Things to do in Cebu
Some tourist attractions in Cebu Province are within Cebu City area and some are in the far south and far north. Depending on your interest and your length of stay, please find below my list of TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CEBU to make your stay worthwhile:
If I have to put Sinulog, it would be number 1 on my list but since it is a festivity, I had it excluded. To those of you who wants to witness Sinulog, it happens every 3rd Sunday of January.
If I have to put Sinulog, it would be number 1 on my list but since it is a festivity, I had it excluded. To those of you who wants to witness Sinulog, it happens every 3rd Sunday of January.
One of the Floats paraded during Sinulog Festival |
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CEBU
1. Visit Cebu City's Tourist Attractions: Basilica del Santo Niño, Magellan's Cross, Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro, Malacañan Sa Sugbo, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City. See video below.
2. Visit the 10,000 Roses Cafe in Cordova, Cebu. Probably one of the most popular destinations among local tourists.
3. Visit the beach resorts in Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City. If you love the beach and you just have a short stay here, try the beaches in Mactan Island. You can find various hotels and resorts in Mactan from 5-star to budget accommodations.
Costabella Tropical Beach Resort - Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu |
Movenpick Hotel Mactan |
4. Visit Bantayan Island, Malapascua Island, Gibitngil Island in the north. As I previously mentioned in my previous posts, the beautiful beaches in Cebu are located in the far north and far south. San Remigio is also worth your visit. You might also want to check out Gatubod Spring Resort in Compostela, Cebu or Durano Eco Farm in Carmen, Cebu.
Estaca Bay Gardens - Compostela, Cebu |
Gatubod Spring Resort - Compostela, Cebu |
Santa Fe, Bantayan Island |
5. Visit Camotes Islands in the eastern side of Cebu. Camotes Islands also have beautiful beaches and are famous among tourists as well. When in Camotes, do not fail to visit Lake Danao. Related post - Danao City - Gateway to Camotes Islands.
6. Visit Argao, Alcoy, Moalboal, Badian in the south. These towns have beautiful beaches in the southern parts of Cebu. Also, if you love historical sites, visit Boljoon Church in Boljoon, Cebu.
6. Visit Argao, Alcoy, Moalboal, Badian in the south. These towns have beautiful beaches in the southern parts of Cebu. Also, if you love historical sites, visit Boljoon Church in Boljoon, Cebu.
Villa Budlot & Taginis Spring Resort - Moalboal, Cebu |
Tingko Beach, Alcoy |
7. Go Whale Shark Watching or dip in the blue waters of Sumilon Island in Oslob. If whale shark watching is not your thing and you love Instagram, the historic town of Oslob will definitely bring you back to the 1800's, check out Cuartel and Baluarte. Find places to stay in Oslob here (Supplemental readings: Tips for your trips: Oslob, Cebu; Whale Watching Butanding)
Cuartel - Oslob, Cebu |
8. Go Chasing Waterfalls and Canyoneering in the south. Check out Kawasan Falls in Badian; Aguinid Falls, Binalayan Falls, Calasa Falls, Candayvic Falls and Dao Falls in Samboan, Kampael Falls, Bugnawan Falls and Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan; Tumalog Falls in Oslob; Bugasok Falls in Argao; Mantayupan Falls in Barili; Cambais Falls, Canlaob Falls and Cancalanog Falls in Alegria and some other waterfalls in the south. (Supplemental readings: 10 Beautiful Waterfalls in Cebu; 8 Breathtakingly Beautiful Waterfalls in Cebu; 5 Must-Visit Spots in Alegria; Six Waterfalls You Need To Visit When You’re In Samboan, Cebu)
Aguinid Falls - Samboan, Cebu |
Kawasan Falls - Badian, Cebu |
9. Go trekking in Mount Manunggal (the site of the plane crash where the past President Ramon Magsaysay died) in Balamban, Cebu or trek your way up to Osmeña Peak in Mantalungon, Dalaguete, Cebu (then traverse to Kawasan Falls in Badian). When in Dalaguete, visit the many attractions the town has to offer, from Obong Spring to Rock Formations to Mercado's Peak, etc. I had read an article though that the peaks are under the jurisdiction of Badian town.
10. Have a barbecue feast at Larsian near Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City. It's popular among tourists. If you love bbq or grilled foods and would like to experience eating how locals do (eating with their bare hands or "kinamot"), you should check this place out. If you are looking for a cup of rice, you will get "puso" (hanging rice) instead so I suggest to give it a try, even if a cup of rice is available, go with the "puso". Cebu is home to the best tasting lechon according to those who ate it, I don't but, Cebu's Lechon is a must try available in most food courts.
There are just so many things to do in Cebu. All you need is to decide what you want to do and what you want to see, then take it from there. For example if you want to go to Malapascua Island or in Camotes Islands - these are places far from the city of Cebu, so it would be worthwhile if you stay there for 1 to 2 nights but if you want to maximize your time, you can always do most of the trips to far north and far south Cebu in just one day but always consider travel time.
Other things to do and places to go:
10. Have a barbecue feast at Larsian near Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City. It's popular among tourists. If you love bbq or grilled foods and would like to experience eating how locals do (eating with their bare hands or "kinamot"), you should check this place out. If you are looking for a cup of rice, you will get "puso" (hanging rice) instead so I suggest to give it a try, even if a cup of rice is available, go with the "puso". Cebu is home to the best tasting lechon according to those who ate it, I don't but, Cebu's Lechon is a must try available in most food courts.
This is how "puso" (hanging rice) looks like |
The ever famous Lechon. It is almost always available on big occasions. |
Other things to do and places to go:
- Visit Tops Lookout
- Visit Temple of Leah
- Visit Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden
- Visit West 35 Eco Mountain Resort
- Visit Museo Sugbo
- Ride the Edge Coaster/Zipline atop Crown Regency Hotel
- Go Skydiving
- Go Island hopping to Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary and Pandanon Island or visit Olango Island.
- Visit Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Danao City Cebu
- Visit the beaches in Catmon, Sogod and San Remigio in the north
- Visit Papa Kit's Marina and Fishing Lagoon in Liloan, Cebu
- Visit Co Jordan Talaba and Bangus Eatery or Ruben's Fresh Talaba and Bangus Eatery in Consolacion, Cebu