Uncover the top Dumaguete tourist spots and plan your next adventure in the “City of Gentle People.”
Dumaguete City is the capital of Negros Oriental in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. In 2018, the Philippine Retirement Agency gave the Best Retirement Area Deemed as Retiree-Friendly (RADAR) award to the local government.
The coastal setting, friendly locals, cheaper cost of living, vast nature hotspots, and proximity to bustling cities of Cebu and Bacolod are among the few factors you might consider too.
Dumaguete houses several Universities and Colleges as well. The multitude of learning institutions here prompts students from nearby cities and provinces to reside in Dumaguete.
While developments have significantly increased with the rise of tourists in recent years, the city is still one of the Philippines’ most laid-back destinations to visit.
Consider planning your next travel to Dumaguete now. Booking your tours and accommodations saves you from the hustles of last-minute decisions.
Traveling to Dumaguete
Fly from Manila to Dumaguete City
You can book your flight from Manila to Dumaguete and arrive at approximately 1.4 hours. You will be leaving from Terminal 4 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and arriving at Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport.
Travel from Cebu to Dumaguete City
You can book flights from Mactan Cebu International Airport to Dumaguete and arrive after around 50 minutes. Land transport thru ferry transfers is available as well.
Check out this Dumaguete Tourist Spots List
Table of Contents
1. Rizal Boulevard
Apart from the known landmarks and nature-friendly Dumaguete tourist spots, the Rizal Boulevard plays a significant role to the locals and avid tourists of Dumaguete.
Stroll along Rizal Boulevard while catching the cool sea breeze either early in the morning or at night. You can also take a selfie or group photo at #DumaGetmE signage at its view deck as a mandatory souvenir photo as well.
This slogan has been part of its local tourism campaign since its launch in 2018.
Since then, this spot has attracted tourists for their obligatory selfies and photo ops.
At night, the Rizal Boulevard is well-lighted by lamp posts, where tourists and locals can spend some time before heading home. Locals and tourists dwell around at night, thanks to park benches where you can shortly rest.
You can also watch the ships and boats pass by going in and leaving the port nearby.
There are also restaurants and cafes for you to try with a nice view of the sea. You can try one of the local favorites like balut (boiled duck embryo).
Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal walks around here when he visits Dumaguete, thus naming after him.
2. Dumaguete Freedom Park
Also known as the Aquino Freedom Park, this park is ideal for a laidback stroll within the city.
The park is so vast and green; you can even have a picnic by the road.
Locals spend a short visit here after a long day from work or school.
You can also visit the capitol building that is fronting the park. On ordinary days, it is an excellent spot for a little less peaceful view.
Its Buglasan festival is usually celebrated here during October. You can enjoy live music festivals, street parades and join their fares and sports activities.
3. Siliman University
One of the most visited Dumaguete tourist spots is Siliman University because of its distinct architecture. Built by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in 1901, this institution is considered the country’s oldest American school.
Siliman Museum
The school maintains a total of six museums inside the campus. However, visiting the Anthropology Museum gives you a better understanding of their culture.
A comprehensive collection of unique ceramics, unearth burial jars, swords, and traditional hunting gears are displayed.
Aside from these artifacts, one prominent display you can gaze at is Siquijor’s mystic and traditional medical practice.
Aside from these artifacts, one prominent display you can gaze at is Siquijor’s mystic and traditional medical practice.
Siliman Zoo
Kids and adults alike will both find a tour at the University an enjoyable one. Aside from educational tours at the museums, you can also visit their zoo.
It houses several endangered Philippine animals like the Visayan Warty Pig and Negros Bleeding-Heart Dove.
When you visit Siliman University, you will recognize the campus as a heritage site itself.
4. St Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral
Pass by the St Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral for either a quick prayer or if you want to attend mass.
Locally known as Dumaguete Cathedral, this church serves as the seat of the Diocese of Dumaguete City.
It is also the oldest church in Negros Island, though it has undergone some renovations and retrofitting.
The exterior features a four-stone post and intricate statues of the Saints John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew. The interior is also majestic with its dome ceiling, exquisite chandeliers, and the center’s notable altar.
Visiting the Dumaguete Cathedral also makes an excellent addition to your list of Dumaguete tourist spots.
5. Belfry Tower
Within the cathedral’s vicinity, you get to visit the Belfry tower as well.
You can also trace Dumaguete’s history through this belfry tower that has stood the test of time.
In the 1800s, this watchtower played an essential to the village. It warns the people of incoming pirate attacks who steal goods and abduct them for slavery.
Today, its base serves as a veneration of the Virgin Mary, where visitors light up a candle and offer prayers.
At night, the belfry’s surrounding lights up and exude a solace atmosphere.
6. Bell Church
Besides old churches, tourists often miss unique Dumaguete tourist spots like the Chinese Bell Church in the City of Smiles.
You can find this place, though, at the end of the southern part of Rizal Boulevard.
Inside is a Taoist temple that is both attractive and colorful. You can easily spot the beautiful pagodas and Chinese scriptures.
This temple is a testament to the broad influence of the Chinese in the Philippines.
Pass by the Bell Church and take some photo souvenirs with your friends or family as well.
7. Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park
Head over to Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Park for a serene communing with nature, located at Mount Talinis range in Sibulan. Around an hour from downtown, you can rent a car to take you there.
Home to different flora and fauna, this park offers outdoor activities where nature lovers will appreciate. Among the things you can do here are boating, kayaking, trekking, and even camping.
When traveling with a special someone, you can ride a boat while mesmerized by the picturesque view.
A strip of narrow mountain separates Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao. You can go hiking for a memorable experience and find the best spot to view both lakes.
While appreciating the scenic landscapes, you can hop on to its canteen and try their authentic local dishes.
The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Park is among the Dumaguete tourist spots you shouldn’t miss in Negros Oriental. A quick visit helps you loosen up from city life’s stress and feel recharged thru nature’s sight and sound.
8. Mount Talinis
If you are spending long days at Dumaguete, you might want to include hiking at Mount Talinis in your Dumaguete tourist spots itinerary.
Also called the Horn of the Negros, this mountain has an altitude of 1903 meters, the second-highest next to Mount Kanlaon.
However, hiking on Mount Talinis is never an easy task. The mountain is a vast jungle, covered with branching trees, muddy trails, and mossy rocks.
Completing the hike takes about two days, so you must pack the essentials you can comfortably carry.
Expect yourself to get wet and muddy as you traverse uneasy trails, much like an obstacle course. Note as well that this park is a rainforest, so better use carriers that have waterproofing property.
All of these challenges complement the natural appeal of Mount Talinis.
Remember to drop by the Tourism office to secure a permit and local guide ahead of time.
9. Pulangbato Falls
You can visit the Pulangbato (Red Rock) Falls in Valencia, less than an hour’s drive from the city.
The falls have distinctive reddish rock walls due to sulfur. Its waters come from an upstream river passing thru sulfur vents, which gives off a stain-like color to rock surfaces.
While it is safe to take a dip, you will have to brave its cold, freezing waters. You can even dive but be wary of its slippery rocks, though.
A quick visit to Pulangbato Falls is an excellent way to relax and a refreshing escape from the city.
10. Casaroro Falls
If you want another level-up adventure when you are in Dumaguete City, you can also visit Casaroro Falls.
While this is also in Valencia, you need to trek to uneven boulders, muds, and trees before reaching the marvelous waterfall.
The water is as magnificent as its 30-meter drop to its basin. The lush green trees and mossy surfaces in its vicinity complements like a paradise too.
Though it takes an extra challenge to visit, the rewarding scenery is worth more memory to treasure.
Add this to your bucket list of Dumaguete tourist spots, or you can arrange with your hotels for a guided tour.
11. Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine
One unique way to learn about history in Dumaguete is by hiking to the Amity Shrine.
The symbolic concrete structure symbolizes three nations’ peace and friendship: the Philippines, the United States of America, and Japan. The inscriptions in English and Japanese at the base tell how soldiers fought during the Japanese occupation on the hilltop.
It is a superb place to relax and reflect; you can also spot Siquijor and Cebu’s islands during clear skies.
The place is serene and calm; camping in the area is also allowed.
To make the most of your travel to the Amity Shrine, you can ride a 4×4 vehicle to enjoy the rich mountain view.
12. Tiera Alta
A visit to Tiera Alta makes you feel like spending time, not from any of the Dumaguete tourist spots, but like a foreign land with its Mediterranean-style architecture.
What highlights this place is its eye-candy lighthouse in a minimalist white palette. At the top, you’ll have a perfect view of downtown Dumaguete, mountainsides, and nearby seas.
Aside from that, they also have an outdoor facility like its zipline and swimming pools. They also have a restaurant that offers luscious Mediterranean dishes you can try.
You can spend the day sightseeing and relax in their posh hotels at night for a complete experience.
This majestic haven lies in the sloping hills of Palinpinan, Valencia, a 20-minute drive from Dumaguete City.
13. Mabinay Caves
The town of Mabinay is considered the cave capital in the Philippines. With over a hundred identified caves, only a handful are tourist-friendly.
You can visit the Bulwang Cave, Panligawan Cave, and Pandalihan Cave for a comfortable spelunking journey.
These caves are relatively adjacent to each other, so you can hop to another cave right after visiting the other.
The chambers of these caves are perfect for picture taking, thanks to direct sunlight passing down the caves.
Incredible formations of stalactites and stalagmites will marvel at you once inside.
Wear some protective gear, however, so you can exert that flexibility during spelunking.
14. Malapatay Market
You can engage yourself in the locals’ daily lives when you visit the Malapatay Market. From downtown, you can ride a jeepney going to Malapatay.
Open every day, many vendors and traders flock to sell all kinds of goods: fresh vegetables and seafood, dried fish, handicrafts, and pieces of furniture.
Wednesday is the busiest day to see live animals like cows, pigs, and goats on sale directly to buyers’ trucks.
While it could be bustling and noisy, locals here are among the genuine people you can comfortably chat with and make an offer.
Don’t miss tasting Lechon and other Filipino dishes when you visit Malapatan Market.
15. Apo Island
A day tour at Apo Island lets you explore the bounty of marine species on this small archipelago.
First, you’ll be riding a jeepney or a private car for about 30 minutes from Dumaguete City. Then, you will drop at Malapatan and look for boats going to the island. Another 20-minute boat ride will bring you to the hidden paradise.
The island is a community-based marine sanctuary, and locals living on the island are the only ones allowed to fish.
You can explore by snorkeling and scuba diving in its crystal-clear blue waters. With the abundance of sea turtles, you can swim with them while documenting your underwater adventure with your gadget.
You can trek and hike its mountains for additional activity and see a panoramic view of the sea and Negros Island.
Restaurants are also available within the island for you to grab some bites. You can even camp at night; however, note that there is currently no electricity on the island.
The marine sanctuary in Apo Island is home to over 650 species and over 400 kinds of corals.
Indeed, Dumaguete tourist spots like Apo Island are a must-visit, especially for scuba divers.
16. Dolphin Watching in Tanon Strait
Watch wild dolphins jump from the blue waters at Tanon Strait. This activity is famous, especially for international tourists from March to October.
Coming from Dumaguete City, you have to travel early in the morning to have a glimpse of these lovely animals. It takes about an hour to reach Bais City.
Dolphins are active early in the morning while they are on a hunt for their meals.
Among the species that travel at Tanon Strait are the bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, and long-snouted spinners.
If you are fortunate enough, you can also observe some pygmy sperm whales and melon-headed whales.
17. Manjuyod White Sandbar
After an early dolphin watching at Tanon Strait, you might want to include Manjuyod White Sandbar to your Dumaguete tourist spots bucket list as well.
A tour to the sandbar is ideal for traveling in groups to save on boat and accommodation expenses.
Bear in mind that the sandbar’s visibility depends on tidal conditions. So keeping track of your calendar’s tide guide will help you.
The crystal-clear waters here are comparable to those in the Maldives without the luxury. You can enjoy wandering on the sandbars and soaking yourself when the water starts to rise.
If you plan for an extended stay, be sure to bring with you some sunscreens and shades, as it could be scorching at noon.
To cap off your sandbar tour, you can indulge yourself in fresh plates of seafood.
18. Talabong Mangrove Park
Lastly, another tourist spot you can check while in Bais City is the Talabong Mangrove Park.
This natural park is under the protection of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
With over 400 hectares, this park is home to different birds and animal species, aside from its thick Mangrove forest.
Nature lovers will love exploring the Talabong Mangrove Park thru boating around the park. The calming sound of nature here is perfect for someone who wants to destress from the city’s hustles and bustles.
A full day of tour at Bais City lets you maximize your Dumaguete tourist spots escapade.
🔗 Nearby Tourist Destinations | Bacolod | Siquijor |
Your next Dumaguete tourist spots getaway starts now
As you already know, Dumaguete has many beautiful places you can visit.
Whether you’re into group travels or an aspiring solo backpacker, Dumaguete has pretty much to offer.
Many students consider Dumaguete as a prime educational hub in Central Visayas. It is a place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the little things in life for travelers.
While it is relatively humid and hot all year round, visiting from March to June lets you maximize outdoor activities. If you enjoy attending festivities, you can opt to visit mid-October for their Buglasan Festival.
Besides engaging in outdoor activities, you can try many restaurants and shops. From seafood and chicken inasal to sweet delicacies, you name it.
Plan your next getaway in Dumaguete now. The list of Dumaguete tourist spots above helps you fill your to-do list when you visit Negros Oriental.
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Safe Travels!
Remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. For your guidance about the changes in health protocols and travel requirements, you may visit Dumaguete.com or visit the official page of the Department of Tourism. Stay safe.