Negros Island Region · Philippines
Where to stay in Bacolod
Bacolod is a city in Negros Island Region, Philippines, home to about 625,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- BCD13 km · Bacolod-Silay International Airport
- Currency
- PHPPhilippine peso
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Language
- English, Filipino, Taglish
About
About Bacolod
Bacolod, officially the City of Bacolod, is a highly urbanized city in the Negros Island Region in the Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 624,787 people, making it the most populous city in the Negros Island Region and the second most populous city in the entire Visayas after Cebu City.
The name Bacolod is said to derive from the Hiligaynon word bakólod, meaning a hill or elevated place, referring to the original settlement on higher ground in what is now Barangay Granada. That early site later became known as Daan Banwa ("old town"). According to local accounts, the settlement was eventually moved closer to the coast, possibly in part because of raids in the area. Bacolod became the capital of Negros Occidental in 1890. In 1898 it was a focal point of the conflict between Negrense revolutionaries and the Spanish colonial authorities.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Bacolod
See
- Bacolod Public Plaza
- Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol
- Iron Dinosaurs (vintage steam locomotives)
- Locomotive (Bacolod Murcia Milling Co.)
- Locomotive (La Herencia Subdivision entrance)
- Bacolod City Hall
- Panaad Park and Sports Complex
- San Sebastian Cathedral
- St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine
- Carmelite Monastery
- Sacred Heart Church and Seminary
- Barangay Sang Birhen Parish Church
Do
- Bacolaodiat Festival
- Holy Week
- Panaad sa Negros
- MassKara Festival
- Panaad Stadium
- New Negros Coliseum
- Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club
- Negros Super Lanes
- Lopue's East Bowling Lanes
- Center Court tennis courts
- Montevista Tennis Association
- Pohang Badminton Center
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Bacolod
25 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street Bed and Breakfast | 0.5 km | |
| Avenue Suites Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Caribbean Waterpark and Resotel | 3.3 km | |
| Circle Inn Hotel and Suites Bacolod | 1.1 km | |
| Goldenfield Kundutel Hotel | 3.3 km | |
| GT Hotel Bacolod | 0.7 km | |
| Hometown Hotel Bacolod - Lacson | 1.2 km | |
| L'Fisher Hotel Bacolod | 0.5 km | |
| Luxur Place | 2.8 km | |
| MO2 Westown Hotel Mandalagan Bacolod | 1.6 km | |
| Northwest Inn | 1.0 km | |
| Ong Bun Pension House | 1.1 km | |
| OYO 561 Abn Hostel OYO Rooms | 0.5 km | |
| OYO 789 Abn Residences OYO Rooms | 2.6 km | |
| OYO 800 Ddd Habitat Dormtel Bacolod OYO Rooms | 1.8 km | |
| RedDoorz @ Downtown Bacolod RedDoorz | 0.9 km | |
| Reddoorz @ Rosario Street Bacolod RedDoorz | 1.7 km | |
| RedDoorz near New Government Center RedDoorz | 2.7 km | |
| RedDoorz Plus @ Diola Villamonte Bacolod RedDoorz | 2.2 km | |
| Seda Capitol Central | 0.2 km | |
| Stonehill Suites | 0.8 km | |
| Sugarland Hotel | 3.0 km | |
| Sukro | 1.6 km | |
| The Bell Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| The Suites at Calle Nueva | 0.8 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Bacolod
Bacolod has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; July is the wettest, with about 457 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Bacolod: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Iloilo International Airport (ILO, 53 km) and Roxas Airport (RXS, 105 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Bacolod is a major transport hub with an international airport, a large and busy ferry port, and good road connections with many buses. The roads reach destinations anywhere on the large island of Negros which contains two provinces, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Short ferry trips go to Iloilo City, just across the Guimaras Strait to the west, giving access to the islands of Panay and Guimaras, and to Boracay which is near Panay. Other ferries go to more distant destinations.
Getting around
Most local transport within the city and to nearby towns is by jeepney, though taxis, ride-hailing services, buses, and rental cars are also available. The streets follow a rough grid in the downtown core, but become less orderly farther out. Traffic has increased with the city’s growth and is common during rush hour, especially in the early evening as commuters head home. Congestion is typically worse during the Christmas and New Year period, as well as during the MassKara Festival.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BCD · Bacolod-Silay International Airport
ILO · Iloilo International Airport
RXS · Roxas Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Bacolod
Eat
Bacolodnon cuisine, and Negrense cuisine more broadly, shares much with the food of nearby Panay, but has also been influenced by Negros's sugar industry. Bacolod also has many restaurants serving other cuisines, though local food remains an important part of the city's identity. In Hiligaynon, sud-an means the main dish eaten with rice, while kan-on can mean either "rice" or "to eat".
Drink
Bacolod's preferred beer is San Mig Light, which is served at most restaurants. You might also try Tanduay, the famous rum. For native alcohol, the local tuba is made from fermented coconut juice. Goldenfield Commercial Complex has many bars, pubs, nightclubs and casinos, and is generally considered to have the best nightlife in Bacolod. A dress code is enforced in some establishments (e.g. no flipflops/slippers and no sleeveless shirts). Though not so lively at night, Piazza Sorento bustles during the day with patrons of its many cafes and bars, along with jewelers, restaurants and boutiques.
Stay safe
Bacolod is safer than Metro Manila, but petty theft can still happen. Be particularly careful in the downtown/CBD and during the MassKara Festival, when crowds make pickpocketing easier. Keep valuables out of sight, carry only what you need, and use a taxi or ride-hailing service late at night rather than walking in quiet areas. For drinking water, most travelers stick to bottled or purified water rather than the tap. Street food hygiene can vary, so choose stalls with lots of customers and food cooked to order. Dengue fever is a recurring concern, particularly in the wet season, so use mosquito repellent and avoid mosquito bites.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Bacolod: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bacolod?
Bacolod has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; July is the wettest, with about 457 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Bacolod?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Iloilo International Airport (ILO, 53 km) and Roxas Airport (RXS, 105 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Bacolod?
Philippine peso (PHP).
Nearby
Destinations near Bacolod
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.