12 Famous Tourist Spots in Cebu City Worth Visiting

Cebu City, is a bustling city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. Cebu City offers a nice mix of culture, history, nature, and an abundance of things to do. Try local food at the Carbon Market or why not learn some history and visit places like Magellan’s Cross or Fort San Pedro. In order to fully explore Cebu, plan a few days in the city before venturing out. In this post, I’ll share my favorite tourist spots in Cebu City that I think are worth visiting.

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Table of Contents

Famous and Recommended Tourist Spots in Cebu City

1. Ayala Center Cebu

I’m not one to shop at malls, but my hotel was near the Ayala Center and when it’s hot and humid out, the mall is a great place to visit and cool off.

Ayala Center Cebu is a modern shopping mall that has all your name brand stores as well as local shops. We did some window shopping and Jill had to go to Uniqlo, so technically we did some shopping here.

There were a few grocery stores or supermarkets within Ayala Center that have a lot of great treats to bring back home.

The Ayala Center had a nice outside area with lots of vegetation and places to sit. Many restaurants lined the outside area as well. We had dinner at a restaurant called Hukad. We were looking for a local restaurant with Filipino Food. Our eyes were much bigger then our stomachs, between the two of us we ordered Crispy Pata, Pancit Guisado, Spring Rolls for an appetizer, and Puto, which is a steamed rice cake.

2. Fort San Pedro

A small but mighty attraction in Cebu City is Fort San Pedro. Fort San Pedro is a Spanish fort that was built 1565. Although the fort you see today dates back to 1738.

This small fort is triangular in shape. Two sides of the fort face the sea while the main entrance to the fort faces the land.

Fort San Pedro was built by the Spanish settlers as a means of protection. It has a used during WWII by Japanese.

Today, you can visit Fort San Pedro, learn about the history and even walk the walls.

3. Tops

Looking to get a great view of Cebu City and relax? Head to Tops for a meal, drink, and relax while overlooking the city and surround area.

There is an entrance fee of P100 to enter Tops. There is a variety of restaurants here from budget to higher end.

Accessing Tops is not that easy as it is about a 30 minute drive from the city center. We hired a private driver that took us to multiple stops on the outskirts of Cebu City and Tops was included.

Tops seemed to be popular in the evening. People gathered here for dinner and to relax and watch the sunset over Cebu City.

4. Sirao Garden

Visiting Sirao Garden was part of a package half day tour I booked with a private driver. Sirao Garden is best accessed by private vehicle or with an organized tour since it’s pretty far from the city.

Sirao Garden is more of an Instagram opportunity then actual garden. There are photo areas set up throughout the gardens for people to take iconic selfies with the Golden Hand with the beautiful nature in the background.

Although, I don’t really recommend Sirao Garden especially if you are short on time, it does draw a crowd and if you are into Instagram photos, then Sirao Garden is perfect for you!

5. Temple of Leah

Another attraction that is best reached by private vehicle or tour is the Temple of Leah.

The Temple of Leah is a symbol of love. Teodorico Soriano Adarna had the Temple of Leah built in honor and dedication of his wife, Leah Albino-Adarna who unfortunately passed away.

Today visitors can go to the Temple of Leah and see the temple from the outside but also venture inside to see all of Leah’s most prized belongings. It’s truly a great love story.

Of the tourist spots in Cebu City that are located outside of town, the Temple of Leah was my favorite attraction.

6. Jollibee

The Philippines beloved fast food chain, Jollibee is found throughout the Philippines. But if you are like me and just exploring one or two island of the Philippines, you have to add Jollibee to your Philippines itinerary.

Honestly, I never go to fast food chains when I travel, but I watched Anthony Bourdain’s episode on Manila and he loved Jollibee, so I had to try it myself. Plus, the locals and tourists absolutely love Jollibee, so I had to see what the craze was about.

I kept it original and ordered a 1 piece chicken with Jolly Spaghetti. Was it the best meal I’ve ever had? No. But it was satisfying for lunch. The chicken was good, the spaghetti was as I expected. Would I go back? Sure. Will I go out of my way to seek Jollibee? Eh, it’s not necessary.

7. Carbon Market

To see Cebu’s largest and oldest market, head to the Carbon Market. This is a traditional market where vendors sell everything from cloths and kitchenware to produce and fresh food to buy.

I took a food tour in Cebu City and the last stop was at the Carbon Market. It was here that I tried Lechon and the daunting yet famous Balut.

It was fun to walk the Carbon Market and look at all the fresh fruit and vegetables and eyeing all the delicious food items sold by various vendors.

8. Magellan's Cross

One of Cebu Cities most popular tourist spots is Magellan’s Cross. Magellan’s Cross is a significant historical attractions in Cebu that can not be missed.

The octagonal building houses the famous Magellan’s Cross. The actual cross that Ferdinand Magellan placed here is said to be encased in the cross we see today.

9. Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of Santo Nino

The churches and basilica’s found throughout Cebu City are old. The Basilica of Santo Nino dates back to 1565.

Even if religious sites are not high on your to do list, I recommend visiting at least one church in Cebu City and I recommend paying a visit to either the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral or the Basilica of Santo Nino.

10. Heritage of Cebu Monument

Directly across from the Yap-San Diego House is the large and detailed Heritage of Cebu Monument.

The Heritage of Cebu Monument showcases Cebu Cities history through the years from the natives to the Battle of Mactan. Important and significant structures are also represented in the Heritage of Cebu Monument.

11. Yap-San Diego Ancestral House

The Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is one of my most recommended tourist spots in Cebu City. This house is truly authentic and extremely well preserved.

The Yap-San Diego Ancestral House was built during the Spanish colonial era n the 17th century.

Don Juan, a Chinese merchant built this home and it still belongs to the family.

For a very cheap P100 fee, visitors can go explore the inside of the house. The are many unique antiques scattered throughout the two levels of the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House.

12. Turning Wheels Craft Brewery

Depending on who you talk to a brewery is a very important tourist spot and Turning Wheels Craft Brewery in Cebu City is a must for craft beer lovers.

About a 15 – 20 minute walk from Ayala Center, Turning Wheels Craft Brewery is a local brewery specializing is craft beer.

Turning Wheels Craft Brewery had an amazing atmosphere and very good beers. So if you are looking for a good craft brewery in Cebu, look no further.

It was great to come here at the end of a long day of walking to enjoy great brews. They had several beers on tap, pretty heavy on the IPAs. I tried their Sunny Rain Drops, Mountain King, and 10th Anniversary Double IPA, all solid beers.

Conclusion

Cebu City has just enough attractions to keep any traveler entertained for a day or two. Most people will come to Cebu to enjoy the outdoor activities to include snorkeling and diving. But if you want to spend some time in Cebu City prior to venturing outside the city, then these tourist spots in Cebu City are worth visiting.

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