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Santo Niño Basilica (Basílica del Santo Niño) Tours & Tickets

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Q: What are the top things to do in Cebu?

The top things to do in Cebu are: Cebu Heritage Monument Santo Niño Basilica (Basílica del Santo Niño) Magellan's Cross Sumilon Island Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

Q: What are the top activities in Cebu?

Top activities in Cebu include: Whale Shark Encounter and Sumilon Sandbar with Kawasan Falls Mactan Cebu Island Hopping with Lunch - Gilutungan, Caohagan, Nalusuan Private Cebu & Lapu-Lapu City Tour with Uphill Spots & Lunch at House of Lechon Private Whale Shark Watching and Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls Tour Oslob Whaleshark & Canyoneering Adventure

Q: What are the top things to do near Cebu?

Check out things to do near Cebu: Visayas Panay Island Boracay Puerto Princesa Sandakan

Q: What do I need to know before visiting Cebu?

Check out these top Cebu travel ideas: How to Spend 1 Day in Cebu How to Spend 2 Days in Cebu How to Spend 3 Days in Cebu

Welcome to Cebu

In the Visayas region of the Philippines lies Cebu, a narrow island that’s become one of the country’s most popular destinations. Historically a place for seafarers and tradesmen, Cebu—along with its nearby islands—is now known by travelers for its emerald mountains, colorful coral reefs, and wildlife of both the finned and furry varieties. Cebu City, the former capital of the country, is home to striking landmarks, including Basilica del Santo Niño. For a comprehensive sightseeing experience, take a tour that combines the sights in Cebu City with those on Mactan Island, home to cultural sites such as the Virgen dela Regla National Shrine and the Lapu Lapu Statue, built on the place where the chieftain Mactan battled Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. On neighboring Bohol, just a short ferry ride away, a guide can introduce you to the best of the island’s natural beauty. You’ll cruise down the Lomboc River and take in the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, and you’ll also want to keep your eyes open for tarsiers, the world’s tiniest primate. Sumilon Island offers unspoiled white sand and crystalline water; while Oslob is known for whale sharks, the largest fish in the world—a tour that includes gear means you can swim among them.

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Top 15 attractions in Cebu

Cebu Heritage Monument

Conceptualized by local award-winning sculptor Eduardo Castillo and unveiled in 2000, Cebu Heritage Monument is a brass, bronze, and steel monolith that showcases the country’s history in giant form. Telling a story of colonization and occupation, visit the monument to learn about the Philippines’ centuries-long struggle for freedom.Dominating the heart of the monument is the sculpture of the Spanish galleon ship that carried explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew to 16th-century Cebu. Magellan’s arrival marked the beginning of the colonization of the Philippines, though on the night of April 21, 1521, local chieftain Lapu-Lapu ended up killing him in the Battle of Mactan, and Cebu Heritage Monument depicts this event too.From Spanish sailboats to men preparing for battle, Cebu Heritage Monument is hyper masculine, though there are touches of color, with the red, white, and blue of the Philippine flag splashed across one corner of the monument.Based in Plaza Parian in front of the Chapel of San Juan Bautista, the Philippines’ religious history is also carved into this monument. See the the conversion of Rajah Humabon — one of the first indigenous converts to Roman Catholicism — to Christianity. Spot a statue of the blessed Saint Pedro Calungsod, a giant cross, a representation of Cebu City’s first Mass, and depictions of Cebu City’s Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, and San Juan Bautista Parish Church.More

Santo Niño Basilica (Basílica del Santo Niño)

Cebu's Basilica del Santo Niño (Basilica of Santo Nino) was born from fire. In 1565, the church was built on the site where one of conquistador Legazpi's men supposedly found a statue of Jesus in the burning ruins of a hostile native village. The statue—considered the country’s oldest religious artifact—was left completely unharmed.More

Magellan's Cross

The Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the earth but never made it home, dying in Cebu. Today, a tall wooden cross known as Magellan’s Cross (Cruz de Magallanes) commemorates his memory—and supposedly contains relics of the original crucifix Magellan planted in Cebu in 1521.More

Sumilon Island

Amid the crystal waters and vibrant reef of Cebu’s Sumilon Island Marine Sanctuary, tiny Sumilon Island offers secret caves, hiking trails, colorful marine life, a lighthouse, and a brilliant white sandbar that’s an Instagram favorite. It’s home to the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, with pools, water sports, restaurants, and stylish bungalows.More

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

Built in the 17th century by Chinese-Filipino merchant Don Juan Yap and his wife Doña Maria Florida, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is one of the oldest preserved homes in the Philippines.In Cebu City’s Parian district, as you wander the two-storey home you can get a glimpse of life as it would have been during colonial times. One of the best things about this little museum? You’re allowed to pick up and get a feel for all the centuries-old artifacts dotted around the house — chinaware, cutlery, figurines, ornaments, and glassware — everything. Be careful not to drop anything though, as truly, all these ornaments are priceless.Clearly the Yaps were a devoted Roman Catholic family — you’ll see life-sized religious figures all over the house. Check out the wishing well in the back garden, too, and ask the caretaker/guide/resident photographer to snap your picture in front of it. He’s famous for being happy to take your photo wherever you’d like. He’ll also regale the history of the home, but of course, you’re free to explore by yourself too.Converted into a museum by Yap’s great great grandson, Val Mancao Sandiego, in 2008, at the weekends Sandiego and his family still sleep here so that the house will continue to feel like a home.More

Fort San Pedro

Set in landscaped gardens just back from the waterfront in the heart of Cebu City, Fort San Pedro (Fuerte de San Pedro in Spanish) is a postcard-perfect colonial fort. First built in the 16th century, the triangular structure dates mainly from the 18th century. It houses a little museum devoted to Spanish colonial times.More

Tops Lookout

Perched 1,969 feet (600 meters) above Cebu City in the Mt. Busay area, Tops Lookout offers sweeping views across the city, Mactan Island, and beyond. Brave the steep and winding road for sunset for spectacular photo ops as the sun sinks into the sea, the greenery fades into darkness, and the city lights begin to sparkle.More

Casa Gorordo Museum

Built in the 1850s, the Casa Gorordo Museum is a beautifully preserved example of a balay nga tisa, a Spanish colonial building style that blends Spanish, Chinese, and Philippine elements. Four generations of the Gorordo family lived in the house, which now holds antiques, artworks, and multimedia displays about Cebuano history, as well as a shop and a café.More

Olango Island

Surrounded by Panganan, Caohagan, Sulpa, Camungi, Nalusuan, and Gilutongan islets; Cebu’s Olango Island provides a rural contrast to urban Mactan Island. Its protected mangrove wetlands host one of the Philippines’ widest ranges of migratory birds, while tourist offerings range from dive stores and restaurants to high-end resorts.More

#10

Pandanon Island

Known for its white sand beaches, Pandanon Island is a popular spot on island-hopping itineraries from Cebu or Bohol. If you’re coming from Mactan in Cebu, after an 80-minute pumpboat ride you’ll arrive on pristine coral sand to enjoy the simple things in life: snorkeling among tropical fish, sunbathing on the beach, renting out a thatched-roof hut on the beach with friends and family.Slightly further away from Cebu than islands like Hilutungan, Nalusuan, and Caohagan, Pandanon is known for being a peaceful place. There are no resorts or hotels, and if food and drinks aren’t provided on your island-hopping boat tour, it’s a good idea to bring your own refreshments even though there are a few small stores on the island.Looking out to the island of Bohol, at low tide Pandanon Island’s famous sandbar winds 1km out to sea, giving you a chance to go for a stroll by the Sulu Sea. And if you want to get married on the beach, there’s also a little chapel by the water.More

#11

Colon Street

Named for Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish), Colon Street is famed as one of the oldest streets in the Philippines. Just a short walk from Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City, it’s a bustling, lively shopping hub where brightly colored jeepneys to and fro among bargain department stores.More

#12

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

With thick white walls built to withstand tropical typhoons, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral looks like a typical Philippine church. Decorated with griffins and floral motifs, the facade is the only original part of the chapel left, as the interior was destroyed during World War II. The restored cathedral has a gold altar and life-size statues of saints.More

#13

Mactan Island (Lapu Lapu)

Just across the water from Cebu City, Mactan Island (Lapu Lapu) is where most visitors begin their Cebu journey, at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. But there’s more to Mactan Island than transportation alone. It’s home to sleek resorts, a wealth of water sports, excellent scuba diving, and even a monument or two.More

#14

Danasan Eco Adventure Park

Located around an hour’s drive from Danao City on Cebu Island, the Danasan Eco Adventure Park covers a vast area made up of caves, freshwater springs, a man-made lake, and a three-tiered waterfall.The Skydrop is one of the most heart-thumping activities at the park. This sees guests ascend up to more than 35 meters before free-falling back to earth while swinging dramatically back and forth. There’s also the High Cable Twin Tower, where adventure-seekers traverse from one tower situated at 36 meters in the air down to another at around 18 meters high.The Danasan Eco Adventure Park also offers more gentle activities, such as horseriding, trekking, ATV rides, wakeboarding, and go-karting, along with a number of more traditional sports. There’s also a rope obstacle course and a zip line that extends for more than 400 meters, plus opportunities for caving and trekking through the three levels of the Danasan Falls.All of the facilities and activities are environmentally-friendly and planned so as not to cause any harm to the park’s natural surroundings.More

#15

Mt. Kan-Irag

Reigning supreme over the city of Cebu, Mt. Kan-Irag, otherwise known as Sirao Peak, stands at an imposing 2,300 feet (700 meters). And while views from the top of the monolith are unrivaled, hikers can reach the summit in just 30 minutes via an undemanding trail that begins in the mountain village of Busay.More

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How to Spend 1 Day in Cebu

With some of the best beaches and scuba diving in Southeast Asia, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the coast in Cebu—particularly if you only have a single day to explore. But there’s plenty of natural appeal on the island’s interior as well. Here’s how to maximize 24 hours in Cebu.

How to Spend 2 Days in Cebu

With two days in Cebu, you’ll have plenty of time to dive into the history and culture of Cebu City, relax on the white-sand beaches, and partake in an epic adventure on Cebu or a neighboring island. Here are some ideas for how to make the most of your 48 hours on the Philippine island of Cebu.

How to Spend 3 Days in Cebu

With a full three days, you’ll have plenty of time to tour Cebu City, explore the island’s spectacular natural attractions, and head farther afield to other stunning spots in the archipelago. Here's how.

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