Cebu Island Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kawasan Falls showing a waterfall and a river or creek
Cebu featuring a beach and general coastal views
Kawasan Falls showing a cascade, a river or creek and swimming
Logon featuring boating and general coastal views
Cebu featuring tropical scenes and general coastal views

Discover Spanish-era monuments, relax on pristine beaches, explore scuba-diving sites and hike to mountain peaks when holidaying on this magical Filipino island.

Visit Cebu Island, a stunning island destination that has a wide range of adventure, natural and historical attractions. Explore a city filled with colonial landmarks, soak up the sun at glorious beach resorts, spot multicolored aquatic creatures and travel around picture-perfect islands. Cebu Island sits at the heart of the Philippines’ Visayas region. It consists of the main island plus over 150 islands and islets.

Energetic Cebu City is the island capital, its major transport hub and the oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Spend time visiting historic sites such as Magellan’s Cross, the 16th-century Minor Basilica of the Holy ChildOpens in a new window (Basilica Minore del Santo Niño) and Fort San PedroOpens in a new window. Learn about island history at the Museo Sugbo and enjoy thrilling pursuits, including a 38-story high roller coaster, at the Sky Experience Adventure. Shop for everything from fresh fish to handicrafts at the Carbon Market.

Sit beneath a palm tree, soak up the sun and try various watersports at the beaches that pepper the island’s coastline. Badian, Moalboal and Oslob, the gateway for whale shark swimming tours, are all worth visiting. Just a short drive from Cebu City is Mactan Island. Find upscale all-inclusive resorts and boundless opportunities for diving, jet-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing activities.

Join an island-hopping trip, visit more blissful beach resorts and uncover unbeatable dive spots. Off the island’s northern tip are the unspoiled yet tourist-friendly Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island. Hop between the four islands of the Camotes Islands, often called the Lost Horizon due to their unblemished natural beauty. Visit indigenous homes and sample coconut wine on Olango Island.

For further adventure, hike to the summit of Osmeña Peak and be rewarded with panoramic views. Go canyoneering in the Matutinao Valley and cliff-jumping in Medellin. Marvel at stalagmites, stalactites and curious rock formations at Binuthan Cave and Igotan Cave, among other caves.

Reach Cebu Island by flying to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from major Asian cities. Get around via buses, taxis and ferries, which depart regularly from Cebu City. Stay overnight at all-inclusive resorts, guesthouses and luxury hotels suitable for all budgets.

Where to stay in Cebu Island

Cebu City featuring a statue or sculpture

Downtown Cebu

Downtown Cebu is noteworthy for its churches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Santo Nino Church.

Downtown Cebu
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Maribago

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Maribago and surrounding area, you can visit Jpark Island Waterpark and Magellan Monument.

Maribago
Philippines Taoist Temple which includes religious aspects and a temple or place of worship

Lahug

Lahug is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Cebu Taoist Temple and Ayala Malls Central Bloc while you're in town.

Lahug
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Punta Engaño

Though Punta Engaño may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Magellan Monument and Mactan Shrine.

Punta Engaño
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Mabolo

If you're spending some time in Mabolo, SM City Cebu and Carmelite Monastery are top sights worth seeing.

Mabolo
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Camputhaw

If you're spending some time in Camputhaw, Cebu Business Park and Mango Square are top sights worth seeing.

Camputhaw
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
5 out of 5
Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu
The price is NZ$409 per night from 4 Aug to 5 Aug
NZ$409
4 Aug - 5 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury resort in Lapu-Lapu. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,003 reviews)
"Staff are very welcoming. Amazing beach!!! Highly recommended!"

Reviewed on 10 Jul. 2025

Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
4 out of 5
Punta Engano Road, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu, Central Visayas
The price is NZ$373 per night from 16 July to 17 July
NZ$373
16 July - 17 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Lapu-Lapu. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (299 reviews)
"Fantastic experience. The staff were courteous and respectful. The room service and cleaning services were perfect. I recommend going snorkeling at their beach; you can see entire schools of fish while swimming. The included breakfast was great, and the dinners they have at the dining hall are decent ..."

Reviewed on 10 Jul. 2025

Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
4 out of 5
Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City, Cebu
The price is NZ$103 per night from 20 July to 21 July
NZ$103
20 July - 21 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Cebu City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"It was a great stay! I particularly liked how clean the room is , the pool, and the services as well! The only thing is, they don’t offer free breakfast. However, it was a great hotel!"

Reviewed on 11 Jul. 2025

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Citadines Cebu City
Citadines Cebu City
4 out of 5
Baseline Center Juana Osmena Street, Cebu City
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Cebu City. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (505 reviews)
"Nice place to stay at a reasonable price; staff are so friendly"

Reviewed on 8 Jul. 2025

Citadines Cebu City
88th Avenue
88th Avenue
3.5 out of 5
Gov. M. Cuenco Ave, Cebu City, Central Visayas
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Cebu City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (145 reviews)
"The staff was very courteous, very professional, friendly and professional. The only drawback was that netflix wws not working. I absolutely loved everything eose, the gym is great, the eateries that support the hotel, the market, and the entire property was fantastic."

Reviewed on 30 Jun. 2025

88th Avenue
CSuites at 8 Newtown Residences
CSuites at 8 Newtown Residences
3 out of 5
G/F Retail 102 A 8 Newtown Blvd., Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu
Stay at this 3-star beach aparthotel in Lapu-Lapu. Enjoy free WiFi, in-room massages, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (181 reviews)
"Good location. Close to many restaurants as well as a grocery store and pharmacy."

Reviewed on 17 May 2025

CSuites at 8 Newtown Residences
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Cities near Cebu Island