Things I can share:
“Beautiful, Clean, and Safe”
Three words I would describe Calle Chrisologo, with old Spanish-Filipino houses, kalesas and little souvenir shops, this place is a wonderful place to visit.
This is the main attraction of downtown Vigan, a nicely preserved historic district that continues to have buildings renovated. We strolled and enjoyed Calle Crisologo in our stay in Vigan and it’s free to enter the street. Many buildings have not yet been renovated, but the whole length of the street provides a relaxing stroll to many nice restaurants and shops.
The street is lined up with shops, restaurants, hotel and a museum. The best time to visit is early morning around 9am although some shops open early around 8am specially during the holiday season or around 4pm when the street is starting to come to life.Around 6pm restaurants will line up tables on the street itself.
The street is clean but visitors can show more respect to keep it that way. We can see some trash here and there specially in the area where max restaurant, Mang Inasal, and Cafe Leona area are located since this is near Plaza Salcedo.
The price of the souvenirs are reasonably priced. You can choose from key chains 12 pcs. for a 100 pesos, small coin purse for 25 pesos each or foldable fan regular size 3 pcs. for 100 pesos or t-shirts for 150 pesos to 500 pesos from Collado, a brand well known in Vigan or from island souvenirs or from any shops. The prices of the food is also reasonable. You can decide for yourselves depending on your budget.
There are lots of people, be it tourists or locals. Doing photo shoots, just strolling, just buying souvenirs and take away gifts, or doing their own people watching. You can also hire a Caritela to take you around Vigan up to Bantay, the town just outside Vigan for 150 pesos per hour, but if I were you, I’ll just walk ^_^.
LOCATION:
Vigan is a city located on the northwestern coast of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the capital of the Ilocos Sur province and the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the country. Recently, it won as one of the New Seven Wonders Cities of the World.
The main draw of Vigan City are its well-preserved Bahay na Bato structures located at the Meztizo District, its historical core. Currently, there are 187 listed ancestral houses in town. Besides this, it also boasts of beautiful colonial churches, a plaza that comes alive with a fountain show at night, a free-roaming zoo and numerous historical museums.
The city’s cuisine is also quite interesting and numerous restaurants around the area makes it readily accessible to visitors.
Manila to Vigan by Land
Vigan is at least eight (8) hours of land travel from Manila. Several bus lines serve the route including Partas (Contact No: 725-1740, 725-1256, 725-7303, 724-9820), Dominion Bus, Aniceto Bus and Viron Transit that travel directly daily. Meanwhile, Florida Bus Line (Contact No: 731-4473, 781-5894), Baliwag (Contact No: 524-7111, 525-1067, 525-3064, 525-6769, 525-2338, 525-2294), Fariñas (Contact No: 743-8582), Maria De Leon Bus Lines, RCJ Bus Lines and F. Franco Transit have daily trips to Laoag, passing by Vigan. The trip is via North Luzon Expressway and Manila North Road passing through the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union.
Manila to Vigan by Air
Mindoro Airport of Vigan is a community airport intended to serve the whole province of Ilocos Sur. InterIsland Airline and Sea Air used to fly there from Manila but the operation of the route was cancelled due to low traffic. To date, the airport serves only chartered flights.
The nearest airport with regular commercial flight is Laoag in Ilocos Norte. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific fly to Laoag daily from Manila, travel time is an hour. Vigan is only two hours away from Laoag.
Where to stay?
Escoltas is one of the best and cheapest stay-in there in Calle Crisologo. Aside from that there are more stay-in house or hotel that you can see below.
Top-Rated Budget Accommodations in Vigan
Escolta’s Homey Lodge
Town Proper, Vigan
Starts at 700 PHP
CHECK RATES
Hotel ni Among
Pantay Daya, Vigan
Starts at 750 PHP
Ciudad Fernandina Hotel
Town Proper, Vigan
Starts at 2,000 PHP
Hotel Luna
Pantay Daya, Vigan
Starts at 2,500 PHP
* ALL PICTURES POSTED ARE FROM GOOGLE IMAGES *
Aeldred's Travel 