Book Flights to Cebu

Explore historic Cebu

Trace the history of the city in Cebu’s ancient centre, where Ferdinand Magellan and Spanish explorers first arrived in the 16^th century. Remnants of its colonial past pepper the island, from Magellan’s Cross, constructed upon the arrival of Magellan to the beautiful Basilica del Santo Niño. Here, you’ll find stunning frescoes, chandeliers and stained glass. The triangular Fort San Pedro, built in 1738 by the Spanish to repel invaders is another must visit. Today it’s an oasis of calm with a beautiful garden.

There are also several museums to visit. Museo Sugbo is a former jail built in 1871 which now houses various artefacts drawn from the city’s history.

Filipino food

Cebu is known for its flourishing culinary scene, from street food to high-end restaurants. Local specialities to look out for include barbecued meat and fresh grilled seafood. Try Cafe Laguna for great seafood chowder and buttered chicken.

There are numerous ambitious, up-and-coming restaurants where local chefs put together delicious fusion creations, combining the best of local ingredients with worldwide flavours.

At weekends, head for Sugbo Mercado, where you’ll find an eclectic mix of pop-up venues serving the latest in Cebu and Filipino cuisine.

Hit the beach

Cebu island boasts some world-class beaches with everything from beach huts in palm trees to luxury resorts.

Some of the easiest to reach are on Mactan, an island that’s also home to Cebu’s airport. You could be on your sun-lounger, with your toes in clean, white sand just minutes after leaving the terminal.

For a more active beach break, head to neighbouring Bohol, a two-hour ferry ride from Cebu City – the resorts around its coast are perfect for a day out. Away from its beach, the island’s lush, green interior has locations like the enigmatic Chocolate Hills, over a thousand small conical limestone peaks.