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“UNESCO World Heritage City Calle Crisologo features cobblestone streets and colonial houses Ride a traditional horse-drawn carriage (kalesa) around the city Showcases Spanish colonial culture and Filipino heritage”
Vigan City, located in Ilocos Sur Province, is not just an old city, but a proud UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is globally recognized as the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia, unique because it reflects the successful fusion of Philippine, Chinese, and European cultures in its architecture and urban design.
Calle Crisologo remains the city's heart—a cobblestone street strictly reserved for pedestrians and kalesas (horse-drawn carriages). It is lined with magnificent colonial houses, known as bahay na bato (stone houses), giving visitors a powerful sense of stepping back in time to the 16th century.
These preserved houses are a testament to architectural ingenuity, combining sturdy stone foundations with wooden upper floors and distinctive sliding windows made of capiz shells—a design perfectly adapted to the tropical climate. Tourists can visit old houses and museums displaying antique furniture, crafts, and historical exhibits from the colonial period.
Riding a “kalesa” is a quintessential activity. The traditional horse-drawn carriage offers a slow-paced, atmospheric tour of the city, often accompanied by local guides providing historical explanations.
A visit is incomplete without experiencing the famous Ilocano cuisine. The city is famous for its savory local delicacies, including Vigan Longganisa (a small, garlicky pork sausage) and crispy Empanada (a fried turnover filled with longganisa, egg, and grated papaya). Vigan also has local restaurants and cafés serving these traditional foods and souvenir shops offering local crafts such as wood carvings and abel (handwoven) textiles.
For an added experience, every evening, the main city plaza near the Vigan Cathedral hosts a beautiful dancing fountain and light show, which adds a magical, romantic atmosphere to the colonial setting.
The city hosts annual festivals like the “Viva Vigan Festival,” showcasing local culture, music, and cuisine, and serves as the cultural center of the province, making it a key destination for both historical and cultural tourism. The city also provides convenient access to nearby provincial landmarks like the historic Bantay Bell Tower.
How to Get There
- From Northern Luzon towns, it takes approximately 4–5 hours by car to reach Vigan City.
Travel Tips
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Visit in the morning or evening to avoid the heat, and don’t miss photographing the colonial houses and cobblestone streets.
Admission Fee
- Domestic visitors: Free
- Foreign visitors: Free
Opening Hours
- Open daily: 06:00 – 22:00
Vigan City
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Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Northern Luzon, Philippines
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Closed today
Mon6.00 - 22.00
Tue6.00 - 22.00
Wed6.00 - 22.00
Thu6.00 - 22.00
Fri6.00 - 22.00
Sat6.00 - 22.00
Sun6.00 - 22.00
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