Iloilo
City of Love & La Paz Batchoy
Overview
Iloilo is a charming heritage city known for its colonial churches, Art Deco architecture, and incredible food scene. As the "City of Love" and gateway to beautiful Guimaras Island, it offers a perfect blend of history, culture, gastronomy, and warm Ilonggo hospitality.
Iloilo, officially the Province of Iloilo, is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital and largest city is Iloilo City, the regional center of Western Visayas and politically independent from the province. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of the Visayan island of Panay and is bordered by the province of Antique to the west, Capiz to the north, the Jintotolo Channel to the northeast, the Guimaras Strait to the east, and the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf to the southwest. Iloilo City is the center of the Iloilo–Guimaras metropolitan area or Metro Iloilo–Guimaras, and is geographically located in the province and grouped under it by the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent from the provincial government. According to the 2024 census, the population of the province is 2,082,616. If Iloilo City is included, the population is 2,556,344 in total.
Read more on WikipediaTop Attractions
Miagao Church
UNESCO World Heritage baroque church
Molo Church
Gothic Renaissance church known as feminist church
Calle Real
Heritage street with colonial-era buildings
Esplanade
Linear park along the river for sunset walks
Guimaras Island
Mango capital with pristine beaches (30 min ferry)
Garin Farm
Farm resort with hilltop chapel and biblical tour
Nelly's Garden
Beautiful garden showcasing local plants
Museo Iloilo
Museum with prehistoric and colonial artifacts
Things to Do
Heritage Walking Tour
Explore Calle Real and historic buildings
Church Tour
Visit Miagao, Molo, Jaro, and San Joaquin churches
Guimaras Island Hopping
Day trip with mangoes and beach stops
La Paz Batchoy Food Crawl
Try the famous noodles at different spots
Garin Farm Pilgrimage
Climb steps to hilltop chapel
Sunset at Esplanade
Walk along the river at golden hour
Dinagyang Festival
Watch incredible tribal dance competition (January)
Photo Gallery
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Explore DealsGetting There
- Direct flights from Manila (multiple daily)
- Direct flights from Cebu
- Ferry from Bacolod (1 hour)
Local Food
La Paz Batchoy
Iconic noodle soup with pork organs - try at Ted's or Deco's
Pancit Molo
Wonton soup, specialty of Molo district
Guimaras Mangoes
Sweetest mangoes in the world - try the pizza too
Kansi
Sour beef soup with batwan fruit
Where to Stay
Iloilo City Center
₱1,000-5,000/nightClose to heritage sites and restaurants
Smallville
₱1,500-4,000/nightEntertainment district with bars and cafes
Mandurriao
₱1,200-3,500/nightNear malls and airport
Guimaras
₱1,000-4,000/nightBeach resorts on Guimaras Island
Weather Forecast
Travel Tips
- •Eat batchoy at Ted's La Paz for authentic experience
- •Visit Miagao Church early morning for best photos
- •Day trip to Guimaras is a must - try mango pizza at Pitstop
- •Dinagyang Festival (January) is worth planning your trip around
- •The Esplanade is best at sunset with Iloilo River views
- •Rent a car/hire driver for church tour outside city
- •Try the local "inasal" - Iloilo version rivals Bacolod's
- •Book Guimaras boat ahead during mango season (March-May)
Best Time to Visit
Dinagyang Festival (4th Sunday of January) is spectacular