Popular Tourist Spots in Cebu City, Philippines

Cebu - called the Queen City of the south. It is the second most important city after Manila. The island of Mactan boast of beautiful beaches, dive spots and 1st class facilities. Other tourist attractions of Cebu are: the Sto. Niño Basilica, Fort San Pedro, the Lapu-lapu shrine and the Sinulog Festival held during January every year. 

Explore Cebu City

Things to Do 

1.Basilica Del Santo Nino

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu is the oldest Roman Catholic Church of 16th century in Cebu city. Located in the center of the city and is a perfect example of combination of three different architecture styles. The church was built at the exact location where the image of Santo Nino that means the Black Holy Child Jesus was found.

2. Magellan's Cross 

 

 

You should not miss the Magellan’s Cross being the famous landmark in Cebu and having its contribution in the history of the Philippines. This cross was planted as a symbol of the arrival of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers headed by Ferdinand Magellan upon arrival in the city.

3.Taoist Temple

 One of the most beautiful spots of Cebu ....

Up on the hill in which u can take amazing pictures of the Temple and also looking down from temple to Cebu City nice photos to take ... As its not so crowded w tourists, nice spot to enjoy ...

4.Lapu Lapu Monument

 

Just a brief history, after Magellan’s (the Spanish invader) visit with the cross, he came for the 2nd time and this time, he planned to invade the country. Unfortunately, we have Lapu-Lapu, the First Filipino Patriot who showed his love for the country and killed Magellan with his men and the place later known as the Lapu-Lapu Shrine. 

The spot in the Lapu-Lapu Shrine where Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu wasn’t hard to find because a tombstone (actually, it’s not that really a tombstone) was built on the actual spot with a plaque of a written history on it. On the wall, at the back of what it seems like a tombstone is a long painting of the fight between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. Lapu-Lapu’s monument is a 66ft bronze standing very tall in the island. When you get to the monument of Lapu-Lapu, you’ll see a fishing village and there’s these Indiana like statues outside that looks like you’re in a Survivor island. 

5.Fort San Pedro 

 

Fort San Pedro is the smallest and oldest Spanish fort in the country. It was built in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and served as the core of Spanish settlement in the Philippines. The fort is triangular in shape, with two sides facing the sea and the third side fronting the land. The two sides facing the sea were defended with artillery and the side with a strong palisade made of wood. There are information walls inside w many old / new photos describing the development and history of Cebu and the Fort ... There is a small Museum in the Fort but not all the times open.

6. Sky Experience Adventure

 

 

5 Reasons to Visit the Sky Experience Adventure

1. Edge Coaster – This interactive ride is the first of its kind in the world. The Edge Coaster moves you around the edge of the tower and tilts at about 55 degrees. At times, you’ll feel like you will literally fall off your seat. Not to worry, though: the rides are provided with joysticks to control the tilt level. The Edge Coasters are definitely not for the faint-hearted but perfect for those who want to defy their fear of heights!
2. Skywalk – Located on floor 37 of the Crown Regency Cebu, the Sky Walk Extreme lets visitors walk along the edge of the tower. Certainly the highlight of the entire Sky Experience Adventure, the Crown Regency is noted as the tallest hotel building in the Cebu. The platform looks intimidating but the management assures safety with a harness that will be securely strapped around you. Wearing the orange jumpsuit and white sneakers, tourists will surely feel their jaws drop with the magnificent scenery provided by the Skywalk. You’ll instantly forget about your fear and just marvel at the view. It becomes both a cheering and thrilling experience.
3. 4D Theater – Tourists are given 4D glasses to experience the full 4D effect of a movie or show. With this kind of technology, you’ll get to experience ultimate adventure with all your senses. Get submerged under the sea, travel back through time when dinosaurs ruled the earth, or get lost in an island and discover the dangers that it brings. The 4D theater undoubtedly adds to even more heart-racing action.
4. Sparkz Restobar – Hungry for more thrilling spectacles or are you just plain hungry? Well, the Sparks Restobar lets you dine with ambience-setting lights and the sounds of live bands on the 37th floor. Feast on sumptuous Asian and internationally-inspired cuisines that are simply delicious. Some packages of heading up to the tower include a dinner buffet while you enjoy the breathtaking view of the city.
5. Vivo Game Zone and Sky Observatory – This three-level playroom makes it perfect for the energetic young ones. Get the kids to enjoy unlimited access to the rainbow-colored playroom. While the children get to mingle with other little ones, step out to the platform and get a hold of a coin-operated telescope and binoculars for a glimpse of the spectacular view of the city and the radiant nightscape. 

Sounds exhilaratingly fun, right? The Sky Experience Adventure is a great addition to the many attractions found in Cebu. Be swept away by pure pleasure in an exciting escape to the tower and get to experience a different level of excitement.

7. Kawasan Falls

 

If anyone can walk around a mall for more than two hours simply window shopping, then walking for 15-30 minutes to reach Kawasan Falls with all its breathtaking scene would be easy and definitely worth it.

Kawasan Falls is a 15-30 minute walk (depends not just on how fast you can walk but on how quick you can get over the beautiful scenery) from Barangay Matutinao, south of Badian. Badian is found at the south of Cebu Province. From Cebu city, you have to travel about 98 kilometers, that’s two and a half to three hour trip. From Badian, that 15-30 minute trek would be through rivers and wooden bridges. An additional treat would be to reach the second drop and enjoy the sights from there and also the spring near the top. This would require another walk through a steep passage. But again, all worth it!

 

8. Sinulog Festival

 

 

Caracteristics of the  festival

The famous Sinulog festival in Cebu City is held every year on the third Sunday of January. The festival is characterized by a  very long parade with many groups of persons dressed in colourful costumes, finding their way through the streets while dancing the Sinulog. To distinguish the festival from the popular Ati-Atihan Festival on Panay island, this festival is characterized by a different dance. This Sinulog dance, is now the traditional and ritual dance in honor of Santo Niño. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums:  all the time moving two steps forward followed by one step backward. Though the dance is already very old, the parade  is rather young! 1980 was the first year that the parade was organized.  

The origin 

The Sinulog was already danced by the locals in honor of their wooden statues in the period before the Cebuanos were baptized. Later on, after the image of the famous Santo Niño was brought to Cebu and  the Catholic faith was established in the region, the dance was made a part of the yearly fiesta in honor of the Santo Niño. While dancing, people are shouting  petitions and thanksgivings to the Santo Niño. Shouting is necessary because the pilgrims have to be sure that they will be heard by the Santo Niño.“Pit Señor! Señor Santo Niño, Manoy Kiloy...." The Sinulog became indeed a dance ritual in honor of Santo Niño!

9. Colon Street

 

Colon Street is considered as the first and oldest street in the Philippines. It is located in downtown area of Cebu City, Cebu and has been the witness of so many events that happened during the Spanish settlement. It was named after Cristopher Columbus, a navigator, colonizer, and explorer from Genoa, Italy. The original plan of the town’s design was made by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a Spanish explorer who arrived in the Philippines to constitute a settlement in 1565 on a fleet composed of the vessels San Pedro, San Pablo and San Juan.
Colon Street is still one of the most crowded parts of Cebu. It is an area with a wide variety of commercial sites, such as shopping malls, restaurants, fashion shops and movie theaters. Most of the jeepneys coming from different barangays in Cebu City usually pass by Colon Street which sometimes makes a clogged up traffic.

10. Malacanang de Sugbu

 

The Malacañang sa Sugbo is the official residence of the President of the Philippines in the Visayas region. Located in Cebu City, it is named after the Malacañan Palace (colloquially known as Malacañang), the official residence of the President in the capital city of Manila. The building was originally built in 1910 and previously housed the Bureau of Customs office in the Port of Cebu City. It was restored in 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at a cost of Php 700,000.

 

11. Cebu Provincial Capital

 

The provincial capitol of Cebu is the main building in a compound located along Osmena Boulevard. There is also a building behind the capitol which houses other provincial government offices. The Cebu Provincial Capitol is where the Governor and members of the Board hold their office. An edifice of pre-war vintage which was considered a replica of the American White House.