Cebu
Day tour
Departs Cebu City hotels
Available now
Cebu City’s heritage trail: Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica del Sto. Niño, Fort San Pedro, the ancestral houses of Parian and the Taoist Temple.
Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines, and the Queen City Tour follows its story from the 1521 planting of Magellan’s Cross and the founding of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in 1565 to the triangular Fort San Pedro, the Heritage of Cebu Monument, the Casa Gorordo and Yap-Sandiego ancestral houses and the hillside Taoist Temple.
A short guide to every stop in this package.
A chapel housing the cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition in 1521 when the first Filipinos were baptised.
The oldest Roman Catholic church in the Philippines, founded in 1565, home to the revered image of the Santo Niño de Cebu.
A triangular Spanish bastion fort begun in 1565, the smallest and oldest in the country, now a museum and park by the pier.
A sculptural tableau in Parian by Eduardo Castrillo depicting key events in Cebu’s history.
Two of Cebu’s finest ancestral homes: the 19th-century Casa Gorordo and the 17th-century Yap-Sandiego house, among the oldest in the Philippines.
A Chinese temple in Beverly Hills, Cebu City, built in 1972 with dragon gates and views over the city.
Practical tips for Philippines, from entry rules to what to eat. General guidance for a Philippine traveller — rules and prices change, so confirm the latest before you fly.
Domestic: a valid ID
For local flights and ferries you need a valid government-issued ID and your booking. Foreign visitors from most countries enter visa-free for 30 days with a passport valid 6+ months and an onward ticket.
Philippine peso (₱)
Carry cash for island towns, tricycles, market stalls and entrance fees — ATMs can be scarce on smaller islands. Cards and GCash work in resorts and cities. Tipping around 10% or loose change for guides, drivers and boatmen is customary.
Tropical; check the season
Expect hot, sunny days most of the year, with the drier months roughly November to May. Pack swimwear, reef-safe sunblock, a hat, light quick-dry clothes, sandals and a rain layer for afternoon showers.
Boats, vans and Grab
Islands are reached by ferry or banca boat, and your package includes transfers plus a private van and boat where needed. In Cebu, use the Grab app for city rides. Keep small bills for tricycles and habal-habal.
English widely spoken
English is an official language and understood almost everywhere, so you will have no trouble. Locals speak Cebuano here — Maayong buntag (good morning) and Salamat (thank you) always earn a smile.
Warm and easygoing
Filipinos are famously friendly and a smile goes far. Dress modestly in churches, cover up away from the beach, and ask before photographing people. A polite “thank you” is always welcome.
Friendly; usual care
The tourist areas here are welcoming and safe; take normal care with valuables and board only registered boats with life vests. Drink bottled water on the islands and bring any personal medicine. Emergency hotline: 911.
Globe/Smart SIM + GCash
Buy a Globe or Smart tourist SIM at the airport for data; signal can drop on remote islands, so download your maps offline. GCash is handy for payments, and resorts and cafés usually have Wi-Fi.
Beaches, lechon & more
Chase white-sand beaches, island-hopping and snorkeling, Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and tarsiers, and Palawan’s lagoons. Feast on Cebu lechon, fresh seafood, kinilaw, sweet mangoes and halo-halo to cool down.
Bohol & CamotesAvailable nowA full day across Bohol’s icons, from the Blood Compact Shrine and Baclayon Church to the Chocolate Hills, with lunch on a Loboc River cruise.
Bohol & CamotesAvailable nowBeaches, caves and Cebu’s largest lake over two days on the Camotes Islands, with hotel, meals, boat tickets and guide arranged.
Bohol & CamotesAvailable nowThe quieter Tudela side of Camotes: Bukilat sea cave, the Villahermosa mangroves, the heritage Kaompang tree and Busay Falls, with an overnight stay.
