Plan on joining the Dinagyang 2024 festivities? If you’re looking for a quick guide on where to eat and what to do in Iloilo beyond the Dinagyang 2024 Festival, this article is for you.
Dinagyang 2024 Guide: What to Do in Iloilo
Stay at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
If you don’t have a place to stay for Dinagyang 2024 yet, we highly recommend booking at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. Not only are the rooms super comfy and the food incredibly good, but they also have a pool and a gym. Plus, it’s conveniently located near notable must-visit places in the city such as Festive Walk, Korea Town, and ILOMOCA (more on those below) – and when we say “near”, we mean less than 5 minutes away. Yes, it’s that convenient.
Visit ILOMOCA.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
For those looking to soak up some culture that you can only experience in Iloilo, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) is a must-visit. You’ll absolutely love immersing yourself in their three floors of amazing artwork. Literally every single piece is astounding and we were blown away by the talent of our Filipino artists every step of the way.
Indulge in good food.
You don’t have to go far to experience delicious food in Iloilo, especially if you stay at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. While the food at the hotel itself is already delicious, you can also explore a variety of restaurants at Festive Walk, which is just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. To make sure you get the full Iloilo experience, make sure to try out restaurants that are only specifically available in Iloilo such as Bistro Ocean City and Buto’t Balat.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
As its name suggests, Bistro Ocean City is a haven of seafood dishes (and more!). If you’re in Iloilo with a group of people, they even have sulit set meals that are guaranteed to fill your tummies and satisfy that craving for yummy seafood.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
If you’re in Iloilo alone or with a smaller group and are looking for an especially aesthetic place, we instantly fell in love with Buto’t Balat. The ambiance will make you go “wow” and their regular dishes aside, they also have quick options available for snacks and refreshments such as our favorite Halang-Halang chips and sweet Sago’t Gulaman.
Visit Korea Town.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
Whether you’re a hallyu addict or not, Iloilo’s Korea Town is a sight to behold. Also located in Festive Walk, Iloilo’s Korea Town is chock-full of Korean restaurants and even grocery stores where you can enjoy a good meal and a night cap as well as stock up on your favorite Korean products to take home.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
We recommend going at night so you can marvel at all of the pretty lights as well.
Buy pasalubong.
Speaking of stocking up on products to take home, you mustn’t forget to shop for pasalubong after all of the festivities of Dinagyang 2024. Fiesta and Balai Ilonggo in Festive Walk are the best places for this.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
Fiesta offers stunning bags, tops, accessories, and delicacies that are proudly Filipino-made and are sure to spark interesting conversations when you go back home.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
Balai Ilonggo, on the other hand, is a haven for unique snacks that you can only find in Iloilo such as taro sticks, chili garlic sticks, local chocolate and wine, and serafina bites in all sorts of different flavors.
Photo by Angeline Rodriguez
You can even buy Filipino-made ukuleles here because why not?
As fun as the Dinagyang festivities are every year, there is clearly so much more to Iloilo than just that. So whether you are visiting for Dinagyang 2024 or not; you are sure to have a great time eating, shopping, and discovering more about Filipino heritage every time you visit.
What’s your favorite spot in Iloilo? Share it with us in the comments section!
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