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If you’re planning to visit Cebu, the chances are you will need to spend at least one or two nights in Cebu City. But what are the best areas to stay in Cebu City in 2025? Cebu City is a large city with plenty of areas to choose from. Finding an area that is suitable for you and your needs can be quite challenging, especially if you have never visited the city before.
Before you start looking for hotels in Cebu City, you will need to work out the right area for you. To do this you need to consider your needs. What is your budget? Are you looking for culture? Shopping? Street food? Proximity to the airport? Each of the areas that we recommend in this article offers its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Taking a little time to research now will contribute to a more enjoyable and smoother trip later.
Once you know the area that you are going to stay in, you can then narrow down your search and start looking for suitable places to stay. To help in your planning we have included some links to the best hotels in each of the areas that we recommend.
By the end of this article we hope that you will have found the best area for you – and you may even zone in on a specific hotel or guest house.
Map of the BEST areas to stay in Cebu City
Here is a very helpful map of the best areas to stay in Cebu city – click on the pins for pictures of each of the areas
Is it worth staying in Cebu City?
Here is a picture of White Beach in Moalboal (west coast of Cebu). Many people visit Cebu to get to places like this and only stay in Cebu city for a few days at the most…
If you’re planning a visit to Cebu, you may need to stay in Cebu City for at least one or two nights. Cebu City is home to the international airport, so you will be flying in or out of this area. And, if you can afford the time, you may also need to spend a night or two around Cebu City.
As an island, Cebu has so much to offer. Cebu is amazing for diving, snorkeling, and freediving. You can go canyoneering and swim with whale sharks. Alternatively, you can hike to the top of Osmeña Peak, the highest peak on Cebu, or explore some of the stunning waterfalls around the south of the island. There are stunning white sand beaches and crystal clear waters all around this beautiful island.
Cebu City is a large city. As a family that loves exploring nature and the wild, we were underwhelmed with Cebu City (sorry but we do need to be honest with you!) There are some amazing places to eat in Cebu City. There are also a few historic and cultural attractions that are worth visiting. Cebu City is also a great place to set yourself up for your visit. It has plenty of shops, supermarkets, and malls. However, we would not recommend spending a long time in Cebu City.
If you only have one or two weeks in Cebu, we recommend spending no more than one night in Cebu City and focusing your trip on some of the other amazing destinations, such as Oslob or Moalboal. On the other hand, if you’re traveling more slowly and you have three or four weeks in Cebu, you may want to spend a few nights in Cebu City enjoying some of the awesome street food and immersing yourself in the Filipino culture.
What are prices like in Cebu City?
The Philippines is relatively expensive. Although it is technically a developing country, accommodation, food, and amenities can be quite expensive in the Philippines (compared to other countries in Southeast Asia). It’s important to plan and budget for your trip to the Philippines. In our opinion, Cebu City is very expensive for accommodation, and the quality is relatively low.
Accommodation prices
It is particularly hard to find good places to stay if you’re traveling on a low budget in Cebu City (again, this is another reason not to stay too long). You can find affordable street food in Cebu City. For example, you may be able to find bread, noodles, or rice dishes starting at around 50 pesos. If you’re staying in Cebu City, you will struggle to find accommodation for less than £20 per night. You may be able to find the occasional dormitory bed for around £10 per night.
Transportation prices
If you’re traveling on a low budget you can take tricycle tuk tuks for around 13 pesos (around £0.15 or $0.20) per person for short local journeys. They are not allowed on the bigger main roads or bridges so plan your journey carefully.
The most convenient way to get around Cebu City is to use a Grab taxi. Most Grab taxis cost between 200 pesos and 500 pesos for journeys around Cebu City (£3 – £8 or $4 – $10). In order to use the Grab taxi app, you will need a local SIM card with mobile data, and you’ll need to register an account.
SIM card prices
In our experience, SIM cards are fairly cheap (for example, you can typically find a 30-day prepaid tourist SIM with around 50 GB of data for around 700 pesos or £10 or $12) in the Philippines. However, the internet can be very slow and unreliable, which can be frustrating, especially if you are relying on it for taxis.
In order to travel around Cebu City on a low budget you will need to be savvy when it comes to finding food and hunting for accommodation. Low budget accommodation in the Philippines is very basic and not particularly pleasant.
1 Mactan Island
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL ON MACTAN ISLAND – Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort
- BEST BUDGET HOTEL ON MACTAN ISLAND – Condo Azur suites (Amani Resorts & Residences)
Mactan Island is a large suburban island situated to the east of Cebu City. It is connected to the mainland by three road bridges (the third bridge, which extends from the south of the island, is a toll bridge).
Advantages of Mactan island
There are several advantages and disadvantages to staying in the Mactan area. Firstly, Mactan is very convenient if you are flying into or out of Cebu. Cebu International Airport is situated on Mactan Island, so staying on the island gives you nice, easy access to the airport (this is particularly valuable if you are going to be arriving late or departing early in the morning). If you plan to stay on Mactan Island, you can either stay in Lapu-Lapu City, which is close to the airport and has plenty of shops, supermarkets, and malls. The Lapu-Lapu City area is a great place to find relatively affordable accommodation.
You can also get yourself set up with a SIM card, car rental, and any other things you need for your trip. Lapu-Lapu City is also relatively close to the bridge, allowing you easy access to the rest of Cebu City. There are plenty of buses, taxis, and tricycle tuk-tuks in the area, so it is easy to travel around. Alternatively, you can stay along the east coast, where you can find some beautiful beaches and luxurious beach resorts.
Disadvantages of Mactan island
The main disadvantage of Mactan Island is the traffic; some areas of the island get very congested, and it can take 20 or 30 minutes to travel a few kilometers. This is particularly true around the bridge area in the evening, so if you’re planning a journey, remember to leave plenty of time. If you stay on Mactan Island, it is also a little bit more expensive to travel to Cebu City (especially if you are planning to use taxis). So, if you’re traveling on a low budget, make sure you consider the cost of transportation if you are planning to stay on Mactan Island. (To give you a feel for prices, it is likely to cost you around 300 pesos, or £4, or $5 to take a taxi from Mactan Island to the center of Cebu City one way.)
In our opinion, Mactan Island is a fantastic spot to stay if you are arriving in the Philippines and need a day or two to set yourself up, or you have an early flight and you want to find some accommodation close to the international airport. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a beach holiday, there are some very luxurious and beautiful resorts in the area.
2 Cebu IT Park
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL IN THE IT PARK AREA – Seda Central Bloc Cebu
- BEST VALUE CONDO IN THE IT PARK AREA – Sophia Suites Residence Hotel
The Cebu City IT Park is a suburb to the north of Cebu City offering affordable accommodation. This is a great area for families to stay in Cebu City. It is relatively close to the center of Cebu City (although this area can get congested during rush hour, so travel can take a while). In this area, you can find plenty of studio apartments and serviced condominiums.
Advantages of the IT Park area
This type of accommodation gives you a lot of space for your money, and you may also be able to find facilities such as swimming pools. The IT Park also has a good range of shops, cafes, restaurants, and supermarkets in the area. It is very easy to find taxis and transportation around here. Best of all, there is a very impressive night market called Sugbo Mercado IT Park.
This is a very impressive and extensive street food market selling a wide range of Filipino and international street food for surprisingly good prices. So, if you are staying in the IT Park area, you should not be short of amazing and affordable local food.
The Cebu City IT Park also allows easy access to some of the beautiful attractions in the hills to the north of Cebu City (for example, the Temple of Leah, La Parisienne, Sky Restaurant, and the Top Viewpoint).
Disadvantages of the IT Park area
The main disadvantage of the IT Park area is the traffic; it can take a while to drive down to the central area of Cebu City, especially if you’re traveling around rush hour time. What’s more, if you’re travelling on a very tight budget you will struggle to find cheap accommodation in the area. So this is not the best area if you’re a budget traveller.
3 SM City Cebu
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL IN THE SM CITY AREA – Radisson Blu Cebu
- BEST BUDGET HOTEL IN THE SM CITY AREA – ROYAL J HOTEL
If you’re looking for a place to stay in the cosmopolitan and commercial heart of Cebu City, then check out the SM City Cebu area. This is the best area for shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, and transportation connections.
Advantages to SM City Cebu
The SM Cebu City area has plenty of local food and lots of taxis, cars, and buses. It also allows easy access to the central bus station, so you can connect to other areas of Cebu. The shopping malls in the area are large and developed, with plenty of shops, cafes, and coffee shops. This area is also close to the historic and cultural center of Cebu City. It is a short walk from Fort San Pedro and also the Cebu Central Ferry Pier. Don’t miss one of the BEST seafood BBQ restaurants – with huge portions of BBQ fish and fish soup – Parrt Ebelle Seafood Restaurant
Disadvantages to SM City Cebu
There are a couple of disadvantages to staying in the SM Cebu City area. Firstly, prices are relatively high in this area. It is more difficult to find cheap and affordable street food. Accommodation in this area is also relatively expensive, so if you are planning to travel Cebu on a low budget, we do not recommend staying around the SM Cebu City area.
4 The Osmena Boulevard
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL IN THE OSMENA BOULEVARD AREA – Lex Hotel Cebu
- BEST BUDGET HOTEL IN THE OSMENA BOULEVARD AREA – OYO 210 Apple Tree Suites
If you’re looking for centrality and value for money, then check out the Osmena Boulevard area. This is a central accommodation hub in Cebu City, with a wide range of hotels, guest houses, and apartments to choose from.
Advantages of the Osmena Boulevard area
There are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants around here, and you can also find lots of taxis, so it is easy to travel around Cebu City. It is a short journey from Fort San Pedro, and there are also several shopping malls in the area. This is a great alternative to the SM Cebu City area if you’re looking for a greater range of accommodation or you’re traveling on a lower budget.
Disadvantages of the Osmena Boulevard area
This is a good place for a range of accommodation. However, it doesn’t have a lot to offer. It is not a particularly beautiful area. It can also get very busy and congested in this area – especially in the morning and evening rush hour.
