching to take a dip into refreshing sea water, then taking a trip to Sagay will make for an exciting ocean getaway.
At Carbin Reef is a sandbar where you’ll find a bunch of open-air tents and docked boats. You can ride boats around the area, sit down and bathe in the sun, or go swimming in its crystal clear waters. The most popular activity that you can do there is to go snorkeling. It’s home to diverse schools of colorful tropical fish, crabs, and even massive clams. Make sure to bring your own snorkeling and swimming gear, as well as extra clothes and snacks!
Walk around Capitol Park and Lagoon and take in the scenery
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If you’re looking for a place where you can sit down and relax during your sightseeing adventure around Bacolod, then stopping by Capitol Park and Lagoon will do you some good. It’s a wide, open space with a spectacular view of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol. It’s also peaceful enough that it makes for a perfect spot for a picnic with family or friends.
It’s also a good place to engage in recreational activities. If you’re looking to maintain your exercise routine, the Park is a great location for a jog or practice other forms of exercise. You might even catch people practicing martial arts or musicians jamming groovy tunes in the background.
Immerse yourself in the local nightlife by going on a cocktail crawl
A trip to another city isn’t complete without getting acquainted with its nightlife, whether through clubbing, drinking, or both. Bacolod has its share of drinking places where you can hang with your companions and meet new people. Bars like Urit Bar and Trapdoor offer a wide variety of drinks from beers to cocktails, and spaces where you can just have a good time in the company of others.
Klook offers a bar crawl experience that will take you to the aforementioned bars and more, and at each stop you’ll be treated to a cocktail and discover the best of Bacolod’s nigthtlife!
Shop for delights like Piaya and Half-Moon Cakes to take home
Before leaving Bacolod, you might want to spare some cash to purchase some snacks and other delights for you to take home.
One of the snacks that you shouldn’t pass up on is Piaya. This isn’t exactly hard to find outside Bacolod because you’ll most likely find packs of them being sold in grocery stores. But those are nowhere near as great as their Bacolod variant, which is crispy.
Another treat that you should take home as pasalubong for your loved ones are the Half-Moon Cakes from Pendy’s, which are small, golden sponge cakes coated with egg mustard.
The El Ideal Bakery in Silay sells a popular dessert known as the Guapple Pie, which is a combination of guava and apple. Since Silay is on the way to the airport, you should definitely stop by to purchase this crumbly pie.
