Cebu City—the “Queen City of the South”—is where the Philippines’ oldest colonial stories meet coral-blue seas. Founded in 1565 by Miguel López de Legazpi, Cebu’s basilicas, forts, and ancestral houses still anchor a metropolis that now powers the Visayas’ trade, cuisine, and culture. Scratch its surface and you’ll find busy markets, sacred festivals like Sinulog, and a coastline that unspools into white-sand islands and electric-blue waterfalls.

Come for the history—Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño—then stay for day trips that feel like mini-expeditions: Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, Moalboal’s sardine run, Oslob’s whale sharks, and Kawasan’s canyoneering canyon. Mactan’s islands offer easy snorkeling with glassy visibility, while hilltop restaurants in Busay pour golden-hour views of the city and channel.

Practical notes: Dry season runs roughly November–May; bring reef-safe sunscreen and a light rain jacket. Grab rides are ubiquitous; private drivers make pre-dawn trips south smoother. Cebu is famed for lechon (roast pig)—save room for House of Lechon or CNT—and for specialty coffee at spots like Abaca Baking Company, Tightrope, and Linear Coffee. Always follow marine-wildlife guidelines: no touching, keep respectful distances, and pack out everything you bring in.

Cebu City

Old Cebu rewards slow wandering: Fort San Pedro, the Basilica, and Magellan’s Cross trace the archipelago’s earliest Spanish chapter. In the Parian district, Casa Gorordo and the Yap–Sandiego Ancestral House whisper of Chinese-Filipino merchant families. Carbon Market is the city’s spine—fragrant with mangoes, dried fish, flowers, and street grills.

When the heat rises, head uphill to Busay for cool breezes and sunset at view-deck eateries like Top of Cebu and Balay sa Busay. Across the channel, Mactan’s marinas launch island-hopping bangkas to Gilutungan and Nalusuan—classic snorkeling with floating lunches of grilled squid, prawns, and puso (hanging rice).

• Where to stay (Cebu City): For space and kitchens, search serviced apartments and homes on VRBO. For hotels steps from Ayala or IT Park, compare rates and reviews on Hotels.com.
• Getting in: Fly into Mactan–Cebu International (CEB). Search and book fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop flight times: Manila 1h30 ($40–90), Singapore 3h50 ($130–230), Hong Kong 2h30 ($100–190), Seoul 4h30 ($150–280). Grab/taxi to Cebu Business Park: 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, First Tastes, and a Soft Landing

Afternoon: Arrive, check in, and stretch your legs with a gentle loop around Cebu Business Park or IT Park—leafy, walkable districts with cafes and night markets. For a pick-me-up, try Abaca Baking Company (sourdough toasts, breakfast plates, and excellent flat whites) or Tightrope Coffee (carefully dialed pour-overs and Japanese-style sando).

Evening: Make your first dinner a Cebu rite of passage: lechon. House of Lechon pairs crispy skin and juicy meat with tangy suka vinegar; order “original” and a side of ngohiong (Cebu spring rolls). Alternatives: CNT Lechon (SM City branch) or Zubuchon (classic, skin-crackling chops). Cap the night with gelato and wine at La Vie Parisienne, or city lights with cocktails at Blu Bar & Grill (Marco Polo), a skyline staple.

Day 2: Cebu Heritage and Hilltop Views (City + Lapu-Lapu)

Prefer a guided sweep that hits downtown icons and the scenic uplands? Book this comprehensive day tour:

Private Cebu & Lapu-Lapu City Tour with Uphill Spots & Lunch at House of Lechon

Expect Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica, Taoist Temple, Sirao Flower Garden’s colorful terraces, and the Temple of Leah’s colonnaded homage—plus a lechon lunch. Door-to-door convenience keeps the pace relaxed, ideal after a travel day.

Dining tips: If you’re exploring independently, start with breakfast at Linear Coffee (Mabolo) for a cortado and banana bread, break for lunch at STK ta Bay! (homey seafood, try grilled squid and kinilaw), and book a sunset table at Top of Cebu (crispy pata, baked scallops, sweeping dusk views). Nightcap at Turning Wheels Craft Brewery (Mandaue) for local ales.

Day 3: Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers, and Loboc River (Full-Day Excursion)

Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu

Catch an early ferry (about 2 hours) to Tagbilaran, then drive the Bohol countryside: the surreal Chocolate Hills, a respectful visit to the tarsier sanctuary (no flash or noise), and a floating lunch on the Loboc River. Most tours also stop at the Baclayon Church and the man-made mahogany forest. Expect hotel pickup around 5–6 a.m. and return by evening. Estimated price: $120–180 per person with transfers and lunch.

Dinner back in Cebu: Drop your bags and walk to Sugbo Mercado (IT Park, nightly) for a casual graze—BBQ pork belly, siomai sa Tisa, mango shakes, and halo-halo. It’s lively, affordable, and fun after a long day.

Day 4: South Cebu Thrill Day—Oslob Whale Sharks, Tumalog Falls, and Kawasan Canyoneering

Oslob Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Kawasan Falls Canyoneering

It’s a long, unforgettable day. Depart 3–4 a.m. (3–4 hours south) for a regulated whale-shark encounter in Oslob; continue to the misty curtains of Tumalog Falls; then head to Badian for Kawasan canyoneering—jumping, sliding, and swimming through jade pools to the famous turquoise cascade. Tours include gear, guides, lunch, and transport. From $150–220 depending on inclusions.

Responsible wildlife note: Keep a respectful distance (4–6 meters), never touch or block the animals’ path, and follow local briefings. Consider skipping flash and heavy lotions; rinse before entering the water.

Recovery bites (late): Back in town, order comforting bowls at Ila Puti (IT Park; Asian fusion rice bowls, try the stroganov-inspired stroganov bowl) or ramen at Barikata near IT Park.

Day 5: Mactan Island Hopping and Beach Time

Morning: Transfer to Maribago or Punta Engaño (30–60 minutes). Hop a bangka for a classic snorkel circuit:

Mactan Cebu Island Hopping with Lunch – Gilutungan, Caohagan, Nalusuan

Expect clear water, tame currents, and colorful reef life. BBQ lunch on board or shore. Tour rates often run $50–100 per person, depending on boat size and gear; bring small bills for marine sanctuary fees.

Afternoon: Lounge at a Mactan resort day pass if you want more sun: Crimson, Dusit Thani, or Shangri-La’s beach are great for an easy swim and a cocktail.

Evening: Stay on Mactan for dinner with a view at Scape Skydeck (wood-fired pizzas, steaks, skyline) or Cowrie Cove at Shangri-La (seafood by the shore). Back in Cebu City, the wine list at La Vie Parisienne and desserts at 10 Dove Street keep things sweet.

Day 6: Moalboal Sardine Run and White Beach

Morning: Depart by private car (2.5–3 hours) or Ceres bus (3.5–4.5 hours) to Moalboal. At Panagsama Beach, you can swim right from shore to the wall and witness the hypnotic sardine run—a living silver cloud. Rent a mask and fins; guides with small boats can zip you to Pescador Island for turtles and shallow coral gardens.

Afternoon: Move to White Beach (Basdaku) for a sandy, mellow shoreline ideal for a lazy swim. Lunch ideas: Ven’z Kitchen (Filipino favorites at friendly prices; try adobong pusit), Shaka Café (smoothie bowls, wraps), or Café Cebuano (good coffee and sea views). If you skipped canyoneering on Day 4, you can book a half-day Badian canyoneering session today, but don’t overpack—travel times are real.

Evening: Return to Cebu City. Dinner at Balay sa Busay if you still want a hill breeze (crispy kare-kare, chicharrón bulaklak), or keep it central with Parilya (grilled seafood and seaside promenade) along SRP. Nightcap at Straight Up (Seda Central Bloc IT Park) for skyline views.

Day 7: Markets, Museums, and Pasalubong

Morning: Breakfast at Yolk (eggs benedict, shakshuka) or another round at Abaca Baking Company. Dip into Museo Sugbo (a former jail turned museum) for a digestible walk through Cebuano history, then stop by Casa Gorordo if you missed it earlier.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping at Ayala Center Cebu (local brands and ATMs) or SM Seaside’s Sky Park for breezy views. For edible souvenirs, browse Carbon Market for cacao, otap (flaky biscuit cookies), and dried mangoes. If you visit Taboan Dried Fish Market, bring a spare bag—the aroma travels!

Departure: Grab to the airport (allow 1.5–2 hours with traffic). If you haven’t booked flights yet, compare options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Aim to be at CEB 2–3 hours pre-flight.

Practical Essentials

• Getting around: Grab works well in the city (PHP 120–300 for most hops). For southbound day trips, private drivers save hours; expect PHP 4,500–6,500 for a full day. Buses at Cebu South Bus Terminal are economical but slower.
• Money: Cards are common in malls and big restaurants. Carry cash for markets, island fees, and rural stops.
• What to pack: Reef-safe sunscreen, quick-dry towel, water shoes for canyoneering, light rain shell, dry bag, and small bills for marine sanctuary fees (PHP 50–200 each stop).

Where to book stays quickly: Browse homes and condos near Ayala or IT Park on VRBO, or compare hotels (Business Park convenience vs. Mactan beachfront) on Hotels.com.

One week in Cebu City lets you trace 500 years of history in the morning and dive warm reefs by afternoon. With Bohol’s hills, Oslob’s giants, Kawasan’s canyon, and Mactan’s islands in easy reach, this itinerary balances adventure, flavor, and downtime. You’ll leave sun-kissed, well-fed, and plotting your return.