Laoag is a small city located in the northern part of the Philippines, and it is the capital of Ilocos Norte. The term Laoag traces its etymology in the Ilocano language, meaning “bright” or “light,” hence, it is called the Sunshine City or the City of Lights of the North.
Laoag is home to several historical landmarks and a tropical savanna climate. But it also has mesmerizing sceneries and jam-packed activities that will surely make any traveler’s stay worth it.
There’s so much you can do in Laoag! But if you don’t know where to begin, here are some suggestions on what you can do:
Churches in the Philippines are part of our national heritage. Thus, they are always highly preserved, especially stone churches in Laoag. Visit the large stone churches to see Laoag’s deeply embedded culture and tradition in Roman Catholicism.
Laoag has a rich cultural history heavily influenced by the Spanish during their colonization for over 300 years. There are various museums in Laoag that will take you on a trip back to memory lane – from the Spanish colonization period to the Marcos Regime.
What’s the point of going to Laoag without having to try their delicacies? Try their Ilocano specialties such as bagnet, dinardaan, pinakbet, and of course, the Ilocos Empanada!
The coastlines of Laoag are perfect for sandboarding. If you want to experience some wild but fun adventures, you must try sandboarding here!
Now that you’re here in Laoag, make sure to visit these top spots before it’s too late:
Paoay Church has baroque architecture and was built in the earthquake-baroque style. That’s why it was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also attend the mass in English, Ilocano, and Tagalog.
This sandy coastal desert is one of Ilocandia’s best attractions. The place has steep slopes and most people go here for sandboarding. Sandboarding is done by sliding down the sandy slope using a plastic or wooden board.
This museum is located along General Antonio Luna Street. It has one of the largest collections of Igorot, Ilocano, and Itneg traditional clothing, ceremonial and valuable pieces, and other everyday objects used by such tribes. And did you know this was formerly a tobacco warehouse? How cool is that?!
Since the Philippines has only two seasons – wet and dry – it is best to visit Laoag during the dry or summer season so that you can roam around the whole city without hassle. But you can carefully plan your visit depending on your budget.
If you don’t have a big budget for your Laoag trip, you can go during the low season, that is, during the rainy months. Between July to October, most flight fares and hotel accommodation rates in Laoag are lower than usual.
But if you want to see Laoag at its peak, the summer seasons of March, April, May, and June is the best time to go.
Planning to visit Laoag in the next coming days? Checkout the weather in Laoag.
Laoag is accessible via land and air travel. Here are some options you can consider regarding how to get to Laoag.
If you prefer to travel via air, Laoag has its Laoag International Airport. So whether you’re coming from another region of the Philippines or another side of the world, direct flights to Laoag are convenient.
From Manila
PAL Express offers direct flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Laoag Airport daily. They fly once from Monday to Thursday, and twice from Friday to Sunday. Travel time takes around one hour.
From International Airports
Since there is no direct flight to Laoag, you need to book a flight to NAIA first and take PAL Express direct flight to Laoag. You can also book a flight to Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and take a bus at Dau Terminal to Laoag. Travel time via bus will take you around four to six hours.
Traveling by land to Laoag is a cheaper option, but it will take most of your day, with an average travel time of 10 hours.
The well-known bus station for direct land trips to Laoag is the GV Florida Transport located at Sampaloc, Manila. Buses leave going to Laoag every four hours every day. For your convenience and comfort, you can choose between a regular aircon, luxury, and super deluxe bus.
Once you arrived at the bus terminal in Laoag, you can either ride a jeepney or taxi to your accommodation place or other spots in Laoag.
Drive to Laoag via North Luzon Expressway, and exit to Clark Airport or SCTEX. Go through Tarlac-Pangasinon-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), then to Mac Arthur Highway. This trip will take you eight hours.
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