Cebu has always been a wonder. The bustling, thriving city life, beautiful beaches, and mountain peaks make the province a go-to spot for vacations—and of course, one of the best options for real estate investment. Planning a trip sometime soon? Hop in on this Cebu travel guide and we’ll help you plan!

Cebu Travel Guide: Here’s How to Experience the City Fully

Whether you’re on a DIY Cebu tour or just sampling Cebu living before you officially relocate, experience all of these while staying in Cebu:

What to See in Cebu

Whether you’re deep into spirituality or simply want to appreciate our country’s rich history, Cebu is a perfect place to connect with our religious roots. Get a feel of Cebu City’s past by visiting Magellan’s Cross, which is located beside yet another icon of Cebu, Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. The two iconic structures are important markers of the Catholic religion.

Just a few meters from the church is Fort San Pedro located within Plaza Independencia. It’s the smallest military defense structure that dates back to the Spanish era. The museum inside Fort San Pedro houses preserved old photographs, artifacts, and documents that should give you a visual tour of life in Cebu during the colonization.

Want to see the city’s best views? Go to Tops of Cebu in Busay—visit at night to see the sights at their finest. You’ll get an overlooking view of the city lights while dining at some notable mountain-top restaurants in the area.

Temple of Leah, located just near Tops, also offers a city view in daylight. In 2011, businessman Teodorico Soriano Adarna built the temple in honor of his late wife, Leah Villa Abino-Adarna. Today, the temple houses collections of Chinese jars, books, and antiques. If you’re a fan of architecture, this temple’s overall structure resembles Roman styles.

What to Eat in Cebu

Now, you’re probably thinking of Cebu’s world-famous lechon, but we have a couple of lesser-known food staples that we’d love for you to try.

First up is the pungko-pungko. Pungko is the Cebuano word for “squat." This is because, in a pungko-pungko stall, you need to sit on low benches and tables that look like squatting. These stalls offer pork chop, siomai, lumpia, hotdogs, longganisa, and the like. But perhaps the most famous on the menu is ginabot, which are salted, battered, and deep-fried pork intestines.

There’s almost every stall downtown, most especially at Pungko-Pungko sa Fuente around Fuente Osmeña Circle. Get your own choice from pungko-pungko for ₱10 to ₱15 per piece, pair it with puso (rice cooked in woven leaves), and you now have a full meal.

Another classic favorite of Cebu locals is siomai, or steamed dumplings. The best-tasting siomai in Cebu City is at Katipunan Street in Barangay Tisa, popularly referred to as the Siomai sa Tisa. A strip of stores lining the street offers these street-style dumplings at ₱9 each. Siomai sa Tisa is a satisfying meal with puso, chili sauce, and your favorite soft drink.

Events to Check Out

You probably already know this: Cebu is best-known for the Sinulog Festival. This grand celebration takes place every third Sunday of January, and is held in honor of Santo Niño de Cebu. Street dancing starts in the morning, and pyro-musical shows light up the night sky. Book your rooms in advance—tourists from around the world attend this festival every year.

When is the Best Time to Travel to Cebu?

Cebu is open to anyone and everyone all year round, but the city is ideal for tourists around the first half of the year. By this time, summer is just around the corner after the Sinulog Festival.

From up north to down south, Cebu has beaches and mountains sprawling across the region, making it the best place to go for a breather. Leaving city life to relax and get in touch with nature will only take a few hours.

Explore the City Beyond This Cebu Travel Guide

Visiting Cebu will allow you to envision life in Cebu when you finally move here. The best perk of Cebu living is having to experience the best of two often-contrasting worlds: fast-paced city life, and the laidback life close to nature. You can never go wrong with settling in this part of the country where economic opportunity, healthy environments, and rich culture all intersect.

Move into your new home with Johndorf Ventures. We offer housing properties in Johndorf Cebu and in other parts of Visayas and Mindanao. View our house for sale in Cebu posts and message our team to reserve your unit now!