Cebu City is known as the Queen City of the South in Cebu Island in the Philippines. This amazing place is my first destination for 2018 travels. I explored this highly urbanized city with my friends from High School. So exciting!
How to organize a city tour?
There are a few ways you can tour and explore the city. Here are few options you can choose:
- City Tour Packages – There are sites or companies that offers city tour packages just like the cebucitytour.com that I found online. (Not sponsored. Just a suggestion.) If you’re a tourist and would like to know more about Cebu History and attractions, it would be a good choice for you. But it would cost you more though.
- Rent a Van – If you’re a big group and you know the places you want to visit, I recommend you rent a Van. It’s more convenient and I bet the driver knows the city so well.
- GrabCar – Yes, GrabCar works in Cebu. (In Davao we only have GrabTaxi) This is what we did. We asked a GrabCar driver and gladly he agreed. For 7 people and 7 destinations, we paid Php 3,500 so that’s Php 500 each. Not bad. Right?
- GrabTaxi/Taxi – If you’re in a smaller group of like 3-4 persons only, you can definitely try to ask a taxi driver. But make sure to negotiate. So instead of charging you every stop, you can definitely kind-of rent them for the day.
- Habal-Habal Driver – Definitely the cheapest but I’d say a little inconvenient. This is for someone who’s willing to ride a motorcycle. But remember, most destinations are pretty far from each other so make sure your butt is ready for a long drive. For solo travelers, I highly recommend this.
Cebu City Tour: 8 Destinations in 1 Day
1) Plaza Independencia
Plaza Independencia is a historical site that makes it a popular tourist destination. Located just between Fort San Pedro and Casa del Gobierno de Visayas. Used to be the Provincial Capitol until 1938. Now, its a popular place to hangout for people living or working around the area.
The plaza has been the most significant sites in the history of Cebu city. You can still see the old acacia trees that has been there for years and witnessed to Cebu’s rich history.
Located in M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Legaspi Extension, Barangay San Roque, Cebu City.
2) Fort San Pedro
Fort San Pedro or Fuerza de San Pedro was built in 1565 under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. This triangular shaped fort was once built to serve as a military defense structure. Now it is known as the oldest and smallest fort in the country and is one of Cebu’s historical attractions.
Learn the history of Cebu by indulging yourself with the paintings, old photos, old items, and even see a real cannon. And you can take as many pictures as you like. 😉
Located just beside the Plaza Independencia. For Php 30, you’ll be able to enjoy this place.
3) Magellan’s Cross
Just few walks from the Fort San Pedro is Cebu’s historical Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño – the oldest Catholic Church in Cebu. And outside the church is where the Magellan’s cross is. Standing under a Spanish-styled pavilion is a large wooden cross that claims to be the one planted by famed explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The cross signifies the propagation of the Roman Catholic faith in the Philippines. It is said that the original cross is encased in another wooden cross for protection.
4) Basilica del Sto Niño Museum
Inside the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño you will see a small museum that records the history of Christianity in Cebu. Within the museum displays various antique objects, century-old furnitures, old artifacts of Sto. Niño, collection of velvet, accessories, priestly garments, and the old cloaks of Sto. Niño donated over the centuries. There are also items that was donated by the devotees such as the holy rosary, photos, different kind of money currency, jewelries, and many more. But just a remind, taking pictures and videos inside is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Entrance Fee:
Adult- Php 30 | Children/Senior Citizen – Php 10 | Student – Php 15
5) Sirao Flower Garden
This is the farthest destination for our itinerary but wouldn’t want to miss it. Opened last 2015 and it gained popularity in social media of course. They called it the little Amsterdam of Cebu city known as Sirao Garden.
When we went to this flower farm, the flowers just started blooming/growing. It’s not the same as the once we saw online but still it was beautiful. For an entrance fee of only P30.00 per person, it’s totally worth it. The beautiful flowers, the garden setup, and the mountain view makes it worth the long trip. A perfect place for selfies and even for pre-nuptial photoshoot.
They said the best time to visit is during its peak season. So, it’s either April – May or October – November. That’s the time where the whole place is filled with almost human-sized flowers.
6) Tops Lookout (Top of Cebu)
Tops Lookout is considered one of the most overrated tourist spot in Cebu city. On our way there, we can already see the city. You have to pay an entrance fee of Php 100 each and see the wonderful view inside.
Since we arrived there lunch time, we won’t be able to see the spectacular city lights. Seeing the city from the top makes you realize how big it is. We can see Cebu, Mactan and even Bohol from there.
I was here back in 2011 and I remember the big old bell but now it’s no longer in there. So we just had our lunch, get a panoramic view of the city, enjoy the fresh air, and of course we took a lot of pictures.
7) Temple of Leah
Reported as Philippines version of India’s famous Taj Mahal, a mesmerizing work of art as a symbol of one man’s undying love to his beloved wife. Back in 2012, a business tycoon Teodorico Adarna – the grandfather of the sexy actress Ellen Adarna, built a temple for her beloved wife for 53 years namely Leah V. Albino-Adarna.
For only Php 50 you can step inside the temple and feel like you are being transported into a European haven. Located at Roosevelt Street, Barangay Busay, Cebu City. Park freely outside the premises, but there’s limited slots only. Juts pay Php 100 if you want to parked inside Temple of Leah. And it’s open 24 hours and 7 days a week.
8) Taoist Temple
Lastly, we visited Cebu Taoist Temple which is situated inside Beverly Hills Subdivision, Cebu, Philippines. Built in 1972 by a group of Chinese community, this temple is elevated over 300 meters above the sea level.
It is open to both worshippers and non-worshippers from 8am-5pm. The devotees usually pray to the Gods to grant their wishes and ask for guidance in decision making in their life. Enjoy the view of Cebu city while you’re there. It is free to go inside but you can’t take pictures inside the temple.
These are just 8 of the many places you can visit in Cebu. Learn about the history, culture and enjoy the wonderful experience Cebu has to offer.
