Cebu City is the main port of entry to Cebu. Many people choose it over the larger, more intimidating Manila. Cebu City is unfortunately often skipped by people who are heading elsewhere. This is a pity!
On one level, I can understand. We loved exploring Bohol, Moalboal. Cebu City is also worth a visit, especially if you’re a city slicker like us. We spent nearly a whole week in Cebu City on three separate visits this month. It’s just a nice place to be. It has good energy, and we found that the accommodation was more affordable than anywhere else.
Cebu City: Top Things to Do
- Tops Lookout
Some 600 metres above Cebu is one of the top places to visit in Cebu – Tops Lookout. Here you can see Cebu City, and beyond. On a sunny day, you can even see to the north of Bohol. There’s not much else to do than enjoy the views, but they are magnificent. You might even see a plane land or take off if you’re lucky.
There are some basic seats, a snack store and a little restaurant. Entry costs 100 pesos for each person. You’ll need to take a taxi or habal-habal. I took a Habal-habal for 300 pesos (including other stops) from the JY Square Mall to the following two temples.
- Temple of Leah
My habal-habal driver suggested that I stop here on my way back from the lookout. It was well worth the stop. The Temple of Leah, the newest attraction in Cebu, is a must-see. It is a testament of a man’s devotion to his wife. Teodorico is building this temple in memory of his late wife Leah. The temple is constructed in a neoclassical style that imitates a Roman temple from another time and place. It is on the edge of tacky but, in my opinion, it is still tasteful.
When the temple is finished, it will include galleries that contain Leah’s life story. You can still enjoy the beautiful, decadent use of marble and stones, and the views of Cebu City in the courtyard. When it’s finished, the building will be impressive. The temple is accessible by a slope, and there are stairs inside the temple that don’t go anywhere. Otherwise, the place is kid-friendly and stroller-friendly despite the lack of facilities. The entry fee is 50 Pesos. Children under 10 are free.
- Taoist Temple
Located roughly two kilometres away from the JY Square Mall is another temple on the list of Cebu places to visit – a Taoist temple that provides a sharp contrast to Cebu’s many churches. The temple, which is ornate in style and has a very oriental feel, was built as a place for prayer and reflection. There are signs inside the temple asking people to keep quiet. The temple itself is not very big and there isn’t much to see. If you’re in Cebu with children, there’s a simple yet functional playground and park located less than 100 metres from the temple.
The temple is within a gated community and your transport might not be permitted in – my motorcycle taxi driver didn’t want to try but I saw some taxis get in. If your vehicle is stopped, it’s about 400 metres to the temple from the traffic checkpoint.
- University of San Carlos – Museum
This Cebu things to see and do activity is great for those who want to learn about history. This small museum has four galleries of artefacts and some historically interesting electronic devices and appliances in the front. The four galleries in two sections cover natural history, archaeology and religious artifacts.
The galleries are small and static. Despite the labels being in English it won’t take long for an adult or a child to see everything. When I visited, I had the museum all to myself. Young kids being noisy won’t cause any problems as long as they don’t touch anything.
The museum is undergoing an expansion, which is expected to be finished in 2016.
Enter through the main campus entrance on Del Rosarios Street. You will need to present your ID, but you can continue on into the museum even without it. To reach the main section of the museum, you will be directed to walk down the passageway and to the right. The other section of the museum is on the left side of the entrance. You will need to purchase a ticket in the main section before you can access this section.
- Museum Sugbo
In a former prison, a small museum dedicated to Cebuan history is located. Exhibits include pre-Spanish Cebu as well as the Spanish and American colonies. The displays and exhibits seem a little random, but they are well organized into a narrative and are labeled in English. There are helpful explanations on Cebuan history and Filipino history that put it all in context.
Some of the items are quite old. There were old Spanish weapons, documents and other items dating back to WW2. There are letters and documents of some of the first Filipino Presidents (the second president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Cebu, was from Cebu).
The museum’s exhibits are mostly static (there was only one video), so little children will get bored quickly. Some galleries are also upstairs, so strollers will not be able to access them all (but some galleries are accessible). If older kids are interested in that sort of thing, they might enjoy looking at the exhibits or reading the descriptions.
- Magellan’s Cross
Magellan, the famous explorer, made his first step into the Philippines in Cebu. He brought Catholicism along with him. The Cross of Magellan marks the location of the Philippines’ first mass. A large cross was built to commemorate that mass in a small circular rotunda located between the town hall of Cebu City and the Basilica of Santo Nino. This site is now one of Cebu City’s most popular tourist attractions.
To protect it from souvenir hunters, the original is placed in a wood case (just a little larger than the cross and of the same shape). Unfortunately, the rotunda had been closed and covered with scaffolding and tarpaulins at the time we visited. This meant that we could only get a glimpse of the original cross.
- Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Right near by the Basilica (about 3 minutes walk away) was another bustling church – the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. When we visited it, a service was in progress with psalms and prayers. I think that many people came after the service ended at the Basilica.
Built by the Spanish following their conquest, it reminded us many of the churches we have seen in Latin America. Cebu City also has a lot of interesting places to see.
- SM City Mall
This is the place to be if you want to shop or eat a lot. Cebu is also a great place to bring your kids because there are so many fun things for them to do. There’s several indoor play areas, lots of game arcades and our kids particularly enjoyed Story Land – where there were some small kid rides. Z loved riding the elephant train while S rode a boat version dodgem car! All for 35 pesos a ride.
Getting Around Cebu
Taxis are the best way to get around Cebu. Depending on when you go, they can be easy to find or difficult. You can find a taxi rank in shopping centres, but you may have to flag one down. It is more difficult than it should be, because drivers do not always indicate that they are available. During peak hours, it can be difficult to find a taxi.
Taxis will not use their meter unless you ask them to. We had only one problem, which was when it was raining heavily and the traffic was bad. On that occasion, the drivers demanded a set price which they made very clear from the beginning.
Taxis were clean, and drivers had no trouble understanding or finding us. Just by asking, we were able get a regular cab all the way to Moalboal.
The motorcycle taxi, or habal-habal, is a quick and inexpensive alternative for a single person. They can weave around traffic and avoid congestion easily. Negotiate the fare in advance.
Walking in downtown Cebu can be difficult, but it is possible. There are no footpaths and those that do exist can be crowded. You won’t find many strollers here. Walking did feel safe though, even at night – although at night we stuck to busier areas.
