Philippines
Cebu
December to May (dry season)
$35-100 USD
Cebuano and English (Filipino also official)
UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
About
Discover Cebu
Cebu is the Philippines' second-largest metropolitan area and the historical heart of the country's central Visayas region. The elongated island of Cebu stretches about 225 km from north to south, flanked by the islands of Bohol, Leyte, and Negros. Cebu City, the provincial capital, is the main urban and commercial hub, while the nearby island of Mactan — connected to the mainland by two bridges — is where the international airport (CEB) is located and where most beach resorts are concentrated.
Cebu's history is deeply significant in the Philippine national narrative. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived here in 1521 and erected a cross — the Holy Cross of Magellan, still displayed in a small chapel near Cebu City's port — before being killed by the chieftain Lapu-Lapu at the Battle of Mactan. Lapu-Lapu is venerated as the country's first national hero and his statue stands prominently on Mactan Island. Cebu later became the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines, and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu — housing a small statue of the Christ Child brought by Magellan — has been a centre of Catholic devotion for five centuries.
Modern Cebu City is a compact, energetic place with a growing tech and business process outsourcing sector that has attracted significant foreign investment. The city's IT parks and business districts have driven demand for upmarket hotels and modern retail. Ayala Center Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu are the two largest malls, each anchoring a significant portion of retail and dining activity.
For nature and adventure, Cebu offers remarkable diversity. The Kawasan Falls complex in Badian, on the island's southwest coast, is one of the Philippines' most celebrated natural sites — a series of turquoise pools fed by chilled spring water cascading through limestone cliffs. The adjacent Badian River is a prime canyoneering venue. Off the coast of Oslob in southern Cebu, whale sharks (locally called butanding) aggregate near the surface between roughly 6 am and noon, offering what many consider one of the most accessible whale shark encounters in the world, though responsible tourism practices are an important consideration.
Diving and snorkelling around Mactan and the nearby Camotes Islands and Malapascua Island reveals colourful reefs, sea turtles, and the elusive thresher shark, which rises from the deep around Malapascua at certain times of year.
Cebuano cuisine differs subtly from Manila's, with lechon Cebu — roasted whole pig seasoned from the inside rather than basted externally — widely regarded as the country's best and drawing visitors from across the archipelago. The best time to visit Cebu is from December to May during the dry season. The Sinulog Festival, held on the third Sunday of January, is Cebu's most important cultural event — a grand procession and street dance honouring the Santo Niño that attracts over a million participants.
Where to Stay
Best Hotels in Cebu
Luxury Hotels
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
Shangri-La Mactan is Cebu's premier beachfront resort, set on a private stretch of Mactan Island with direct access to a protected lagoon. The resort's 530 rooms and villas are generously proportioned, and the property features an elaborate beach club, a CHI spa, multiple restaurants, and a dive centre. Its manicured grounds and coral garden make it one of the most complete luxury resort experiences in the central Philippines.
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Cebu
Crimson Resort and Spa occupies a beachfront position in Seascapes, Mactan Island, with 270 rooms spread across low-rise tropical villas and a contemporary tower. The resort's white-sand beach, reef-dotted shallows for snorkelling, and award-winning Aum Spa are major draws. The overwater hammock chairs strung above the lagoon have become an iconic image of the resort.
Fili Hotel — NUSTAR Resort & Casino Cebu
Fili Hotel is the luxury accommodation centrepiece of the NUSTAR Resort and Casino complex on South Road Properties, Cebu City. The property's 342 rooms combine contemporary Filipino design with resort-level amenities including multiple pools, a full casino, and access to the NUSTAR entertainment precinct. Its bayfront setting delivers excellent sunset views across Cebu Strait.
Radisson Blu Cebu
Radisson Blu Cebu is a well-positioned five-star hotel on Sergio Osmeña Boulevard in the heart of Cebu City, close to the SM City Cebu mall and major business offices. The 400-room property features a rooftop pool with city views, a full-service spa, and a conference centre catering to corporate travellers. It is one of the few full-service international brand hotels directly in Cebu City proper.
Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Plantation Bay is a self-contained resort on Mactan Island built around a series of interconnected saltwater lagoons and artificial waterways totalling 2.7 hectares — one of the largest in Asia outside a waterpark. The property offers 293 rooms in colonial-style villas, and guests can kayak through the lagoon channels or relax in floating hammocks. The resort operates its own desalination plant and has a strong sustainability programme.
Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan
Waterfront Airport Hotel sits adjacent to Mactan–Cebu International Airport, making it the most convenient option for early arrivals and late departures. Despite its airport proximity, the property offers a full resort experience with a large pool, a casino, multiple restaurants, and a shopping arcade. Rooms are comfortable and the casino operates around the clock.
Boutique Hotels
Bai Hotel Cebu
Bai Hotel is a stylish boutique property in Mandaue City built around the concept of a modern Filipino 'home' (bai means friend in Cebuano). The hotel's 260 rooms feature warm contemporary design and the property offers a rooftop pool and one of the better hotel restaurants in the northern Cebu metro area. It strikes a balance between boutique character and full-service facilities.
The Henry Hotel Cebu
The Henry Hotel is a design-forward boutique property in Banilad, Cebu City, with 48 rooms spread across restored buildings in a garden compound. Each room is individually decorated with a contemporary Filipino aesthetic. The hotel's Resto Bar is a popular dinner destination for Cebu's creative and business community, and its quiet neighbourhood location provides a calmer alternative to the city's main hotel corridors.
Mid-Range Hotels
Seda Central Bloc Cebu City
Seda Central Bloc is a modern four-star hotel within the Central Bloc IT Park development in Apas, Cebu City, connected directly to a mall and a concentration of tech offices. The 301-room property is sleek and well-maintained, with an outdoor pool on an elevated floor, a gym, and an all-day dining restaurant. It is one of the best-rated hotels in Cebu City for business travellers.
Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu
Quest Hotel is a three-star property on Archbishop Reyes Avenue in central Cebu City, offering consistent standards at competitive prices and maintaining one of the highest guest ratings in its category. The hotel features a rooftop pool, multiple function rooms, and a restaurant, and is within walking distance of Ayala Center Cebu. Its value proposition and reliable service make it a popular choice for repeat visitors.
Harolds Hotel Cebu
Harolds Hotel is an established three-star property on Gorordo Avenue in Lahug, Cebu City, within walking distance of the IT Park and several shopping centres. The hotel offers clean, well-maintained rooms, a rooftop pool, and a bar popular with both guests and locals. Its long track record and approachable pricing make it one of the most-reviewed hotels in the city.
Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mandaue City
Fairfield by Marriott Cebu is a newer three-star property on A.C. Cortes Avenue in Mandaue City, north of Cebu City proper, offering modern rooms at sensible prices. The hotel caters primarily to business travellers attending meetings in Mandaue's industrial and commercial zones. Rooms are compact but well-fitted, and the hotel provides the reliable standards associated with the Marriott portfolio.
Budget Options
Bayfront Hotel Cebu — North Reclamation
Bayfront Hotel is a three-star property on the North Reclamation Area of Cebu City, offering affordable rooms with bay views. The hotel's location close to the piers is practical for those taking ferries to nearby islands, and its rates are among the most competitive for a hotel with this level of amenity in the city centre.
Golden Peak Hotel & Suites
Golden Peak Hotel sits at the corner of Gorordo and Escario Avenues in central Cebu City, offering budget-friendly rates in a convenient location near restaurants and transport options. The hotel has a small pool and provides basic amenities suited to travellers who prefer to spend their budget on activities and dining rather than accommodation.
Hop Hostel Cebu
Hop Hostel in Lahug, Cebu City is a well-rated budget property offering both dormitory beds and private rooms in a clean, social atmosphere. The hostel's common areas — including a small pool, rooftop terrace, and shared kitchen — foster interaction among backpackers and budget travellers. Its walkable location near the IT Park makes it easy to access nightlife and restaurants without needing transport.
Microtel by Wyndham Cebu
Microtel Cebu is a compact budget hotel offering straightforward, consistently clean rooms at rates well below the city's mid-range properties. The brand's standardised approach to service means travellers know exactly what to expect, and the Cebu property's location near major commercial corridors provides easy access to transport, food, and shopping.
Experiences
Things to Do in Cebu
Oslob Whale Shark Interaction
Oslob, in southern Cebu, is one of the world's most accessible places to observe whale sharks at close range. Local fishermen feed the sharks daily from small outrigger boats, drawing the animals to the surface where snorkellers and divers can observe them at distances of a few metres. The activity starts at dawn, around 6 am, and is typically finished by noon. Note that responsible travel guides recommend considering alternative ethical encounters.
Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
The Kawasan Falls in Badian, southern Cebu, is one of the Philippines' most dramatic natural landmarks — a series of turquoise cascades and deep pools set in a limestone gorge. The canyoneering route follows the Matutinao River upstream through a series of jumps, slides, and swims, finishing at the main falls. It is a full-day excursion from Cebu City combining adventure with spectacular scenery.
Full-Day Oslob Whale Shark and Kawasan Falls Tour
This combined full-day tour pairs the Oslob whale shark encounter in the early morning with the Kawasan Falls canyoneering route in the afternoon, making it one of the most popular single-day experiences available from Cebu City. Operators provide transport, snorkelling gear, a canyoneering guide, and meals. It is a physically demanding but highly rewarding day for adventure travellers.
Badian Canyoneering Adventure
A dedicated full-day canyoneering adventure in Badian, focused entirely on navigating the Matutinao River canyon — jumping from cliffs up to 7.5 metres, sliding down natural rock chutes, and swimming through deep emerald pools. This tour omits the whale shark component and devotes the full day to the canyon itself, ideal for adventure sports enthusiasts who want the most immersive river experience.
Malapascua Island Thresher Shark Dive
Malapascua Island at the northern tip of Cebu is renowned as one of the few places in the world where divers can reliably observe thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus) at a cleaning station called Monad Shoal. The sharks rise from the deep in the early morning for their cleaning rituals and divers position themselves in blue water at around 25–30 metres depth for the encounter. An overnight or multi-day trip from Cebu City is required.
Moalboal Sardine Run and Reef Dive
Moalboal on Cebu's southwest coast hosts a permanent school of millions of sardines that moves like a living tornado around the reef at Panagsama Beach — an unusual phenomenon since sardine schools of this scale normally occur in open ocean. Snorkellers can observe the sardine ball in water only a few metres deep. Nearby Pescador Island offers one of the best recreational dive sites in the Philippines.
Cebu City Heritage Walking Tour
A half-day guided walking tour of Cebu City's historic core visits the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (home to the 500-year-old Santo Niño statue), Magellan's Cross, Fort San Pedro, and the Carbon Market. Guides provide context on the city's Spanish colonial history and Filipino Catholic tradition. The tour is an efficient way to cover the most historically significant landmarks in the downtown area.
Sumilon Island Blue Lagoon Day Trip
Sumilon Island is a small island off the southern tip of Cebu with a sandspit that shifts position with the seasons and a marine sanctuary harbouring diverse reef fish. Day trips from Oslob (typically combined with the whale shark encounter) include snorkelling over the coral gardens and relaxing on the sandspit. The island's clear water and photogenic setting make it one of Cebu's most popular Instagram destinations.
Mactan Island Snorkelling and Island Hopping
A half-day or full-day boat tour around the reefs and islets near Mactan Island, snorkelling over colourful coral gardens with sea turtles, parrotfish, and triggerfish common sightings. Operators offer bangka (outrigger boat) charters with snorkelling gear, a packed lunch, and stops at secluded sandy coves. It is an accessible and relatively affordable way to experience Cebu's underwater scenery without diving certification.
Sinulog Festival Experience
The Sinulog Festival, held on the third Sunday of January, is Cebu's greatest cultural spectacle — a devotional street dance festival honouring the Santo Niño with millions of participants in elaborate costumes performing choreographed dances along a route through the city. Even visitors arriving a few days before the main parade can participate in novena masses at the Basilica and witness the ceremonial preparations. Accommodation must be booked months in advance.
Lechon Cebu Food Tour
Explore Cebu City's lechon restaurants and public market for a guided introduction to the island's most famous culinary export. The tour typically includes a visit to a lechon roasting operation, tastings at two or three lechon specialists such as CNT or Zubuchon, and stops for Cebuano street snacks including puso (hanging rice) and dried mangoes. A food guide explains the regional techniques that differentiate Cebu lechon from other Filipino versions.
Highland Vista and Taoist Temple Tour
A half-day tour of Cebu City's hillside districts visits the ornate Taoist Temple in Beverly Hills subdivision — a multi-tiered Chinese temple complex with panoramic city views — and continues to the vantage points at the Top of Cebu and Temple of Leah. The Temple of Leah is a Greco-Roman inspired monument constructed by a Cebuano businessman in memory of his wife, and has become one of the city's most distinctive landmarks.
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