Things to do in  Cebu

The Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the earth but never made it home, dying in Cebu. Today, a tall wooden cross known as Magellan’s Cross (Cruz de Magallanes) commemorates his memory—and supposedly contains relics of the original crucifix Magellan planted in Cebu in 1521.

Set in landscaped gardens just back from the waterfront in the heart of Cebu City, Fort San Pedro (Fuerte de San Pedro in Spanish) is a postcard-perfect colonial fort. First built in the 16th century, the triangular structure dates mainly from the 18th century. It houses a little museum devoted to Spanish colonial times.

A big, brash mélange of bronze tableaux and concrete facades, the Heritage of Cebu Monument stands proud in the heart of Parian, Cebu City’s historic quarter. Inaugurated in the year 2000, Eduardo Castrillo’s magnum opus commemorates key moments in Cebu’s history against a backdrop of Cebu landmarks, with a distinctly Catholic focus.

One of the oldest residential buildings in the Philippines, the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, a wood-and-coral-stone structure, stands proud in Cebu City’s Parian district. Built in the late 17th century by Chinese merchants and still family-owned, it’s packed with antiques and curios, from ceramics and sculptures to four-poster beds.

Amid the crystal waters and vibrant reef of Cebu’s Sumilon Island Marine Sanctuary, tiny Sumilon Island offers secret caves, hiking trails, colorful marine life, a lighthouse, and a brilliant white sandbar that’s an Instagram favorite. It’s home to the Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, with pools, water sports, restaurants, and stylish bungalows.

With thick white walls built to withstand tropical typhoons, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral looks like a typical Philippine church. Decorated with griffins and floral motifs, the facade is the only original part of the chapel left, as the interior was destroyed during World War II. The restored cathedral has a gold altar and life-size statues of saints.

Perched 1,969 feet (600 meters) above Cebu City in the Mt. Busay area, Tops Lookout offers sweeping views across the city, Mactan Island, and beyond. Brave the steep and winding road for sunset for spectacular photo ops as the sun sinks into the sea, the greenery fades into darkness, and the city lights begin to sparkle.

Cebu's Basilica del Santo Niño (Basilica of Santo Nino) was born from fire. In 1565, the church was built on the site where one of conquistador Legazpi's men supposedly found a statue of Jesus in the burning ruins of a hostile native village. The statue—considered the country’s oldest religious artifact—was left completely unharmed.

Built in the 1850s, the Casa Gorordo Museum is a beautifully preserved example of a balay nga tisa, a Spanish colonial building style that blends Spanish, Chinese, and Philippine elements. Four generations of the Gorordo family lived in the house, which now holds antiques, artworks, and multimedia displays about Cebuano history, as well as a shop and a café.

Named for Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish), Colon Street is famed as one of the oldest streets in the Philippines. Just a short walk from Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City, it’s a bustling, lively shopping hub where brightly colored jeepneys to and fro among bargain department stores.

Surrounded by Panganan, Caohagan, Sulpa, Camungi, Nalusuan, and Gilutongan islets; Cebu’s Olango Island provides a rural contrast to urban Mactan Island. Its protected mangrove wetlands host one of the Philippines’ widest ranges of migratory birds, while tourist offerings range from dive stores and restaurants to high-end resorts.

Also known as San Pedro Macati, Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Makati, Manila, is one of the Philippines’ most historic churches. Originally built by Spanish colonists in 1620, this Catholic church was rebuilt during the 19th century after being destroyed in 1762. It maintains its original baroque architectural style and carved altar.

A monument to eternal love, the Temple of Leah is sometimes known as Cebu’s Taj Mahal. Built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna, a wealthy local businessman, to honor his wife of more than 50 years who died of lung cancer in 2012, the classically styled edifice houses Leah’s collection of art, vases, and more, as well as the Ristorante Teodorico eatery.

Just across the water from Cebu City, Mactan Island (Lapu Lapu) is where most visitors begin their Cebu journey, at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. But there’s more to Mactan Island than transportation alone. It’s home to sleek resorts, a wealth of water sports, excellent scuba diving, and even a monument or two.

One of a pair of neighboring flower gardens in the hills outside Cebu City, Sirao Garden is also known as the Original Sirao Flower Garden or Sirao Garden Little Amsterdam. Exuberant floral displays, including sunflowers, marigolds, hyacinths, and feathery celosia, pair with spinning windmills, rolling hills, flower arches, and a giant hand to make Instagram magic.