Enjoy a art-filled day at any one of these museums and galleries in Baguio!
If you’ve ever been to Baguio, you would know that there are two ways to tell if you’ve arrived in the city: the weather is immediately cooler, and there is art everywhere! From aesthetically-pleasing cafes to eye-catching art hubs and award-winning museums, it is evident that the creativity thrives in this northern mountain town. In 2017, Baguio even became the first city in the Philippines to become part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
This coming summer season, make your holiday in the City of Pines a cool and colorful one, and check out these museums in Baguio plus other artistic locations in the area.
But before you go, be sure you’ve read Baguio’s latest travel guidelines - from requirements to the city’s health and safety regulations.
Museums in Baguio to visit
- BenCab Museum
- Museo Kordilyera
- Baguio Museum
- Bell House Library Museum
- Tam-Awan Village
- Galleria De Potenciana by Arca’s Yard
- Ililikha Artist Village
- Victor Oteyza Community Art Space Gallery
1. BenCab Museum
Photo Credit: @soapywaterdo on Instagram
A visit to Baguio would not be complete without a stop at the BenCab Museum located in Tuba, Benguet. It is owned and named after National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, whose mastery ranges from painting to printmaking and beyond.
Photo Credit: @kevingokg on Instagram
Inside the museum, you can marvel at Cabrera’s works plus the masterpieces of other renowned Filipino artists. His collection of ethnic wood carvings from the Ifugao tribe are also on display. BenCab also has a refreshing garden and an in-house restaurant, Cafe Sabel, where guests can relax or enjoy a quick meal.
BenCab Museum
- Address: Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, Philippines
- Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 9:00am to 6:00pm (last entry at 5:30pm), closed Mondays, Christmas day and New Year’s day.
- Entrance fee: General admission - Php150; students with valid Philippine school issued ID - Php120; seniors/ PWD with valid Philippine government issued ID - Php100
2. Museo Kordilyera
Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/upbmuseokordilyera/
For those who want to dive deeper into the history and culture of the Cordillera Region, add Museo Kordilyera to your Baguio museum-hopping list. The ethnographic museum features a range of artifacts that will give visitors a deeper understanding of the indigenous tribes who live in Northern Luzon. It includes items from the Kalingas, Bontocs, and Ifugaos, among others.
Museo Kordilyera is located inside the University of the Philippines Baguio, has three floors full of artwork and artifacts, as well as a cafe and a small souvenir shop open to all guests.
Museo Kordilyera
- Address: 30 Gov. Pack Rd, Baguio, 2602 Benguet
- Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm, closed on Mondays and Fridays
- Entrance fee: Non-UP students with valid ID - Php30; adults - Php60; Senior citizens, PWDs w/ valid ID - Php20% discount
*Museo of Kordilyera is currently open by appointment only. Please message their Facebook page to schedule a visit
3. Baguio Museum
Baguio Museum is another gallery dedicated to the preservation of the city’s cultural heritage. However, art buffs will still have a great time here. For starters, the museum’s architectural design is inspired by the traditional Ifugao homes, evident in the predominant use of wood and stone on the facade alone. Inside, you’ll find intricate dioramas, tribal artifacts, and other items showcasing the life of the various indigenous groups that call the Cordillera Region home.
Baguio Museum also hosts exhibitions and shows. Best to follow their social media page for any upcoming events.
Baguio Museum
- Socials: Facebook
- Address: Dot-PTA Complex, Gov. Pack Rd, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
- Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm, closed on Mondays
- Entrance fee: Php40
NOTE: Baguio Museum is still closed to the public.
4. Bell House Library Museum
The Bell House Library Museum may not be your usual museum in Baguio, but it’s still worth checking out. The unique attraction inside Camp John Hay was designed by General J. Franklin Bell and was used as a rest house by the Commanding General of the Philippines. Art and architecture aficionados will be impressed by its American-style design and its cozy interiors.
Near the Bell House, you can also check out the Bell Amphitheater and the Cemetery of Negativity, both of which are part of Camp John Hay’s historical core.
The Bell House Library Museum
- Address: Bell House, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet
- Opening hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - 6:00am-7:00pm; Camp John Hay is currently open for Baguio residents only
- Entrance fee: Outside tourists (standard) - Php75; Baguio and BLISTT (Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay) tourists - Php48; Students, senior citizens, and children (4ft above) - Php36; Children (4ft below) - free
*Camp John Hay’s Historical Core is currently closed to the general public except for weddings and other events that comply with the requirements prescribed under the IATF Guidelines.
5. Tam-Awan Village
Photo Credit: @shazaraspe_ on Instagram
Tam-Awan Village is a one-of-a-kind creative community located in Pinsao Proper. It aims to promote the rich heritage of the Cordilleran people and, at the same time, showcase the works of local artists.
Photo Credit: @shazaraspe_ on Instagram
Some of Tam-Awan's most noticeable features include its collection of Kalinga and Ifugao huts, endless display of Cordillera artistry, and the cozy Tam-Awan Village Cafe. They also have a new attraction in the works called the Igorot Stone Kingdom.
Tam-Awan Village
- Address: 367 Long Long Benguet Rd, Baguio, Benguet
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm
- Entrance fee: Php60
6. Galleria De Potenciana by Arca’s Yard
Photo Credit: @kmbrlyumali on Instagram
Another museum in Baguio worth any art-lover’s time is Galleria De Potenciana by Arca’s Yard. The cafe-slash-gallery is already popular on its own accord thanks to its photo-worthy interiors and interesting exhibition of tribal artworks. Galleria De Potenciana, on the other hand, is an extension of Arca’s Yard, with a purpose of becoming a venue for art.
Photo Credit: @jsarahina on Instagram
The gallery doubles as an events space, not just for art-related occasions but for other celebrations, too. If you’re hungry after a long drive, you can also choose to dine here while admiring their collection of Cordilleran creations and furniture by local handicraft masters.
Galleria De Potenciana by Arca’s Yard
- Socials: Facebook
- Address: 888 Tip-Top, Ambuclao Road, Benguet
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 8:00am-6:00pm
7. Ililikha Artist Village
Photo Credit: @saiderr on Instagram
Ililikha Art Village may not be your usual art establishment but it will certainly pique your interest. Created by film director and writer Eric de Guia, or more popularly known as Kidlat Tahimik, Ililikha is his ode to cinema and other art forms. The elaborate treehouse of sorts took almost a decade to build, with its structure made mostly out of recycled materials.
Photo Credit: @mariaxangelicaa on Instagram
Ililikha Artist Village also serves multiple purposes. It has a flower shop, a small theater, and several food concessionaires selling mainly healthy and affordable eats. If you’re just here for the art, you can freely explore the ‘village’ and admire its peculiar displays or attend their events held regularly.
Ililikha Artist Village
- Address: 32 Assumption Rd, Baguio, Benguet
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 9:00am-7:30pm
8. Victor Oteyza Community Art Space
Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/VocasOMGArtistCafe/photos/a.1914510208779414/2018106145086486
Another product of Kidlat Tahimik’s passion for the arts is the Victor Oteyza Community Art Space (VOCAS). It was named after his uncle, Victor Oteyza, who was one of the pioneers of Philippine Modern Art. The art space has a number of similarities to Tahimik’s other creation, Ililikha Artist Village, from the out-of-the-box concept, use of recycled materials, and an array of artworks by Filipino creatives.
Much like Ililikha, VOCAS also has an in-house cafe offering vegetarian dishes called Oh My Gulay (OMG) Artist Cafe, which also serves as an events space.
Victor Oteyza Community Art Space
- Socials: Facebook
- Address: Diego Silang St, Baguio, Benguet
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Tuesdays
