Tagbilaran, Philippines

There are a few small hotels and lodges in TAGBILARAN, the hectic port capital of Bohol, but with the feverish hum of tricycles and so many sights nearby, it's unlikely you'll actually want to stay here. And indeed, there's no real reason to do so. From Tagbilaran you can be on Panglao Island in less than twenty minutes and even the Chocolate Hills, hidden in the hinterlands, are less than an hour away by road.

As for sights, there are a number in the vicinity, but few in Tagbilaran itself. Tagbilaran Cathedral opposite the plaza in Sarmiento Street is a nineteenth-century hulk standing on the site of an original that was destroyed by fire in 1789. The Bohol Museum (Mon– Fri 10am–4.30pm; P10) in Carlos P. Garcia Avenue is in the former home of Carlos Garcia (fourth President of the Philippine Republic), and contains various presidential memorabilia and a collection of shells. The Tagbilaran City Fiesta takes place on May 1.