Cebu City is one of the popular and well-loved locations in the Visayas area. Its booming environment makes it a suitable place for business ventures and investments. In addition, it is also a great place to look for residential properties, including an apartment for sale in Cebu. Cebu City’s status as the Queen City of the South is a testament to its development that promotes a cosmopolitan and sustainable lifestyle.
Besides being a prime metropolis, Cebu City is also a premier vacation destination. In fact, the city offers a wide array of places and activities you’ll enjoy on your visit. And if you’re eyeing Cebu City as your next vacation site, here are five things you should consider doing:
Visit Heritage Sites
Cebu City is a repository of history and culture. There, you’ll find several heritage sites that preserve their historical integrity and the events that they have witnessed. Some of the notable heritage sites you shouldn’t miss include:
- Cebu Heritage Monument
- Magellan’s Cross
- Fort San Pedro
- Cebu Taoist Temple
- Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
- Museo de Sugbo
- Mactan Shrine
- Simala Shrine
- Basilica del Santo Niño
Entrance to most of these places is free, although you’ll need to undergo a security check before being admitted inside. Some of these sites are also located near one another, so you can easily visit them on a walking tour. With the pandemic still present, don’t forget to bring your ID and vaccination card for a hassle-free and safer trip to these heritage hotspots.
Find Peace in Different Churches
The Basilica del Santo Niño is perhaps the most notable church in Cebu City, due to enshrining the 500-year-old image of the Child Jesus. Every year, locals and tourists come to the Sinulog Festival as a way to practice their “panata” to the infant Messiah.
While the Santo Niño basilica is the prime sanctuary for Roman Catholicism in Cebu City, there are other old and modern churches suitable for your quiet and prayer times. Plus, should you come to Cebu this coming Holy Week, these churches below are suitable for your visita iglesia itinerary:
- Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish
- Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod
- San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish
- Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish
- Redemptorist Church
- Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Most of these churches are open for viewing and visits during weekdays. Some may also have up to nine masses every day! Plus, the architecture and interiors of Cebu City’s churches add spice to your social media feed.
Swim With the Whale Sharks
Cebu City might be a coastal metropolis, but it does not have beach resorts in its seaside areas. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from exploring the rest of Metropolitan Cebu just because your accommodation is right at the heart of the Queen City. For example, the whale shark paradise of Oslob is accessible from Cebu City via provincial bus house or airplane.
Whale sharks, or butanding, are gentle giants swimming through the azure waters of Obslob and other nearby islands. Wear your goggles and dive underwater to see these beautiful swimmers up close. You’ll surely want to return to Oslob and swim with these beautiful creatures once more!
Go Malling
What is a vacation without a little shopping spree? In Cebu City, premier shopping hubs offer all sorts of stores, dining places, and hang-out spots perfect for solo or group trips. Some of the notable malls within the city include SM Mall Cebu, Ayala Town Center Cebu, and SM Seaside City Cebu.
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Now, you might think that malling isn’t an ideal way to spend your vacation. But a little retail therapy and exploring shops that sell local Cebuano souvenirs might just make your holiday more worthwhile. Plus, these shopping complexes also offer other fun places, such as ice skating rinks, playgrounds, open pet parks, and arcades.
Taste Different Local Delicacies
Besides shopping, a trip to Cebu City won’t be complete without food. This is also one of the best ways to learn about the city’s history and culture. On your vacation, you’ll be within arm’s reach from several dining spots in Cebu offering various delicacies ranging from local dishes to exotic grub and luxurious plated meals.
While there are several dining places in Cebu to gorgre yourself in, foods that shouldn’t skip on include:
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- Cebu’s famous lechon (roasted pork)
- Balamban-style liempo (pork belly)
- Danggit (spinefoot fish)
- Budbud Kabog (steamed rice cake wrapped in banana leaves)
- Masarael (delicacy made from boiled peanuts, coconut syrup, and water)
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- Dried Mangoes
- Bakagan (soup made from pig’s head)
Cebu City also has a wide array of seafood eateries for those who need to fast from eating meant but can’t forego protein. The freshness of these seafood dishes might even entice you to visit the nearby beach resorts and soak up the warm summer sun.
That said, Cebu City’s jewels are must-visit spots for local and foreign tourists alike. Plan your vacation ahead of time by choosing where you’ll visit and schedule these five things to do in Cebu City. You’ll have a memorable vacation that will make you want to come back.
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