This preserved Spanish colonial city from the 1500s has cobblestone streets, brick-and-wood mansions, traditional pottery workshops, and local delicacies like garlicky longganisa sausages.
Vigan sits on the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines, preserving its 16th-century Spanish colonial design. You'll walk on cobblestone streets past two-story houses built with brick and wood, especially along Calle Crisologo. Watch the evening fountain show at Plaza Salcedo, ride in a horse-drawn kalesa through narrow streets, visit active pottery workshops, and taste the city's distinctive garlicky longganisa sausages at the morning market.
Getting Around Vigan
Walk through most of Vigan's central area, particularly around the car-free Calle Crisologo. Kalesas (horse-drawn carriages) run through the historic district, while tricycles and jeepneys connect to outer areas. The city streets follow a Renaissance grid pattern, making it easy to find your way around.
Exploring Calle Crisologo
This 500-meter street runs through old Vigan's center, lined with Spanish colonial buildings from the 1700s and 1800s. Visit in the evening when antique dealers display their collections and restaurants serve Ilocano dishes like bagnet and pinakbet. The street's cobblestones and iron lamp posts date from its days as a major trading port. Many buildings now house small museums, cafes, and craft shops within their original brick-and-wood structures.
Craft Workshops
In the Pagburnayan district, potters shape burnay jars using techniques from the 16th century. Watch them create these large earthenware vessels, historically used for storing salt, bagoong (fish sauce), and wine. Near the city center, weavers work on wooden looms creating abel textiles, a pre-Spanish craft still active today. You can observe the weaving process and buy textiles directly from the workshops.
Local Food Scene
Start your day at the public market where vendors sell Vigan's famous longganisa (garlic sausages), bagnet (crispy pork belly), and empanada (stuffed pastry). Around Plaza Burgos, cooks prepare fresh empanadas in front of customers. Restaurants in the historic district cook Ilocano dishes using family recipes, including dinengdeng (vegetable soup) and igado (pork and liver stew).
Best Time to Visit
Visit between November and May during dry season. The Longganisa Festival in January fills the streets with cooking demonstrations and community celebrations. May's Viva Vigan Festival includes music performances and craft displays. These months see less rain and moderate temperatures, ideal for exploring the city on foot.
Historical Buildings and Museums
The Syquia Mansion Museum contains furniture and personal items from the Spanish colonial era, including belongings of former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino. At the National Museum Ilocos Complex, you'll find exhibits about Ilocano culture and history. St. Paul's Metropolitan Cathedral, built in the 1700s, includes thick walls and buttresses designed to withstand earthquakes, a common feature in colonial-era Philippine churches.
