top 5 must-see places and things to do in cebu
There’s a lot to see and do in Cebu. Take a hopping tour or a city tour.
1. Cebu Ocean Park
Cebu Ocean Park Ticket
Ocean Park is the largest aquarium in the Philippines and features marine life from all over the world in a circular aquarium, which is divided into several sections that showcase marine and terrestrial life. The 27 smaller aquariums showcase a variety of marine life from around the world. Not only is it a sight to behold, but it’s also famous for its 360-degree circular aquarium and the Dr. Fish Spa, where you can feed and touch the animals as you walk underwater. You can also watch animal shows and try your hand at bird feeding.
Top experience tips.
Large Aquarium:
The large aquarium is one of the key attractions at Cebu Ocean Park, where you can see a variety of marine life, from colorful tropical fish to giant sharks.
Mermaid Show:
Watch divers perform underwater like real mermaids.
Shark and Stingray Experience:
This hands-on program allows visitors to touch and feed sharks and rays.
Jungle Trail:
A recreation of a tropical rainforest where you can observe tropical plants and small animals. It’s a relaxing and educational way to spend time in nature.
2. Fort San Pedro
Private Fort San Pedro Port Transfers for Iloilo
Cebu is where the Spanish first sailed their ships into the Philippines. It’s no exaggeration to say that Cebu is where the modern history of the Philippines began, which is why there’s a small museum around the fort’s entrance with paintings that tell the story of what was going on at the time. Built in 1565 by the first Spanish viceroy, this triangular fortress has 14 gun emplacements. Fort San Pedro was built in the early 18th century.
It was built by the Spanish army, which occupied Cebu at the time, to defend the city against invasions from neighboring pirates, including Islamists. It was also used as a barracks during the American occupation of the Philippines during World War II. It was also used as a Filipino POW camp during the Japanese colonization. As you can see, the fort served a variety of purposes during the different occupations of the Philippines.
3. Basilica Minore del Santo Niño & Magellan’s Cross
Private Cebu & Mactan Twin City Tour
Magellan’s Cross
Before entering the church, we’ll start with Magellan’s Cross. Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who circumnavigated the world by ship and died in Cebu, Philippines, after falling ill. This Christian cross was erected by Ferdinand Magellan upon his arrival in Cebu, Philippines, in the early 16th century. For that reason, it’s a historically significant site, although some argue that the cross is a fake. They believe that when Magellan died, the cross disappeared. The story goes that the current cross is an imitation that was later installed by the Spanish army. Whatever the reason, it’s a great sight for travelers.
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
The Basilica of Santonio is the oldest church in the Philippines, representing Cebu. It is located in front of the Cebu City Hall, like the Magellanic Cross, and is also known as St. Augustine’s Cathedral. With a long history, the Basilica of Santonio was built in 1565 on the site where the Santonio baby Jesus, the patron saint of Cebu, was found. However, it was all burned down three years later due to war and rebuilt in 1602, making it the oldest Christian church in the Philippines. Although everything was burned during the war, only the statue of the baby Jesus remained intact, making it even-more sacred, and it remains a beloved structure to this day.
4. Magellan Shrine & Lapu Lapu Monument
Private Cebu & Mactan Twin City Tour
Magellan Shrin
The Magellan Shrine honors the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
The Magellan Marker marks the spot where Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), the first man to circumnavigate the globe, died. Arriving in Cebu, Philippines in 1521, Magellan converted many Filipino tribes and made them loyal to the Spanish king, except for Lapu-Lapu (1491-1542), the chief of Mactan Island, who refused to submit. Magellan was killed in the ensuing Battle of Mactan. The historical site has a nice park surrounding it. It’s worth spending some time near the Magellanic marker to learn about the history of Cebu.
Lapu-Lapu Monument
The Lapu-Lapu statue is located right in front of the Magellanic marker. This monument honors Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino hero who won a battle against the Spanish, and was built to commemorate Lapu-Lapu, a chief of Mactan Island who resisted Spanish rule. The statue of Lapu-Lapu, whose death ended Magellan’s circumnavigation of the world, and the cover of Magellan’s book face each other.
5. Exciting, surprising, and exhilarating Cebu hopping tours
Hopping tours are a style of travel that involves visiting multiple destinations while traveling from one destination to another. It involves traveling to multiple destinations in a consolidated itinerary, usually organized by a tour company or travel agent. Hopping tours have the advantage of being well organized and easy to travel, and the appeal is that you can experience a lot of places in a short amount of time.
Tip: various Cebu hopping programs.
1 Cebu’s Flower Hopping, a full day of snorkeling, fishing, and more aboard a banca, a traditional Filipino boat.
Cebu Smile Hopping Tour by Rakso Travel
2 Solo Hopping is a private hopping tour for couples where you can create your own itinerary instead of following a standardized schedule.
3 A complete extreme hopping experience that’s a feast for the eyes, with the amazing experience of seeing whale sharks in their natural habitat and a visit to Tumalok Falls, the inspiration for Avatar.
Oslob Whale Shark Watching Join In Day Tour from Cebu
4 Canyoning Canyoning is the word for valley, and this is an exhilarating activity where you can throw yourself into an emerald valley, take in the natural scenery, and even try your hand at ATV.
Moalboal Cebu Island Hopping and Canyoneering Experience
5 Water Sports It doesn’t get more exhilarating than this! Parasailing for exotic views over the beautiful Philippine waters, jet skiing to cool off in the heat of the day, and scuba diving to get up close and personal with colorful fish and interesting corals are just a few of the exciting marine sports you can’t miss in Cebu.
TMactan Water Sports Activities in Cebu
