Explore stunning Bacolod
Book flights to Bacolod and prepare to explore colonial ruins, sugar plantations and dramatic volcanoes. The city has some interesting historic sites to explore too, such as the ruins at Talisay City.
This small city off the coast of Negros Island in the Philippines’ central Visayas region is busy and friendly, with a population of around half a million.
Bacolod is known as the ‘City of Smiles’ because of its annual MassKara festival in October, which brings crowds from across the Philippines to enjoy a colourful carnival parade, with street dancing and pop-up food stalls. Food is a big part of Bacolod life, both during festival season and the rest of the year.
Be sure to try popular street food dishes including adobo, stewed or braised meat cooked in a vinegar and garlic sauce. Lechon is another popular street dish and is found cooking in markets throughout this charming city. Book flight tickets to Bacolod today and all of this and more awaits you.
Reasons to visit Bacolod
Explore the ruins
Book a flight to Bacolod and explore the ruins at Talisay City, an ornate Italianate mansion built in 1920 as a tribute to the wife of an Italian sugar plantation owner. Her husband built the mansion on the couple’s plantation north of the city.
After an attack in World War Two, the house burned for three days and now stands as a tribute to the couple’s love, with chandeliers and vines hanging from the ceilings. It’s a favourite local wedding venue and known as the Philippines’ Taj Mahal.
Splendour in Silay
Silay is just north of Bacolod and offers a fascinating glimpse into a lost world of huge sugar plantations run by wealthy European plantation owners. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they built incredible mansions in Silay but, when World War Two hit, most of the mansions were abandoned.
Many are still standing in Silay, just as they would have done in the 1930s. Take a look at Bernadino Jalandoni Ancestral House, also known as the Pink House. Now a museum, you’ll find period photographs and children’s toys among its many treasures.
Trek up Mount Kanlaon
Mount Kanlaon, the Philippines’ tallest mountain and an active volcano, is a short drive from Bacolod. It’s a big draw for climbers from across the world and is part of a national park with marked trails. You’ll need to join an organised climb with a guide, which you can arrange in Bacolod.
Depending on the route you take, you might need two or three days for the challenging trek which will take you through dense jungle to the summit at 7,989 feet above sea level. If that sounds a little too much, there are easier day-long treks and wildlife spotting trips are also available.
Flying to Bacolod: FAQs
How old is Bacolod?
Bacolod was founded in the late 18th century. Most of the city today is modern, though there are some historic buildings, including the late 19th century San Sebastian Cathedral. Historic mansions can be found in nearby Silay and other surrounding villages.
What are the beaches like in Bacolod?
You’ll find several popular beach resorts and public spots along the coastline. The beaches tend to be small and more suited to an afternoon stroll than sunbathing. Be sure to catch the sunset over the warm waters of the coastline here during your stay.
What part of the Philippines is Bacolod in?
Bacolod is in the Visayas region, which makes up the central section of the Philippines archipelago. Bacolod is the largest city on the island of Negros and the capital of the Negros Occidental region, which makes up the north-western part of the island.
What languages are spoken in Bacolod?
Filipino and English are the national languages of the Philippines. There are hundreds of languages spoken throughout the nation, however, and Ilonggo is popular in the Negros region.