The top Bacolod city tourist spots every first-time traveler to the city must visit

Bacolod, the capital of the Negros Occidental province, is a highly-urbanized coastal city on Negros Island. Bacolod is almost synonymous with the world-famous Masskara Festival (a colorful celebration of music and dance wherein the participants don resplendent masks with smiling faces) so much so that it came to be known as “The City of Smiles.”

Apart from the festival, Bacolod is also known for its historical attractions, religious sites, museums, food culture, and hospitality of the locals. If you are traveling to this city for the first time, we must say that there is a wide range of interesting things to do in Bacolod that you need to dedicate at least 3 full days to explore the Bacolod city tourist spots. Scour iEagle for the cheap fare on flights to Bacolod operated by many popular airlines.

The Ruins:

The Ruins refer to the beauty of a demolished mansion built by Sugar Baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson in memory of his wife. It is also called ‘the Taj Mahal of Negros’ owing to its history. Standing in the center of lush green sugar plantations in Talisay City (a few minutes’ drive from Bacolod), this ancestral mansion featuring impressive Neo-Roman architecture is one of the most photographed Bacolod city tourist spots. It also has a restaurant that serves Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Open Hours: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm

San Sebastian Cathedral:

San Sebastian Cathedral is an ancient stone-and-wood church located along Rizal Street in downtown Bacolod City. It is the most beautiful church in the province and is a popular pilgrimage site for Filipino Roman Catholics. Also known as Bacolod Cathedral, it is constructed in a baroque architectural style using coral stones from the Guimaras Island and hardwood from Palawan as the primary building material. The present-day façade of this church is the product of renovation works during the 1960s. Its interiors are equally magnificent filled with a sense of tranquility!

Open Hours: 5:00 am to 8:00 pm

Campuestohan Highlands Resort:

One of the most famous Bacolod city tourist spots is Campuestohan Highlands Resort, which offers a lot of recreational and adventurous activities suiting all types of travelers of all age groups. While the kids enjoy the fun time in swimming pools, play grounds, and Heroes Hall, adventure enthusiasts love to try every thrilling ride from Zipline, sky bicycle, bungee trampoline, to the cable hamster wheel. The resort also has a spa for adults choosing to chill and relax. Campuestohan Highland Resort occupies a 5-hectare property amid verdant forests of Mt. Makawili, and has facilities like tepee-shaped camp houses, outdoor pools, and a wave pool.

Open Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Capitol Park and Lagoon:

This provincial park located at the heart of the city is one of the best Bacolod city tourist spots ideal for relaxation and recreation. A morning/evening walk along the tree-lined path of this park is enough to de-stress you. The Sunset at the park is just unmissable! The center of attraction of the Capitol Park complex is a beautiful man-made lagoon right in the middle. Also, check out the two Italian sculptures of a water buffalo and a human — one featuring a man and the other a woman — at the northern and southern ends of the lagoon. The Capitol Park complex also houses other landmarks of Bacolod city like Capitol Hall, the provincial library, and the Negros Museum.

Open Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Negros Museum:

Visiting the Negros Museum is one of the recommended things to do in Bacolod for all the history and art lovers. Located in the Provincial Capitol Complex, Negros Museum exhibits both ancient artifacts and contemporary artworks of local artisans that give tourists a glimpse of the history, culture, and lifestyle of the Negrenses hundreds of years ago, and simultaneously educate them about the evolution of the Negroes Island and its people. If you are visiting this Bacolod city tourist attraction with kids, you must step into the Toy Gallery, whose astonishing toy collection stops your kids in their tracks.

Open Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm