Top places to visit in Cebu

• Sinulog Grand Festival Cebu

  Cultural · 4.9 rating · about 8 h

  The Sinulog Festival every third Sunday of January is one of the Philippines most spectacular festivals — millions of devotees in colourful costumes dance through the streets in honour of the Santo Nino.

• Cebu Lechon Roast Pig Culture

  Cultural · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h

  Cebu lechon (roast pig) is considered the finest in the Philippines. The city has dozens of lechon shops with CNT Lechon and Rico Lechon the most celebrated. Anthony Bourdain called it the best pig on earth.

• Mactan Resort Beach Snorkelling

  Beach · 4.4 rating · about 6 h

  Mactan Island adjacent to Cebu City is lined with beach resorts and public beaches. Shallow warm water, watersports, and reef snorkelling make this the main accessible beach destination from Cebu City.

• Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Badian

  Nature · 4.8 rating · about 6 h · entry PHP 50

  One of the Philippines most beautiful waterfalls — Kawasan Falls near Badian has vivid turquoise water fed by a spring. Canyoneering tours jumping off cliffs into the pools below are hugely popular.

• IT Park Lahug Food and Nightlife

  Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 4 h

  The IT Park area in Lahug has become Cebu City premier food, entertainment, and nightlife district — with rooftop bars, international restaurants, and the busiest night scene outside Manila.

• Cebu IT Park Night Entertainment

  Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 4 h

  The IT Park in Lahug has become Cebu City most active dining and socializing district — 24-hour activity, excellent restaurants, rooftop bars, and the busiest pub scene in Visayas.

• Sirao Flower Farm Highland Garden

  Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry PHP 50

  A mountain flower farm in the Busay hills with spectacular terraced gardens of celosias, sunflowers, and tropical flowers. Views over Cebu City are extraordinary.

• Bohol Day Trip from Cebu Ferry

  Nature · 4.8 rating · about 8 h

  A day trip from Cebu to Bohol by fast boat (2 hrs) — famous for the Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, river cruise, and Panglao Island beaches. One of the best day trips in the Philippines.

• Cebu Heritage Walking Circuit Downtown

  Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 4 h

  A walking tour of downtown Cebu City covering the Spanish colonial heritage in a 2km circuit: Basilica, Magellan Cross, Heritage Monument, Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo, and Carbon Market.

• Cebu Night Street Food Larsian

  Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 3 h

  Cebu City night street food — from the famous Larsian BBQ pit at Fuente Osmeña to the night market stalls near Carbon and the IT Park grill restaurants. A comprehensive evening food exploration.

• Cebu University Youth Culture Belt

  Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 3 h

  The university belt around Fuente Osmeña drives Cebu City vibrant cafe, live music, and youth culture scene. The most lively and affordable dining area in the city.

• Tops Lookout Cebu City Panorama

  Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · entry PHP 50

  The most spectacular viewpoint in Cebu — 590 metres above sea level with panoramic 360-degree views over Cebu City, the Visayan Sea, and the surrounding islands.

Things to do

• Cebu Magellan Cross Church Heritage Walk Central Heritage · 2 h
• Cebu Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Trail South Adventure · 6 h · from PHP 2,200 per person
• Cebu Lahug Flying V Guitar Festival Heritage Heritage · 4 h
• Cebu Moalboal Turtle Snorkeling Sardine Run Tour Water Sports · 8 h · from PHP 2,200 per person
• Cebu Pescador Island Diving Sardine Run Wonder Diving · 5 h · from PHP 1,800 per person
• Cebu Sumilon Island Sandbar Swimming Heritage Water Sports · 8 h · from PHP 1,800 per person
• Cebu Lahug Night Food Tour Local Eateries Heritage · 3 h · from PHP 370 per person
• Cebu Carcar Heritage Town Day Trip Lechon Heritage · 6 h · from PHP 920 per person

Where to stay in Cebu

• Downtown about PHP 2,500 per night

  Main commercial area with hotels and shopping

Hotels

• Abaca Boutique Resort Mactan 5-star · PHP 18,000 to PHP 55,000 per night
• Kandaya Resort Cebu 5-star · PHP 15,000 to PHP 50,000 per night
• Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa 5-star · PHP 20,000 to PHP 65,000 per night
• Plantation Bay Resort and Spa 5-star · PHP 18,000 to PHP 55,000 per night
• Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort 5-star · PHP 10,000 to PHP 35,000 per night
• Badian Island Wellness Resort 5-star · PHP 12,000 to PHP 45,000 per night

Where to eat

• Jollibee Cebu City Original Branch Filipino, Fast Food, Heritage · about PHP 200 per person
• Zubuchon Lechon Cebu Filipino, Lechon, Cebu · about PHP 1,000 per person
• Larsian Barbecue Cebu City Filipino, Barbecue, Street Food · about PHP 300 per person
• Mango Square Cebu Nightlife Filipino, Bar, Entertainment · about PHP 600 per person
• Original AA Barbecue Cebu Filipino, Barbecue, Cebu · about PHP 450 per person
• Bigby Cafe and Restaurant Ayala Cebu American, Filipino, Comfort Food · about PHP 900 per person
• Cebu City Night Market Osmena Filipino, Street Food, Night Market · about PHP 250 per person
• Siomai King Cebu Street Corner Filipino, Street Food, Chinese · about PHP 150 per person

Getting around

• Jeepney main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Ride Hail main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Tricycle main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Money exchange short-change

  Major tourist zones

  Cashier counts notes quickly, palms one, then re-counts and accuses you of being short.

  How to avoid it: Use credit card. Count change yourself before stepping away.

More in Philippines

• Manila
• Boracay
• Siargao Island
• Coron
• El Nido
• Puerto Princesa