Create Core Family Memories When Visiting These Spots in Iloilo

The Philippines is known for its beautiful islands and hospitable people. And you can find all of those in Iloilo. Dubbed the “City of Love,” the Ilonggos are known for their sweet and calm demeanor; hence, the moniker. Iloilo is known for their rich historical and cultural heritage, where you can still see remnants of the country’s past colonization.

It’s also a great destination to visit since its location is nearby other cities and islands like Guimaras, Bacolod, and Dumaguete to name a few. If you’re about to go on a family trip, consider making an Iloilo itinerary and you’ll have a blast.

Here are some of the tourist spots in Iloilo that will enrich your knowledge of Philippine history and at the same time experience eye-catching beaches and natural wonders around.

Iloilo has several historical landmarks such as cathedrals, old streets, and houses. When in Iloilo, you can take your family on a pilgrimage excursion and see the Jaro Cathedral. Jaro Cathedral also goes by the name Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary or National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles. It was built back in 1587 and withstood natural disasters but had to undergo some renovations.

Other notable churches worth adding to your pilgrimage excursion are Molo Church, Miag-ao Church, San Joaquin Church, Guimbal Church, and Tigbauan Church. These are the tourist spots in Iloilo since they were declared heritage sites.

Molo Church was built in 1831 and is now a national landmark. Its white coral exterior complements the statues situated outside the church. Miag-ao Church on the other hand gives an old-age baroque style. The construction of the Miag-ao Church was finished in 1797 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

To save time and make this trip more organized and hassle-free for your family, you can just book a tour here with up to 20% off on its price and admire what Iloilo has to offer. This includes your transportation, tour guide, and get a side trip to the countryside of Iloilo.

Gigantes Island has become one of the hottest tourist spots in Iloilo because of its laid-back style. Since the island isn’t fully commercialized yet, your family can enjy basking in the long stretch of white sand with clear waters around the natural rock formations on the island.

If your family is into exploring beaches, lagoons, and even caves, you should add Gigantes Island to your Iloilo itinerary!

Address: Municipality of Carles, Iloilo, Philippines

More than the historical places and beautiful beaches, Iloilo is also known for their hearty meals. Don’t miss out on trying out an authentic La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, and other mouthwatering dishes. Local vendors also sell dried fish and personally, I would recommend you to try fish tapa. The saltiness of the fish balances out the sweet flavors during the curing process. You can take them home as pasalubong and share them with your loved ones.

When on a trip with a family, it’s better to plan your Iloilo itinerary and take advantage of booking in advance on Klook. This way, you can get a discount of up to 10% off when you book a Culinary Tour for your group. You won’t have to worry about your transportation anymore and you can just look forward to trying the best dishes Iloilo has to offer.

Now known as J.M. Basa Street, Calle Real is one of the famous streets in Iloilo. The locals also say that the former affluent families in Iloilo used to reside on this street; you can still find establishments with Spanish-era-themed architecture. After a busy day, you can just wind down and walk around Calle Real and take Instagrammable photos around.

If you are into some zen vibes and just want to allot a day for a relaxing family trip, then you might want to consider Garin Farm on your Iloilo itinerary. Garin Farm is a resort that is also a pilgrimage site with a functional farm. There’s a cross at the top of a hill where you have to take over 400 steps to reach the peak and pray. Some activities are family-friendly such as ziplining, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. It also recreated a ‘journey to heaven’ so you’d feel that those hundreds of steps are worth it.

Address: Purok 2, San Joaquin, Iloilo

Contact Information: +63 916 667 6851

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Another go-to spot to visit in Iloilo is the Lizares Mansion. Here, you can get a glimpse of the past and have a major throwback moment since it represents how the noble and rich families of Iloilo used to live.

The mansion has an interesting story, too. This mansion-turned-school was owned by the Lizares family. Don Emiliano Lizares commissioned Andre Luna de San Pedro, son of notable Filipino painter Juan Luna, to design the mansion dedicated to his wife Conchita Gamboa.

Here’s another catch: the family had to flee the property during the war and the Japanese used the place as their headquarters. It was soon sold to the Dominicans and you can now see the mansion as a school. But they’ve managed to preserve its beauty. During Christmas, the mansion is showered with lights so more locals visit and take photos.

Address: Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City

If you’re still into nostalgic trips, take a peek at another famous heritage mansion in Iloilo. Built in the 1920s, the Molo mansion was owned by the Yusay-Consing family. Although locals used to think that the mansion can no longer be brought back to its former glory, the Molo Mansion is now a tourist spot in Iloilo where you can also try the famous Pancit Molo with kinihad.

Address: Locsin Street, Molo, Iloilo City

Contact Information: +63 928 719 4139

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Since it only takes 15 minutes (via boat) to reach Guimaras Island from Iloilo City, you can include this on your Iloilo itinerary. Aside from the sweet mangoes, Guimaras is also known for its pristine beaches. Luckily, there’s an arranged tour readily available for booking on Klook.

Experience the best of Guimaras when you visit Natago beach. The tour includes island hopping, a mango farm visit, and transportation for ferry/boat rides.