Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget

  BACOLOD ITINERARY + TRAVEL GUIDE | 3-Day Tour, Budget

Being a travel blogger and a true-blooded Negrense and Bacolodnon, I feel that it is a must that I should write an extensive travel guide which will surely help travelers when doing a Bacolod Tour.

Negros Island is the fourth largest in the country with beautiful spots still unknown to many. It is, therefore, my goal to publish a series of travel guides to cover most of these points of interests around the province.

Bacolod City and  Negros Occidental Travel Guides for your Bacolod Tour:

• Negros Occidental Travel Guide | Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Murcia, Don Salvador Benedicto + Panaad sa Negros Festival
• Negros Occidental Travel Guide | Lakawon, Carbin Reef, Suyac island + Panaad sa Negros Festival
• Negros Occidental Travel Guide | Bacolod, Sipalay, Cauayan + Panaad sa Negros Festival

Meanwhile, let me share with you a 3-day and 2 nights itinerary covering the following places: Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, and Murcia.

Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget

 FESTIVALS  TO WITNESS FOR YOUR BACOLOD TOUR / ITINERARY

Before planning your Bacolod Tour, it would be great for you to know the schedule of the 3 major festivals in Bacolod City. You might want to visit the city during these events.

Please take note that during the Masskara Festival almost all hotels are fully booked, so you are advised to book your hotels at least 3 months in advance.

• Bacolaodiat Festival (held during Chinese New Year)
• Masskara Festival (held every October with its highlights on the 4th Sunday of the same month)
• Panaad sa Negros Festival ( help every April)

Chicken Inasal Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget

HOW TO GET TO BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

By Air

You can reach the city if you want to do Bacolod Tour through Bacolod-Silay Airport. The moment you landed at the airport, you can take an air-conditioned van just waiting at the airport’s parking area. These vans are easy to locate as their drivers normally approach the arriving guests. The fare from the Airport to Bacolod City is P150. A taxi normally charges P500.

By Bus (Cebu City)

You can also reach Bacolod City through Ceres Bus from Cebu City. At the North Terminal in Cebu, several Ceres Buses are plying to Bacolod City.

By Bus (Dumaguete City)

From Dumaguete City, several Ceres Buses are also servicing this route almost every hour.

By Boat (Iloilo City)

For people from Iloilo and Panay Island who wishes to do Bacolod Tour, several Fast Crafts are servicing Bacolod and Iloilo Route several times a day. Fares normally ranges between P230-P250.

Please click here for detailed How to Get to Bacolod City |Schedule of Fast crafts and Ceres Bus 

GETTING AROUND BACOLOD

Bacolod City is easy to navigate and the sample itineraries presented below are designed to help solo travelers. It is indicated in our guide the jeepneys to take when navigating various attractions, however, if you are traveling as a group, it would be best to take the taxi or hire a van to make your trip more comfortable and swift.

WHERE TO STAY IN BACOLOD

Bacolod City is loaded with several Hotels and Inns that you can choose according to your budget.  To help you decide, you can click on the link below, or simply use the form at the bottom of this post to compare rates of various hotels.

• LIST OF HOTELS AND INN IN BACOLOD CITY

Mudpack Festival [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

SAMPLE BACOLOD ITINERARY FOR A TOUR OF  3 DAYS AND 2 NIGHTS 

Please take note that this itinerary for a Bacolod Tour is loaded with places to visit having an assumption that any guests would want to maximize his/her visit to the city.

ITINERARY

In a nutshell, the following will be the points of Interests/Attractions you will be visiting for this 3 days and 2 nights Bacolod City Tour:

DAY 1

• Bacolod Public Plaza, Bandstand, San Sebastian Cathedral, Breakfast
• Bacolod Gallery of Masks
• La Guerta Vintage Glass Museum
• May’s Organic Garden and Restaurant
• Campuestohan Highland Resort or Mambukal Mountain Resort
• Dinner at Market Place

DAY 2

• Silay Public Plaza
• Silay Heritage Tour
• Balaring
• El Ideal Bakery
• Negros Showroom
• Calea, Felicias or C’s Cafe
• Negros Capitol Lagoon
• Negros Museum
• Pope John Paul II Tower
• Manokan Country

DAY 3

• The Ruins

San Sebastian Cathedral [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

BACOLOD ITINERARY – DAY 1  

7 AM – 8:30 AM – BACOLOD PUBLIC PLAZA, BANDSTAND, SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL  

Breakfast at your Hotel. If you booked a budget hotel which does not provide free breakfast, you need not worry because there are many restaurants and fast-food chains in Bacolod City.

Let’s start our Bacolod Tour at the Bacolod Public Plaza. Along this area are many fast-food chains wherein you can have your morning coffee or breakfast.

At the center of Bacolod Public Plaza, you will find the bandstand which was constructed in 1926 and inaugurated in 1927.

Right beside the public plaza is the San Sebastian Cathedral, a late 19th-century church in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The present church structure construction began on 27 April 1876. For Catholic travelers, visiting this church would be a good start for an adventure.

After visiting the church, you can have your breakfast from any food establishments around the place. Please take note that most restaurants offering special delicacies are not yet open during this time.

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

8:30-9:30 AM – BACOLOD GALLERY OF MASKS

From the Public Plaza, let’s go and visit the southern part of the city.

Bacolod City is home to the world-renowned Masskara Festival which is held every October of each year. However, in Bacolod City, you can find a gallery which houses and sells authentic Bacolod Masks. It would be interesting to include this destination in your Bacolod Tour Itinerary.

Right in front of San Sebastian Cathedral are jeepneys plying towards Bacolod – South. Take the jeepney plying “Punta Taytay”. Ask the driver to drop you at Bongbong’s right in front of Metrodome. Please take note that taking a taxi will make your city tour swift and more comfortable.

From Metrodome (your landmark ) just walk a few meters towards the east. The Gallery of Bacolod Masks can be found 3rd gate from Metrodome. There’s signage at the gate with a picture of a mask, so you will surely find the place. The gallery is open 8:30 AM and closes at 5 PM (Mondays to Saturdays), but you can always call and make some appointments. There are no entrance fees, but they are selling some souvenirs ranging from the small mask magnets to the big wearable masks. You need not buy, you can just simply visit and see them doing mask making. If you have more time they also offer a “paint your mask” activity for a price of  P150. You can then bring home a small sample of Bacolod Masks which you had painted.

Contact Number: 704-2376

Must Read:

• BACOLOD GALLERY OF MASKS
• RYAN BANG PAINTED HIS OWN MASK

9:30-10:30 AM – LA GUERTA GLASS MUSEUM

From the Gallery of masks, go back to Bongbong’s and take another jeepney plying Punta Taytay. Ask the driver to drop you to the church. From that point, ask around where to find the Laguerta Glass Museum or simply take a trike to bring you to the place.

Owned and managed by Tomas Claridad Casiano, the Laguerta Vintage Glasses Museum houses a huge collection of different glasses of different sizes, shapes, and colors. The place does not accept walk-in guests. You need to call and make an appointment prior to your Bacolod Tour.

Address: Negros South Road, Bacolod, Negros Occidental
Phone: (034) 444 1140

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

10:30-12:00 MN – LUNCH AND VISIT TO MAY’S ORGANIC GARDEN AND RESTAURANT

From La Guerta Vintage Glass Museum, go back to the highway and take any jeepney going to Bacolod City to continue your Bacolod Tour. Tell the driver to drop you to May’s Organic Garden and Restaurant. If you want a tour in the garden, there is a charge of PHP 200. Riding a golf cart, you will see the beautiful garden as well as their organic farm. After the tour, you can have your organic meal at their restaurant.

Address: Araneta Ave, Pahanocoy, Bacolod, 6100 Negros Occidental
Phone: (034) 431 3800

Must Read: MAY’S ORGANIC GARDEN AND RESTAURANT

12:00 – ONWARDS – OPTIONS OF VISITING MAMBUKAL OR CAMPUESTOHAN HIGHLAND RESORTS

If you would like to visit either Campuestohan or Mambukal, I suggest that you stay overnight at the place for you to fully enjoy the place and it would not be too tiring on your part. However, If you are renting a van for your Bacolod Tour, you can visit this place and go back to your hotel late in the afternoon.

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

Option 1. VISIT CAMPUESTOHAN

From May’s Organic Garden and Restaurant take a jeepney plying to Bacolod City ask the driver to drop you to the place nearest the public plaza. I suggest you take a taxi to go to Burgos Market as a jeepney will take more of your time.

From Burgos Market, take a jeep plying Alangilan. Any of these jeepneys will bring you to Campuestohan Highland Resort.

When going back to the city proper, tricycle outside the resort can bring you back to your hotel in Bacolod City.

Must Read: CAMPUESTOHAN HIGHLAND RESORT TRAVEL GUIDE

Option 2. VISIT MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

From May’s Organic Garden and Resturant take a jeepney plying Bacolod City. Ask the driver to drop you at Bongbongs (where you came from earlier). From that place, take a jeepney to bring you to Libertad, or the fastest would be, take a pedicab (most of them are parking just beside Bongbongs) and ask them to bring you to Libertad Market at the terminal of Mambukal.

From Mambukal, Just take the jeepney parking outside the resort to bring you back to Bacolod City.

Must Read:

• MUDPACK FESTIVAL AT MAMBUKAL 
• MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

If you want to read more about these places and book a room to either Mambukal or Campuestohan, please click the links below:

• CAMPUESTOHAN HIGHLAND RESORT: WHAT TO SEE, RATES
• MAMBUKAL MOUNTAIN RESORT: WHAT TO SEE, RATES

If you decided to go back to Bacolod after your trip to Mambukal or Campuestohan, you might be so tired by this time. So you might want to go back first to your hotel to freshen up or to have a short rest before dinner time.

Now that you have rested, you will surely want to experience Dinner in Bacolod City. Bacolodnons are food lover and restaurants in Bacolod City are endless.

Click here for the list of Bacolod Restaurants:

• HAPPY TRIPPER’S FAVORITE DINING PLACES

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

If you have the difficulty of choosing where to eat, I suggest that you visit the Market Place at the New Government Center. The place offers a wide array of dining establishments. Coffee Shops are also available around the area should you wish to have your coffee after your dinner. For the young ones, the place is dotted with bars which you can hang out to enjoy the rest of the evening.

For the young ones, the place is dotted with bars which you can hang out and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Bacolod City is generally peaceful, so be comfortable and enjoy your nightlife while having your vacation.

BACOLOD ITINERARY – DAY 2

8:00-8:30- GOING TO SILAY

Since you have already explored the southern part of Bacolod City, we can do a heritage tour on the second day of your visit to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Silay City is known for its heritage houses and good food as well.

From your hotel take a taxi or jeepney to bring you to the South Terminal in Bata, Bacolod. From the terminal, take a jeepney going to Silay City and ask the driver to drop you to the Public Plaza.

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

8:30-9:30 – COFFEE AND VISIT TO SAN DIEGO PRO-CATHEDRAL

Right in front of the public plaza are typical old coffee shops (kapehan) selling nice coffee at very affordable prices. Silay is also known for their kakanin, so I’m sure these coffee shops have this kakanin. If you don’t like what they offer, you can walk a few meters to El Ideal, they open as early as 6:30 AM.

Within the area is the San Diego Pro-cathedral. If you are a Catholic you can pay a visit to this church.

 Balay Negrense, one of the heritage houses in Silay City. This house is now a museum and is open for the public [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

9:30-11:00- SILAY CITY (HERITAGE TOUR)

After your church visit, drop by the Tourism Office (right in front of the City Hall) right within the plaza area and ask for guide maps for your walking tour.

Silay City is known as the Paris of Negros, wherein heritage houses owned by the sugar barons are still standing and well maintained. Some of these houses are open to the public while others are not. Of course it would be great to have a guide when doing a tour, however, if you are doing a DIY Tour, your map can already be a good help. If you are traveling alone, just hire a pedicab to bring you around. Of course, ask first for their price before hopping in.

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

11:00-12:00 MN -LUNCH AT BALARING

After the tour, you will surely want to feast on the food of Silay. So, I recommend that you visit  Barangay Balaring.

To reach the place, ask the pedicab driver to bring you to the tricycle terminal going to Balaring. Balaring offers a wide array of seafood through its various floating restaurants.

Must Read: EAT IN SILAY: BARANGAY BALARING

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

12:00 – 1:30 PM – COFFEE AT EL IDEAL

After your lunch, take a tricycle to bring you back to the city proper. Just try to negotiate with the driver to bring you straight to El Ideal.

El Ideal is one old Bakery in Silay City offering various delicacies that are popular among the tourists.

1:30-3:00 PM BACK TO BACOLOD, NEGROS SHOWROOM

Just outside the El Ideal, wait for a jeepney going to Bacolod. They will drop you somewhere in Bata. From that place, take another jeepney going to Libertad or Shopping. Any of these jeepneys will pass by Robinsons Place, Bacolod City.

At Robinson Place, you will find the Negros Showroom. The Negros Showroom showcases the best of Negros products. Various handicrafts ranging from furniture, decors, gifts and housewares, souvenirs and much more are found at the Showroom. Since this is already your second day, it would be best that you already buy some souvenirs or “pasalubong” for people back home.

After souvenir hunting, I’m sure you are already quite hungry. By this time so you can proceed to your next destination and have your coffee or taste various cakes and pastries famous in Bacolod City.

 

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

3:00-4:00 PM CAKE AND COFFEE AT CALEA, C’S OR FELICIAS

From Robinsons take a jeepney plying to Libertad. As the driver to drop you to L Fisher Hotel. Right in front of L Fisher, you will find the three big names in cakes and pastries in Bacolod City: Calea, Felicias, and C’s. Their cakes and pastries attract people not only in Bacolod but even guests from other places.

one of the sculptures at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

4:00 – 5:00 PM – CAPITOL LAGOON AND NEGROS MUSEUM

From any of these coffee shops take the jeepney going to Libertad. The jeepney will pass by the Capitol Lagoon. At the park, you will see the beautiful Provincial Capitol Building of Negros Occidental. I should say, this Provincial Capitol is one of the most beautiful structure of its kind in the country.

From the Provincial Capitol Lagoon, you can walk to the Negros Museum. Just ask anyone around for directions.

After your visit at the Negros Museum, I’m sure you are already quite tired and might want to go back to your hotel for a quick rest or to freshen up or might want to have your early dinner.

Must Read: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL LAGOON

 Chicken Inasal [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

5:00-ONWARDS -DINNER

For your Bacolod Tour dinner, since you are already near Lacson Street, you can pick from a variety of restaurants along the area. Since you have already tried some seafood at Balaring, you might want to try this time the Chicken Inasal of Bacolod.

The nearest chicken inasal restaurant from Negros Museum is the Chicken Deli. The Chicken Deli is right in front of the Seda Hotel – now being constructed. You might also want to try the Manokan country near SM City.

If you want to try the Manokan Country, take the jeepney in front of the Museum going to the downtown area. Just ask anyone from the museum what jeepney to take. The moment you reach the public plaza. You can walk to the Manokan Country (just beside SM City) wherein you will see a row of eateries all serving chicken inasal. I recommend you try the Lion’s Park Chicken Inasal because it is more spacious. It’s the first in the row of these eateries. Apart from chicken inasal, they also serve oysters.

Do you still have the extra energy? Or wanted to see more of Bacolod? At the back of SM City, is the Pope John Paul Tower. The tower is a seven-story building dedicated to the late Pope John Paul II who visited this capital city on the 20th of February 1981. At the topmost level of the tower, you will see a beautiful view of the city. So If you are not yet that hungry, it would be best to visit this place first before having your dinner as it might be too dark already when you visit quite late.

 The Ruins in Talisay City [ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

BACOLOD ITINERARY – DAY 3

VISIT THE RUINS, GOING HOME

As the schedule of your flight back home is unknown to me, I recommend that you spend the remaining few hours you have in buying what you want to bring home.

Going to the airport may take around 45 minutes depending on the traffic, so it would be safe to allow 1 hour for the travel time.

Before going to the airport, you can pass by the Ruins. The Ruins is one iconic structure in Negros Occidental. Technically, the Ruins is located in the

The Ruins is one iconic structure in Negros Occidental. Technically, the Ruins is located in the City of Talisay. The reason why I placed this attraction in the last of your itinerary – simply because there are no jeepneys plying this place.

To visit the place take a taxi going to the airport but ask the driver to drop you first at The Ruins (and wait for you). Just add 1 hour more for your travel time to the Airport. Since cabs charged a flat rate of P500 in going to the airport, it would be wise to negotiate first with the driver on the additional amount it would cost you for letting the cab wait while you are checking the Ruins.

Must Read:

• THE RUINS, TAJ MAHAL OF NEGROS ISLAND

Is there a place that you wanted to visit or be included in this itinerary? Just drop me a message, I would be glad to help you in making your Bacolod, Negros Occidental visit a real – Happy Trip!

[ Bacolod Itinerary + Travel Guide | 3-Day Tour, Budget ]

Hospitals in Bacolod City

BACOLOD ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER (Formerly Bacolod Sanitarium Hospital)
Taculing, Bacolod City
BAMC Contact Number: +6334 433-3195, +6334 433-4831

QUEEN OF MERCY SPECIALTY HOSPITAL
Eroreco, Mandalagan, Bacolod City
Contact Number:+6334 434-1031

CORAZON LOCSIN MONTELIBANO MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Burgos-Lacson St., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
CLMMRH Contact Number(s): +6334 433-2697, +6334 435-1591
Email: clmmrh_coh@yahoo.com | Website: clmmrh.doh.gov.ph

PABLO O. TORRE, SR. MEMORIAL CENTER (Formerly Riverside Medical Center)
B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod City
POTSMC Contact Number(s): +6334 433-7331, +6334 705-0000

THE DOCTOR’S HOSPITAL
B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod City
TDH Contact Number(s): +6334 433-2914, +6334 433-2741