5 days in Cebu

Day by day

1. Day 1: Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño

   Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño and Fort San Pedro, then Tops Lookout in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Magellan's Cross

      Combine it with the basilica next door, and politely decline candle sellers if you do not wish to buy. (20 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Basilica del Santo Niño

      Queues to see the Santo Niño are long on Fridays and Sundays; go on a weekday morning and dress modestly. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cebu lechon

      Lechon restaurants across Cebu City and stalls in Carcar and Talisay, sold by the kilo or by the plate.

   4. Afternoon

      Fort San Pedro

      Walk the ramparts in the late afternoon, when it is cooler and the light is soft on the coral stone. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Tops Lookout

      Go around sunset and stay for the lights; bring a light jacket, as it is breezy and cooler up here.

2. Day 2: Moalboal sardine run and Kawasan Falls and canyoneering

   Moalboal sardine run, Kawasan Falls and canyoneering and Malapascua thresher-shark dives, then Cebu IT Park in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Moalboal sardine run

      Go early in the morning before the boats arrive, and rent fins; the reef drops off steeply close to shore. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Kawasan Falls and canyoneering

      Arrive early for quiet pools; canyoneering requires a registered guide, helmet and life jacket, and the higher jumps are optional. (Half day, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hanging rice

      Barbecue stalls, street grills and Larsian.

   4. Afternoon

      Malapascua thresher-shark dives

      You need dive certification and some experience for the depth; book a dawn dive with a reputable dive centre. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Cebu IT Park

      Restaurants, bars and late-night eateries popular with the city's young workforce.

3. Day 3: Casa Gorordo Museum and Yap-San Diego Ancestral House

   Casa Gorordo Museum, Yap-San Diego Ancestral House and Heritage of Cebu Monument, then Mango Avenue in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Casa Gorordo Museum

      Visit with the nearby Yap-San Diego house and Heritage of Cebu Monument for a short Parian walk. (45 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Yap-San Diego Ancestral House

      The owners still use the house; take your time in the upstairs rooms, which hold most of the collection. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sutukil

      Restaurants next to the Mactan Shrine and along Mactan's coast.

   4. Afternoon

      Heritage of Cebu Monument

      Walk all the way around; scenes are arranged on every side. (20 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Mango Avenue

      General Maxilom Avenue's long-running strip of bars and clubs.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Bohol

   About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road each way. Getting there: Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, then a hired car or tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Bohol

      About 2 hours by fast ferry, then 1 hour by road (Fast ferry from Cebu City to Tagbilaran, then a hired car or tour); about 125 km.

   2. Day

      Bohol

      Bohol's countryside tour covers the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season, the tiny tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River. Best for families, first-timers and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cebu

      Dinner: try Larsian barbecue.

5. Day 5: Museo Sugbo and Carbon Market

   Museo Sugbo, Carbon Market and Temple of Leah, then Cebu Business Park in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo Sugbo

      A good indoor stop during a rain shower or the midday heat downtown. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Carbon Market

      Go in the morning with small change, and keep phones and wallets secure in the crowds. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Larsian barbecue

      The Larsian barbecue strip near Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City, busy from evening until late.

   4. Afternoon

      Temple of Leah

      Combine it with Tops Lookout and the Sirao flower gardens on a half-day loop by car. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Cebu Business Park

      Lounges, wine bars and hotel bars around Ayala Center Cebu.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Uptown Cebu City (IT Park and Cebu Business Park) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Downtown Cebu City ($) suits culture and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–19 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.5 hours in December to 12.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cebu
• 2 days in Cebu
• 3 days in Cebu

Questions travellers ask