Cebu City Tour

Wondering where to go to when visiting Cebu Island? For a short historic tour around the city, you may visit the following destinations.

Candles outside the Basilica

Start off at Magellan's Cross which is sandwiched in between the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and the City Hall building. So that when you get here, you're already hitting 3 birds with one stone.

Magellan's Cross

The Magellan's Cross is just a small structure housing the cross that was said to have been erected by Magellan at the exact site. Travelers can go inside and look at the cross and the famous paintings that adorn the ceiling. Candle sellers would offer you candles which they would use as an offering while performing the "Sinulog" steps which would supposedly give you good luck and bless your petitions/prayers. Entrance is free.

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño

Courtyard inside the Basilica

Behind the cross is the entrance to Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, under the custody of the Augustinians. You can go inside to light a candle and say a prayer before entering the church, which was damaged by the earthquake that hit Cebu in 2014. Go inside and visit the image of Santo Niño, which is the oldest religious relic of the Philippines. This image was a gift from Magellan to Queen Juana during the baptism of the latter together with King Humabon in 1521. There is also a gorgeous courtyard inside the church beside the "Halik" to Santo Niño.

Inside Fort San Pedro

As you exit the church, turn left, and continue walking along Magallanes street. After 2 blocks, you'll see Plaza Independencia. Just beyond it is Fort San Pedro. A Spanish military defense structure, this destination has a small museum, and an open space in the middle which people can now rent to hold gatherings for different occasions. It is considered as the smallest and oldest triangular bastion of the country which used to serve as a defense against Muslim raiders. Many locals believe the existence of a rumored tunnel that runs from below the church up to the fort.

Fort San Pedro

From the Fort, you can hire either a calesa or a taxi to go to Colon, the oldest and shortest national street here in the Philippines. Named after Christopher Columbus, this street used to be the heart of the city's shopping and business activities.

Lapu-Lapu at Mactan Shrine

Then cross from Cebu City to Mactan Island via the new Marcelo Fernan Bridge. Visit the Mactan Shrine first. Built in honor of Lapu-Lapu, this shrine faces the site where this native leader defeated Portuguese conquerors led by Ferdinand Magellan during the Battle of Mactan. Entrance is free, but there is a 10-peso parking fee for those with vehicles. You could actually try to imagine the battle scenes occurring by the shore. Now, in the afternoons, you can usually spot some kids/teenagers gathering by the shore to do amateur skimboarding.

Club Ibiza

If you'd like to do hotel-hopping, continue along Punta Engaño Road towards Movenpick Hotel, then transfer to Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, or vice versa. Both hotels usually allow walk-ins to explore but not use their facilities. You could take a couple of photos, or in the case of Movenpick Hotel, you could visit Ibiza Beach Club, which has an entrance fee of 1000 pesos per person (consumable), and enjoy an afternoon of dining and or booze with a great view of the sea by the famous white nets of Ibiza. It is open from 11 am to MN for weekdays, and up to 2 am for Fridays and Saturdays. You can also feed the fishes.

Movenpick Hotel

You could have a quick bite at Movenpick's The Forum, or at Shangri-La's restaurants, and bars and lounges.

A quick stopover at a factory of handmade guitars or ukuleles can be done on the way back to the city. These factories are located in Abuno, Mactan. The most known of which is the Alegre Guitar Factory. They sell affordable but quality guitars and ukuleles.

Expect heavy traffic on the way back to the city, so be ready to go back on or before 5 in the afternoon.