Hotels in Iloilo

Iloilo: Gateway to Western Visayas

Iloilo City, the capital of Iloilo Province on Panay Island, sits at the mouth of the Iloilo Strait, 560 km southeast of Manila. Founded as a Spanish colonial port in the 16th century, it grew into the Philippines' second-largest trading city by the 1890s, leaving behind a corridor of heritage houses in the Calle Real district and ancestral mansions in Jaro — a National Cultural Treasure zone. The Dinagyang Festival, held every fourth Sunday of January, draws over one million visitors annually with its Ati-Atihan-inspired street dancing and elaborate tribal costumes.

Where to Stay in Iloilo

Most hotels cluster around Smallville Complex in Mandurriao district and along Diversion Road, both within 10–15 minutes of Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan. Budget guesthouses line Iznart Street in the city centre near the Iloilo River Esplanade, a 1.3 km waterfront promenade completed in 2012. The Molo district, known for its all-female religious images and the 16th-century Molo Church, offers quieter accommodation options 3 km west of the central business district.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Iloilo International Airport handles direct flights from Manila (1 hr), Cebu, and select international routes.
• Getting around: Jeepneys and Grab rides connect major districts; the airport is 18 km northeast of Smallville.
• Day trips: FastCraft ferries reach Bacolod in 1 hour across the strait; Guimaras Island is 15 minutes by motorboat from Ortiz Wharf.
• Currency: Philippine peso; ATMs are plentiful in Smallville and SM City Iloilo mall.