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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Camputhaw

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

Camputhaw
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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
Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
4 out of 5
Punta Engano Road, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu, Central Visayas
The price is Rp2.863.483 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
Rp2.863.483
Rp3.551.435 total
8 Jul - 9 Jul
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! (293 reviews)
"Beautiful property. Great service"

Reviewed on 22 Jun 2025

Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
5 out of 5
Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu
The price is Rp2.892.118 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
Rp2.892.118
Rp3.550.075 total
21 Jul - 22 Jul
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! (1,005 reviews)
"While it’s clear this resort was once a true 5-star destination, the rooms are ridiculously in need of major refurbishment. We stayed in a family deluxe room and a twin ocean view room on the 7th floor of the main wing and how embarrassing is it that their mattress boxes are threadbare in several ..."

Reviewed on 25 Jun 2025

Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
4 out of 5
Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City, Cebu
The price is Rp1.008.931 per night from 1 Jul to 2 Jul
Rp1.008.931
Rp1.130.002 total
1 Jul - 2 Jul
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! (1,001 reviews)
"Excellent stay and due to noisy guests in a room above me on a previous stay was upgraded as a gesture of goodwill which was a very nice gesture and appreciated by myself. A very comfortable room and the breakfast is great! Good facilities will certainly stay at the Marco Polo hotel again!"

Reviewed on 25 Jun 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! (502 reviews)
"The room was immaculately maintained during my stay. The entire staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. It was a great vacation and a beautiful hotel."

Reviewed on 15 Jun 2025

Citadines Cebu City
CLOCKWORKORANGE Luxury Suites
CLOCKWORKORANGE Luxury Suites
3.5 out of 5
Kiener Hills Condominiums, Matumbo-Pusok Road, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Lapu-Lapu. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (249 reviews)
"The room was nice and it had a decent restaurant on the street level."

Reviewed on 8 Jun 2025

CLOCKWORKORANGE Luxury Suites
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! (143 reviews)
"It’s a great place to stay. Close to everything"

Reviewed on 23 Jun 2025

88th Avenue
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