Key hubs
Cebu airport and railway station
- Airport
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City, about 45 minutes by taxi from the old city in normal traffic
- Railway station
- There is no passenger railway in Cebu that visitors can use, so travel is by road, air and sea
- Getting around
- Metered taxis and ride-hailing apps are simplest; jeepneys and city buses are cheap but crowded and confusing for first-time visitors
How to reach Cebu by air
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) lies on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City, about 45 minutes by taxi from the old city in normal traffic. We could not verify a direct flight from India to Cebu, so most itineraries connect through Manila or another Asian hub; check airlines for current routes.
How to reach Cebu by train
Cebu has no useful passenger railway, so there is no station to plan around. Travel by air, road or sea.
How to reach Cebu by road
Mactan connects to the mainland by the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, about 8.9 km long, which opened in 2022. Buses and vans run to south Cebu, such as Moalboal, about 105 km away.
Getting around Cebu
Taxis should use the meter, and ride-hailing apps are widely used. Jeepneys and city buses are cheap but crowded. For day trips to Simala or south Cebu, hire a car with driver for the day.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Cebu
- Plan sightseeing for the morning and rest in the afternoon. Highs are about 30 to 33 C all year with high humidity, so carry water and use air-conditioned spaces between sights.
- The Taoist Temple has many steps if you climb from the entrance, and the Temple of Leah is on a hilltop road; use a taxi to the top and ask about the lift or ramp access before you plan.
- Use metered taxis or ride-hailing apps instead of jeepneys. Jeepneys are cheap but crowded, with high steps and frequent pickpocketing.
- Chong Hua Hospital on Don Mariano Cui Street near Fuente Osmeña is a large private hospital founded in 1909. Buy travel insurance that covers hospital care before you leave, and carry regular medicines in original packaging.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.