Travel Guide Cebu

The city of Cebu, located on the eastern side of the island on the Bohol Strait, has a population of over 1.2 million. It is the oldest city in the Philippines, and was the first Spanish capital in 1565. The country's second-largest city, the provincial capital and the economic center of the Visayas, Cebu is nicknamed the "Queen of the South". This major port city is the hub of intense national and international maritime traffic. Just across the harbour from Cebu is the historic island of Mactan. Mactan, the island where the airport is located, is also the site of the famous battle that saw the Lapu-Lapu chief repel the Spanish troops led by Magellan. It was here that the great navigator died on April 27, 1521.Cebu City is constantly expanding, with no real urban harmony and no particular charm, but it's still a little more pleasant to live in than Manila. Smaller and less crowded than the capital, Cebu offers comparable facilities. A city full of contrasts, it combines all the signs of a modern metropolis with ancient vestiges of the Spanish presence. Above all, it is an almost obligatory stopover for all travellers (flights to the Visayas, ferries to the surrounding islands, etc.). And at the same time, for the traveler who wants to take the time to observe it, Cebu is bursting with life, with everyday happenings: one man watering his plants on the sidewalk, another cooking kebabs on his barbecue, children in uniform laughing and bickering, a teenage girl getting her hair cut with scissors by her boyfriend, dogs and cats everywhere, a perpetual effervescence in which it can be good to let yourself get caught up for a day.