Tagbilaran is the lone city (along with forty-seven (47) municipalities) that comprise the province of Bohol in the Central Visayas. The city is politically subdivided into fifteen (15) barangays, and is a part of the 1st Congressional District of Bohol.
Tagbilaran is the capital and seat of the provincial government, and the center of commerce and education in Bohol. The city is also the province’s chief air and sea port, hence the principal gateway to mainland Bohol island as well as to the province’s seventy-three (73) component islands.
Tagbilaran offers a lot of interesting sights within or near the bounds of the city. Heritage sites worth visiting include the Sandugo or Blood Compact Shrine; the ancestral houses of Old Tagbilaran at Sitio Ubos; the old Spanish churches in nearby Baclayon, Loboc, and Maribojoc; the Spanish watchtowers in Punta Cruz, Dauis, and Panglao; and the Provincial Capitol and Bohol Museum, among others.
Recreational attractions within or near the city include hiking up Elley or Banat-i Hill, exploring Lahos-Lahos and Mesias Caves, and cruising the Loboc River.
Perhaps one of the main reasons people come to Tagbilaran is its first-class accommodations and proximity to fabulous beaches and dive sites. Bikini beach, just about eight kilometers from the city, is a popular destination. Other beaches like Alona and Momo beach on nearby Panglao Island are also must see.