Things to Do in Vigan

The cobblestone heart of Vigan's UNESCO-listed Historic Town, lined with Spanish-colonial bahay na bato houses with capiz windows, wooden balconies and antique shops. Walk it in the morning when it is quiet, then come back at night when warm lamps light up the facades. Ride a kalesa, shop for abel Iloko weaves and burnay pottery, and duck into heritage houses turned cafés and museums. It is one of the most photogenic streets in the country.

Where you eat Vigan's famous orange empanada fresh from the fryer: a crisp rice-flour shell stuffed with grated papaya, egg and Vigan longganisa, dunked in sukang Iloko. The stalls around Plaza Burgos also fry okoy (shrimp fritters) and serve local street food in a casual, open-air setting. Order a 'special' with double egg and longganisa, then eat it while it is piping hot.

Vigan's main plaza, framed by the earthquake-baroque St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and the Provincial Capitol. In the evening, the long reflecting pool comes alive with a free light-and-water 'dancing fountain' show set to music, a favorite family bonding moment for locals and tourists. Arrive a bit early for a good spot on the steps, then walk over to Plaza Burgos for empanada.

An ancestral house linked to President Elpidio Quirino, whose wife Alicia Syquia came from this family. Inside are original furnishings, Murano mirrors, capiz windows, heirloom photos and the famous pink dining room, giving a vivid feel of how elite Ilocano families lived in the 19th and early 20th century. A guided walk-through takes around an hour and adds depth to a Calle Crisologo stroll.

A lush garden nursery with a shaded open-air restaurant tucked among plants, fountains and old jars. It is a peaceful lunch stop outside the city center, known for Ilocano dishes like Vigan longganisa, bagnet and empanada, plus refreshing calamansi juice. Kids and plant lovers enjoy wandering the paths after eating. Prices are fair for the setting, and the plant nursery also sells potted plants if you are driving home.