Top 5 Things To Do in San Juan, La Union, Philippines

San Juan is a famous beach town in the Northern Luzon of the Philippines. As this town is just a few hours drive from Metro Manila, many vacationers hibernate here during weekends. We have been in San Juan many times. I saw its humble beginnings when I was a teenager. I brought here my siblings when I was a young adult. I travelled here solo when I was undergoing a quarter-life crisis. Then I came back recently as a travel blogger and YouTuber while completing my list of provinces to visit in the Philippines (read here). What are the recommended things to do while in San Juan, La Union? Here are our Top 5!

Note: For those who’d like to dive deeper into our travels, our book Exploring Around the Philippines is now published and available on Amazon. It captures our journey across at least 80 provinces, told through personal stories, cultural encounters, and unforgettable experiences from around the country.
https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Around-Philippines-Provinces-Culinary/dp/B0FCSGHD6L

1.) Staycation

San Juan has a relaxing ambience with a long list of accommodation options to choose from. Read our San Juan hotels blog here and hostels here. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)

2.) Food Trip

With the popularity of San Juan to tourists, there comes the diverse gastronomic cravings for different and authentic presentations of food. Some of our top favorites are Beach Bum Food Park and Elyu Inasal. Read our blog here. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)

3.) Surfing

San Juan is branded as the surfing capital of Northern Philippines. The waves are almost always alive in welcoming amateur and professional surfers. While staying at Boho Surf Hostel, they recommended us Nano Surf School. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)

4.) Bar Hopping

Socialize with locals or with other tourists over nice selection of cocktails. San Juan, La Union has over 20 bars to choose from. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)

5.) Pray at St. John the Baptist Church

Before leaving San Juan, we visited the town plaza where St. John the Baptist Church is located. The Church reflects the locals’ spirit on preserving their religion and heritage. We left our good wishes especially to the one bucket where we had a misunderstanding. (Swipe below photo for more pictures)