Travel 101 : Cebu City, Philippines

Cebu City is one of the must-visit tourist destinations in the Philippines. It is one of the lively cities of the province of Cebu.  I've been to the queen city of the south many times already and I've actually visited most of the sites and tourist spots there. In Cebu City alone, you can already do a lot of things there. In this post, I will be recommending the sites you need to see. I will be as comprehensive as possible and I will also give some tips on how to make your stay in Cebu City more enjoyable. Read on.

1. Capitol Site (Near Fuente Osmena) for your accommodation.

          If you are visiting a place, most of the time, you will be out to enjoy the many sites there. That means, it is not favorable if you stay in a very expensive hotel and let your bags or baggages enjoy the accommodation. Since you will likely be out 3/4 of the day, you might as well find a cheaper inn or pension house. After all, you will only be in your room during sleeping time. 

          If you are in Cebu City, find an accommodation at Jones, somewhere near Fuente Osmena, at the back of Chonghua Hospital or Robinsons Cybergate. You will see a lot of tourist inns and pension houses there such as Westpoint Inn, Jasmine, and Dynasty Tourist Inn. I've stayed in most of them and I did not have any complain. All were neat and clean.

          The one that I recommend the most is the Travelbee Bed and Breakfast for the following reasons: (a) FREE WIFI, not only at the lobby but also at the rooms (b) Very cheap but the rooms are BIG (c) Rooms include Cable TV, Hot and Cold Shower, and Airconditioner (d) Free 1 breakfast everyday (e) The staff are friendly. You may see the photos and list of prices here. 

2. Skywalk and Edge Coaster Ride

Rate: P750.00 for both (Inclusive of T-shirt, Snacks, and Certificate)

        P250.00 per photo (You will not be allowed to bring cameras with you. It will be placed on a locker)

Duration: 1 - 2 hours depending on the crowd

Time Suggestion: Go there in the late afternoon or evening so that it will not be hot. They close at 12 am.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed

Outfit: Rubber Shoes, Socks, Comfortable clothes (Shoes and socks are also available for rental.) 

Location: Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Fuente Osmena

Tip: If you will be staying at an accommodation I suggested in number 1, the first thing you should do is number 2 because it's just a walking distance.

Other info here.

3. Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño

 Rate: None

Duration: 1 hour if you will attend a mass

Time Suggestion: At your convenience

Reservation: N/A

Outfit: No sleeveless and other revealing outfits. It's a holy place. 

Location: Osmena Boulevard

Tip: It is best to go there when there is a mass. They conduct masses everyday on different schedules. You may see the schedule of masses here.

4. Magellan's Cross 

Rate: Free

Duration: 10-15 minutes

Time Suggestion: At your convenience

Reservation: N/A

Outfit: Comfortable clothes

Location: Magallanes St. in front of the Cebu City Hall

Tip: It is located just outside the Sto. Nino Church. So go there after you visit the Basilica.

5. 4D Max Rider

State-of-the-art 4D Virtual Reality Simulation Ride combining high-definition 3D shortfilms with moving seats.

Rate: P120.00 per ride per person

Duration: 5 - 10 minutes

Time Suggestion: At your convenience; SM mall hours

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Comfortable clothes

Location: SM City Cebu

Tip: Try the Super Coaster Ride! A must-try!

6. Taoist Temple

Rate: Free

Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Time Suggestion: Go there in the late afternoon.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Comfortable clothes. No revealing outfits. It's considered a holy place.

Location: Beverly Hills Subdivision, Lahug

Tip: Since it is located in a subdivision, public vehicles do not go there. You must ride a private vehicle or cab (taxi). It's hard to look for vehicles in going back to the downtown area, so I suggest you negotiate (offer extra payment) with the cab driver to wait for you at the temple. 

7. Asiatown IT Park

Rate: Free

Duration: 1 hour

Time Suggestion: Mealtime, preferably dinner.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Comfortable clothes.

Location: Salinas Drive

Tip: Nothing much can be done in this busy business area except dine at one of the restaurants there. 

Other info here.

8. Karting at KartZone

Rate: P300 for single-seat; P350 for double-seat (good for 8 lapses)

Duration: 1 hour

Time Suggestion: Late afternoon when it's not too hot. They close at 6pm.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Comfortable clothes. Masks are available for rental.

Location: F. Cabahug, Ayala Access Road, Mabolo

Tip: Do not leave Cebu City without trying this. <3

9. Dine-in at Larsian sa Fuente

Rate: It depends.

Duration: 1 hour

Time Suggestion: Dinner time when it's not too hot.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Comfortable clothes. 

Location: Fuente Osmena

Tip: It's cheap. You just have to bear with the smoke. Stay near the entrance. Even celebrities and politicians go there.

10. Jazz N Bluz Bar and Restaurant

Cebu City is home to Jazz n' Bluz - the sanctuary of improvisation in this central Philippine paradise.

Just off the beaten path is a jazz corner that houses a place where believers in the order of the blue note go to make their pilgrimage to get their regular anointing.

Rate: P160.00 for cover charge per person. For food? It depends.

Duration: 3-4 hours of music and dancing

Time Suggestion: After dinner. 9pm onwards.

Reservation: No need. Walk-ins are allowed.

Outfit: Decent Formal-Casual Attire

Location: F. Cabahug, Ayala Access Road, Mabolo

Tip: Before going there, have a full stomach. Their dishes are too expensive. You may just order a drink or two and have a night full of jazz music. Oh, they also have dance instructors so you could dance the night away!

More info here.

That's all for now!! I'll add more soon! :)