From Surreal Beaches to Eye-Catching Spanish Architecture, the Philippines Have Got it All: 10 Best Places to Visit in the Philippines (2019)

No one likes travelling on an empty stomach. However, you cannot just eat about everything while you are away from home. The good news is, even though there are lots of exotic food in the Philippines, these are not the only food available. Depending on your budget, you can visit either a local food hub or a high-end restaurant. Another good thing about being a tourist in most of the islands in the Philippines is the availability of international restaurants that serve Persian, European, American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even Indian cuisines. Fast food and all you can eat restaurants can be found in almost every corner of major towns and cities.

When visiting abroad, you may want to try out the local cuisine though. One of the Filipino foods you may want to check out is the country's national dish - Lechon. Lechon, which means "suckling pig" in Spanish, is a slice of whole pork, slowly roasted over an open charcoal fire. In 2011, one entrepreneur bravely innovated this tender food into a more appetizing fare by making it from a deboned whole pork belly. Cebu Lechon Belly is originally from Cebu, it has become pretty popular and is now also available in Manila, the country's capital. Another famous food to try is chicken and pork adobo. This dish is available in most of the restaurants in the country. If you are into sweets, you are in for a treat! You can try a halo-halo, a concoction of crushed ice, milk, and ingredients such as boba, nata de coco, sweetened banana, sweetened beans, ube, and other fruit slices. Some vendors even serve this in a coconut shell, which adds the young coconut meat into the mix.

Whether you're a foodie or just a person who needs a meal, you are in for a treat in the Philippines.

Having a comfortable room for resting is essential when you are thousands of miles away from home. You will need to relax those feet after hours of walking. Of course, you also need to sleep, but sleeping isn't the only reason why you need a hotel, you, of course, need to refresh, take a shower, and keep your stuff safe while you are out and about.

Due to booming tourism in the Philippines, looking for a hotel is not going to be an issue. Numerous luxury hotels will fit your budget, including Five Star ones. I'M hotel, located in Makati, is a luxurious hotel where couples can book a sizeable extra bed for approx $109 per night. This Classic Studio room already includes free breakfast for two, free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, and other hotel amenities.

However, if you are the type of traveler who would like to spend more money in exploring wonderful places to visit in the Philippines for couples instead of spending it on a luxurious hotel, there are tons of budget-friendly rooms available all over the main tourist attractions in the Philippines. If you like to visit the beach, for example, you can either book a room for two in La Carmela de Boracay for only $45 a night, or Subic Waterfront Resort and Hotel for only $35. If you want to spend way lesser than that but still be in both areas, you can try the rooms at Blue Bamboo Hotel in Boracay at $17 or Sabina Beach Resort in Subic for $13.

There are varieties of accommodation to suit your every need to make your travel in the Philippines hassle-free.

Visiting a country is an activity on its own, but if you want to elevate your experience and get the most out of your vacation, Philippines offers a lot of activities you can enjoy. Here is a list of activities that you can enjoy while you are in the country that you can book online using Klook:

There is no chance you would get lost in the Philippines as almost everyone in the country speaks English. Yes, there are about 187 dialects spoken in the country, but because English is the second language in the Philippines, from the young to older people can speak it, and if not, they can at least understand it. Even the government operates mostly using English; this is visible in the traffic signs and other boards found in the streets.

The official figures pegged 7,107 islands comprised the Philippines, but that number grew to 7,641 in the year 2017 when the country's National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) finished their latest survey. They always say it's fun in the Philippines, and this only made it more fun! If islands and sunny beaches are your things, you will not run short of islands to explore here.

Tourists prefer to have tour guides, though it is not going to be a problem if you are a single traveller who has your DIY itinerary. The Filipinos are known as the most hospitable people. You can always ask around for directions, and you will not be turned down. Treating guests warmly is a culture that is purely Filipino. This is one of the reasons why there are so many foreigners who are happy to come back for repeat visits.

One of the best ways to explore the best places in the Philippines is to go where there are festivities. Almost every town in the Philippines has its feast to celebrate at a given date. The top celebrations that are famous to tourists are, Sinulog in Cebu, Panagbenga in Baguio, and Ati-Atihan festival in Aklan. These festivities showcase the best of the culture of each town, especially the hospitality of Filipinos. Families prepare meals that could feed a whole lot of crowns, and people go from houses to houses to eat for free.

The Philippines is one of the best places to be if you are looking for a unique blend of cultures. You will find that the country's culture is a mix of Filipino and Spanish traditions, with influences from America and many parts of Asia, such as China and Japan. This is visible in the Filipino's appreciation of art, fashion, music, as well as food.

The National Museum in Manila houses a significant number of tangible and intangible cultural properties. This is where most of the ethnographic collection of the country is preserved and conserved. The museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It would be a treat to visit because admission for all visitors, Filipino or foreign, is now permanently free of charge.

With the warm weather all year round, there is never a bad time to pay a visit to one of the best places in the Philippines - such as Palawan. Setting foot to this island will allow you to experience a friendly welcome from the locals, fresh water of the aquamarine sea, and calming white sands. Palawan has a lot of beautiful places that are yet to be discovered.

El Nido, a first-class municipality in Palawan, is the most popular tourist destination in the province. This is where you will find the famous Bacuit Bay and Nacpan Beach. There are lots of hotels that offer free WiFi and accept credit cards, and direct flights are available to El Nido airport from Manila, Boracay, and Cebu. Although the island tours in El Nido are standardized by the local Pumpboat Owners and Operators Association, packages and rates still vary depending on the added services the provider can cater to.

It is also in Palawan that you will find Puerto Princesa. A beautiful paradise that houses the most popular attraction in the Philippines and now one of the 7 Wonders of Nature - the Subterranean River. Shuttle vans that can bring you from El Nido to Puerto Princesa in about 5-6 hours are available daily from 6 am until 6 pm. This place is the capital of Palawan, where fun and food are plenty.

Considered a piece of heaven on Earth, the Malcapuya Island is only a Fast Ferry away from El Nido. It is located in Coron, another gem in Palawan. Travelling between November and early May will give you the best weather. Most tourists, though, are divers who come to visit so they can explore the Japanese shipwrecks.

Learn to surf in this province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Challenging swells that are surfboard magnets to advanced surfers have put back the province in the Philippine tourism map. The beaches have suitable waves for beginners, intermediate, and advanced surfers. Consistent quality surf can be enjoyed on both of the two surfing seasons - July to October and November to March.

A total opposite activity to do is visiting Lomboy Farms in Bauang, La Union, where you will find 50 varieties of grapes grown. Grape is not known to grow in the tropics, and having an opportunity to visit a vineyard where you can go grape-picking is an exciting experience.

Located in the Northern part of Cebu, Malapascua is a divers' delight. The marine sanctuary is rich with marine life; the island coves are secluded, and the sands are powdery white. Before the beauty of sunlight touches the island, thresher sharks can be seen regularly in the Monad Shoal. Dive shops, such as Thresher Cove Resort, are scattered around the island.

The top attractions in Malapascua are Langub beach, Bounty beach, and Logon beach. All these beaches boast a scenic view on either sunrise or sunset.

Non-divers can still enjoy this beautiful island. A long stretch of shore in Bounty beach offers an hour and a half walk. There are lots of restaurants where you can just relax and enjoy a meal. You can either rent out a motorcycle or hire a motorcycle driver to explore the rest of the island when you get tired of swimming and snorkeling. Live music, lights, and an awesome crowd eating and drinking along the coast makes the island alive at night.

Tagaytay, which is only 60 kilometers away from Manila, has lots of popular attractions to offer such as, People's park in the Sky, Picnic grove, and Sky Ranch. However, nothing would beat the beauty of Taal Lake and Volcano. After cataclysmic eruptions in the prehistoric times, the enormous Taal Lake was formed, which is an ancient volcano.

One more attraction that is often visited is the Fantasy World. An unfinished theme park in the middle of the rolling hills of Lemery, Batangas. The park's centerpiece is the colorful castle. For about $20, you can get inside and take Instagram worthy photos even though the rides are not operational.

Tagaytay is also visited by many because of the local bulaluhan. Bulalo is a light-coloured soup that is made by cooking beef shanks and bone marrow until the meat is so tender, it melts in your mouth. A lot of bulalo food stalls are located in Olivarez Market.

Staying in the area for a day or two is enough to get to all the beautiful spots Tagaytay has to offer. There are lots of public transportation available to take you to any place you would like to visit.

When talking about the ten best places to visit in the Philippines, it would be impossible not to include Banaue. Known to locals as "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Ifugao Rice Terraces has two terrace clusters that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visiting Banaue Rice Terraces alone makes the trip worthwhile. However, some must-try activities include - watching Ifugao cultural show, touring the Banaue museum, swimming at Tappiya falls, hiking at Awan-Igid-Pula-Cambulo Trek, and riding an Ifugao Wooden Bike.

You can go to Banaue through a VIP bus from the Philippines capital, Manila. There are two departures every day, at 1 PM and 5:30 PM. This air-conditioned bus has a toilet on board, free WiFi, and even reclining seats with footrest enough to make this 8 to 10 hour bus ride comfortable.

A unique and one of the most underrated places in the Philippines is Vigan. This is the country's most extensive historic city that has survived the test of time. The town dates back to the 16th century Spanish colonial period and used to be a coastal trading post in pre-colonial time.

The tourists often visit Calle Crisologo, which is a street filled with Spanish styled houses that evoke a bygone era. It will take visitors more than a couple of hours and will cost about $10. Some of the houses were converted to inns and can give visitors the experience of staying in the heritage houses, which are ready for your picture-perfect moments. The night walk in the streets is very romantic, and that is why it is considered to be one of the places to visit in the Philippines for couples.

A commanding view of Vigan though, is better seen from the historic Bantay Belfry that sits on a hill. This is only a 10-minute ride away from Vigan. From the entrance of the tower's base, tourists can climb the stairs to enjoy the panoramic view of the land.

Another place to visit in Cebu is Oslob, a coastal town with a population of just about 30,000 people. Known for being one of the best spots to swim with the whale sharks, Oslob offers more attractions that tourists can check out. Swimming with the whale sharks for $23 is going to be the highlight of your trip here. You will find a lot of eager tourists lined up at dawn to enjoy this activity. If you want a private boat, you can book a tour package for two for about $170, including snorkeling gears.

You can also ride a boat and dive-in to the excellent coral reef harbor with various marine life in Sumilon Island. This is where the site of the Philippines' first marine sanctuary is located. Twenty minutes of tandem flight on a paragliding activity will give you one of a kind experience while enjoying the view of the Daanglungsod town for only $66. This is a new attraction in Oslob that takes you up the sky instead of under the sea.

A trip close to nature is what Davao can offer. Mount Apo, the highest Filipino peak, is found in Davao. This is a stratovolcano and a dream mountain of every local mountaineer with an elevation of 3,144 meters above sea level. There are no recorded historical eruptions, but Mount Apo is still considered to be an active Volcano.

Seeing Philippine Eagles feeding on raw meat with their claws and beaks and watch them fly and soar with their huge wingspans are some things you can experience in the Philippine Eagle Centre where conservation of the endangered eagles is done. Many tourists are happy with the up-close encounter with the eagles and couldn't help themselves to take a photo or two. Other assortments of endangered animals and plants are also there for everyone to see.

One more surfing spot popular to tourists is Siargao. This is considered the surfing capital of the Philippines. Each tourist starts their tour with a surf on the waves that are almost all year-round. Non-surfers can always just enjoy watching the seasoned surfers tearing up the challenging waves barrels out at Cloud 9 that is ranked in the top ten waves of the world. There are several dive spots like Cloud 9, Jacking horse, Stimpy's, and more.

Another treat for adventure seekers is the cliff diving in an awesome spot in Magpupungko Rock Pools. The water is crystal clear, and there are plenty of coves, caves, and cliff jumping spots.

Fun in the water is never-ending in Siargao; tourists and locals enjoy the best caving experience in Tayangban Cave Pools, island hopping between Guyam, Daku and Naked Island, and jumping off waterfalls in Taktak falls.

The island of Bohol would belong to the ten best places to visit in the Philippines simply because of the famous Chocolate Hills. A thousand hills that look symmetrical from afar, especially from a dedicated view deck in the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen. The rainy season makes these hills greener, but during summer, the hills turn chocolate brown.

Apart from the Chocolate Hills, Bohol has a scenic marine sanctuary, which provides an excellent diving experience. There is a river cruise that is popular in Loboc River, where you can enjoy a buffet while the guide tells more about the history of this body of water, and native dance performance entertains you at every stop. Adventure seekers can enjoy the cable car, Suislide, a two-way zip-line, and The Plunge at the Wahig River. Face to face experience with the tarsier is also possible by going to Rio Verde Tarsier Place at Barangay Agape. Bohol is relatively small that you can do all the listed activities in 48 hours or less.