The Cebu City Tourist Essential Tourist Guide
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...The energy, the people, the architecture, culture and food, if Cebu, Central Visayas isn’t already on your travel itinerary then you might want to make some adjustments, as the center of trade, commerce, and tourism in the Philippines, you can only imagine that there is a lot to be seen and done in Cebu City, Cebu Provinces and neighboring islands
Let’s explore the best things to do in Cebu City:
Cebu Heritage Monument
With centuries full of invasions, battles, and revolutions, Cebu is a city with stories to tell, visit Cebu Heritage Monument for a synopsis, 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. With centuries of history and tales, consider hiring a guide before you go or taking ones offer when you arrive
You’ll enjoy the local interaction, be able to ask burning questions, and get some background information you would have otherwise missed out on
Colon Street
A trip to Cebu isn’t complete without a walk down Colon Street, while at a glance, this crumbling stretch of sidewalk may look dull but come a little closer and you’ll discover that there is much to see, do and taste
Don’t be put off from visiting Colon St in Cebu City, from unnecessary claims from other travel guides, who advise international tourists not to visit this historical street in Cebu City. However the night time or side streets in and around Colon Street is not recommended for tourist, especially if your not familiar with the area. Colon Street is lined with markets selling colorful backpacks, jewelry, clothing, and shoes, this street makes for a great place to buy your souvenirs and don’t be afraid to engage in some friendly haggling with smiley vendors, try yummy street food, mingle with the locals, and take some awesome photos on Colon Street
1730 Jesuit House
You wouldn’t expect such a memorable experience to begin in a hardware store, but it will, stepping inside the 1730 Jesuit House feels like stepping 100 years back through history, 1730 Jesuit House is a local project that aims to preserve one of Cebu’s historic sites, this ancient house has survived typhoons, earthquakes, and foreign invasions, yet still stands to tell the tale
Your tour guide will take you through an hour-long journey while showing you restoration efforts, along with artifacts and antiques including cameras, carvings, furniture and even 100-year-old cedar chest that still gives off a beautiful aroma
SM Seaside Mall and SM City Mall, Cebu
If you want to experience life as a local, step into one of the most popular shopping malls in Cebu, SM Seaside and SM City Mall is a great place to take your kids to get out of the heat for a couple of hours with lots of activities
There is an ice-skating rink in SM Seaside Mall, children’s playground, and arcade where you can rack up tickets to win all sorts of prizes, both malls are of a considerable size, notably SM Seaside has more activities for the children including the ice rink, both have ten-pin bowling
Cebu Ocean Park, Cebu City, Philippines, 6000, (adjacent to SM Seaside City, Cebu)
Cebu Ocean Park, the largest oceanarium in the Philippines, it is the first and only marine themed park in Cebu, comprising various world class educational displays and encounters, it aims to excite, educate, and thrill park-goers of all ages
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Unlike many other cathedrals and churches in Cebu that give you a window into Filipino culture, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral focuses much more on the history of religion in the city, more specifically, this cathedral stands as a history lesson of how Christianity came to plant such deep roots in a country whose previous religion had deeper ties with Hinduism and Buddhism
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is a nice change of pace from other tourist attractions, as not as many tourists know about this site, you can leisurely stroll through the cathedral taking in the impressive architecture, you may even join in on Sunday mass where you’re sure to be greeted with kind ‘hello’s and smiles from Filipino locals, mildly surprised to see you
Mountain View Nature Park
Here is another great place to come with your family, the Mountain View Nature Park has something for everyone, for the kids, there is a water playground, let the kids run wild in the shallow pool with slides and stairs, there is also a play place on land that is surrounded by lush greenery
Basilica del Santo Nino
The oldest Catholic Church in the Philippines is located right here in Cebu, Basilica del Santo Nino, founded in 1565, which still bring many locals here to worship on a daily basis, this Catholic Church holds a regular mass where families and children come to show their faith, have a walk though the church halls to see ancient paintings, gorgeous archways, stained glass windows, and overall a piece of architecture that is inspiring
You can view 17th century relics in the museum or visit the library filled with books covering modern subjects of all kin
Crown Regency Sky Experience
The Crown Regency isn’t just a hotel, it’s also a thrill seeker’s paradise with extreme sports that defy gravity and conquer fears
Ride the Edge Coaster which circles the perimeter of the 38th floor, strap yourself up and walk along the translucent glass floor of the building which is 126.55 meters high, or take an extreme zip line 473 feet in the air
Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary
For nature lovers there is a butterfly sanctuary in Cebu where you can walk through a mini rainforest teeming with tropical plants and flowers with beautiful butterflies fluttering all around. Keep your camera out just in case one decides to land on your nose for a selfie
The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary has an impressive collection of butterfly specimen encased in glass that shows just how diverse the buttery fly family truly is, bring some cash as there is a small entrance fee, but it goes towards a wonderful cause
Taboan Public Market
Whether you’re in the mood to taste or just to look, you can find a wide array of fresh fruits, seafood and meat at Taboan Public Market, we’re talking about piles of colorful mango, shrimp, pineapple and fish, everyday, locals come from all around the city to collect these ingredients for family recipes and casual snacks
This is a local market, not many items will be tagged with a price, keep your wits about you when bartering and haggling to be sure you get a fair deal, and most items will be sold per kilo
Tops Lookout
There is a good reason why Tops Lookout has remained such a popular tourist destination in Cebu, that’s because you will get the most spectacular 360-degree view from here and only here, Tops Lookout represents what makes Cebu so special in that you get a taste of lush greenery, intricate city, and winding waterways all in one visit
The view at night is especially beautiful as you can see the lights at night of Cebu City all lit up and sparkling against the darkness
Taoist Temple
The Beverly Hills subdivision of Cebu, you’ll find a beautifully designed Taoist Temple, located 300 meters above sea level, expect lots of steep steps and winding paths that will get your blood pumping as you make you way to the top, once you reach the temple, you’ll be greeted with beautiful views of the island
Join in on a Taoist ritual of taking two blocks of wood into the temple and dropping them on the floor in front of the shrine, If both blocks fall face up, then the gods are permitting you to make a wish; if not, then the gods don’t believe it’s time for your wish to come true
Before you enter the temple, be sure to wash your hands and take off your shoes
Fort San Pedro
As you travel around Cebu, you’ll notice a curious Spanish influence in the country’s, food, architecture, and even their language
Visit the Fort of San Pedro and this mysterious element will become much more clear, on April 7, 1521, the Spaniards arrived on the coast of the Philippines, which marked the beginning of Spanish colonization, however, Fort San Pedro was not built to mitigate the conflicts between native Filipinos and the Conquistadors, but rather was built in 1738 under the command of Miguel López de Legazpi to protect against Muslim raiders
During the Philippines Revolution, it was eventually over taken by Filipino revolutionaries, and when you visit this crumbling fortress you’ll certainly be thinking, “Oh, if only walls could talk”
Terrazas De Flores Botanical Garden
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets and instead, surround yourself with nature in it’s purest form, the Terrazas De Flores Botanical Garden offers terraced flower gardens planted in the sides of rolling mountains with a breeze that balances the heat
