You can most definitely enjoy Cebu while sticking to a budget! The province’s vibrant city life and vast natural landscape offer loads of activities all year round. Choose from historical museums, cultural sites, food parks, and white-sand beaches. The best part about this is it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Jumpstart your itinerary planning with these Cebu travel tips below. Read this article to find out about budget-friendly things to do or places to go when traveling to the Queen City of the South! 

12 Cebu Travel Tips that Don’t Break the Bank

• Book your trips early.

Your safest option is about 3 to 6 months prior to your trip. Flight tickets, especially, can get expensive the closer your trip is. Plan in advance and assess your options, the best route, and available carriers.

• Choose to travel via ferry if coming from nearby provinces.

Several shipping lines traverse the Visayan seas to take travelers to their destination every day. Nearby provinces like Bohol, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Negros, and Leyte are close enough to Cebu that they sometimes don’t operate flights between! Planes pale in comparison to sea travel when it comes to scenic views and flexibility.

Traveling to Cebu via ferry is also one of the cheapest options around. You can choose to travel with your vehicle or through a RoRo bus on a RoPax vessel, or go for a regular passenger vessel.

SuperCat can take you to Cebu City on one of its fastcrafts. See the schedules and book from anywhere in Batangas, Mindoro, and other Visayan provinces.

• Take public transportation to get around.

Public transportation is the best, most affordable way to get around. Traveling to Cebu, especially Metro Cebu, can get troublesome due to the traffic. If your itinerary for the day is located within the city, you can take a jeepney or bus to get around.

Buses are also popular options for traveling to the North or South of Cebu, where nature lovers can access activities like diving, snorkeling, hiking island hopping, and exploring waterfalls or beaches.

• Hire motorcycles through ride-hailing apps.

Local ride-hailing apps such as Grab, JoyRide, and Move It also operate in Cebu City. Their rates go from affordable to mid-range, but can climb higher during rush hours. Still, it is a popular choice for individual commuters who want to navigate the metro traffic faster.

You might encounter habal-habal or for-hire motorcycles around the city and hard-to-reach tourist spots, but it’s best to deal with them cautiously. Unlike drivers registered with ride-hailing apps, habal is unregulated. If you choose to take the risk, especially in the outskirts of the city, some drivers might charge unreasonably high prices, but you can haggle.

• Check out budget hotels.

A variety of hotels, Airbnbs, and hostels offer aesthetics and comfort at very affordable prices when you are traveling to Cebu. Look past the luxury hotels and resorts, and find comfort in budget hotels located in the city center. Budget-friendly hotel groups such as OYO and RedDoorz expanded their network in recent years. They can be found in various parts of Cebu province and can range from as low as 500 to 1,200 pesos per night.

• Socialize and bond in dorms or hostels.

Backpackers and tourists traveling in a large group can opt for dorms or hostels. Besides being cheaper, hosts typically offer more flexible options for rooms and beds. Bunk beds can be rented per person or per room, depending on the hostel. Another perk is that you can meet other travelers and hang out in common areas. Hostels offer quirky amenities like board and video games, billiard tables, darts, and other activities.

A major plus with hostels is that hosts are locals within the area. They’re the best people to approach if you need additional Cebu travel tips and tricks you normally won’t find on mainstream platforms.

Examples of hostels are HappyNest Hostel, with beds that cost anywhere from 450 to 600 pesos per person, and private rooms ranging from 1,288 to 2,188 pesos for 2-3 persons. The newly opened Balai Balai Capsule Hotel imitates the looks of a traditional Filipino home for a unique Cebu travel experience. Rates start at 599 per head for a bunk bed.

• Visit food parks for street eats and budget meals.

High-end restaurants are out of the question for a budget traveler, but you can fill your tummy with street eats from local food markets! Night or food markets are your go-to destinations for affordable food options, like skewers, lechon sisig, wings, seafood, fruits, and veggies in the heart of the city.

Check out these food parks to satisfy your cravings.: 

• Colon Night Market
• Carbon Night Market
• Sugbo Sentro
• Sugbo Mercado
• Mactan Nite Market 

• Take a walk in Cebu’s parks.

Have a bit of downtime in the middle of your Cebu travel itinerary? Wind down at a nearby park! Cebu IT Park boasts its modern architecture, food hubs, and shopping areas with walkability and green spaces. The Senior Citizens’ Park and Sky Park are some of the newer parks you can visit.

• Appreciate local history and culture.

A must-do when traveling to Cebu is to appreciate the local culture. The province is rich in history from the pre-colonial and Spanish colonial periods. Visit the Basilica del Santo Niño, Magellan’s Cross, and Fort San Pedro, all of which are free or affordable to visit.

Another free option is to walk one of oldest streets in the Philippines, Colon Street in Cebu City, and visit the obelisk where its historical marker is found. Other affordable museums within the city are:

• Yap-San Diego Ancestral House
• 1730 Jesuit House
• National Museum of the Philippines – Cebu

• Bask in the sun at Cebu’s many beaches.

One of the best Cebu travel tips is to explore outside the city. It takes only one bus ride to some of Cebu’s finest beaches. Dip your toes in the white sand in private or public beaches, the latter of which typically has a small fee or none at all. Bring your own snacks or beach gear to enjoy the sun, but make sure to keep your surroundings clean.

Moalboal and Oslob are known for their beaches and active marine wildlife. You can go shark whale watching or catch the Sardine Run for free in strategic spots along the shore! If your budget allows, you can even take ferries or boats to go island hopping!

• Celebrate in a festival.

The annual Sinulog Festival takes place every 3rd day of January. It is a celebration for the Child Jesus or the Santo Niño. If you’re traveling to Cebu at this time of the year, you can catch stunning street performances, competitions, costume parades, and everything in between. Experience local hospitality in food feasts and activities during the festival.

• Visit a local souvenir center.

Before you leave, your Cebu travel isn’t complete without a little shopping. You can find souvenir centers near tourist spots and transport terminals. Choose from local delicacies like dried mangoes, dried fish (buwad), or baked goods. Shamrock is a known Cebuano brand that sells otap (a flaky sugar-topped biscuit) and other baked goods.

Carcar City further south is popular for its lechon and chicharon, which is a great choice for food-loving travelers.

Visit Island Souvenirs or Kultura in shopping malls like SM or Gaisano for customized items like tshirts, fans, and bags. These can be a little pricier compared to souvenir centers.

It’s not very difficult to tailor your itinerary to make the most out of your budget! Seeking out alternative options for your trip can be the most adventurous way to explore your destination. Hopefully, these Cebu travel tips can make your experience memorable and worthwhile.

 

ALSO READ: Top 9 Philippine Destinations for Family Vacations on a Budget

 

Start your Cebu travel with SuperCat’s FastCraft ferries departing from Batangas, Mindoro, and neighboring Visayas provinces. We offer safe and reliable transport to and from your destination on our quality fleet. View our rates and schedules and talk to us today.