Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
The Philippines' oldest Catholic church, holding a small image of the child Jesus said to date from the voyage of Magellan. Pilgrims light candles in the courtyard outside.
Cebu
This major hub has its own international airport, along with Spanish-era history, island beaches and trips for whale sharks and diving.
Attractive locations
Magellan's Cross
A wooden cross inside a small kiosk, marking the spot where Spanish explorers first planted a cross in Cebu. The painted ceiling above shows scenes of the arrival.
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
The seat of the Archdiocese of Cebu, standing near the basilica in the old part of the city. It has a simple bell tower and a quiet, airy interior.
Fort San Pedro
A small triangular Spanish fort beside the harbour in the old part of Cebu City. Its stone walls, courtyard garden and museum rooms make an easy short visit.
Kawasan Falls
A series of turquoise waterfalls and pools in a forested canyon at Badian, in southwest Cebu. Visitors swim, float on bamboo rafts and walk in from the road along a stream.
Magellan Monument
A monument on Mactan Island marking where the explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in 1521 in a battle with the local chief Lapu-Lapu. A statue of Lapu-Lapu stands nearby.
Moalboal
A coastal town on Cebu's southwest coast known for diving and snorkelling straight from the shore. Large schools of sardines gather close to the beach, with reef walls just offshore.
Airports
Mactan Cebu International Airport CEB
It is about 33 km in a straight line from Cebu.
Bacolod-Silay International Airport BCD
It is about 87 km in a straight line from Cebu.
Bohol-Panglao International Airport TAG
It is about 87 km in a straight line from Cebu.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Philippines page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan25.8 °C160 mm
- Feb25.9 °C103 mm
- Mar26.8 °C83 mm
- Apr28.1 °C66 mm
- May28.7 °C126 mm
- Jun27.9 °C212 mm
- Jul27.2 °C238 mm
- Aug27.1 °C203 mm
- Sep27.1 °C219 mm
- Oct27.1 °C238 mm
- Nov26.9 °C163 mm
- Dec26.5 °C198 mm
Driest months: Feb, Mar, Apr. Wettest months: Jul, Sep, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Sinulog Festival
Expect higher prices and hotels filling up at one of the country's biggest annual events; plan early.
festival
Sinulog Festival
Expect higher prices and hotels filling up at one of the country's biggest annual events; plan early.
Who can help
Emergency
911 (police, fire, ambulance).
ngo
Philippine Red Cross
Helps with: The Philippines' national Red Cross society. Its website describes disaster response, a national blood service, and first aid and CPR training. Its contact page lists an emergency hotline and a head-office address.
Who qualifies: People in the Philippines who need its disaster, blood or first aid services.
Phone: 143
Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Barangka-Ilaya, Mandaluyong City 1550
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its country office is in Makati City; use the email address to ask about its work with migrants.
Who qualifies: Migrants and others in its migration programmes. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Email: [email protected]
Address: 28th Floor Citibank Tower Condominium, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City, Philippines
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911