Cebu City Philippine Travel Guide
Cebu City is the oldest Philippine city, and is also called the "Queen City of the South". As the first Spanish settlement, it was called Ciudad del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, dating back to Magellan's arrival in 1521.
Cebu City (Sugbo) is the name given to the city, the metropolis, the island, the province. Cebu Province is made up of 48 municipalities and 5 cities - Cebu, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Toledo - with Cebu City as its capital.
Growth was slow until the mid-19th century, when increasing trade caused rapid development. Today Metropolitan Cebu extends over 350 square kilometers, with five cities and municipalities and a population of more than 1 million.
Cebu Island is a sliver of an island centrally located in the Visayas region of the Philippine archipelago, 365 miles south of Manila. Cebu City is a complex of 3 cities and 6 municipalities with a population of over 1 million.
The entire province has a total land area of 508,844 hectares, and its temperature averages 27 ° C all year round. The languages/dialects spoken are Cebuano Tagalog and English.
Cebu is also the diving center of the Philippines with magnificent coral formations, spectacular marine life and drop-offs plunging to blue nothingness.
Fine weather all year round makes Cebu a favorite for water sports. Swim, snorkel & dive; windsurf, sail or ski; ride the waves, stroll along the beach, get a glorious tan. Revel in Cebu's sun, sand, sea & sky!
Language
The locals speak Cebuano - a dialect common in Visayas and Mindanao region. Pilipino (also known as Tagalog) is the national language, however English is widely used.
Carcar town, just south of Cebu City, has many preserved Castillian houses, gardens, and churches.
The Chapel of the Last Supper in Mandaue City, just off north of Cebu City, features hand-carved life-size statues of Christ and his apostles dating back to Spanish times.
The Magellan Monument in Mactan Island was raised in 1886 to mark the spot where Magellan died, who was killed in the fierce battle of Mactan by Datu Lapu-lapu, the chieftain in Mactan, who refused to submit to the Spanish Conquistadoris. There is also a Monument of Datu Lapu-lapu honoring him as the first Filipino patriot to repel the first European aggression.
Maribago is the center of the region's guitar making industry. As well as many histrorical sites there are popular hotels, beach clubs and resorts.
Other Cebu City Philippine Notes:
Cebu Pacific airline is the Cebu City based airline
Cebu City hotel choice is varied.
Cebu City news is provided by local papers sunstar Cebu, Cebu daily news, freeman Cebu. Cebu philippine news can easily be accessed here.
Cebu hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Cebu City
Getting to Cebu City Philippine
Mactan-Cebu City Intl Airport
Both Cathay Pacific Airways and Philippine Airlines, the Philippine's flag carrier, fly between Hong Kong and Cebu daily while Silkair flies between Cebu and Singapore daily.
Philippine Airlines service between Cebu-Tokyo daily except Mondays and Cebu-Seoul, four times a week, Cebu-Kuala Lumpur twice a week, and Cebu-Kota Kinabalu 2x a week.
Malaysian Airlines fly from Kuala Lumpur via Kota Kinabalu to Cebu twice a week as well. Qatar Airways meanwhile fly from Doha to Cebu via Singapore.
Cebu City Philippine is also the domestic air hub of the Philippines with close to 60 flights daily on average to and from popular destinations and key cities all over the archipelago such as Manila, Boracay, Siargao (Surigao), Zamboanga, Davao, Bohol, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Gen. Santos, Leyte, etc.
Visitors from North America, Europe, Middle East, and the rest of the world may fly first to Singapore or Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur to catch a flight to Cebu City. If you don't mind braving the horrendous traffic and the cacophonic noise of Manila, you will get a faster connection to Cebu City for there are more than 20 flights daily between the two cities or almost two flights every hour.
Charter flights are also available in some select destinations especially China, Russia and USA.
By Sea to Cebu City Philippine
Cebu City's domestic port is the country's busiest. Cebu City is home to almost 80 percent of the country's passenger vessels. The country's largest namely WG&A, Sulpicio Lines, Trans-Asia, George & Peter Lines are Lorenzo Shipping Lines are headquartered in Cebu.
Large cruise ships with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 passengers ply the more distant routes such as Manila, Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro.
Medium-sized vessels such as the roll-on/roll-off (roro) types ply nearer destinations while fast ferries transport passengers to and from neighboring islands in two hours or less depending on the destination.
Get around Cebu City Philippine
The simplest way to get around is by hopping on a taxi. A typical trip can cost about 60-70 pesos or slightly more than a U.S. dollar if one goes by the meter. Drivers however may bargain if they notice that you are a tourist, hence the cost of the trip may double in price. If you know the name of the building, establishment, area or street you wish you reach, this is still the fastest way to get to your destination.
Alternatively, if you opt for more adventure, then do as the locals and catch a colorful jeepney. Simply ask around for which route to take. They are available 24 hours and cover most of the nooks and crannies of the city. This is the cheapest option for getting around as a typical fare cost about 5-7 pesos.
Buses are also available but these tend to ply exclusively along the north-south route.
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