North Luzon’s Romantic Road

There’s something timeless and soul-stirring about taking a road trip through scenic, storied landscapes.

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In Germany, the famous Romantic Road, stretching 460 kilometers from the Baroque city of Wiirzburg to the Alpine village of Fiissen, meanders through a fairytale-like vista of rolling hills and vineyards, walled towns with half-timbered houses, Gothic cathedrals and medieval castles, and thick forests and towering mountains, their peaks crowned with snow.

Launched in 1950 to rebuild tourism in the country’s Bavarian and Baden-Wiirttemberg regions, this picturesque route now draws 24 million visitors a year.

Inspired by Germany’s success, other countries like Japan, South Korea, and Mexico have created their own versions of the “Romantic Road” — routes designed not only for sightseeing, but also for deep emotional immersion into their national heritage, natural wonders, and enchanting local life.

What about the Philippines?

Often celebrated for its dazzling beaches, the Philippines holds inland gems equally breathtaking and fascinating — none more so than North Luzon’s highland corridor.

One oft-overlooked but unforgettable route winds around the mystical Cordillera and the Carballo mountains peopled by the Igorot groups.

It spans 396 kilometers of surface roads, from the misty ridges of Malico in Nueva Vizcaya to the terraced heights of Banaue, the mystical caves of Sagada, and the pine-fringed hills of Baguio City in Benguet.

Driving down this route, you would catch sight of rugged mountains and terraced hills planted to rice and vegetables, rainforests and river systems, and traditional villages.

What makes traveling in these parts all the more pleasant is that all four major stops are nestled in high elevations, allowing you to observe and soak in the native culture up close in cool, inviting temperatures all year round.

This North Luzon route could be our very own Romantic Road — a ribbon of adventure, serenity, and indigenous heritage, ensconced in the cloud-kissed heart of Luzon.