Cebu

Cebu, Philippines

Referred to locally as "Queen of the south", Cebu, the country’s oldest city, has now become its favourite tourist destination. With a keen choice of historical sights, long stretches of white sand beaches, excellent year-round scuba and water sport action, choice of dining, exciting nightlife and, of course, the famous warm hospitality, it’s no surprise that visitor numbers, new hotels, and tourist attractions are on the rise.

Population:

3,000,000 (Cebu province)

Currency:

Philippine peso (PHP)
₱10 ~ US$0,19

Emergency Numbers:

117

Opening Hours:

Banks 9am - 3pm Mon - Fri, shops open from 10am - 8pm Mon - Sat, malls can stay open later and on Sundays and public holidays.

Newspapers:

The Cebu Daily News
The Manila Times
Philippine Daily Enquirer

The City

In the heart of the Philippine archipelago, Cebu is at once the island, metropolitan area and provincial capital. The seat of Christianity in the Philippines since Ferdinand Magellan first planted a cross on the shoreline, the city has played host to a number of mixed foreign settlers who left a lasting impression on the landscape and culture.

Spain, particularly, has had a strong colonial presence and Catholic legacy. As a centre for trade, commerce, arts and education the city is a mishmash of the old and new, and offers a real flavor of Philippine life in all its guises. The lust for life is apparent 24 hours a day, the common usage of English makes everything quite simple and the welcoming smiles of the locals seem to greet you wherever you go.

Do & See

Since Cebu was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines, the city has a lot of historical attractions to offer its visitors. The large sea port and air hub has also contributed to the modernisation of the city and the urban culture mix with the old heritage. Cebu offers its visitors a unique experience.

Excursions

With its location in the heart of the Philippine archipelago it is easy to go for an excursion outside the city. Visit another island or discover the nearby surroundings of the main island of Cebu.

Dining

Eating in Cebu is an experience with a multinational choice of restaurants, particularly around the Ayala district. The undecided should try a Filipino turo-turo—literally "point-point" restaurant, where patrons point at whatever they fancy from a spread of dishes.

Street-food abounds in Cebu and is amazingly cheap, sugba or sinugba (barbecue) is particularly popular and include marinated sweet pork, chicken, and seafood on sticks. For dessert, "Halo-Halo", is a refreshing mix of grated ice, sweet beans, tropical fruits and ice cream.

Below are the best places to eat in Cebu, Philippines: