Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
One of the oldest surviving houses in the Philippines, built around 1675 in Cebu's old Parian district. Coral-stone walls, a timber upper floor, antique furniture and santos, for a small entrance fee.
Cebu, Philippines
Your friendly pocket guide to Cebu.
Turquoise beaches, cool mountain trails, old stone churches and the best lechon you will ever taste. Find where to go, what to do and how to get there.
Explore Cebu
Pick a mood. We'll show you where.
Museo Sugbo
Cebu's provincial museum, set in the coral-stone Carcel de Cebu jail of the 1870s. See the galleries on Cebu's past, reopened in August 2025, in a quiet corner near Fort San Pedro.
Magellan's Cross
The small coral-stone pavilion in downtown Cebu City that shelters Magellan's Cross. Its story, the painted ceiling, candle custom, the 2025 closure and how to visit next to the Basilica.
Nalusuan Island
A tiny resort island and marine sanctuary off Cordova, about 20-40 minutes by boat from Mactan. Calm, shallow snorkelling and a wooden jetty, with fees and rules explained.
Camiguin Island
The "Island Born of Fire" off northern Mindanao: a white sandbar, a sunken cemetery, waterfalls, hot and cold springs and sweet lanzones. A slow scooter loop with a short flight from Cebu.
Santa Fe and Sugar Beach, Bantayan
The ferry town at the south of Bantayan Island and its long white-sand beach strip. Sugar Beach, calm shallow water, big sunsets, Ogtong Cave and Virgin Island, a half-day trip from Cebu City.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Corella
Meet a tiny big-eyed tarsier in a quiet Bohol forest: a short guided walk at a conservation sanctuary in Corella, with strict no-flash and no-touching rules.
Balamban and Mt. Manunggal
Cool mountain air, a winding highway with big views and a quiet memorial where President Magsaysay's plane went down in 1957. An easy hike and a great first camping trip from Cebu City.
Sagada
A cool mountain town in the Cordillera, known for the hanging coffins of Echo Valley, Sumaguing Cave, sunrise over a sea of clouds and pine-scented hikes.
Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
One of the oldest surviving houses in the Philippines, built around 1675 in Cebu's old Parian district. Coral-stone walls, a timber upper floor, antique furniture and santos, for a small entrance fee.
Museo Sugbo
Cebu's provincial museum, set in the coral-stone Carcel de Cebu jail of the 1870s. See the galleries on Cebu's past, reopened in August 2025, in a quiet corner near Fort San Pedro.
Magellan's Cross
The small coral-stone pavilion in downtown Cebu City that shelters Magellan's Cross. Its story, the painted ceiling, candle custom, the 2025 closure and how to visit next to the Basilica.
Loboc River Cruise
Bohol's famous floating buffet lunch: drift along the green Loboc River with live music, then see Busay Falls and Loboc's old stone church, an easy day trip from Cebu.
Carbon Market and Larsian
Cebu City's oldest and biggest market by day, smoky barbecue skewers and puso at Larsian by night. A cheap, tasty and very local food trip in the heart of the city.
Sutukil in Lapu-Lapu
Pick your fish, have it grilled, simmered in soup or served as kilaw. How sutukil works at the seafood restaurants beside the Mactan Shrine, and how to order well.
Cebu at a glance
One long island, a hundred kinds of trips.
Cebu stretches nearly 200 km from tip to tip. Start in the city, then head south for sardines and waterfalls, or north for white-sand islands.
Beyond Cebu
Fly out to the Philippines' icons.
Cebu is a great base. Boracay, Siargao, Palawan and more are a short flight or ferry away. Here is how to get there and what to expect.
Panglao Island
Bohol's beach island: white sand at Alona, turtles and reef walls at Balicasag, an underground lagoon at Hinagdanan and an easy fast-ferry trip from Cebu.
Sagada
A cool mountain town in the Cordillera, known for the hanging coffins of Echo Valley, Sumaguing Cave, sunrise over a sea of clouds and pine-scented hikes.
Apo Island
A tiny volcanic island off southern Negros with one of the Philippines' most famous community-run marine sanctuaries. Snorkel with green sea turtles over healthy coral, the respectful way.
Ready-made trips
No planning stress. Just follow the booklet.
Cebu City heritage walk
Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro, then sunset dinner at Tops Lookout.
See the itinerarySouth Cebu adventure loop
Canyoneering to Kawasan Falls, the Moalboal sardine run and sunrise on Osmeña Peak.
See the itineraryNorthern island escape
Slow days on Bantayan's white sand, then dawn dives with thresher sharks off Malapascua.
See the itineraryTravel tips
Good to know before you go
Breakfast and coffee in Cebu
What locals eat in the morning in Cebu: garlic rice and fried eggs, dried fish, puto and hot chocolate, plus where to find good coffee and how to order.
Rainy day things to do in Cebu
Rain in Cebu does not have to ruin your trip. Museums, heritage houses, temples, malls, food, spas and cafes that work well when the weather turns.
Cebu City walking tour: a self-guided heritage route
A half-day walk through old Cebu: Magellan's Cross, the Basilica, Fort San Pedro, Colon Street and more. Route order, timing, heat tips and what to wear.
Printable pocket booklets
Take your trip offline. Print it, pack it, go.
Every guide has a pocket booklet with the map, how to get there, day plans, what things cost and packing and safety checklists. It prints on A4 or A5 and works offline, even on the boat.
One place
A booklet for each guide
$2.99 each
Green for Cebu, yellow for the rest of the Philippines. Find it on every guide, under the quick facts.
Find your guideBest value
All of Cebu: 61 booklets
$9.99 instead of $182
Every Cebu booklet: Moalboal, Oslob, Malapascua, Bantayan, the Camotes Islands, Cebu City and more.
Get the bundle (opens in a new tab)Island hopping
Beyond Cebu: 41 booklets
$7.99 instead of $122
Bohol, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Palawan, Boracay, Siargao and the north of Luzon.
Get the bundle (opens in a new tab)Secure checkout with Payhip. Your download link arrives by email right away.
At a glance
Welcome to Cebu
A long, narrow island in the middle of the Philippines, nearly 200 km from tip to tip. Most trips start in Cebu City, then head south or north.
Cebu City & MactanHistory, food and the international airport. Your starting point.
South CebuMoalboal's sardines, Kawasan Falls, Osmeña Peak and Oslob.
North CebuQuiet beaches and thresher shark dives off Malapascua.
Page 2 of 6 · the real booklet
Tourist Booklet
The Cebu Pocket Guide
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An island map, how to get around and the best spots in every region, in one printable guide.
- Island map
- Buses and ferries
- Top spots by region