Bacolod City Travel Guide: The City of Smiles.
Bacolod City is the Capital of Negros Oriental and a highly urbanized city situated in the Western Region of Visayas, Philippines.
It is called the City of Smiles because of its MassKara Festival (a smiling mask), a Mardi Gras-like festival, and an astounding energetic dance, color, and music.
Bacolod is also known as the land of sweet people, historical architecture, and museums.
Bacolod City Travel Guide: The City of Smiles
Bacolod City Tourist Spots
Bacolod Plaza
This public plaza is one of the famous landmarks of Bacolod City as it perpetuates the day when the Spaniards surrendered negros Island to the Negros Revolutionaries on November 6, 1898.
Negros Museum
Here you can see the history of Negros Island as you flip through their collection of artifacts.
Provincial Capitol Lagoon
Famous for its matching sculptures illustrating a woman standing beside a water buffalo and a man pulling another water buffalo.
The Ruins
Known as the “Taj Mahal of Talisay”, “Taj Mahal of Negros” and “Taj Mahal of the Philippines”, it was the ancestral mansion of the family of wealthy sugar businessman Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson built in memory of his Portuguese wife Maria Braga Lacson, who died during the birth of their 8th child.
It was burned by the Filipino guerillas during the Second World War to prevent the Japanese invaders from using it as its military headquarters.
Balay Negrense
The first museum established in the province of Negros Occidental located in Silay City, Negros Occidental showcases the lifestyle of the late 19th-century Negrense Sugar Baron, Victor Fernandez Gaston.
San Sebastian Cathedral
Is a late 19th-century church and is the official seat of the Bacolod Roman Catholic Diocese.
San Diego Pro-Cathedral
Is an early 20th-century church, is the only pro-cathedral in the Philippines, and is unique for being the only church in the province of Negros that features a cupola or dome.
Pope John Paul II Tower
Is 7 stories high with a great view from the top floor and was built to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II’s visit to Bacolod City last February 20, 1981.
Hofileña Ancestral House
One of the Silay City’s Stone houses (bahay na bato) was built by the late Manuel Severino Hofileña for his wife Gilda Ledesma Hojilla, a former Miss Silay, and their nine children.
Where to Dine
Here is the list of Restaurants accredited by the Department of Tourism.
CAFE UMA
Paseo Verde, Lacson St., Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 0922-847-6280
FRESH START ORGANIC’S AND NATURAL STORE, INC.
Sitio Aning, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 0970-493-3643
KUPPA ROASTERY, INC.
#Hilado-Tindalo, Ave., Capitol Shopping Center, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 434-6507/433-6562/ 434-6347
LOUISE’S CAKES AND PASTRIES
Saint Francis Street, Doña Juliana Subd., Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 700-2306
MASSKARA GOURMET FOOD CORPORATION / ABOY’S RESTAURANT
Liroville Subdivision, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 435-2340
NAMITS CATERING CORPORATION/ ABOY’S INASAL & CO.
Lot 8 Blk 2 Liroville Subd., Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 435-2340
TITA BETH’S PANCIT MALABON HAUS
27th Lacson St., Brgy. 5, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 0919-227-0056
TWENTY-SIX HERB GARDEN
26th 6th Street, Brgy. 17 (Pob.), Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 436-5426/0928-791-4712
Bacolod Resorts
NAZARETH ACTIVITY HUB
Purok Guanzon, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 432-7258
PALMAS DEL MAR VILLAGE & BEACH CLUB
J.R. Torres Avenue, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 434-7972/0930-844-6991
RESORTS NEGRENSE
Purok Bayanihan, Brgy. Punta Taytay, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 445-2642
Hotels
Below is the list of DOT-accredited hotels in Bacolod.
ACACIA HOTEL BACOLOD
Burgos St. Ext., Reclamation Area, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 704-2892
AVENUE SUITES
2th Lacson Street, Brgy. 7 (Pob.), Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 435-7777
BELL HOTEL
#18 San Juan Street, Brgy. 13, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 704-2756-57/09774141458
EASTVIEW HOTEL
Carlos Hilado Circumferential Road, Brgy. Villamonte
Contact Number: (034) 707-2222/707-2525/433-0596
GO HOTEL BACOLOD
Lacson St., Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 0998-840-2055/ (02) 8397-1888 loc 33010
GT HOTEL Bacolod
Corner Galo & Locsin Streets, Barangay 11
Contact Number: (034) 432-1888-89/0917-654-8882
L’ FISHER ECOTEL
Lourdes C. Center II, 14th Lacson Street, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 432-1888-89/0917-654-8882
L’ FISHER HOTEL
14th Lacson Street, Brgy. 4, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034)433-3731
L’FISHER CHALET
14th-15th Aguinaldo Street, Brgy. 4, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034)709-1999/433-3731
LUXUR PLACE
Magsaysay Avenue, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 434-4551-55
O HOTEL
#52 San Juan Street, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 034-433-7401 to 04/09173008001
PARK INN BY RADISSON BACOLOD
Block 12 Reclamation Area, Palanca Ave., Sm City Bacolod Complex, Brgy. 12 (Pob.
Contact Number: (034) 706-8888
PLANTA CENTRO BACOLOD HOTEL & RESIDENCES
Corner Araneta & Roxas Sts., Brgy. 39, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 468-0400
REGINA CARMELI PENSION
13th Street, Brgy. Barangay 7 (Pob.), Bacolod City
Contact Number: 0961-559-3700
RFC METRO INN
6th Lacson St., Narra Avenue, Brgy 7, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 435-1818
SEDA CAPITOL CENTRAL
Lacson Street, Corner North Capitol Road, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 703-8888/488-7100
STONEHILL SUITES INC.
18th St., Corner San Agustin Drive, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 435 9206
SUGARLAND HOTEL CORPORATION
Araneta St., Araneta Ave., Brgy. Singcang, Bacolod City
Contact Number: 034-435-2961
TNR HOTELS CORPORATION / TNR BUSINESS INN
No. 28th South Lacson Street, Brgy. 21, Bacolod City
Contact Number: (034) 433-8877
Bacolod City Travel Guide: The City of Smiles
Getting To Bacolod City
BY AIR
It only takes 55 minutes to reach Bacolod City from Manila via the following 5 major airlines in the Philippines:
- Philippine Airlines (PAL)
- Cebu Pacific
- Air Philippines
- Zest Airlines
- Sea Air
From Cebu City, it only takes 30 minutes and is served by the following airlines:
- Philippine Airlines
- Cebu Pacific
The Bacolod-Silay Airport is 20 minutes away from the Bacolod downtown.
BY SEA
Bacolod is usually a 20-hour voyage from Manila Port aboard world-class vessels and 55 minutes to and from Iloilo via fast seacrafts.
The Banago and BREDCO ports are the vessel’s entry points.
2Go Travel Manila to/from Bacolod Boat Trip Schedule
Manila to Bacolod
2Go vessels served Manila to Bacolod every Tuesday at 10:00 AM, Friday at 9:00 PM, and Saturday at 4:30 PM.
Bacolod to Manila
2Go Boats is serving the Bacolod to Manila route 2x weekly, every Monday at 3:30 AM and Sunday at 11:59 AM.
2Go Travel Contact Number: (02) 8528-7000.
OceanJet
Bacolod to Iloilo Fastcraft Schedule
Monday to Saturday
- 5:45 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 4:00 PM
Sunday Trip Schedule
- 7:20 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 4:00 PM
Iloilo to Bacolod Fascraft Departure Schedules
Monday to Saturday
- 7:20 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
Sunday
- 8:50 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
Fastcraft Fare
- Open Air/Tourist Class: Php500.00
- Business Class: Php750.00
OceanJet Contact Number: +63(32)255 7560/+63 (32) 255 0115/0917 638 0000
BY SEA AND LAND
The 18-hour travel time from Manila via land and sea transport is now possible through RORO (Roll On Roll Off) vessels traversing through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway using the ports of Iloilo, Caticlan in Aklan, Roxas in Mindoro, and Batangas in the Province of Batangas.
Ceres Bus
Cebu to Bacolod Bus Trip Schedule
- 2:00 AM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
- 4:30 AM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Canlaon
- 5:00 AM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
- 7:30 AM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
- 9:50 AM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
- 1:00 PM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
- 3:00 PM-Cebu to San Carlos/Bacolod via Don Salvador
Bacolod(Sambok Terminal) to Cebu
- 11:30 PM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
- 1:30 AM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
- 4:00 PM-San Carlos via Canlaon
- 6:00 AM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
- 9:30 AM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
- 11:30 PM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
- 1:30 PM-Don Salvador via San Carlos
Ceres Bus Contact Number: 0998-886-4552.
Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
Getting Around Bacolod
You can roam around Bacolod City via:
- modern air-conditioned taxis
- Public Utility Jeepneys with the following major routes:
- Banago-Libertad
- Mandalagan-Libertad
- Bata-Libertad
- Shopping-Libertad
- Car rental services
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