Cebu Island Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

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

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

3.5/5(5 area reviews)

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

4/5(17 area reviews)

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

3/5(4 area reviews)

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

Punta Engaño
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Mabolo

2.5/5(3 area reviews)

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

Mabolo
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Basdiot

5/5(1 area review)

While visiting Basdiot, you might make a stop by sights like Panagsama Beach and Naomi's Bottle Museum.

Basdiot
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu

Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu

5 out of 5
Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu
The price is Rp2.546.560 per night from 26 Aug to 27 Aug
Rp2.546.560
Rp3.125.902 total
26 Aug - 27 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury resort in Lapu-Lapu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,020 reviews)
"My family stayed July 19-22, 2025. It was a good stay, plenty of opportunities and activity options. It is an older resort in comparison to what we were originally shopping for. The room was slightly smaller for our family but the Service staff in the pool, restaurants, and transportation staff were ..."

Reviewed on 23 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 Rp2.975.755 per night from 4 Aug to 5 Aug
Rp2.975.755
Rp3.690.681 total
4 Aug - 5 Aug
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 their reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (311 reviews)
"Had a great stay here. From check in to check out everything was great. The staff was friendly and attentive and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. Loved the amenities. The only setback would be that it’s far from the city or any other food/malls etc. (you would have to Grab and the closest ..."

Reviewed on 27 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 Rp1.094.577 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
Rp1.094.577
Rp1.225.926 total
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Cebu City. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 5 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,015 reviews)
"Marco Polo was a bit pricey but l had an amazing experience there"

Reviewed on 27 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 centre and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (512 reviews)
Our Lovely Overnight Experience in Cebu 2025
"The location is conveniently close to our meeting venue and easy to reach for Grab drivers. The food is good, and the hotel overall is clean and well-maintained. We appreciated the complimentary water, welcome snacks, and the thoughtful welcome letter it added a special touch. The staff is friendly ..."

Reviewed on 29 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 Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (149 reviews)
"88 Avenue was a great experience for me, l was surprised at the state of the art gym, swimming and sauna and roof top jacuzzi, staff were awesome, if l ever go back to Cebu l am going there"

Reviewed on 27 Jul 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 Wi-Fi, in-room massages and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the property condition in their ...
8/10 Very Good! (184 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

Things to do

Cities near Cebu Island