Itineraries for Your Trip to Cebu
1 Day in Cebu for First Timers
It wasn't just stunning beaches, rugged canyons, and the prospect of swimming with whale sharks that had me super excited to visit Cebu. I was also meeting my mum there, whom I hadn’t seen since departing for my year-long Asia odyssey nearly six months before. Since it was her first time visiting the Phillipines, we wanted to pack in as much sightseeing in this part of the Visayas as possible.
While one day in Cebu won’t be enough to explore all of the island, it’s ample time to tick off the highlights of Cebu City, whose historic architecture and food scene really packs a punch. Here’s what to do with your 24 hours.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Kawasan Falls.
Even though Cebu stays hot year-round, it sees an influx of rain during the wet season from May through December.
Like the rest of the Philippines, Cebu is renowned for its scuba diving, so spend your first morning discovering underwater wonderlands on a scuba diving trip designed for beginners. Rather than spending days learning to descend, you'll be beneath the water in just a few hours. Marine life you're likely to see ranges from seahorses and snakes to sharks and manta rays. Back on dry land, refuel with a traditional Filipino lunch of adobo, a lightly spiced stew that's hailed as the Philippines' national dish.
When it comes to the best things to do in Cebu for first-time visitors, Kawasan Falls always tops the list. This afternoon, satisfy an appetite for outdoor adventure on a canyoneering tour that involves jumping into turquoise waters and swimming in the stream of waterfalls. Once you’ve dried off and returned to the city, get your history fix at Fort San Pedro, a waterfront 16th-century fortress set among landscaped gardens.
Now that you've experienced Cebu’s stunning natural landscapes, spend your evening ticking off must-see Cebu attractions on a tour that combines culture with cuisine. Delve into local history at Magellan’s Cross, dedicated to the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, and admire the Chinese- and Spanish-style architecture of the Yap Sandiego Ancestral House, one of the oldest residential buildings in the Philippines. Then, sample street food, such as grilled meat on skewers and syrup-soaked doughnuts, as you explore the lovely Cebu Carbon Market, where stalls are piled high with local ingredients.
