Cebu is the heart of the central Philippines, a long, mountainous island ringed by coral reefs and dotted with smaller islands. Cebu City is the country's oldest city and a busy business hub, while nearby Mactan is lined with beach resorts and dive centres. Singaporeans book a flight to Cebu for island hopping, whale-shark and sardine-run diving, waterfalls in the south and its famous roast pork. It is also a gateway to Bohol, Bantayan and Malapascua.

About Mactan-Cebu International Airport

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) is the second-busiest airport in the Philippines and the main hub for the Visayas region. It handles international flights from across Asia and a dense network of domestic routes to islands throughout the country.

Location

Despite its name, the airport is not on Cebu island itself but on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City. Bridges connect Mactan with Mandaue and Cebu City across a narrow channel, and the resort coast of Mactan is close by.

Terminals

Terminal 1 handles domestic flights, while Terminal 2, known for its curved wooden roof arches, is used for international arrivals and departures. The two are linked, but check your e-ticket before travelling, especially if you connect to a domestic flight.

Getting to and from the airport

Metered taxis, app-based ride-hailing and airport shuttle buses run from both terminals to Cebu City, Mandaue and the Mactan resort strip. Traffic on the bridges can be heavy at peak hours, so leave extra time for your return trip. Many resorts arrange transfers, and hired cars with drivers are common for trips to the south of the island.

Once your flight is booked, browse places to stay and things to do in and around Cebu.

Direct and connecting flights to Cebu

Nonstop flights between Singapore and Cebu are regularly available, so tick the Direct filter to see only those options for your dates. Connecting via Manila is the main alternative and can be useful when nonstop seats sell out in peak periods.

If you want to continue to Bohol, Siargao or Palawan, Cebu is a convenient transfer point for domestic flights, and fast ferries also cross to Bohol from Cebu City's port. Allow enough time between international and domestic legs, particularly if you book them on separate tickets.

When to fly to Cebu

Cebu is warm all year. The drier months usually run from about December to May, with calm seas that suit island hopping and diving. The wetter season from roughly June to November brings heavy showers, and typhoons can affect the Visayas, most often in the later months of the year.

January is lively because of the Sinulog festival, when Cebu City fills with street dancing and processions honouring the Santo Niño. From Singapore, demand rises during the June and December school holidays and around Chinese New Year, and Filipinos returning home push up fares at Christmas and Holy Week. Check the fare charts on this page and set a Price Alert for your dates.

Popular places in Cebu

Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Santo Niño

In the old centre of Cebu City, a wooden cross marks the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, beside the country's oldest Roman Catholic church.

Fort San Pedro

A small Spanish-era stone fort near the port with shady gardens and walls you can walk along.

Mactan island hopping

Boat trips from Mactan visit coral reefs, sandbars and marine sanctuaries around the small islands of the Olango group.

Kawasan Falls

In Badian, in the south-west of the island, turquoise pools and cascades are the setting for canyoneering adventures.

Moalboal

This laid-back coastal town is famous for its huge schools of sardines just off the shore and for turtles on the reef.

Further afield, day trips from Cebu City reach the whale-shark watching at Oslob on the south-east coast and the historic churches of towns such as Argao. If you plan to go, choose operators that follow local wildlife guidelines, set off early to avoid the crowds and bring reef-safe sunscreen for any swim.

Where to stay in Cebu

Mactan is the easiest base for a beach holiday, with resort-lined coastline and short transfers from the airport. In Cebu City, the IT Park and Lahug area are packed with restaurants and nightlife, and the Cebu Business Park around the Ayala mall suits shoppers and business travellers. Divers often head south to Moalboal or north to Malapascua, and Bantayan Island offers quiet white-sand beaches.

Food to try in Cebu

Cebu lechon

Whole roast pig with crackling skin, seasoned inside with lemongrass and spices so it needs no dipping sauce. Many visitors call it the best in the country.

Puso

Rice cooked inside woven coconut-leaf pouches, the classic partner for grilled meats at street stalls.

Sutukil

Pick your seafood and have it grilled, stewed or served raw in vinegar, a Mactan tradition by the water.

Danggit

Salted, sun-dried rabbitfish fried until crisp and eaten at breakfast with garlic rice.

Dried mangoes

Cebu's sweet mangoes are dried and packed as the island's best-known edible souvenir.

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