This active Philippine city celebrates life with its MassKara street festival, neo-Gothic San Sebastian Cathedral, and famous chicken inasal grills lining local streets.
Bacolod sits in the Negros Island Region of the Philippines, where dancers in vibrant masks fill the streets during the annual MassKara Festival. You'll find locals grilling chicken inasal at street-side stalls and vendors making piaya flatbread near the Public Plaza. The 19th-century San Sebastian Cathedral anchors the downtown area, while surrounding sugar plantations tell stories of the region's agricultural past. Daily flights connect Bacolod to Manila and Cebu, making it easy to reach this corner of Negros Island.
Getting to Bacolod
You can fly into Bacolod-Silay International Airport, 13 kilometers from the city center, with flights from Manila (55 minutes) and Cebu (30 minutes). Two main ports, Banago and BREDCO, connect you to other islands. Fast craft vessels travel between Bacolod and Iloilo in 55 minutes, while larger ships make the Manila-Bacolod journey in about 20 hours.
Moving Around the City
Lacson Street and Araneta Street form a grid pattern that makes it simple to find your way around. You can take metered taxis throughout the city. Public utility jeepneys run on four main routes: Banago-Libertad, Mandalagan-Libertad, Bata-Libertad, and Shopping-Libertad, connecting the central districts with residential areas.
The MassKara Festival Experience
On the fourth Sunday of October, dancers in painted masks fill Bacolod's streets. The masks display smiling faces decorated with sequins, feathers, and beads in red, yellow, and blue hues. Head to the Bacolod Public Plaza to watch dance competitions and street performances, where local groups compete in choreographed routines.
Local Food Scene
Street-side stalls and restaurants across Bacolod serve chicken inasal - chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, and lemongrass before being grilled over charcoal. Local bakeries make piaya, a flatbread filled with muscovado sugar, and napoleones, a pastry layered with custard cream. Try cansi, a clear soup made with beef shanks, green jackfruit, and local vegetables, served hot in many local eateries.
Climate and When to Visit
Bacolod has two seasons. The dry season runs from January through April, with temperatures peaking in April. Rain falls from May to December, with August and September seeing the heaviest downpours. The MassKara Festival in October often draws large crowds despite occasional rain.
Practical Information
You'll find banks and currency exchange offices in the commercial districts. The electrical system runs on 220 volts (some areas have 110 volts), and outlets take flat two-prong plugs. While tap water is generally safe, you can buy bottled water at any convenience store. Most cafes, malls, and restaurants provide WiFi access.
