Exploring Cebu City with kids turned out to be much easier than we expected.
When we first arrived, one of the things we immediately noticed was that although Cebu was a busy city with plenty of traffic, it didn’t feel nearly as overwhelming to us as Manila had. We also quickly realized that many of Cebu City’s main attractions could be combined into one very full day.
The challenge? Making sure our kids would actually enjoy it too!
We didn’t want to join a group tour and spend the entire day following someone else’s schedule. After talking, and doing plenty of bargaining, with one of the many tour companies, we managed to get a great deal on an air-conditioned van with a driver for eight hours.
Our plan combined the historic center of Cebu with several attractions in the hills above the city. We didn’t hire a guide, which meant that whenever we arrived somewhere, it was up to us to learn about what we were seeing. So we looked things up ourselves and explored at our own pace. And with three kids, having that flexibility was exactly what we needed!
Come along for the ride and explore Cebu City with us!
Where Did We Stay in Cebu City?
During our time in Cebu City, we stayed at Crown Regency Hotel & Towers.
We chose it mainly because of its central location and because, when we visited in 2020, it offered several things that worked well for our family, including a kids’ play area, restaurants and activities.
Parts of the hotel were being renovated during our stay, so some areas were closed.
Since hotel facilities can change considerably over the years, I would check recent reviews and current amenities before booking today.
Then it was time to start exploring!
1. Cebu Taoist Temple
Our first stop of the day was Cebu Taoist Temple, located in the Beverly Hills area of Cebu City.
The temple was built in 1972 by Cebu’s Chinese-Filipino community and sits high above the city.
One of the first things we noticed was the colorful architecture and the entrance inspired by the Great Wall of China. And then there were the stairs! The temple has 81 steps, representing the 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching.
Visitors don’t have to be Taoist to enter. The temple welcomes both worshippers and non-worshippers, although of course it is still an active place of worship and should be treated respectfully.
We also learned about one of the rituals practiced by devotees. It involves washing your hands, entering the chapel barefoot and using two wooden blocks as part of asking for guidance.
But one of our favorite things about this stop was simply the view. Being high above Cebu gave us our first chance to look out across the city we were about to spend the day exploring.
2. Sirao Flower Garden
From the Taoist Temple, we continued farther into the hills and eventually arrived at one of the most colorful stops of our day: Sirao Flower Garden.
The garden became known as Cebu’s “Little Amsterdam” because of its colorful flowers and photo-friendly displays.
Its story was one of the things I found interesting. The farm originally grew flowers to be harvested and sold, particularly around All Souls’ Day. As visitors began discovering the fields and sharing photos on social media, more and more people started coming to see them. Eventually, what had started as a flower farm became a tourist attraction.
One of the flowers Sirao became especially known for was celosia, with its bright, flame-like flowers.
But our kids weren’t particularly interested in the botanical history! They wanted to explore. And there was A LOT to explore.
We wandered through the different corners of the garden, finding decorations, colorful displays and endless places to take funny photos.
We stayed much longer than we’d planned.
In fact…This was without a doubt our favorite stop of the day!
IMPORTANT: When we visited in 2020, we paid ₱50 per adult and ₱25 per child/senior. Those were the prices during our visit, so check current admission before going today.
3. Temple of Leah
Next came a place with a very different story.
Temple of Leah was built by Teodorico Soriano Adarna as a tribute to his late wife, Leah Villa Albino-Adarna. Construction began in 2012, and because it was created by a husband in memory of his wife, the story immediately reminded me a little of the Taj Mahal in India. Of course, the two places are completely different and come from completely different periods in history, but that idea of creating something enormous as a monument to someone you loved made us think of it.
When we visited, parts of Temple of Leah were still being completed.
But what amazed us most wasn’t necessarily the building. It was the location.
From up there, we had an incredible panoramic view across Cebu.
Meanwhile, the kids had discovered something even more exciting: a huge open space to run around!
So while they ran around the enormous square, Mass and I sat for a while and enjoyed the view. Sometimes that’s exactly what sightseeing with kids looks like.
IMPORTANT: When we visited in 2020, admission was only ₱50 per person. That price is now outdated, so make sure you check current admission before visiting.
4. TOPS Lookout
If you’re looking for fresh air and another panoramic view over Cebu, TOPS is an easy addition when exploring the hills above the city.
Sitting high above Cebu City, it gave us another completely different perspective of the area. It was also noticeably cooler than downtown!
After spending time sightseeing in the heat, that alone felt pretty good.
There were places where we could sit, grab something to eat and simply enjoy the panorama.
IMPORTANT: TOPS has changed quite a bit since our 2020 visit, so if you’re using this post to plan a current trip, check its latest facilities and transportation options before going.
From the Mountains Back Into Historic Cebu
After spending the first part of our day in the hills, we headed back down into Cebu City.
This completely changed the feel of our sightseeing. Instead of flower gardens, panoramic viewpoints and modern monuments, we were suddenly surrounded by places connected to some of the oldest chapters of Cebu’s colonial history.
5. Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu
Our next stop was the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, one of the most important religious sites in the Philippines.
The history here goes all the way back to 1565, when the Augustinians established a church and convent on the site where the image of the Santo Niño had been found.
The original buildings didn’t survive, and several churches were built here over the centuries. The present stone church dates to the 18th century.
The image of the Santo Niño, representing the Child Jesus, is especially important. It is connected to Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in Cebu in 1521 and the early introduction of Christianity to the islands. The image is traditionally associated with the gift Magellan’s expedition presented to Queen Juana of Cebu following her baptism.
We wanted to see the Santo Niño image during our visit, but the line was extremely long. With three kids and an already very full day ahead of us, we decided not to wait. Sometimes you simply have to make those decisions!
6. Magellan’s Cross
Right beside the Basilica is one of Cebu City’s most recognizable historical landmarks: Magellan’s Cross.
The cross commemorates the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition in Cebu in 1521 and the introduction of Christianity to the area.
Today, the cross is housed inside a small chapel close to the Basilica. Traditionally, it is said that the original cross was encased inside another wooden cross to protect it, although there have long been different stories about whether any of the original cross actually survives. Regardless of the exact history of the wood itself, the site has become an important symbol of Cebu’s colonial and religious history.
7. Fort San Pedro
Our next history lesson came at Fort San Pedro.
The first fortification on this site was established in 1565, when Miguel López de Legazpi founded the Spanish settlement in Cebu. The original defensive structure was made from wood, while the stone fortress that visitors see today developed later. The fort is triangular, with three bastions named La Concepción, Ignacio de Loyola and San Miguel.
Walking around, we could still see old cannons and climb along parts of the fort while learning more about Cebu’s past. Inside, we also found historical photographs showing what Cebu City looked like many years earlier. That is always one of my favorite things to see. Looking at old photographs of a place while standing in that same place somehow makes its history feel much more real.
IMPORTANT: When we visited in 2020, entrance cost us ₱30 per person. Check the current admission price before visiting.
8. Cebu Heritage Monument
Next we stopped at the Cebu Heritage Monument, which is basically a huge history lesson told through sculpture.
The monument depicts different people and events from Cebu’s history, from the time of Rajah Humabon through Spanish colonization and Christianity and into later periods of Cebuano history.
It was created by artist Eduardo Castrillo and completed around the turn of the millennium. Instead of simply looking at one statue, there were figures, buildings and scenes everywhere we turned. And naturally, our kids found places to climb. Because apparently no historical monument is complete until one of our children tries to climb something.
Always climbing…
9. Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
Our final historical stop was the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.
This was completely different from the monuments and churches we’d been visiting because here we could step into an actual historic home.
The house is believed to date from sometime between 1675 and 1700 and was built from coral stone and wood. It is considered one of the oldest surviving residential structures in the Philippines and among the oldest surviving Chinese houses outside China.
The house is associated with the family of Chinese merchant Don Juan Yap and his wife, Doña Maria Florido, and reflects the long history of Cebu’s Chinese-Filipino community during the Spanish colonial period. Walking through an old house always gives me a different feeling from visiting a museum. You aren’t just looking at dates and historical events. You’re standing somewhere where people actually lived.
Can You Really See Cebu City in One Day?
We managed to see a surprising amount in our eight hours with the van. But I think the reason it worked so well for us was that we weren’t part of a group tour.
If the kids loved somewhere, like Sirao Flower Garden, we could stay longer. If a line was too long, like the one to see the Santo Niño, we could decide to move on. And if the kids needed a little time to run around, we could give them that too.
Having a driver also meant we didn’t have to spend our day figuring out transportation between the mountain attractions and downtown Cebu. For a family of five, that flexibility made a huge difference.
Our Favorite Places in Cebu City With Kids
If you asked the kids at the time, I think Sirao Flower Garden would probably have won. They loved being able to run around and discover all the different corners of the garden.
For me, though, what made the day interesting was the contrast. In just a few hours, we went from a Taoist temple and colorful flower gardens high above the city to a monument built for love, panoramic viewpoints, centuries-old churches, a Spanish fort and one of Cebu’s oldest surviving houses.
It gave us a small glimpse into just how many different layers there are to Cebu. And once again, it reminded us that sightseeing with kids doesn’t have to mean dragging them from historical monument to historical monument.
Sometimes you just need to mix things up. A temple. A flower garden. A huge place to run. A fort. An old house.
And, of course, an air-conditioned van waiting outside.
That definitely helped too!
Happy travels!
Continue the journey with:
If you are planning a trip to Asia, these unique destinations should definitely be on your radar:
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- A Family Journey Through India
- Discovering Cambodia: From Phnom Penh to the Magic of Siem Reap with Kids
- Visiting Bhutan with Kids: Inside the Magical Kingdom of Bhutan
I hope our experience helps you plan an unforgettable Asia adventure of your own!
