where are the best places to stay in cebu?

Where is the best place to stay in Cebu?

By Aran Davies. November 11, 2024

Cebu Island is the heart of the Visayas and has long been the main tourist region of the Philippines. The area is covered in stunning white sand beaches, world-class diving spots, waterfalls, caves, amazing animals, great food, friendly locals, and everything else you would expect to find in a tropical paradise. No matter whether you are planning a solo island-hopping adventure or a family getaway, Cebu has everything you can dream of.

The starting point for any traveler exploring the hundreds of island getaways is Cebu City. This delightful city is connected to the island of Mactan, which hosts the region’s biggest international airport. The closest tourist destination to Cebu City is the sleepy seaside town of Moalboal. Tourists and expats have been coming here for decades, so it’s easy to find yourself blending right in. Further south, you will find Oslob, which most people visit to see whale sharks, but it is quickly becoming a top relaxation spot that more and more people are flocking to.

In the north of Cebu, you will find the breathtaking islands of Malapascua and Bantayan. Expect lots and lots of white sand, relaxation, and great diving.If you are interested in where to stay in Cebu, you may also be interested in where to stay in Manila, where to stay in Boracay, where to stay in Coron and where to stay in El Nido.

Best places to stay in Cebu

Cebu City

Nightlife / Shopping / Heritage

Known in the Philippines as the “Queen City of the South,” It has a delightful mix of old colonial buildings and modern apartments, resorts, and shopping malls. Cebu City was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

Most Western travelers tend to spend just a day in Cebu City, though it is worth far more. The area around IT Park is now so developed that some have started calling it “Mini-Makati” (the upscale area of Manila). There is a lot to do in Cebu City for tourists.

Downtown, you can find the old Spanish fort, Santo Niño Basilica (one of the first churches in the Philippines), several other impressive Spanish-era churches, and even a few traditional Filipino houses dotted here and there.

Uptown, you have shopping malls, upmarket restaurants, fancy hotels, and vibrant nightlife. There is also a great city view at the top of town, where the city rises up into the mountains behind.

Hotels in Ceby City

Mactan Island

Top End Resorts / Diving / White Sand Beaches

Just across the water is Mactan Island, an ideal relaxation spot for families, couples, and travelers who need to wind down.

It is home to the international airport that serves Cebu City and the surrounding areas. The island is connected to the mainland by three bridges and causeways, though traffic can be a nightmare at certain times of the day.

Mactan is fast becoming a famous international destination due to its expensive hotels and resorts that have actually imported white sand to make their beaches. There is not much else to the island other than resorts. If you want a quick hop off the plane onto a white sand beach holiday, then Mactan Island is it.

It is possible to hop on a diving or snorkeling trip to the nearby island of Olango, where there are some very good diving spots.

Hotels in Mactan

Moalboal

Relaxing Getaway / Sardines Shoal / Good Diving

Just down the coast is Moalboal, a relaxing seaside getaway ideal for all types of tourists. It is famous for its sardine shoal, which numbers in the billions. These can be found about 30 meters off the beach, where the island plunges into the deep ocean.

Moalboal offers great seaside restaurants. Most foreigners are impressed at just how fresh the food is, which is no surprise, given its location. Most tourists come here for a safe, relaxing getaway, where they can spend the day sitting in an oceanside restaurant, taking in the place’s serene beauty.

In recent years, Moalboal has become an increasingly popular spot for scuba diving and free diving. Another popular activity is taking a tourist boat ride or renting a kayak. This is definitely first and foremost a place to relax and just enjoy the slow pace of life.

Hotels in Moalboal

Malapascua Island

Thresher Shark Diving / Beaches

Malapascua Island is famous for its white sand beaches, clear waters, and thresher sharks. The island has been a draw for divers for decades.

Very few other places in the world offer almost a guaranteed chance of seeing thresher sharks, which is why so many tourists head to the island every year. The island is also frequented by bull sharks, though these are seasonal and not seen that often.

The island is very small, so it naturally has a very small local population, and with only a few ferries per day to the mainland, Malapascua Island is one of the safest places in the Philippines.

If you really want to get away from it all, then head to the still undeveloped north part of the island. It has a great community feel, and apart from the tourist boats that come in for a few hours a day, you will pretty much have the place to yourself.

Hotels in Malapascua Island

Bantayan Island

Off-the-Beaten-Path / Relaxation / White Sand Beaches

For those looking for a quiet getaway that literally has almost nothing to do but relax, Bantayan Island is a great option. It is ideal for everyone from solo travelers to families. It has a couple of stunning white sand beaches, which are part of the town of Santa Fe.

For this reason, the island still has a nice mix of locals and tourists (unlike Panglao or Boracay). It is not uncommon to start talking to a local out in the water and find that you have made a lifelong friend. Most of the seaside restaurants are still locally owned too, though this is starting to change, unfortunately.

The island does have a really nice historical church, as well as caves, rock diving, and wind sports (it gets very windy here). However, the best days are spent soaking up the sun and bathing at the beaches around Santa Fe.

Hotels in Bantayan Island

Oslob

Whale Shark Watching / Beaches

Oslob is famous for its whale sharks, which bring hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Provided that you, your family, and your friends can swim, you can see these amazing creatures.

The go-to place is a bay where local fishermen feed the whale sharks so that they stay in one place. There is an entrance fee and a place to rent equipment such as lifejackets and snorkels. It is then possible to swim out a short distance where you will find the whale sharks feeding.

While most tourists just drop in and move on, an increasing number are starting to realize that the nice beaches up and down the coast are a great place to put their feet up and relax.

Added to this are the great sunrises and good snorkeling opportunities, making Oslob a growing destination for hotels, apartments, and long-term rentals.

Hotels in Oslob