Metro Cebu

Metro Cebu is in Cebu Province in the Philippines. It is the nation's second largest urban area, after Metro Manila, and the main urban center both of the province and of the larger Visayas region which forms the central third of the nation. Metro Cebu has more than 60% of the total population of the province. .

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Cities

Cebu_Metro_-_ISS004_ISS004-E-7671 - Cebu City bottom center
Mactan and Olango Islands to the right

Three main cities make up the core of Metro Cebu; each has its own goverment and its own Wikvoyage article:

• Cebu (city) | Cebu City GPS: 10.31,123.89 — the main city, on Cebu Island; has the port, provincial government, hotels, extensive shopping, lively Halal dining, and much else. (population in 2015 census 923,000)
• Mandaue GPS: 10.33,123.93 — a residential and industrial town located on Cebu Island between Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu. (363,000)
• Lapu-Lapu GPS: 10.29,123.97 — on Mactan Island east of Cebu City; has the airport, some nice beaches and dive sites, and many high-end resorts. (408,000)

For practical purposes and the three are in effect a single city; taxis, jeepneys and buses are available so travel between them is easy. There are two large bridges between Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, and many roads between Manadue and Cebu city. A third bridge, running direct from Cebu City to Córdova (Cebu) | Córdova (the southern part of Mactan), is under construction, planned to be in service by 2021. Unlike the two existing bridges the new one will be several kilometers long and will have a toll.

Cebu City has most of the region's historical sights and a range of facilities for Muslim travellers: accommodation, food and entertainment. It is therefore the main tourist destination in the region. However many travellers will also visit other areas: Lapu-Lapu for the airport, and anywhere except Cebu City for beach resorts.

The administrative region of Metro Cebu is shown in red on the map below, with the rest of Cebu Province in white. The region extends well beyond the three core cities and includes various suburbs or towns for which has separate eHalal Travel Guides. In each list below and the towns are ordered from Cebu City outwards:

Ph_locator_cebu_metro_cebu - Metro Cebu in red
The rest of Cebu Province in white South of Cebu City, on Cebu Island:

• Talisay (Cebu) | Talisay GPS: 10.250,123.845 — a residential and trading center directly bordering Cebu City on the south. Talisay has the fourth largest population of any municipality in the region, after the cities listed above. Arguably it (or a Talisay/Minglanilla combination) should be considered a fourth core city.
• Minglanilla GPS: 10.25,123.78 — largely a bedroom suburb just south of Talisay, known for its Sugat festival
• Naga (Cebu) | Naga GPS: 10.22,123.75 — has the largest factory in the nation, making cement, and also a number of seaside resorts
• San Fernando (Cebu) | San Fernando GPS: 10.17,123.7 — more of a country area than a city region, though there is a town; has resorts both in a mountain area and along the coast
• Carcar GPS: 10.1,123.63 — Old colonial town on the coast with a few interesting historic buildings.

North of Cebu City and Mandaue, on Cebu Island:

• Consolacion (Cebu) | Consolacion GPS: 10.37,123.96 — mainly residential suburb north of Mandaue
• Liloan (Metro Cebu) | Lilo-an GPS: 10.4,123.98 — coastal suburb, home of the Rosquillos, a type of cookie.
• Compostela (Cebu) | Compostela GPS: 10.46,124.01 — municipality with a few coastal resorts and attractions inland in the hills
• Danao City GPS: 10.52,124.03 — 40 kilometers from the city. Has ferries to the Camotes Islands

East of Cebu City, on other islands:

• Lapu-Lapu, connected to Mandaue by bridges
• Córdova (Cebu) | Córdova GPS: 10.25,123.95 — on Mactan Island, south of Lapu-Lapu
• Olango Island GPS: 10.27,124.05 — Easternmost part of the metro area, a short ferry ride from Lapu-Lapu, but fairly rural. Has mangrove swamps, a wildlife sanctuary popular with bird watchers, a large reef area with good diving, and some mid-range resorts.

All municipalities have some sea coast and all except Cebu City itself have some beach resorts. Many of the townships also extend up into the island's somewhat mountainous interior, but most of the population is along the coast.

Metro Cebu Halal Explorer

This is an overview eHalal Travel Guide. The tourist attractions, hotels, eateries and bars are described in the articles for cities within the urban conglomerate, mainly Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu.

The region has many resident foreigners, both Working abroad|employed and Retiring abroad|retired. Under Philippine law foreigners cannot own land but they can buy condominiums, and there are condo developments in many parts of the nation catering to that market and to well-off Filipinos. In this area most foreigners are in Cebu City, in Lapu-Lapu which has many high-end condos near beaches, or in the bedroom suburbs Mandaue and Talisay (Cebu) | Talisay.

How is the Climate in Metro Cebu

The region has a tropical monsoon climate with a long wet season and a short dry season, only the months of March and April. Average temperatures show little variance during the year; average daily highs range from 30|C to 33|C in various months and lows from 22.6|C to 24.5|C. Cebu City averages roughly 1700|mm of precipitation annually.

As anywhere in the nation and there is some risk of typhoons. Cebu is south of the most dangerous areas but does get hit by some storms. Nearby areas with somewhat less rain and fewer typhoon risk are Bohol or Dumaguete further south.

Travel to Metro Cebu

It is feasible to arrive at the airport, go directly to one of Lapu-Lapu's resorts, not visit Cebu City (or only go there on a guided tour), and be almost entirely insulated from the Philippines; some package holidays (mainly for Japanese and Koreans) do exactly this.

By plane

For air travel, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA Flight Code: CEB) is in Lapu-Lapu; it has Flights to and from most major cities in the southern Philippines, direct connecting Flights to some cities in the north, connections via Manila to most of the others, and many international flights. Many travellers land at the airport then take the My Bus or a taxi into Cebu City.

By boat

For travel by sea, Cebu_(city)#By_boat|the port in Cebu City is the busiest in the nation; it is the main hub for the Visayas region and has connections to many cities outside that region.

There is also a port in Talisay, a ₱285 taxi ride from Cebu City; My Bus routes 2 and 4 will also take you to Talisay.

By bus

Ceres Liner No5446 - Ceres Liner bus

There are two major bus terminals and the north terminal in Mandaue and south terminal in Cebu City. Ceres Liner buses have routes from most cities on Cebu Island. There are also buses from major cities not on Cebu Island, including Quezon City in Metro Manila, Dumaguete, Iloilo (city) | Iloilo, Malapascua and Bacolod; they ride ferries for parts of their routes.

By car

Anywhere in Metro Cebu, except Olango Island, is easily reached by road from anywhere on Cebu Island via the highway that runs north-south following the coast. The Natalio Bacalso Avenue (N8 - South National Highway) runs from Santander (ferry connection from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental) in the south to Carcar then continues as the Cebu South Road to Cebu city. The Central National Highway from San Remigio (Cebu) | San Remigio and Hagnaya port in the north run through Danao City and on to Cebu city. Although called a highway it is not a divided fast road and goes through the centre of most towns in the region. From the west there is a road from Toledo (Cebu) with ferry connection from San Carlos (Negros Occidental).

How to get around in Metro Cebu

GPS 10.2833|123.9000 There is a coastal highway that runs north-south through all parts of Metro Cebu that are on Cebu Island; roads branch off it to Lapu-Lapu and Córdova. Very little of this road is divided highway or limited access, and parts of it form the main streets of several towns; traffic is often slow and driving difficult.

Traffic is sometimes awful, especially in Mandaue since it is between two larger cities (Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu) and there are only a few ways through and there is sometimes construction work on those. Traffic in Cebu City can also be unpleasantly heavy at times. Throughout the area travel during rush hours should be avoided if feasible.

The Metro Cebu Expressway — 75 km from Nage to Danao — is expected to be completed by 2022, but as of mid-2018 none of it is in service yet.

There are taxi, jeepney and bus services anywhere in the region.

By taxi

Taxis can be expensive since the urban area is quite spread out; for example a taxi from the airport in Lapu-Lapu to downtown Cebu City costs from ₱250-400. However, while that is expensive by local standards — in a country where many jobs pay about that much a day — it is still a bargain by international standards.

For trips to the more distant suburbs taxis are somewhat expensive even by international standards; most local residents and many visitors use buses or jeepneys instead.

By bus

Small buses — vans that seat about a dozen passengers — run between stations next to major malls in the various cities; these are often the best way of getting between those towns, more comfortable than jeepneys and affordableer than taxis. A van ride from Ayala Mall in Cebu City to Gaisano Mall in Lapu-Lapu is ₱35.

A company called /MyBusPH/ My Bus has four routes around the region with full-size air con buses, fares from ₱25:

• Route 1 SM Seaside, Cebu Port, SM City, North bus terminal, Park mall.
• Route 2 SM Seaside, Talisay.
• Route 3 SM City, Park mall, Mactan Airport.
• Route 4 Park mall, North bus terminal, SM City, Talisay.

By jeepney

Jeepney station - Jeepney station in Cebu Philippines#By_jeepney|Jeepneys are a affordable and convenient, though often not very comfortable, way to get around within each city. Look for signs painted on the side saying where they go, or ask a local where to find the one you need and then wave your arm to flag one down. For intercity travel and the buses are much more comfortable but jeepneys may be cheaper.

However, if you do travel on a jeepney, beware of pickpockets, especially when the jeepneys are crowded.

By tricycle

There are also motorcycle-plus-sidecar Philippines#By_tricycle|tricycles for hire in some areas. In the cities and they are cheaper than taxis but much less comfortable. They are less crowded than the jeepneys and therefore better if you have luggage, and there is less risk of pickpockets. On Olango Island and the tricycles are the only available option.

By boat

There are also ferries within the region. One runs from the port in Cebu City to a pier in downtown Lapu-Lapu for ₱16.

What to see in Metro Cebu

Lapu - lapu Statue in Cebu, Philippines - Statue of Lapu-Lapu

See the articles for individual cities for descriptions of most of the area's attractions. Here we mention only a few of the most important, and even for those the details are in the city articles.

Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation|Magellan's expedition in the 1520s was the first to circumnavigate the Earth, but Magellan himself did not make it all the way; he was killed in a battle on Mactan Island with the forces of a local chief named Lapu-Lapu. Today the island's main city is called Lapu-Lapu; it has a statue commemorating the warrior, with a monument to Magellan nearby.

Magellan was fighting Lapu-Lapu at the request of Rajah Humabon of Cebu, who was friendly with the Spaniards and had been baptised a Christian. Two of Magellan's gifts to the Rajah are now among Cebu City's most important tourist sites. One is Magellan's Cross and the other a statue of Santo Niño (the Holy Child). Cebu's greatest church is the Basilica of Santo Niño; the statue is inside and the cross is in a small chapel nearby. These draw Catholic pilgrims from all over the Philippines, and some from further away.

The Sinulog festival, dedicated to Santo Niño, is on the third Sunday in January; it attracts large numbers of both tourists and pilgrims. It is centered on the Basilica in Cebu City but is celebrated throughout Metro Cebu, in the rest of the province, and to some extent even in nearby provinces. If you visit around that time, be prepared for sold-out hotels, large crowds and severe traffic problems.

There are many religious sites to visit, notable churches being the Archdiocesan Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minglanilla and Sto Tomas de Villanueva in Danao City, as well as many shrines and crosses such as at Q Park in the hills of Compostela (Cebu) | Compostela.

For Birdwatching|bird watchers and the wetlands wildlife sanctuary of Olango Island is a major draw.

Halal Food

All the hotels and resorts have restaurants, all the major malls in Cebu_(city)#Buy|Cebu City have at least a dozen each, and malls in the other towns have some. In addition to those and the areas around Mango Avenue and the IT Park (both in Cebu City) also have some Halal restaurants. All those areas include places with international menus.

As anywhere in the nation and there are Philippines#Fast_food_chains|fast food outlets and plenty of Philippines#Street_food|street food.

For restaurant listings, see the city and town articles listed at #Cities|cities above.

Cuisine

• SuTuKil - An acronym for sugba (grilled), tula (soup-based/with broth), and kilaw (raw, soaked/pickled in vinegar). This is a popular term for ordering a selection of fresh seafood and Meat from the market and cooked any way you like it in an eatery.
• Lechon - Roasted suckling pig. The whole province of Cebu is known for its lechon which some consider the best in the Philippines. Chain restaurants to try include /pages/CNT-Lechon/100751080018862 CnT Lechon and Zubuchon].

The region's largest entertainment area is along Cebu_(city)#Drink|Mango Avenue in Cebu City.

For other and night club listings, see the city and town articles listed at #Cities|cities above.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Metro Cebu

Metro Cebu - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Metro Cebu, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Metro Cebu. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Metro Cebu and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Metro Cebu. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Metro Cebu. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMetro Cebu: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Metro Cebu.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Metro Cebu: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Metro Cebu, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Metro Cebu.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Metro Cebu, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Metro Cebu, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Metro Cebu and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Metro Cebu, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Metro Cebu, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Metro Cebu without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Metro Cebu is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Metro Cebu.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Metro Cebu is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Metro Cebu, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Metro Cebu Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Olango Island near Cebu City and the Philippines - Olango Island

All the suburbs along the coast have some dive sites and beach resorts, and Lapu-Lapu has many, mostly upmarket. Cebu City itself has none. There are also many other possibilities in other parts of Cebu_Province#Understand|Cebu Province.

The high-class hotels are mainly in Cebu City or near the airport in Lapu-Lapu. Backpacker places are mostly in Cebu City, especially the older Colon neighborhood down by the port. High-end beach resorts are mostly in Lapu-Lapu or Cordova. Mid-range hotels can be found in all the larger towns, mid-range resorts on Olango or in the coastal towns north and south of Cebu City.

For hotel listings, see the city and town articles listed at #Cities|cities above.

Local Language in Metro Cebu

The main language of the province and of several nearby regions is Cebuano, commonly called Bisaya to its speakers and Visayan in English. However many local residents speak one or more other languages as well.

As anywhere in the nation, English is widely spoken and the level varies from awful to excellent. This is a highly developed urban area with many visitors, so good English is more common here than in many other regions.

Tagalog is also commonly spoken since the central government promotes it as a national language and it is used in schools, but it is not indigenous to this region. Several of the nation's many minority languages — including Waray, Illongo and Hokkien Chinese — are also spoken in the area, but most speakers of those will also speak at least one of Cebuano, Tagalog or English.

Stay Safe

The area is poor; there are beggars and it is wise to take precautions against pickpockets and common scams. In general the region is reasonably safe and violent crime is common, but Cebu_(city)#Stay_Safe|parts of Cebu City are considered risky at night.

In general, this can be solved by taking as little money and valuable items around with you as feasible; if feasible, avoid taking any money, because what may seem to you like not very much money would seem to a poor, hungry person like quite a lot. For example, if you took twenty dollars (American money) with you, you wouldn't think it was much, but someone who desperately needed a meal would.

Medical Issues in Metro Cebu

All the major cities have "social hygiene clinics" which offer free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases:

• Cebu City Social Hygiene Clinic Room 103, City health office. General Maxilom Aveune. - ☎ +63 32 2605517

• Mandaue Social Hygiene Clinic Mandaue City Health office South B Cabahug Street centro ☎ +63 32 3460110

• Lapu-Lapu Social Hygiene Clinic Lapu-lapu city health office. Lapu-lapu City Hall Road ☎ +63 32 3402584
• Talisay City Social Hygiene Clinic | Talisay City Rural Health Unit 1, Multi-purpose Bldg., Poblacion ☎ +63 32 4915567

}} For other health services see the Cebu_(city)#Stay_healthy|Cebu City eHalal Travel Guide.

Cope

Immigration offices

If you need to renew your visa and the immigration department has two offices in Metro Cebu:

• Bureau of Immigration Cebu office J Centre Bldg. A South Fortung street, Mandaue city Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00

• Bureau of Immigration Mactan office Galsano Mactan Island Mall. Monday L Quezon National Hightway Lapu-lapu Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00 -

There is no office in Cebu City. The Mactan office generally has faster service than the Mandaue one.

Consulates in Metro Cebu

Most Diplomatic missions|consulates are in Cebu City, but there are also several in Mandaue.

• Australia - ☎ +63 32 231-0437, +63 32 231-0605

{{flag|Belgium

• Belgium - 6th Fl Insular Life Building, Corordo cor., Maxilom Ave ☎ +63 32 2315330, +63 32 2315333

{{flag|Canada

• Canada - 45-L Andres Abellana Street ☎ +63 32 256-3320, +63 32 254-4749, +63 32 255-3069

{{flag|Chile

• Chile - Deligourmet, DGU Bldg, F. Cabahug St, Mabolo ☎ +63 32 231-0157

China - consulate@ Cebu IT Tower 1, 5th Floor, Unit 5C, Lot 7, Block 2, Corner Archbishop Reyes Street and Mindanao Street, Cebu Business Park ☎ +63-32-5051035 +63-32-5051038 Opening Hours: visas Monday to Friday 08:30-12:00 {{flag|Denmark

• Denmark - Unit 903, 9th Floor, Keppel Centre, Cebu Business Park ☎ +63 32 233-1328, +63 32 233-1390
• France Blue Planet, 556 Juan Luna Ave, Mabolo, Cebu City ☎ +63 32 320935* Japan - ☎ +63 32 231-7321

{{flag|Mexico

• Mexico - Mezzanine Floor, Wee Bldg, 424 Gorordo Ave ☎ +63 32 233-2785, +63 32 233-2792

[[File:Flag of Netherlands

• Netherlands - Metaphil Compound, Tipolo, Mandaue City ☎ +63 32 346-1823, +63 32 346-2660.svg|frameless|20px|border|Netherlands
• Netherlands - Metaphil Compound, Tipolo, Mandaue City ☎ +63 32 346-1823, +63 32 346-2660

|link=]]

{{flag|Norway

• Norway - Aboitiz & Co. Bldg, Banilad, Mandaue ☎ +63 32 231-2580

{{flag|Portugal

• Portugal Cadiz Street Corporation, Tingub Road, Mandaue ☎ +63 32 344-0233, +63 32 346-6293

{{flag|Slovakia

• Slovakia - Grand Cement Manufacturing Corp., G/F Insular Bank Bldg, Gorordo cor. Maxilom Ave ☎ +63 32 343-6445

{{flag|South Korea

• South Korea - c/o University of Cebu-Banilad Campus, Banilad ☎ +63 32 231-6345
• Spain - 476-G Molave St, Lahug ☎ +63 32 231-1329, +63 32 231-5159

{{flag|Sweden

• Sweden - 415 Gorordo Ave, Lahug ☎ +63 32 233-3106

• Thailand - Eastern Shipping Lines Bldg, M.J. Cuenco Ave ☎ +63 32 412-4687, +63 32 254-6564

• Türkiye - B. Benedicto and Sons Inc, 103-107 Plaridel Street ☎ +63 32 253-0769
• United Kingdom - Honorary - Villa Terrace, Greenhills Road, Casuntingan, Mandaue City ☎ +63 32 346-0525, +63 32 346-0269

United States - Honorary - #1, G/F Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Bldg, Lahug ☎ +63 32 231-1261

Travel Next

Anywhere on Cebu Island|Cebu Island is readily accessible by road. There are also some bus-and-ferry combination journeys to nearby islands, in particular to San Carlos (Negros Occidental) | San Carlos (Negros Occidental) and on to Bacolod. There are two main bus stations and the North station in Mandaue and South station in Cebu City; to discover which one has buses for where you want to go, see the article on your destination.

Popular tourist destinations reachable with a short ferry ride are Bohol and Dumaguete.

Boracay is one the nation's most popular tourist destinations, but it has been shut down for much of 2018 to clean up pollution problems. It is somewhat further away and is most easily reached by plane to Kalibo and then ferry. It is also feasible to get there using buses and ferries via Bacolod and Iloilo (city) | Iloilo.

{{IsPartOf|Cebu Province