Cebu Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Cebu tours and things to do in the heart of the Philippines: swim with whale sharks at Oslob, canyoneer through the turquoise pools of Kawasan Falls, snorkel the sardine run and sea turtles of Moalboal, island-hop the reefs off Mactan, explore the history of Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City, and day-trip to Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and tarsiers. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Cebu by interest
Whatever brings you to Cebu — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Cebu
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Oslob Whale Sharks
Gentle giants.
Kawasan Falls
Canyoneering.
Mactan Islands
Island hopping.
Moalboal
Sardine run.
Magellan’s Cross
City history.
Bohol
Chocolate Hills.
Sumilon Island
White sandbar.
Tumalog Falls
Cascade near Oslob.
Cebu in 3 days
- 1Day 1: whale sharks
- 2Day 2: canyoneering
- 3Day 3: island hopping
- 4City
3 hr awayOslob
Whale sharks.
3 hr awayKawasan Falls
Canyoneering.
2.5 hr awayMoalboal
Sardine run.
Boat awayMactan Islands
Island hopping.
Ferry awayBohol
Chocolate Hills.
South awaySumilon Island
White sandbar.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Cebu visitor asks before booking.
Dry (Dec–May)
Sunny and dry — the best time for the sea and islands.
Wet (Jun–Nov)
Warm with showers; the sea can be rougher.
For whale sharks
Whale sharks are seen at Oslob year-round.
For the sardine run
The Moalboal sardines swirl all year.
Festivals
Sinulog, Cebu’s biggest festival, is in January.
Best overall
December to May is ideal.
One day
The city or island hopping.
Two days
Add whale sharks and Kawasan.
Three days
Add Moalboal or a Bohol trip.
For the sea
Whale sharks and island hopping.
For adventure
Kawasan canyoneering.
With kids
Island hopping and Bohol.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours are easiest for the far south and Bohol.
Taxis & rideshare
Taxis and Grab are handy around Cebu City and Mactan.
Ferries
Fast ferries link Cebu with Bohol and other islands.
Vans & buses
Vans and buses reach Oslob, Moalboal and beyond.
Where to stay
Stay in Cebu City, on Mactan, or in Moalboal for the south.
Peso
The Philippines uses the peso; carry cash for tours.
Whale sharks early
Oslob tours start before dawn — book ahead and rest up.
Book canyoneering
Kawasan canyoneering sells out — reserve ahead.
Sun & sea protection
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard and water shoes.
Bring swimwear
Wear swimwear for whale sharks, falls and island trips.
Long day trips
The south and Bohol are long days — start early.
Dry season
Visit December to May for the best sea conditions.
Whale-shark tours
Oslob trips sell out — book ahead.
Canyoneering
Kawasan canyoneering fills up — reserve early.
Island hopping
Mactan island trips book out — reserve ahead.
Moalboal
Sardine-run tours fill up in season — book early.
Bohol trips
Bohol day trips sell out — reserve ahead.
Sinulog & peak
January’s Sinulog and dry season are busiest — book everything ahead.
Whale sharks
Around €50–90 for an Oslob whale-shark day tour.
Canyoneering
About €50–90 for a Kawasan canyoneering tour.
Island hopping
Roughly €40–80 for a Mactan island-hopping day.
Moalboal
Around €50–90 for a sardine-run and turtle tour.
Bohol trip
About €90–140 for a Bohol day trip with ferry.
How to save
Join group tours and combine whale sharks with a waterfall.
Cebu through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Sea & Sinulog.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best.
- Best for
- Beaches & islands.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot.
- Best for
- Green & value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Showers.
- Best for
- Quieter seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rainy.