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3 Days in Cebu City: The Jewel of the South

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2 weeks ago

Cebu City has always been thought of as a great place to start or end your holiday. However, I beg to differ. I think that the city is a great place to spend lots of time exploring and getting to know locals from all over the Visayas. It is a cultural melting pot, one that has been overlooked for too long.

If you have never been, I would recommend spending at least 3 days in Cebu City to explore its main sights as well as eat in some of its great restaurants. No matter whether you are looking to explore some interesting sites, gorge on tasty food, enjoy a vibrant nightlife scene, or relax on a white sand beach and do some diving, Cebu City has something for you.

Day 1

After landing, head to your hotel (can you believe I just wrote that?). Well, the point is that I generally treat day one as a relax day so I can get a good feeling for the place.

Morning: Fort San Pedro and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño

Once you have freshened up, if you want to see some sights, I would recommend heading straight down to Fort San Pedro. The original fort dates from 1565, which makes it one of the earliest Spanish forts in the Philippines.

The current stone fort was built in 1738 and is the oldest triangular fort in the country. I’ve been several times, and it is a really nice and peaceful few hours just strolling around it, walking in the main courtyard, along the walls, and imagining how soldiers once lived here. For those history buffs, there are plenty of cannons and other artifacts lying around the place, which will certainly interest you.

After I have had a look around, I love to head outside to the large park. I guarantee you that if you find a place with a few Filipinos sitting around, it won’t be long before you are in a conversation with some friendly locals who want to know all about you. It won’t take much longer again before you have made your first Filipino friends!

If it is not too hot for you, head to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, widely recognized as the oldest church and founding place for Catholicism in the Philippines. It can get quite busy, so I recommend going around midday, as most Filipinos dip out of the heat during the early afternoon.

Afternoon: IT Park and Ayala Mall

Cebu City is undergoing a complete renaissance. New restaurants and malls are springing up as fast as apartment buildings (there were only two or three in 2012 when I first visited), but there is still one king of malls in Cebu.

What I like to call the de facto center of Cebu City is IT Park and the adjoining Ayala Mall. You will find most of the foreigners here, as there is an outdoor balcony section with lots of nice restaurants that cater to foreigners. It has a sophisticated vibe and, being a mall, has loads and loads of shops that cater for everything from food and clothes to electronics and furniture.

Head here in the early afternoon to get out of the midday heat. Spend a good few hours doing a little window shopping and eating.

Evening: Tops Lookout and Dinner

I love heading up to Tops Lookout after dark and just gazing over Cebu City and the ocean in front of it. Seeing all the lights twinkling and ships making their way back and forth is really mind-blowing.

I strongly recommend that you get a taxi up and arrange for it to come back at a certain time because not too many Uber drivers want to drive all the way out here to pick people up. Alternatively, a walk down the hill will see you reach a motorbike taxi in about 20 minutes or so.

After you are done at Tops Lookout, I recommend heading to La Parisienne Sky. This classy restaurant is not that big, but it has a stunning panorama of the city and really tasty food.

Day 2: Day Trip to Either Moalboal or Kawasan Falls and Osmeña Peak

If you are up for a long day out of the city, then I recommend heading to either Moalboal to snorkel with the sardine shoal or go a little further south to Kawasan Falls and Osmeña Peak.

The easiest way to do this is to hire a taxi for the day and get them to drive you, though you can get a bus direct to Moalboal and most of the way to Kawasan Falls (you will need to hire a trike to get to the actual falls).

My top choice is Kawasan Falls, as you can do cliff diving. I have been twice now, and I love it. You can get a private guide or join a group. You make your way down the river, steadily increasing the height of the jumps as you go. The last jump is insanely high (you don’t need to do this one) but great fun.

After you are done, you will be in the falls. You can swim around and enjoy the cool water of the falls. If you don’t get much of a break from the heat of the day, this has to be the best.

If you have the energy, you can head out to the Osmeña Peak trailhead. You will need a taxi to get here as there are no buses. It takes anywhere from 25 minutes to 50 minutes to hike from here up to Osmeña Peak, depending on your fitness.

There is a ₱30 park fee, and if you arrive before late afternoon, there are local guides to help you for a fee. The trail is very easy and clearly marked, so you don’t really need them. Osmeña Peak is the highest point in Cebu, and the views are amazing.

Day 3

Morning: Grab Breakfast and Walk Down Colon Street

After you have enjoyed a good breakfast, head to Colon Street, which is Cebu City’s oldest street. It still has a vibrant feel, though there is a lot of traffic. Keep an eye out for its historic buildings, which give you a small glimpse of what this whole area used to look like a hundred years ago.

Afternoon: Mactan for Some White Sand and Snorkeling

Mactan Island has seen a number of top resorts spring up over the past 15 years. Several of them, like the Shangri-La, Mövenpick Hotel, and JPark Island Resort & Waterpark, have actually paid for white sand to be imported so that they can offer a white sand beach experience.

Entry will usually set you back ₱1000 per day (US$18), with drinks and food being extra. The resorts have designated swimming zones, so they are ideal for families. Shangri-La has a marine reservation that has encouraged corals to grow, which, in turn, has brought in lots of fish. You can snorkel here or arrange a boat trip to Hilutungan or Olango Islands to do some even better snorkeling.

Evening: Head to Tales and Feelings for Dinner

One of my favorite restaurants is Tales and Feelings. It is relatively new and unknown. The food is great— you will love it. It is a great place to spend your final evening in Cebu City.

If you want something different, take a look at my best restaurants in Cebu to find out more.


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