Should You Travel to Vigan in The Philippines?

The Last Spanish Colonial Town

There is not one place in the Philippines where you can see as much fusion between traditional Pinoy buildings and colonial Spanish architecture than in Vigan. While you are out exploring the rice terraces of Banaue or surfing near the beaches of San Fernando, it is only a matter of time before you meet a local Philippino who will begin reminiscing of their time in the historic colonial town of Vigan.

With a twinkle in their eye, they will recollect the quaint cobbled streets, centuries-old architecture, and old-world charm which is extinct in all other places in the Philippines. It is no secret that in the heart of the Filipinos Vigan is a national treasure.

From the recommendations of Filipinos and the breathtaking photos found online, you are bound to be hopping on a bus and heading up to the UNESCO site of Vigan before you know it. But the second you hear the clip-clop of hooves on the charming streets is just when the mist that shrouds Vigan begins to be lifted.

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The New7Wonders Cities

There is no denying that the historic colonial houses which line the street of Calle Crisologo in Vigan are beautiful. But after making one pass down the street, the traditional architecture ends. After doing a double-take, tourists are only left with the option of turning back down the cobbled street and trying to see if there was anything they missed amongst the tacky souvenir stalls and overpriced coffee shops.

As far as colonial architecture is concerned, Vigan can not hold a light to the likes of Charleston, George Town, or Hoi An. The Spanish buildings lit by nostalgic gas lanterns are confined only to one street. The rest of Vigan is a typical Filipino city, consisting of a dodgy bus station and lively local markets.

From 2011-2014, a worldwide competition was held to determine the New7Wonders Cities of the World. Countries from all across the globe put forth their submissions to be included in the list of 7 historic cities. When it came down to only 28 candidates, a vote was held to determine the finalists. Due to the love of Vigan by the Filipino people and the breathtaking photos propagating the town, this Spanish colonial city secured its place as one of the top destinations in the world.

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A City Not For Backpackers

One of the reasons you may find yourself disappointed with Vigan is that backpackers are not their target market. When walking down Calle Crisologo you will see far more Filipino families than backpackers hunched over by the weight of their oversized backpacks. One of the reasons behind this is that Vigan is a place where Filipino people can get back in touch with their own history and culture. This is something that would not resound as much for you travelers coming back from the ancient terraces of Banaue or the beaches of Boracay.

The other fact of the matter is that Vigan does not want to host hoards of unruly backpackers. In Vigan, there are no proper backpacker hostels available. Even the cheapest single rooms are swarming with cockroaches and dripping with mold. At night, the historic street of Calle Crisologo is transformed into a place for high-end dining by candlelight. Something well out of the budget of your typical backpackers.

To put it simply, Vigan is a place to do nothing. Tourists confine themselves to the colonial street, take selfies, and dine at romantic corner cafes. For locals, Vigan does not exist beyond the cobbled street of Calle Crisologo.

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The Soul of Vigan

No matter how disappointed you may be in Vigan, there is always some redeeming quality. While the historic streets are usually flooded with selfie-stick-wielding tourists and overpriced horse-drawn carriage rides. A more candid side of Vigan can be seen as the sky gets dark and the street lights turn on.

In the massive squares in front of churches such as the Vigan Cathedral, local kids can be seen skateboarding,  elderly men engrossed in a game of chess, and street food stalls pop up serving the best Filipino snacks you could dream of.

For the best of street food and local culture, backpackers should spend more time in the hill-top college town of Baguio. If you find yourself hating the overwhelming commercial nature of Vigan, the vibrant life in the city squares will get you by until you board the bus onwards to your next destination.

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What To Do In Vigan

When you do find yourself in Vigan, you might as well not waste your time brooding over the misleading photos and over exaggerative travelers that brought you to the town in the first place. There is enough in Vigan, other than sitting in coffee shops, to occupy one or two days. Other than the obvious beauty of the traditional colonial buildings you have seen so much of, Vigan has a growing street-art culture. For your amateur photographer, you could easily spend a day capturing all of the old architecture mixed in with splashes of modern color.

While wandering around you will also come across several churches, a mansion or two, and the ruins of the Bantay Bell Tower on the outskirts of Vigan. While this is nothing which will make you do a 180 on your opinion of Vigan, it will occupy your time until you travel out of the tourist trap of a town.

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Trapped in Vigan

Despite Vigan not being all its made out to be, the Filipino people are always hospitable enough to make even the least mesmerizing of places feel like home. When you are posted up in a coffee shop or splurging on one of those street-side cafes, the general friendliness of the locals is unmatched by anywhere else in the world.

If you are wanting a few days of posing with exposed brick and dining in the shadow of the Spanish colonial architecture of the town, then Vigan might just be talking your language. But with a country as vast and diverse as the Philippines, your time will be better spent exploring destinations more off the beaten track.