With its wide selection of tourist attractions, the Philippines is an ideal site for sightseeing tours. Home to colorful festivals and exquisite natural wonders, this Southeast Asian nation has a lot of visual treats to offer for travelers.

There are notable tourist spots to visit throughout the country’s more than 7,000 islands. This is a testament that the Philippines ranks among the top nations offering an impressive selection of sightseeing attractions. Though internationally famous for its white sand beaches, this predominantly Catholic republic also boasts of delicate colonial architectures and breathtaking natural sceneries in almost every town.

Here is a guide to some of the best sightseeing destinations in the Philippines.

Manila
Manila is not only the country’s capital but also the center of cultural heritage. Explore the Philippines’ rich Spanish legacy with a trip to Intramuros (Walled City), which was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Inside the compound, you can find old places of worship such as the San Agustin Church and the Manila Cathedral. Other points of interest in Intramuros are Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. Also, never leave Manila without visiting the Luneta Park, where a statue of national hero Jose Rizal is erected.

Corregidor
Take a trip down memory lanes by visiting Corregidor, an island that served as an important defense fortress for American and Filipino soldiers during World War II. Some of the attractions in this historical place include the Pacific War Memorial, the Battery Way, the Mile-Long Barracks, and the Malinta Tunnel. It takes a shade over an hour to reach Corregidor from Manila, where day and night tour packages are available.

Baguio
Its unique attractions have made Baguio a renowned sightseeing destination in northern Philippines. Dubbed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the city is home to a dozens of scenic spots such as The Mansion, Burnham Park, Session Road, Camp John Hay, and the Baguio Botanical Garden. While plying the dizzying Kennon Road, have your camera ready for some spectacular countryside views.

Legazpi
Legazpi, the provincial capital of Albay, is one of Bicol region’s top tourist destinations. This first-class city is home to the world’s famous Mayon Volcano, which is known for its perfect conical shape. The year 1814 is said to be the volcano’s worst eruption. A remainder of this grim past can be found at the Cagsawa Ruins Park.

Banaue
Another premier tourist destination in the northern region is Banaue. This town of more than 20,000 people is the site of the Banaue Rice Terraces, a 2,000-year-old man-made leveled surfaces carved into the mountains of Ifugao. Don’t be surprised if gaze in wonder once seeing this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bohol
Aside from its pristine beaches, Bohol is widely known for the Chocolate Hills. These unusual geological formations are scattered in the towns of Carmen, Batuan, and Sagbayan. The dome-shaped hills are actually limestone covered with green grass. Bohol, which is located in the Central Visayas region, is also famous for a tarsier sanctuary and the Sandugo Festival.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

Allan Leandro Merin has been writing for a living since 2008. After leaving a career at a daily electronic crew newspaper, he joined a web development outsourcing company and linked up with Local Philippines, the most comprehensive online directory of Philippine destinations, events, and attractions http://www.localphilippines.com/.