25+ Best Things to Do in Cebu (2026): The Complete List

Magellan's Cross, planted in 1521 and marking the site of the Philippines' first Catholic baptism, and the adjacent Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (the country's oldest Roman Catholic church) anchor Cebu City's historic core — see our dedicated Magellan's Cross and Basilica guide for the full history. Fort San Pedro, a Spanish military fort built shortly after, rounds out the colonial-era sights within easy walking distance.

No visit to Cebu City is complete without lechon — whole roast pig, and Cebu's version is widely regarded (including by Filipinos from other regions) as the country's best, thanks to a distinctive stuffing of lemongrass, onions and spices that flavors the meat from the inside during the long roast.

Oslob, roughly 2.5-3 hours south of Cebu City, is where the vast majority of visitors swim with whale sharks, provisioned daily by local fishermen, making encounters near-certain but also genuinely controversial on conservation grounds — read our Oslob whale sharks guide before booking rather than treating it as an uncomplicated must-do. Kawasan Falls, further north along the same southern coast, offers the region's best adventure activity: canyoneering down a series of waterfalls and natural pools via jumps, rappels and swims, finishing at the main falls' striking turquoise pool.

Many day tours pair Oslob with Tumalog Falls, a lighter, curtain-style waterfall nearby, and Sumilon Island, a sandbar island reachable by boat known for its shifting sandbar and marine sanctuary.

Moalboal, on Cebu's southwestern coast, is built around two world-class underwater draws within easy reach of shore: the sardine run, a dense, swirling shoal of millions of sardines visible just offshore essentially year-round, and Pescador Island, a short boat ride out with some of the region's best reef diving and a chance of thresher sharks for certified divers. Moalboal's shore-accessible sardine run in particular is unusual — most destinations require a longer boat trip for anything this dramatic.

See our dedicated Moalboal sardine run and Cebu diving guides for logistics on both.

Bohol, reachable by a roughly 2-hour fast ferry from Cebu City, makes a genuinely worthwhile day trip for the Chocolate Hills and a Loboc River cruise — see our Cebu to Bohol travel guide for the full route. Closer to Cebu City, Mactan Island (where Cebu's international airport sits) and nearby reef spots offer easier half-day island-hopping and freediving without the ferry commitment.

For something further afield and less touristed, the Camotes Islands, a few hours by boat, pair caves, a freshwater lake and quieter beaches in a single long day trip, and Siquijor, reachable from southern Cebu or neighboring islands, adds a genuinely different, slower island atmosphere with its own folklore reputation — see our Siquijor day trip guide.