I visited this WHS in spring 2025 staying overnight after visiting the inscribed rice terraces. I agree that Vigan is a highlight in a country with not so many historic cities as well as probably the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia so it surely deserves its place on the WH list. However, it lacks the attention and the restoration efforts other Spanish colonial WHS were given in other continents and it suffers quite a lot from internal and continental overtourism.

That said, with some extra effort to visit early morning before all the souvenir shops open and before all the town comes bustling to life, I managed to enjoy the several historic buildings and its urban planning (including the usually crowded Calle Crisologo), keeping my eyes peeled for the Chinese/Ilocano influences such as the sliding windows/shutters as well as the Chinese statues on the Metropolitan cathedral or the Benedictine monastery facades. Some historic buildings worth visiting also for their interior are the Syquia Mansion Museum, the Crisologo Museum, and the Padre Jose Burgos House and National Museum. In each building or just outside there are metal UNESCO WHS inscription plaques, apart from the WHS Monument and plaque in Burgos street.

In the evening, it was fun to watch the Holy Week Procession with small statues after having experienced the much more pompous procession in Antigua Guatemala last year, while after trying different delicious delicacies which were sold at the several stalls around town. For the foodies in our community, make sure to try out the local Bibingka sweet rice cakes at Tongson’s Royal Bibingka, the Vigan Empanada (meat or vegetarian) dipped in vinegar at Irene's, and the Longganisa sausage (best eaten for breakfast).

If you have time for a worthwhile detour from Vigan, 64 km north towards Ilocos Norte lies one of the best locations of the Baroque Churches WHS, the Saint Augustine Parish Church of Paoay with its impressive buttresses. On your way to or from Vigan, you can also visit another Baroque Church WHS location, the Minor Basilica of La Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, just a 10 minute detour from the main road.