Have you tried going on a Cebu Day Tour or maybe a Cebu City tour?
Day Tours are indeed one of the most fun and popular things to do when you are visiting a new place/ city.
And like most of the regions/ cities here in the Philippines, Cebu has definitely one of the most diverse day tours I have tried before. Whether you love something historical, or a little bit into nature, Cebu has some of that and more!
I have tried the Cebu Day Tour once before – several years ago. It was way back in college as part of our Educational Tour. Never mind how many years ago, though. LOL.
Just recently, my husband and I did a road trip around the city and its surrounding area. We both transferred here after graduation and been living in Cebu ever since.
I thought it would be fun to check out those places I have visited years ago with my husband as my tour buddy now. Also, my husband hadn’t been in some of these places before so it was a good experience to show him around.
We were joined by my sisters on the later part of the Cebu City tour. The more the merrier, right? 😉
Some of the places that we’ve visited before are still there while others are pretty new. It’s always a great experience to see how a city evolved through time, don’t you think?
On this post, I’m going to list down several spots that you can check out when you find yourself staying in Cebu for a day or two.
There are plenty of local travel agencies that would be more than willing to take you on a Cebu City Tour. Tour rates usually starts from 1,600 Php to 2,900 Php per head.
There are also Cebu day tours within Cebu City and Mactan which starts at 430 Php per head as well as private rediscovery tours at 1300 Php per head.
Variations will depend based on your location (i.e, if you are within Mactan Area or Cebu) and the tour you will be availing (e.g half day tour or whole day). Inclusions usually are air-conditioned transportation, lunch buffet, entrance fees, tour guide/ coordinator and hotel pick-up and drop-off.
However, if you’d rather do it yourself just like we did in Coron, then read on for tips and information on how to go about with your Cebu day tour.
Please also note that the places that I will be mentioning are the usual spots that are visited and those that are accessible. The list is a combination of the old and the new – those that form part of Cebu’s culture and those that are growing popular with the locals.
You may include this when planning your itinerary for the Cebu day tour!
P.S. Minimum Fare for jeepneys (the local transportation that is very common here) is at 7 Php, so the amount may vary depending on where you are coming from.
Table of Contents
Cebu Day Tour Itinerary
Fort San Pedro
The Fort San Pedro is an old military defense structure in the Cebu. It served as a military garrison and a stronghold under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Today, the Fort has been preserved as a museum with photos of old Cebu, artifacts and documented write-ups of the fort’s history.
Fort San Pedro was our first stop during our self-guided Cebu City tour. As expected, there were several tourists already making their way inside with their own guides explaining the history of the fort.
The walls at the entrance are filled with photos and documentaries. Just stepping inside will give you an overview of the fort’s history.
After paying the entrance fee, we headed inside to take a look inside the grounds. Admittedly, Fort San Pedro is not that spacious.
Although of course, I wouldn’t be able to compare it with other similar structure as I haven’t been into one before that I remember. LOL. However, according to history it is actually the oldest and the smallest fort in the Philippines.
Some of the things that impressed me most was the gateway, the canons (inside and at the ramparts) and the ramparts itself.
Entrance Fee: Regular – 30 Php; Student and Children – 20 Php ; Senior Citizen – 24 Php
Location: A. Pigafetta Street, Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to any of the Pier in the city. The fort is near Pier 1, so it is best to look for jeep with signs going to Pier 1.
Magellan’s Cross
You can’t really say that you’ve been to Cebu without visiting Magellan’s Cross near the St. Nino Shrine.
It’s a landmark in the city that has a significant meaning to the people of Cebu. Magellan’s cross serves as a symbol of the native’s acceptance to Christianity when Ferdinand Magellan and his men arrived in the island in 1521 C.E.
The original cross is said to be encased on a tindola wood for protection not only from the weather but also from some patrons who tried to chip away some parts of the cross for souvenirs.
There are local women who are dressed in the traditional ‘baro’t saya’ and who sells candles near the cross, or even inside the Church. When you purchase some, the woman will then dance with the candles while saying a short prayer.
You can either place it on the makeshift grill placed strategically within the area or place it below the cross as an offering.
Entrance Fee: None
Location: Osmeña Boulevard, corner P. Burgos Street Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Colon or Carbon. Usually jeepneys heading this way passes through Sto.Nino. If still unsure, check out the signage or ask the driver themselves.
Basílica Minore del Santo Niño
After a quick look at the Magellan’s Cross on our Cebu City tour, we then headed to its next door neighbor, the Sto. Nino Church.
Known as the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is an architecture marvel that you should visit.
It should be noted that the Philippines is a country where the majority of its people are Catholic. Thus a visit to some of its church within the archipelago is usually included in any itinerary.
I remember visiting here when I was younger and was amazed to see devotees paying homage and a prayer to Sto. Nino, the child Jesus. Here you will catch locals waving to Sto. Nino as they leave the church.
It’s like asking permission or acknowledging the Child Jesus before leaving.
You can also light a candle or two just like the devotees.
The Basilica is also one of the center of activities during the Sinulog Festival on January. It is a must-see event where devotees come together to dance the Sinulog!
Entrance Fee: None
Location: Osmeña Boulevard, corner P. Burgos Street Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Colon or Carbon. Usually jeepneys heading this way passes through Sto.Nino. If still unsure, check out the signage or ask the driver themselves.
Taoist Temple
There are a lot of temples in Cebu, but one of the most famous is the Taoist Temple in Beverly Hills.
It is a multi-tiered templed that serves as the center of Taoism in the city. Despite that, it is open to non-worshipers too.
I was a little breathless going up the stairs towards the temple… I mean look at the stairs! LOL.
The structure in itself is worth a visit not to mention the amazing views of the city that you can see.
Everyone is reminded that the Taoist Temple is a place of worship, so proper behavior should be maintained.
We did not enter the altar though as I was wearing shorts. However, we did try throwing coins and making a wish at the wishing well 😉.
Entrance Fee: None
Location: Beverly Hills, Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Lahug. Stop at the corner going to DepEd and ride a habal-habal from there. You may also opt to walk from the corner, depending on your mood or maybe the weather, to the temple.
Minimum Fare: 10 Php to 20 Php
Sirao Flower Farm
After the Taoist Temple, we headed to Sirao Flower Farm. We opted to try this first as it was farther than the other places included in our Cebu Day Tour.
Upon arrival, we noticed that there were two (2) Sirao Flower Farms. Both on the process of developing their landscape. We tried the older one and was maybe a little disappointed as the staff/workers were still cultivating the land.
It’s like an on-going project where the garden is still being landscaped and all.
Admittedly, the flowers are indeed instagrammable if caught with the right angle. Maybe in a few months when everything is in full bloom, this will be a great place to visit.
We opted not to visit the second farm though as it was about to rain.
Entrance Fee: 100 Php; Children 7 yrs old and below – Free. (Please take note that entrance fees for the 2 gardens are not the same. So double check when you visit
Location: Sitio Tawagan, Sirao, Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Lahug. Stop at JY Mall and cross to the Lahug Market. From there ride a habal-habal to take you to Sirao Flower Farm.
Minimum Fare: We asked locals about this and the fare is at 75 Php per head. You may also ride a taxi going up. Remember to haggle to get the best price.
Temple of Leah
Another interesting new attraction in Cebu is the Temple of Leah in Brgy Busay.
If you are into Roman architecture, then the Temple of Leah should be included in your Cebu day tour itinerary. It’s an elaborate Roman-style structure built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna in honor of his wife, Leah Villa Albino-Adarna.
You could say it’s a symbol of love not unlike the Taj Mahal in India.
It is gaining a lot of popularity here in the city not only because of the structure or the reason behind the place but because of the views of the city from up here!
Entrance Fee: 50 Php
Location: Roosevelt St., Brgy. Busay Cebu City
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Lahug. Stop at JY Mall and go to the Lahug Market. From there ride a habal-habal to take you to the Temple of Leah.
Minimum Fare: The fare is at 50 Php per head. You may also ride a taxi going up. Remember to haggle to get the best price.
Lapu-Lapu Shrine
If you still have time, why not visit the Lapu-Lapu Shrine in Mactan, Cebu. It is a couple of minutes (would maybe take an hour though if the traffic is heavy) from Cebu City.
Aside from the numerous resorts found here, Mactan is also popular because of the history that it represents in the region. This is where Lapu-Lapu, a native leader, was able to defend his island from the Spaniards led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Locals call the event as the Battle of Mactan in 1521.
A 66 ft bronze statue has been erected here in honor of Lapu-Lapu.
The park/ shrine is pretty clean with landscaped grounds plus a few souvenir shops inside and outside the park. The ‘Kadaugan sa Mactan’, an annual event in the island, is held here where a reenactment of the epic battle is performed.
This is my husband’s first time to visit so he was pretty happy to take a picture with Lapu-Lapu. According to him, seeing it in person is different than by reading it on textbooks! 😉
Entrance Fee: No Entrance Fee
Location: Punta Engaño Rd, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
How to get there: Ride any PUJ (public utility jeep) that is going to Punta Engano. If you are from the city, you may ride a jeep going to Park Mall and take the jeep going to Punta Engano at the terminal.
10,000 Roses Café
Our last stop for the day was to one of the newest tourist attraction in the province: the 10,000 Roses Café.
To be honest, it is just a café near the beach. But what is really spectacular about the place are the 10,000 white roses at the entrance. It is not much from afar.
However if you move closer and take a couple of pictures, they do look great. You’ll be rewarded with the cool view of the white roses lighting up the area if you wait for the night/ dusk.
To set the record straight, these are not real roses. The roses are artificial and LED-powered. So most guests who wants to see them at their best should arrive here between dusk and night.
We arrived here at around 5 PM and waited a couple of hours until nighttime to witness the flowers light up. We ordered some frappe and this delicious pizza to while away the time.
Not bad considering we were killing the time. LOL.
Be responsible though when you visit. There were previous issues of irresponsible tourism here. People would squeeze/ put themselves in between the roses to get better pictures (as the roses are indeed very instagram worthy). So take pictures but don’t destroy please!
Entrance Fee: 20 Php (whether or not you buy anything from the Café).
Location: Day-as, Cordova, Cebu (beside Lantaw Floating Restaurant in Cordova)
How to get there: There are many options going here. The easiest I guess will be taking the Taxi. However, if you are feeling a little bit adventurous and got time to spare, you may ride a V-hire going to Cordova (fare is at 40 Php).
Alight at Cordova Grandmall and take a tricycle going to the Café.
We went home satisfied of the day and how we spent it. 🙂
If you got a day to spare and are willing to spend it exploring Cebu, then this is the best way to do it. There are indeed more interesting places to visit in Cebu rather than the usual places like malls and shopping centers.
Of course, your Cebu day tour itinerary will depend largely on where you are coming from. If you’re starting point is in Mactan, it’d be more practical to start from Lapu-Lapu then head to Cebu. However, if your within Cebu City, then you’ll probably choose those places within Cebu first and Lapu-Lapu or maybe vice versa.
DIY Cebu Tour Budget
Here’s the sample of our DIY Cebu tour itinerary with list of expenses. I did not include the time as it’ll depend on you, of course 🙂
If you are staying longer, you can also try out Island Hopping in Mactan, Cebu, or maybe try some tasty food at the Sugbo Mercado in I.T. Park or visit the Simala Church in Sibonga.
Need some place to stay? You can check out this popular hotels or maybe something more affordable?
So tell us, have you been to Cebu? Which Cebu attraction was your favorite? Or perhaps we missed one attraction that you’d like to recommend?
Share it on the comments below! I’m sure a lot of people would like to try their very own Cebu day tour too!
Like this post? Pin it!
 |
 |
I love how in-depth you’ve gone to every part of the day trip! The Temple of Leah looks stunning is not what I thought would be on the itinerary. Looks like you had a great day exploring! x
Thank you Char! 🙂 We did. It was great to explore it again after all those years. haha.
Such a lot of history and culture to see here! The San Pedro fort looks wonderful.. when I was in Cebu I spent most of my time on Malapascua up north ;-). Bookmarking your post for if I return!
I can’t blame you… I’ve never been to Malapascua myself – just in Bantayan – but I hear the beaches are great too.. 🙂 I’m sure you’d enjoy exploring the rest of Cebu! 🙂
Cool photos of a place I’d never thought of visiting before.
I’m sure you’ll love it if you visit Roxanne! 🙂
Looks like a cool tour! and many places to see. Thank you for all the tips for Cebu
You’re welcome! 🙂
Wow the intricacy and architecture and temples! I’ve been to other parts of the country but never Cebu! On my list for sure
You definitely should. The beaches are just as awesome not to mention the rich culture! 🙂
This is great! We need to go back to the Philippines and get to Cebu! And DIY is right up my alley!
So many captivating places! The 10.000 Roses Cafe is a very interesting concept and looks so pretty even though it is artificial.
Yes it is 🙂 They are still improving the place. I’m sure there’d be a lot more to see there! 🙂
These photos are absolutely stunning! This was a great read, I love that you’ve planned out an entire tour for Cebu, going to come in super helpful when I head that way. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Ohh omg no words to describe how lucky you are!
Wow! What an interesting city. I would love to see that temple. The colors are awesome. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thank you for all the info! I’ve never actually thought of Philippines as a destination but now I’ve got to add it to my list! Love the 10,000 roses cafe it looks so pretty 😍
You’re welcome, Amanda 🙂 You really should.. We got a lot more to show you! 😉
Cebu looks beautiful! I’ve never really thought about visiting the Philippines but I may just have to go..
This is such a great guide! Such helpful info. This is a great way to see a new place. On your own pace, but with a blueprint of where to go!
Those electric roses are also so cool!
Thank you Harmony! 🙂
Such a detailed and informative post and so many great suggestions! That 10,000 roses cafe looks amazing!
Thank you, Kiara! 😉
I have been to Cebu once and I have not visited any of these. I love to do my own tour planning as well because you have control over what you visit and how long you stay in each attraction. I would love to see the Magellan’s Cross. Fort San Pedro looks interesting too.
I’m sure you’d love this! 🙂
Wow this is a very comprehensive travel guide to Cebu. It would certainly be a very handy tool for those wanting to take a road trip in Cebu. Your photos make it look extremely appealing.
When it comes to organized tours, I’m about 50/50. I’ve taken a few tours in new places and I’ve also created my own itineraries, and I’ve had great experiences with both. This tour through Cebu seems like it would be amazing and worth it. I had no idea about Magellan’s Cross. That would be awesome to see, even if it had to be encased in wood. Sad that people would try to pick away at it!
This sounds like an amazing tour – thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
All these sites are gorgeous! I especially love the angle you had on photos in the temple. I love planning my own day tours — so much more freedom. Love your suggestions!
Thank your, Martha.. 🙂 Although it requires a lot research, it really does pay off to be able to take your time and enjoy the sites of your choosing 🙂
I’m a big time fan of day tours and 99% of the times, its always a DIY. I research about the place and decide on the sites that I have to go. Whole of Philippines is so blessed with mother nature’s bounty that a daytrip isn’t enough… The fort & temple look so stunning..
Couldn’t agree more! 😉
I always love to plan the trip on my own, so this is a really useful post! I hope to visit the Philippines one day since the country is so gorgeous
Nice post and pictures. The breakdown of this trip is just the best.
Thank you, Sujenne 🙂
I’m a big fan of tours, so I’ll be sure to keep this in mind when I visit Cebu!
The colors in all the buildings and statues are gorgeous! I love the lightness and pastels of everything in Cebu 🙂
You put together a great tour; I’ve never been to the Philippines, but saving your guide for the day I do get to go!
You really need to visit one day, Kristen. Cebu has a lot of places that you’ll enjoy!
That flower farm is absolutely stunning! Thanks for such a fantastic and thorough post about Cebu!!!
It is! I’m sure it’ll be more beautiful once the flowers are in full bloom! 😉
I really enjoy day tours! I love reading how other people plan their days when they are travelling! Great post and I have already shared this on twitter a few days ago I believe 🙂 Cebu is definitely on my bucket list!
Thank you, Louise! <3
Wow!! Cebu is beautiful. There is so much color and diversity in the architecture and landscape. I haven’t been to the Philippines yet, but really want to!
I was thinking “wow, how did the cafe plant 10,000 roses and maintain them?” thanks for clarifying that these are LED powered, but they still look pretty. Cebu looks like a great destination to visit.
I’ve never been anywhere in Asia, but the Philippines is indeed beautiful! This is a comprehensive post with tons of useful info!
So many amazing things to see and do! It sounds tough to fit it all in one day! The more I look at places in the Philippines the more I want to go, and this only confirms that! I love the mix of the old buildings within nature, it’s magical ☺️
Wow! This is quite a nice surprise! I am happy to discover all the wonderful options in Cebu. I prefer to plan my own sightseeing and day trips. I have paid certain amounts for day trips and then, I end disappointed. I like to discover things that really interest me and stay as long as I want. So good you were able to share the experience with your family.
Okay, you have seriously inspired me to add Cebu to my travel list. It has every ingredient for that I look forward to in a destination..art, architecture and history. Am definitely going here .
One of the aspects I really enjoy visiting some of the former European colony locations in East Asia is the mix of European architecture and history, with local Asian architecture, culture, customs and food. For a visitor, it’s such a great combination. Particularly drawn to your photos of the 1000 Roses Cafe, I have never seen that before. Cebu is definitely on my list!
I have visited Cebu just last March for the first time and I loved it. I did the same DIY tour like you did but was not able to visit the Taoist Temple and 10,000 Roses when I was in the CIty. Well, at least may dahilan na ko para bumalik balik. 🙂
The day tour in Cebu is very appealing. Specially the Roman Catholic Church you have mentioned in your post. Would love to visit these religious places while traveling. Very comprehensive post which would tempt anyone to ready the full story. Happy Travels. Greetings from Sri Lanka.
Glad you liked it Malith 🙂 There are a lot of churches that you can visit here in Cebu. I’m sure you’ll find them equally as interesting as the Sto. Nino Shrine 🙂
Amazing post! You added so much information that is super useful! I really like the pictures, too – my favorites are the ones with the flowers – looks stunning!
Thank you, Kate! I’m glad you find it useful.. 🙂
I loved this post. There are so many things to do on this day trip that my family would love. A real mix of the old and new. While we are not religious at home we love to go and see beautiful places of worship when we travel as they can all be so beautiful and full of history. The girls also light a candle for a family member but we have not been to any temple’s as yet.
I was upset to read that people have damaged the roses to get the ‘perfect picture’ There will never be a better picture than a beautiful memory!
Thank you, Bec 🙂 I completely agree on that. Sometimes people can be irresponsible. 🙁 Just glad to know that the establishment has found ways to prevent it from happening again 🙂
Loved your pictures! I am a huge fan of travelling on my own. Bookmarking this one 🙂
All the temples and shrines are beautiful. Apart from it, the two things I loved the most were Sirao Flower Farm and 10000 roses cafe. 🙂
I have come across your post at the right time! I am planning my itinerary for the Philippines and was wondering if I should include Cebu. I love the pictures, some of them (like Taoist Temple) actually look like postcards! Thanks for sharing, it is very helpful.
Ohhh.. That’s awesome! Hope you do get to explore Cebu, Medha! 😉
Great post! I think a self guided tour would be great for a group traveling together. I really liked the 10,000 rose cafe. That’s amazing! And the Temple of Leah is breathtaking as well as the Shrine. Such beautiful places you have showcased!
Thank you Tifanee 🙂 It’d be more fun, to be honest! 😉
Wow! There is a lot more to Cebu than I thought. Though – maybe a little shallow of me 😉 – my favorite bit is that you have your own “Beverly Hills” 🙂
Happy continued travels!
Thank you Carola.. 🙂
Cebu has been a recluse for quite some time now. You post has made me even more excited to visit Philippines again, just to visit Cebu and Palawan :).
A DIY tour is always kind of better then any guided tour as one has the luxury to explore everything at a certain pace rather than being pushed around to move fast.
A visit to the 10,000 roses cafe after the museum and temple would be perfect.
May I say that you clicked some amazing postcard perfect pictures (PPP). Looking forward to more such informative post. 😉
Thank you, Ozzy! I’m glad you find this helpful 🙂 Please do visit again.. I’m sure you’d love it!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂 very detailed, we’ll be using this guide once we get there! 🙂
Hi Ms. Marvi,
Just wanted to ask where did you stay in Cebu City? We would like to copy this entire itinerary! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Isabelle! Actually, we are from Cebu. 🙂 But you may want to check out this post for hotels: https://osmiva.com/10-popular-hotels-in-cebu-philippines/. But if you are on a budget, Sugbutel near the pier is a backpacker’s favorite. 🙂
yan din po ba yung pagkakasunod sunod ng diy nyo sa Cebu? sumatutal naka magkano po kayo? Thanks,
Yep! 🙂 Around 500 Php total cost ng DIY namin :). Hope this helps!
very helpful! Thank you! From now on this is one of my fave travel website.
Aww.. Thank you Ria Cathrynn! Glad you’ve found the post and the website helpful. Cheers! <3
Hi po. Do you have any suggestions for hotel na malapit sa mentioned places nyo? Thank you.
Hi Dennie! Personally, I think the best hotels will be close to the PUJ and Bus terminals for easier access. I think Bayfront Hotel (near SM) is centrally located. You can also check out hotels near ayala. 🙂 We have a post on Cebu hotels if you are interested : https://osmiva.com/10-popular-hotels-in-cebu-philippines/ . Cheers!
Hi… pwede pa po kaya ang itinerary na ito knowing po na 2017 pa po to… i have my solo tour this coming march 28. 27night po dating ko sa cebu.
Hi Jhoanna! Yes, definitely… 🙂 I recently updated the post late last year (though di xa nagreflect sa published date). 🙂 Feel free to ask questions if you have any. Enjoy 🙂
Thank you mam! It’s really helpful po… hope everything will work and “habal habal” will still send me though mag isa lang po ako.
I’m sure they will. Just remember to haggle lang.. 🙂 Enjoy your trip Jhoanna! 🙂
Hi! Im planning to go to Cebu anytime of this year. Can you recommend a hotel for me that I can access all of the places that you mentioned here in yor blog? Thanks!
Hi Kim, hotels near SM City Cebu or Ayala are good starting point for most of the activities mentioned. 🙂 If you are looking for affordable hotels: you can check out some options from this post: https://osmiva.com/cheap-hotels-in-cebu-city-philippines/ .
If you have more budget, here are some good options too: https://osmiva.com/10-popular-hotels-in-cebu-philippines/ . Hope this helps!
A really helpful blog! I’ll definitely do this on our upcoming trip. Hope its still possible this year. May I know kung ilang days kayo sa Cebu? Our Cebu Trip is 5 days and I don’t have any itinerary till now haha malapit naaa
Thanks Jinnette 🙂 We live here na and we usually go on day trips and overnight trips in several areas sa South and sa North of Cebu. You can definitely do the city tour in a day.. Just be patient lang sa traffic and maybe start early too.. 🙂 You can explore the South by visiting Moalboal, Badian (maybe do some canyoneering and visit Kawasan Falls). Enjoy kau!