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20 Best Things to Do in Cebu City Only
Whether you are on a quick pit stop or visiting for a few days, there are fun activities you can do in the city. If you’re looking for ideas to include on your itinerary, I highlighted some of the best things to do in Cebu City only.
Cebu City is the biggest city in the Philippines outside of Metro Manila in terms of population and economic activity, earning the moniker “Queen City of the South.”
Many would skip Cebu City in favor of tourist towns like Moalboal and Oslob. I can’t blame them, especially those who only have a few days to spend in Cebu. But, if you have a day or two to spare, Cebu City is an interesting place to explore.
Why Visit Cebu City
What makes Cebu City unique from Manila is that it gives you access to basic facilities while white sand beaches and other tropical island getaways are just an hour’s drive away. In addition, when visiting the Philippines, many tourists choose to stay in Cebu City or make a jump-off point from here to avoid the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila.
To easily scan the best things to do in Cebu, we grouped them into different categories, as follows:
- Mountainside Tour in Cebu City
- Parks and Gardens in Cebu City
- Religious Sites in Cebu City
- Malls in Cebu City
- Food in Cebu City
- Nightlife in Cebu City
- Other Tourist Attractions in Cebu City
Feel free to jump directly to the desired section.
If you’re looking to explore the entire island of Cebu, check out the 35 Things to Do in Cebu Island!
MOUNTAINSIDE TOUR IN CEBU CITY
Mountainside tours in Cebu City are quite popular. Do a DIY tour in the city and consider these spots in your itinerary.
1. Witness timeless love at Temple of Leah
Teodorico Soriano Adarna constructed Temple of Leah in 2012 to honor his late wife Leah Albino-Adarna, whose mausoleum rests in the complex. Her 10-foot statue stands tall at the center of this grand while other figures like angels, lions, and gladiators surround the area. Temple of Leah overlooks Cebu City.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: 6:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Location: Landon Heights Roosevelt, Busay, Cebu City
- Contact: (+63) 9063245687
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Tops Lookout, La Vie Parisienne, Sirao Flower Garden
2. Watch Metro Cebu from Tops Lookout
An observation deck that gives you a full bird’s eye view of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Mactan Island, Tops Lookout has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cebu City. Be sure to come here in the evening as the lights downtown shines brighter.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: 24 hours
- Location: Tops Road, Busay, Cebu City
- Contact: (+63) 9098905357
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Tops Lookout, La Vie Parisienne, Sirao Garden
3. Dine at La Vie in the Sky
Before entering the gate of Tops Lookout, you’ll pass by La Vie in the Sky, a French restaurant that offers the same panoramic view of the cities of Mandaue, Cebu, Talisay, and Mactan Island. Whether you’re looking for a romantic place or a spot to chill in the mountains, La Vie in the Sky is the right place.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD) consumable for food/drinks
- Opening hours: 9:00 am – 1:00 am
- Location: Tops Road, Cebu City
- Contact: (+63) 9176294003
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Tops Lookout, Temple of Leah, Sirao Garden
4. Be in awe of nature at Sirao Garden
Sirao Garden earns the moniker “Little Amsterdam of Cebu” for its likeness to the world-class flower parks in the Dutch city. The star of the garden is the woolflowers that vary in color. You will also see various flora species such as sunflower, hyacinth, chrysanthemum, daisy, and aster. Be in tune with mother nature at Sirao Garden and enjoy the relaxing view in the midst of flora.
- Entrance fee: 70 PHP (~1.5 USD)
- Opening hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Location: Barangay Sirao, Cebu City
- Contact: (+63) 9286566128
- Best time to visit: March to May
- Nearby attractions: Tops Lookout, Temple of Leah, La Vie in the Sky
PARKS AND GARDENS IN CEBU CITY
If you’re looking to connect with nature, consider parks and gardens in Cebu City.
5. Get close to marine life at Cebu Ocean Park
Cebu Ocean Park has the biggest oceanarium in the Philippines home to dozens of ocean animals, like the blacktip reef shark, giant grouper, stone fish, eagle ray, sugar gliders, lories and lorikeets, and Burmese python. Experience the wonders of the ocean at Cebu Ocean Park as you dine “under the sea,” dive in a SeaTrek helmet, or relax at the fish spa.
- Entrance fee: 550 PHP (~10 USD) on weekdays, 700 PHP (~13 USD) on weekends/holidays
- Location: SM Seaside Complex, Mambaling, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 888-5288
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: SM Seaside, Nustar Resort and Casino, Il Corso Lifemalls
6. Observe butterflies at Jumalon Museum, Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery
Over 55 butterfly species occupy Jumalon Museum, Butterfly Sanctuary and Art Gallery in a good season. Watch out for the butterfly collections and artworks made from damaged butterfly wings accumulated throughout the years since its first establishment in 1974 by late lepidopterist Julian Navarro Jumalon.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: J.N., Jumalon St, Basak, Pardo, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 261 6884
- Best time to visit: June to February
- Nearby attractions: SM Seaside, Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross Pavilion
7. Enjoy Mother Nature’s best at Terrazas De Flores Botanical Garden
Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden has over 120 species of flowers and plants planted on terraces, the first terraced flower garden in the Philippines. They also have cabanas for rent and a coffee shop with a picture-perfect view of the mountains.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Location: Sitio Tigib, Malubog, Cebu City
- Contact: (+63) 9272140324
- Best time to visit: December to May
- Nearby attractions: Tops Lookout, Temple of Leah, Sirao Garden
RELIGIOUS SITES IN CEBU CITY
Religion is entrenched in Cebu City’s history. Catholicism in the Philippines started in the city, so religious sites are not hard to come by.
8. Celebrate Sinulog Festival
Sinulog Festival is an annual event in the city that marks the introduction of Catholicism to Filipinos in 1951. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Cebu City where spectators dance on the streets. Watch groups of street dancers clad in extravagant and colorful costumes, festival queens, massive floats, and gigantic paper-mâché puppets.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Downtown Cebu City
- Best time to visit: Every 3rd Sunday of January
- Nearby attractions: Magellan’s Cross Pavilion, Fort San Pedro, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
Related: Sinulog Festival 2023: Everything You Need to Know
9. Visit Philippines’ oldest Catholic church, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
Established in 1565, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is the oldest Catholic church in the Philippines. Also known as Santo Niño Basilica, the church is home to the image of Santo Niño, the city’s patron saint that represents Jesus as a black Holy Child.
- Opening hours: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Location: Pilgrim’s Center, Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 255 6697
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Magellan’s Cross Pavilion, Fort San Pedro
10. Visit one of Philippines’ first Catholic churches, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Completed in 1909, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the first Catholic churches in the Philippines alongside the Basilica Del Santo Niño. On the outside, the church is recognizable by its Spanish colonial facade while the inside features an elaborate golden altar.
- Opening hours: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Location: Mabini St., Barangay Parian, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 253 6422
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Fort San Pedro, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Magellan’s Cross
11. Visit the Cebu Taoist Temple
Built in 1972, Cebu Taoist Temple has been the place of worship of many Filipino-Chinese communities in Cebu City. It’s situated 110 meters above sea level, Cebu Taoist Temple welcomes worshippers and non-worshippers with its replica of the Great Wall of China. Inside the temple, you will find a chapel, a wishing well, and even a souvenir shop.
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: Beverly Hills, Lahug, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 254 6503
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: La Vie Parisienne, Cebu IT Park, Osmeña Circle
MALLS IN CEBU CITY
Cebu City is home to several malls scattered all around the city. If you want to go shopping or find restaurants, we highly recommend these two:
12. Shop at one of Philippines’ largest malls, SM Seaside m
SM Seaside is the 4th largest shopping mall in the Philippines and only one of the 79 SM Malls across the country. SM Seaside houses several cinema houses, a theater, a tower, a rooftop garden, an Olymic-size ice skating rink, bowling and amusement center on top of the hundreds of dining, retail, and entertainment shops.
- Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Location: Cebu South Coastal Road, Antuwanga, Cebu City
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: CCLEX, Nustar Resort and Casino, Il Corso
13. Find local and imported goods at Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu was built in 1994, the first Ayala Mall outside of Metro Manila. Located within Cebu Business Park, Ayala Center Cebu attracts up to 135,000 shoppers on average weekends. On top of over 200 tenants, the mall complex houses “The Terraces” (a food, restaurant and beverage extension of the mall), a garden, a roof deck, two condominiums, and Ayala Center Cebu Tower (houses BPO offices and the H&M store).
- Opening hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 am
- Location: Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City
- Contact: (032) 888 3777
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: SM City Cebu, Cebu IT Park, 88th Avenue
THINGS TO DO IN CEBU CITY FOR FOODIES
Paid food tour in Cebu City is not a thing yet. Lucky for you, we know where to eat the best Filipino delicacies in town.
14. Taste up-and-coming local delicacies at Sugbo Mercado
Sugbo Mercado is an organized night market exclusively for budding food entrepreneurs. Find a wide range of Filipino food that you’ll want to try. But options are varied as well from different cuisines from all over the world.
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday at 4:00 pm – 12:00 am
- Branches: IT Park, Business Park, Il Corso, SM Seaside
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Ayala Central Bloc mall, Garden Bloc
15. Eat street foods at Carbon Night Market
A wet market by day and a foodie’s market at night, Carbon Night Market is a newer attraction that draws locals to eat affordable Filipino food, including lechon Cebu, pater (a traditional Meranao food), baked scallops, and a variety of refreshments.
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: Friday-Sunday at 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Location: Carbon Public Market,
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross Pavilion, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño church
16. Hunt local goods at Colon Night Market
Colon Street is the oldest street in the Philippines and one of the busiest in Cebu City. At night, locals flock to Colon Night Market to hunt for thrift goods and of course Filipino food. Brave authentic Filipino street foods like kwek-kwek (deep-friend batter-coasted eggs), balut (a fertilized duck egg), local-style barbecue innards like isaw (chicken intestine) and betamax (pig’s blood)) as well as quintessential Filipino delicacies like lechon Cebu.
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
- Location: Colon St., Cebu City
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Carbon Night Market, Magellan’s Cross Pavilion, Fort San Pedro
THINGS TO DO IN CEBU CITY FOR PARTY-GOERS
Cebu City has everything from nightclubs to live music bars to pubs to karaoke lounges. Here are some of the best nightlife spots in Cebu City:
17. Party at Trademark Cebu
Trademark never disappoints. The crowd consists mostly of Gen Zs and millennials, so you can expect a lively bunch in every corner. Non-stop pop music with a right mix of EDM that reflects San Francisco’s nightlife scene is brought here in Cebu.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: Friday/Saturday at 9:00 pm – 4:00 am; Sunday to Thursday at 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
- Contact: (+63) 9171237387
- Location: 88th Avenue, Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad
- Nearby attractions: F Café and Bar, Sentral Bar and Lounge, Icon
18. Enjoy hip-hop and RnB music at The Sentral
The Sentral is located in Mandaue City, just a kilometer away from other popular bars in Cebu City like Trademark and Icon. The best hip-hop and RnB DJs play at The Sentral, and it’s a favorite play among younger crowds.
- Entrance fee: 100 PHP (~2 USD)
- Opening hours: Friday/Saturday at 8:00 pm – 4:30 am; Sunday at 8:00 pm – 2:30 am; Tuesday-Thursday at 8:00 pm – 2:00 am
- Contact: (+63) 9158888090
- Location:#2 Norkis Cyberpark, A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City
- Nearby attractions: Trademark Cebu, F Café and Bar, Icon
OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN CEBU CITY
Include these worthy popular tourist attractions in your Cebu City itinerary:
19. Cross Cebu City to Cordova via CCLEX
The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) stretches 8.9 kilometers, connecting Cebu City to Cordova town in Mactan Island. Whether you’re driving or taking a cab, the experience itself is worth it, giving you a panoramic view of the Mactan or Opon Channel and Cebu’s mountain backdrop.
- Toll fee: 90-180 PHP (~2-3.5 USD)
- Opening hours: 24 hours
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: SM Seaside, Il Corso, 10,000 Roses Café
20. Watch 10,000 roses glow at night at 10,000 Roses Café
10,000 Roses Cafè is not in Cebu City, but if you’re taking CCLEX, might as well drop by the shop. Inspired by Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, South Korea, 10,000 Roses Café is one of the most Instagram-worthy places in Cebu. Pose in the sea of white LED roses that illuminate at night.
- Opening hours: 2:00 – 10:00 pm
- Location: Barangay Day-as, Cordova, Cebu
- Contact: (+63) 956 839 9427
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Mactan Shrine, Il Corso, SM Seaside
Your Complete Cebu City Travel Guide
Can’t get enough of these activities to do in Cebu City? Let me know in the comments so I can give you more things to do in Cebu City! But for now, that’s all we’ve got here. I hope this gives you something to complete your Cebu City itinerary.
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