Places to Visit in Cebu City
Cebu City, nicknamed “the Queen City of the South” is a beautiful city known for its historical landmarks. Here are the few famous places & events in Cebu, Philippines.
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.
Fort De San Pedro
Fort San Pedro (Spanish: Fuerte de San Pedro) is a military defense structure in Cebu, Philippines, built by the Spanish under the command of Miguel López de Legazpi, first governor of the Captaincy General of the Philippines. It is located in the area now called Plaza Independencia, in the pier area of the city.
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.
Bantayan Island
Discover the best of Bantayan Island, including mangroves, Camp Sawi, and Paradise Beach, on a day trip from Cebu. Cliff dive, ride a tricycle and enjoy the white sand and blue water of Virgin Island. Bantayan Island is an island rich with clear blue water and find white sand beaches. This island is consists of 3 municipaplities which include the Bantayan, Sta. Fe and Madridejos.
Oslob Whale Watching
Swimming with giant whale sharks in Oslob is one of the must-try things to do in Cebu. Oslob is a small coastal municipality on the southern tip of Cebu. About 10 kilometers away from its center town is Barangay Tan-awan which—from the name itself rooted in “tan-aw’ which means to watch—is the destination where the whale shark watching activity is located.
Basdaku Beach Moalboal
Basdaku White Beach, nestled in Moalboal in southern Cebu where you can experience the wide shoreline and its crystal-clear waters and pure white sand. A little trivia, the term ‘Basdaku’ is derived from two Cebuano words “bas” and “daku” which means ‘sand’ and ‘big’, respectively. Describes the kilometer-long coastline of the beach.
Kawasan Falls
The ideal period to visit Kawasan Falls in Badian is dependent on what you want to experience as a visitor. The dry period (late December to early June) is an ideal time to visit because, during this time, Kawasan Falls is a safer place to trek and do some Cebu canyoneering tours.
Sinulog Festival
Sinulog Festival is an annual event in the city that marks the introduction of Catholicism to Filipinos in 1951. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Cebu City every January, where spectators dance on the streets. Watch groups of street dancers in extravagant and colorful costumes, festival queens, massive floats, and gigantic paper-mâché puppets.
Badian Canyoneering
Feel the thrill as you scramble, climb, jump, rappel and swim through the rugged but scenic cliffs of Badian. Make a splash as you brave through cliff jumping as high as 30 feet!
Share the experience and excitement with other people or opt for a private canyoneering tour with your friends and family!
Cebu Heritage Monument
Built with dark stone and bricks, the structure is a tangled sculpture of ships, churches, crosses, and key historical figures that are as mysterious as they are thought provoking. Visit Cebu Heritage Monument. You’ll enjoy the local interaction, be able to ask burning questions.
Botanical Garden
Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden has over 120 species of flowers and plants planted on terraces, the first terraced flower garden in the Philippines. They also have cabanas for rent and a coffee shop with a picture-perfect view of the mountains.
Temple of Lea
The Temple of Leah in Cebu City is a cultural and historical site often compared to the “Taj Mahal”. It was built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna as a monument of love for his late wife, Leah Villa Albino Adarna. The temple, located next to the Lantaw Restaurant in Barangay Busay, features Greek and Roman designs with columns, statues, water features, and a great hall.