CEBU HERITAGE MONUMENT

With centuries full of invasions, battles, and revolutions, Cebu is a city with stories to tell. Visit Cebu Heritage Monument for a synopsis.

Built with dark stone and bricks, the structure is a tangled sculpture of ships, churches, crosses, and key historical figures that are as mysterious as they are thought provoking. With centuries of history and tales, consider hiring a guide before you go or taking ones offer when you arrive. You’ll enjoy the local interaction, be able to ask burning questions, and get some background information you would have otherwise missed out on.

This is a great way to start your vacation in Cebu in that it will give you insightful context to apply for the rest of your visit.

1730 JESUIT HOUSE

You wouldn’t expect such a memorable experience to begin in a hardware store, but it will. Stepping inside the 1730 Jesuit House feels like stepping 100 years back through history.1730 Jesuit House is a local project that aims to preserve one of Cebu’s historic sites. This ancient house has survived typhoons, earthquakes, and foreign invasions, yet still stands to tell the tale.

Your tour guide will take you through an hour-long journey while showing you restoration efforts, along with artifacts and antiques including cameras, carvings, furniture and even 100-year-old cedar chest that still gives off a beautiful aroma.

DIVE WITH WHALE SHARKS

The biggest fish in the world are right off the coast of the Philippines. Although they are called “sharks”, these gentle beasts are far from what you may imagine.

Oslob Whale Sharks Tour Company is one of the most respected in the business. They guarantee, with 99% certainty, that you will witness and have the opportunity to swim alongside a mighty Whale Shark.

These particular Whale Sharks are considered wild, but instead of migrating to warmer waters for parts of the year, they stick around as the fishermen continue to feed them. That means this experience is available no matter what time of the year you visit.

COLON STREET

A trip to Cebu isn’t complete without a walk down Colon Street. While at a glance, this crumbling stretch of sidewalk may look dull but come a little closer and you’ll discover that there is much to see, do and taste.

Lined with markets selling colorful backpacks, jewelry, clothing, and shoes, this street makes for a great place to buy your souvenirs. Don’t be afraid to engage in some friendly haggling with smiley vendors. You can try yummy street food, mingle with the locals, and take some awesome photos on Colon Street.

CEBU METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

Unlike many other cathedrals and churches in Cebu that give you a window into Filipino culture, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral focuses much more on the history of religion in the city. More specifically, this cathedral stands as a history lesson of how Christianity came to plant such deep roots in a country whose previous religion had deeper ties with Hinduism and Buddhism.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is a nice change of pace from other tourist attractions, as not as many tourists know about this site. You can leisurely stroll through the cathedral taking in the impressive architecture. You may even join in on Sunday mass where you’re sure to be greeted with kind ‘hello’s and smiles from Filipino locals, mildly surprised to see you.

BASILICA DEL SANTO NINO

The oldest Catholic Church in the Philippines is located right here in Cebu!

“Mercy and Passion” are the tenets of Basilica del Santo Nino, founded in 1565, which still bring many locals here to worship on a daily basis. This Catholic Church holds a regular mass where families and children come to show their faith.

Have a walk though the church halls to see ancient paintings, gorgeous archways, stained glass windows, and overall, a piece of architecture that is awe-inspiring. You can view 17th century relics in the museum or visit the library filled with books covering modern subjects of all kinds.

JUMALON BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY

Nature lovers come hither! There is a butterfly sanctuary in Cebu where you can walk through a mini rainforest teeming with tropical plants and flowers with beautiful butterflies fluttering all around. Keep your camera out just in case one decides to land on your nose for a selfie.

The Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary has an impressive collection of butterfly specimen encased in glass that shows just how diverse the buttery fly family truly is.

Bring some cash as there is a small entrance fee, but it goes towards a wonderful cause.

TOPS LOOK OUT

There is a good reason why Tops Lookout has remained such a popular tourist destination in Cebu. That’s because you will get the most spectacular 360-degree view from here and only here.

Tops Lookout represents what makes the Philippines so special in that you get a taste of lush greenery, intricate city, and winding waterways all in one visit.

The view at night is especially beautiful as you can see the veins of the city all lit up and sparkling against the darkness.

Try to come in the morning or at night so that you can avoid the heat, and also so the large crowds of tourists with their selfie sticks!

TAOIST TEMPLE

In the Beverly Hills subdivision of Cebu, you’ll find a beautifully designed Taoist Temple. Located 300 meters above sea level, expect lots of steep steps and winding paths that will get your blood pumping as you make you way to the top. Once you reach the temple, you’ll be greeted with beautiful views of the island.

Join in on a Taoist ritual of taking two blocks of wood into the temple and dropping them on the floor in front of the shrine. If both blocks fall face up, then the gods are permitting you to make a wish; if not, then the gods don’t believe it’s time for your wish to come true. Before you enter the temple, however, be sure to wash your hands and take off your shoes.

DRIED MANGOES

Dried mangoes and other Cebuano delicacies are also available at Islands Pasalubong. Aside from dried mangoes, Islands Pasalubong also carries other Cebuano specialties like otap, rosquillos, chicharon, and even dried fish or buwad. It also makes available native snacks like palitaw, sapin-sapin, puto, biko, budbud, kutsinta, fresh lumpia, pichi-pichi, ensaymada at the Pinoy Deli section. Since these are easily spoiled food, you may have difficulty bringing them home but you can certainly try any that suits your fancy.

OTAP

Shamrock, which has racked 50 years of baking experience, expanded its take-home delicacies to include hojaldres, galletas de huevo, baked polvoron, lady’s finger, patatas, rosquillos, and other baked products.

Its pasalubong centers are in downtown Cebu City at the corner of V. Gullas and Mabini streets, Don Gil Garcia Street in Capitol, Fuente Osmeña Circle, and along the national highway in the southern town of Barili.

ROSQUILLOS

Titay’s is synonymous with rosquillos, a favorite pasalubong and anytime treat that a young woman by the name of Margarita Frasco or Titay started baking in 1907. More than a century later, Titay’s oven continues to produce quality home-baked goodies using artisan methods and with Lola Titay’s well-guarded recipe. Titay’s products now include torta, penato, ensaimada, pastries, and assorted breads.

The store is Liloan but Titay’s products are sold in Cebu’s big supermarkets, pasalubong centers, and many other shops.