Top Destinations and Things to do in Iloilo, Philippines

Visit Iloilo City to take in the city’s numerous historical, cultural, and natural treasures. It is the Heart Of The Philippines because of its geographic location and rich cultural legacy. There are beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, and a diverse selection of historic homes and churches that still survive today as historical places. Ready to find the best sights in Iloilo to include in your schedule? Come on!

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All About Iloilo

The Province of Iloilo, with Iloilo City as its capital, is situated on picturesque Panay Island and is one of the most tranquil regions in the nation. Its residents are known for being friendly, unpretentiously mild, and soft-spoken. Iloilo is derived from the terms Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong since the Iloilo and Batiano Rivers’ junction creates a quite noticeable nose-like landscape when seen from above. The name has been shortened through time, thus the name Iloilo. Whether or not this story is accurate, the location is a veritable factory of the most level-headed individuals with a tendency for a personality that borders on sweetness.

Due to its long history as a significant commerce route, Iloilo is renowned for having a thriving economy that has persisted to this day. They can welcome visitors and offer attractions while maintaining their culture, which is ideal for anyone seeking to travel to and experience Iloilo.

Due to its long history as a significant commerce route, Iloilo is renowned for having a thriving economy that has persisted to this day. Because of this, they can welcome visitors and offer attractions while maintaining their culture, which is ideal for anyone seeking to travel to and experience Iloilo.

City Destinations

Spend a magnificent amount of time exploring IIloilo’s defining city attractions. Some are newly established, but most date back to the Spanish era.

Refresh your mind and heart at Garin Farm

A farm, park, and retreat location in one place? It’s Garin Farm! It mixes relaxation, religion, and agriculture. You may go kayaking, swimming, fishing, zipline, horseback riding, billiard, picture taking, and exercising by climbing stairs. Thus, you need to pay fees for some activities besides the entrance fee of $3. The Divine Mercy Dark Meditation Tunnel’s entrance to Heaven On Earth is at its peak. The blindingly white and radiant Heaven On Earth indicates a person’s climb to heaven after cleansing, while the black tunnel reflects their struggles while still on Earth. You can see the pilgrimage site to experience nine life-size dioramas of biblical scenes, including Noah’s Ark and the Garden of Eden. You must take a 456-step stairway to reach the white cross atop a hill. It’s a beautiful spot to think and pray at the summit.

Address: Purok 2, San Joaquin, Iloilo

Drink tsokolate at Camiña Balay Nga Bato

The Bahay Kubo was replicated in the design of the home. Its roof is composed of bamboo and nipa, and its walls are built of board. It was constructed as a status symbol at the time and had 24 trunk pillars as its base. It is known as Balay Nga Bato because limestone and river sand was used to build the walls, which helped to reinforce the building. In addition to learning about its history and snapping photos, you can shop at a heritage curio shop and have a tsokolate (chocolate) drink with local bread and biscuits.

Address: Osmeña St, Villa Arevalo District, Iloilo City

Learn about history at the Museum of Philippine Economic History

A place where there are exhibits of relics, pictures, records, and other things that illustrate Iloilo’s rich economic history, culture, and country’s thriving industries? Head to the Museum of Philippine Economic History!

Address: MHVF+72R, JM Basa St, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City

Walk around River Esplanade

If you’re looking for the ultimate outdoor escape in Iloilo, you won’t want to miss the River Esplanade. This stunning waterfront promenade is a top spot for locals and tourists, and it’s easy to see why. Stretching along the banks of the Iloilo River, the esplanade offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and the river below. Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely walk, a relaxing jog, or an invigorating bike ride, the River Esplanade has you covered. And with plenty of shade from the trees and plants and benches and seating areas to take a break, it’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. So why wait? Head to the River Esplanade in Iloilo and see why it’s a must-visit destination.

You can see the city’s efforts to restore and safeguard the Iloilo River and encourage active living. It’s a popular tourist spot where you may take a stroll and enjoy the serene surroundings along the river. You can jog free or hang out with friends and family in the adjacent coffee shops and restaurants.

Address:  PH33+275, Riverside Boulevard, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Relax for free at Molo Plaza

Molo Plaza, located in the heart of Iloilo, is a cultural and historical hub that offers visitors a taste of the city’s rich history and traditions. The plaza is home to a number of historic buildings, including the Molo Church and the Molo Mansion, which are sure to delight and educate visitors. In addition to its cultural significance, Molo Plaza is also a popular place for locals and tourists to relax and enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of shady trees and benches to sit on. Whether you’re interested in history or just want to experience the culture of Iloilo, Molo Plaza is worth a visit.

Address:  MGWV+RHQ, San Pedro St, Molo, Iloilo City, 5000

Witness art at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA)

The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) is the first gallery in the area, focusing solely on the creations of modern and contemporary artists from the Philippines and abroad. You can appreciate different kinds and forms of art made by distinguished artists. 

Note: You can only take pictures on the 1st level of the museum. There is an entrance fee of $2.

Address: PG9X+85J, Casa de Emperador Festive Walk Parade, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Visit the historic home at Casa Mariquit

If you are fond of history and old ancestral homes, visit Casa Mariquit. It is a well-preserved historic home that has been existing for many years. The Tagalog term marikit, which means beautiful, is the root of the word “mariquit,” which most likely refers to both the lady of the house and the home itself. There are no expansive lawns at Casa Mariquit, in contrast to other ancestral residences in Iloilo. It’s grander than it seems, too. But this place’s furnishings and campaign materials tell eloquently about its past.

Address: Santa Isabel St, Jaro, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo

Take Instagram-worthy pictures at Nelly Garden Mansion

The Lopez Clan owns Nelly Garden Mansion, a magnificent, broad lawn with a grand American colonial heritage mansion serving as the background. It’s a popular destination for pictorials and events venues.

Tip: Wear a dress and pose like you own the mansion for an Instagram-worthy post!

Address: E. Lopez St., Brgy. Our Lady of Fatima, Jaro, Iloilo

Explore Lizares Mansion

One of Iloilo City’s most opulent heritage homes, the Lizares Mansion combines Spanish and American architectural styles. It was established in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares, a sugar baron of Jaro descent, and is a reminder of the booming sugar business in Iloilo at the time.

Tip: You should also wear your best outfit when going here to snap your stunning picture shot.

Address: R4, Jaro, Iloilo City, 5000

See contemporary artworks at Museo Iloilo

The first government-sponsored museum in the nation outside of Metro Manila is Museo Iloilo. It is home to a wide variety of artifacts from Iloilo’s cultural legacy, including native stone age pottery, ancient graves, fossils, jewelry, pottery traded from China and Siam, and old pictures. War artifacts and souvenirs, a British shipwreck, Spanish-era sculpture made in the Philippines, and contemporary works created by Ilonggo artists and crafters are all on display. The history of Western Visayas’ culture, from prehistory to the present, is covered by the museum’s permanent exhibit. Some bones have been carbon-dated, Panay Mondo group swords and spears, and a permanent display of an Ati family.

Address: PH39+4C2, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo, Philippines

Have a picnic at Plaza Libertad

After Spain gave up Iloilo, the first Philippine Republic triumphantly raised its flag at Plaza Libertad. It is an accessible destination to walk around, breathe fresh air, play, and have a picnic. Numerous well-known city landmarks, such as San Jose Church, Iloilo City Hall, the Masonic Temple, and the ancestral home of the Lacson clan, surround it.

Address: Proper Plaza Libertad Zamora St, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo, Philippines

Cathedrals or Churches Destinations

The province of Iloilo is home to numerous ancient and ancestral buildings that offer visitors a view into how affluent families lived in the past and centuries-old churches that have withstood natural and man-made tragedies. Today, you can go on a pilgrimage journey to these churches. You can pray, wish, take pictures, attend mass, and observe.

Molo Church

Visit the Molo Church on San Pedro Street in Molo, Iloilo City, if you wish to witness Greek gods and goddess statues alongside a Catholic church. This purported “female church” was founded in 1831. In 1992, Molo Church received official designation as a national landmark. White coral limestone makes up the exterior walls.

Address: 132 San Pedro St, Molo, Iloilo City

Jaro Cathedral

One of Iloilo’s oldest cathedrals, the Jaro Cathedral, has a lengthy, exciting history. In 1587, it was first established as a tiny parish. It evolved into a cathedral over time, and today it serves as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro and is a national shrine. After being completely devastated by an earthquake in 1948, the church was restored in 1956. The Jaro Cathedral was designated as a historical landmark in 1976.

While Molo Church has female saints, Jaro Cathedral has male saints standing inside the pillars of the building. The 400-year-old painting of the Mother and Child in the church is considered miraculous by many people, especially the locals.

Tip: You can also visit the Campanario de Jaro, a nearby bell tower, another well-known Iloilo monument, while you’re there.

Address: PHF4+9CH, Jaro, Iloilo City

Miagao Church

The most aesthetically pleasing historic church in the province of Iloilo is Miagao Church, located along Zulueta Avenue in Miagao. Its construction was finished in 1797 and is sometimes referred to as the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova. As one of the best examples of a Baroque-style church, it is now one of the most distinctive tourist destinations in Iloilo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is particularly well-known for its intricate sculptures that adorn its exterior and display a distinctive fusion of Chinese, Muslim, and Spanish customs, influences, and components. Above its elaborate wooden doors is a picture of St. Thomas of Villanueva, the town’s patron saint.

Address: J6RP+P54, Zulueta Ave, Miagao, 5023 Iloilo

San Joaquin Church

Due to its militaristic style, the 1869-built church stands out among other houses of worship in the Philippines. On a disproportionately huge pediment on the exterior, an intricate sculpture celebrating the Spanish victory over Moroccan forces in the Battle of Tetuan has been carved.
Address: H4PR+9C6, San Joaquin, 5024 Iloilo, Philippines

Guimbal Church

One of the nation’s oldest churches, built in 1774, is the Guimbal Church. This yellow sandstone church is constructed with coral stones mined in Guimaras and Igang, an adobe stone. Twinned circular pillars with flower carvings on each side frame the two-story front. During the Spanish colonization, the four-story antique belfry served as a watchtower against pillaging Moro pirates.

Address: Cor Garbanzos St, Garriel Streets, Guimbal, 5022 Iloilo, Philippines

Tigbauan Church

The front of Tigbauan is decorated in Mexican plateresque fashion. An ornamental frieze resembling a retablo occupies the central area bordered by an Augustinian order seal in the center. San Juan is shown on a niche above the seal surrounded by flower-adorned pilasters. Santo Nio is depicted at the relief’s apex.

Address: M9FG+H66, Allera St, Tigbauan, 5022 Iloilo

Arevalo Church

The Arevalo church is a historic building allegedly built by Augustinian missionaries in the sixteenth century. The statue of the third-oldest Child, Jesus, known as Sto, is its most famous residence. Both are visible reminders of early Spanish occupation on the island of Panay in the Philippines.

Address: MGQ8+5H7, Arroyo St, Villa Arevalo District, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo, Philippines

San Jose Church

The San Jose church’s patron saint of the Dinagyang Festival, Santo Nio de Ceb, is replicated. The inside of the church features an arcade of Corinthian columns supporting a fake barrel vault over the nave and groin vaults over the aisle. The primary altar features some Gothic elements. An image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario that Diego Quinnes found during the Dutch siege of Iloilo on September 29, 1614, is a priceless religious treasure.

Address: 5000 Calasanz St, Iloilo City Proper

Islands and Falls Destinations

Go Island Hopping at Gigantes Islands

From Iloilo City, it takes at least 5 hours to get there. Gigantes offers breathtaking seascapes and a relaxed island lifestyle for you. It has exquisite white sand beaches, an abundance of fresh seafood, and angular rock formations cloaked in supernatural legends from the residents. You can go island hopping, relax on the beach, swim, eat snacks, or lay around the sand.

Although Tangke, Antonia Beach, and Cabugao Gamay Island are frequently included in the tourist circuit, adventurers might discover many other islands and beaches.

Unwind at Sicogon Island

This spot is secluded and great for relaxing. Relax on the beach or visit several islands. Coconut trees and other lush vegetation contribute to the island’s rejuvenating atmosphere. The island’s natural environment makes for lovely Instagram shots. Currently, Sicogon is being developed by Ayala Land as a vacation estate featuring homes, shops, walks through the jungle, diving places, an airstrip with a 1.2-kilometer runway, and a jetty. It takes about an hour to get by ferry from Estancia’s mainland to Sicogon. The ferry ride from Gigantes should take up to two hours.

Get your tan lines at Concepcion Island

Concepcion Island is particularly unique due to the magnificent presence of majestic Mt. Manaphag on Pan de Azucar Island, which rises above, and the area’s enticing white sand beaches. It may take up to 2.5 hours to go from Iloilo City to Concepcion. A 30- to 1-hour ferry ride from there will take you to the main islands.

Take a dip at Nasadjan Falls

Every year, both domestic and foreign tourists are drawn to the region’s calm, pristine Prussian blue waters. The Nadsadjan Falls, which are 100 feet tall, shoot water onto a giant natural swimming pool that resembles a cauldron.

Address: Q6HJ+X78, Igbaras, Iloilo

Foods to try in Iloilo City

The cuisine of Iloilo City is very well-known. If you are astounded by the places you have visited, you will also be surprised by the diversity of foods available. Each dish is prepared and has a special recipe.

Batchoy

Batchoy contains beef loin, chicken stock, crushed pork crackles, round noodles, and ingredients for pancit soup. Consume the Batchoy immediately when served so you can enjoy it, and it will warm your stomach.

Pancit Molo

Pancit Molo, commonly known as Filipino pork dumplings, is a specialty of Iloilo City’s Molo neighborhood. It consists of ingredients combined with shrimp, pig, or chicken and served with hot soup. Warm your stomach, and you’ll feel incredibly delighted with it.

Kansi

This meal’s taste and preparation methods are frequently compared to those of sinigang and nilagang bulalo. Still, adding jackfruit and batwan as souring ingredients set it apart from its more well-known similar dishes.

Chicken Binakol

On the other hand, Chicken Binakol is another well-known Ilonggo chicken dish; however, it’s served this time as a warming soup. Although it shares many similarities with Chicken Tinola, this one differs due to the use of coconut water and coconut flesh as soup bases. The best way to prepare Chicken Binakol is to boil local chicken for several hours.

Pinamalhan na Isda

The traditional fish used in Pinamalhan na Isda, essentially a “Fish Stew,” include Bangus, salmonite, bilong-bilong, sap-sap, abo, and many others. The vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, oil, and many other spices simmered over low heat for several hours gives this meal its opulent and deep flavors.

Biscocho

This pastry, baked twice, is another beloved pasalubong from Iloilo and is regarded as the Filipino version of biscotti. Bread, often a day or two old, is the main component of Biscocho and is relatively simple to make. Butter and honey are typically spread on the bread, but garlic can be sprinkled on top if you prefer Biscocho savory. Despite being mostly renowned as an Ilonggo delicacy, there are several varieties of Biscocho around the nation, including the softer type known as pasuquin in Ilocos Norte. The significant way to enjoy Biscocho is with hot coffee or chocolate any time.

Butterscotch

A little bar of butterscotch, a fixture in every bag of pasalubong from Iloilo City, is as nostalgic and sweet as they come. Even though the dish is not indigenous to Iloilo, it is a favorite among residents and tourists.

Experience Dinagyang Festival

One of the largest and most prestigious festivals in the Philippines is the Dinagyang Festival which is celebrated every fourth Sunday in January. It traces the development of devotion to the Holy Child Jesus, also referred to as Sr., among Filipino believers. Sto. Nino. The celebration honors both the advent of the Malay immigrants and the fabled trade of Panay Island with the indigenous Ati people.

People create socio-cultural and theological performances that portray life in Panay before Spanish colonization and the spread of Catholicism through outstanding choreography, vibrant tribal costumes, and eye-catching props.

As a tourist, you can enjoy watching the parade and competitions. Spend time with the locals and take as many pictures as you like. Remember to eat the delicious food that is prepared! You’ll surely be glad if you experience this at least once in your life. It displays the city’s illustrious past, present, and commitment and mirrors the joyous mood of the locals.

Tips when going to Iloilo

• To avoid the sun’s heat and the crowd, visit the popular destinations as early as possible.
• Bring an umbrella, hat, or shawl to protect yourself from the sun’s intense heat or the possibility of rain.
• You should bring sunglasses since the sun is bright, making it difficult to see the surroundings.
• Make the most out of your visit by planning your destinations.
• Biscocho can be bought in other parts of the Philippines, but the ones in Iloilo are the best. Try it and buy it for your loved ones before leaving.
• Take several pictures to remember and take notes about the history you learned. You can share it with others when they ask about your Iloilo adventure, write it in your journal, or post it on your social media.

Although Iloilo has recently undergone significant development, it’s fascinating to note that the city still has many colonial buildings and heritage homes that you can visit.