Basilica del Santo Nino and Magellan's Cross
The oldest Catholic church site in the country and the Holy Child image behind it, with Magellan's Cross in its kiosk next door. Free to enter. Pilgrim customs, dress code and etiquette explained.
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.
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.
Casa Gorordo Museum
A 19th-century ancestral house in Cebu City's Parian district. Walk its timber halls, carved arches and family chapel, and learn how four generations of the Gorordo family lived.
Hilutungan Island
A tiny island with one of Cebu's oldest marine sanctuaries, about 30 minutes by boat from Mactan. Snorkel a protected reef full of fish, with fees and rules explained.
Siquijor
A small, friendly island of turquoise waterfalls, sunset beaches and old stone churches, best explored on a slow loop by motorbike or tricycle. Now reachable by direct flight from Cebu.
Panagsama Beach
The dive-and-chill strip of Moalboal. Walk into the sea at dawn to swim with the sardines, watch the sunset over Negros, then eat and sip your way along one lively beach road.
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.
Chocolate Hills
Over a thousand grassy hills rolling to the horizon in the heart of Bohol, an easy day or overnight trip from Cebu by fast ferry, with tarsiers and the Loboc River on the way.
Basilica del Santo Nino and Magellan's Cross
The oldest Catholic church site in the country and the Holy Child image behind it, with Magellan's Cross in its kiosk next door. Free to enter. Pilgrim customs, dress code and etiquette explained.
Casa Gorordo Museum
A 19th-century ancestral house in Cebu City's Parian district. Walk its timber halls, carved arches and family chapel, and learn how four generations of the Gorordo family lived.
Fort San Pedro
The triangular Spanish fort beside Pier 1, where Cebu's story as a city began in 1565. Thick coral-stone walls, three bastions, a quiet garden courtyard and a small museum, for a low entrance fee.
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.
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.
Siquijor
A small, friendly island of turquoise waterfalls, sunset beaches and old stone churches, best explored on a slow loop by motorbike or tricycle. Now reachable by direct flight from Cebu.
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.
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
Cebu events calendar by month
A month-by-month guide to the big Cebu celebrations: Sinulog, Holy Week, Kadaugan sa Mactan, Simbang Gabi and town fiestas, with approximate timing and planning tips.
Cebuano dishes to try: a food glossary
A plain-English glossary of Cebuano food: lechon, puso, ngohiong, sutukil, kinilaw, tuslob buwa, bam-i, budbud kabog, otap, danggit and more, with what to order and where they shine.
How to ride jeepneys in Cebu
Read the route codes, pay the fare, say "para" at the right time and stay safe. A friendly beginner's guide to Cebu City jeepneys, fares and useful routes.
At a glance
Welcome to Cebu
Cebu City & Mactan
South Cebu
North Cebu
Bantayan & Camotes
Best timeDec to May
MoneyPeso, cash
Cebu Pocket Guide2
Tourist Booklet
The Cebu Pocket Guide
Hover or tap to peek inside
Free printable 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
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