Mactan Cebu International Airport

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) serves Cebu, the Philippines' second-largest city and the heart of the Visayas region. Located on Mactan Island, 15 km from Cebu City, it's the country's second-busiest airport after Manila.

The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 (domestic) and the stunning new Terminal 2 (international), which opened in 2018 with a distinctive wave-like design.

Key airlines: Cebu Pacific (hub), Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and various Asian carriers.

CEB is on Mactan Island:

• To Cebu City (IT Park): 15 km, 30-50 minutes
• To Cebu City center: 12 km, 30-45 minutes
• To Mactan resorts: 5-10 km, 15-25 minutes
• To Lapu-Lapu City: 5 km, 15 minutes

Traffic on the bridges can be heavy.

Grab operates in Cebu.

• To Cebu City center: PHP 300-500 (~$5-9 USD)
• To Mactan resorts: PHP 200-400

Yellow airport taxis (metered):

• Slightly more expensive than Grab
• Queue at designated stands

White taxis (coupon-based):

• Fixed rates to destinations
• Usually most expensive option

MyBus

MyBus connects to Cebu City:

• Route: Airport → SM City Cebu
• Journey time: 45-60 minutes
• Cost: PHP 40-80 (~$0.80-1.50)
• Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes

Economical but slow with traffic.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Terminal 2	PHP 300/day	Covered
Terminal 1	PHP 200/day	Open

CEB Terminal 2 has excellent dining:

Terminal 2 (International):

• Filipino restaurants (lechon!)
• International options
• Cafés (Bo's Coffee)
• Fast food

Terminal 1 (Domestic):

• More limited options

Try: Lechon (roast pig)—Cebu's specialty.

Network: CEB Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Registration may be required

SIM cards from:

• Globe, Smart, Sun shops in arrivals
• Prices: PHP 300-500 (~$5-9) for prepaid with data

ATMs in both terminals.

Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP). Approximately 56 PHP = 1 USD.

Terminal 2:

• Duty-free (excellent)
• Filipino products (dried mangoes, otap)
• Handicrafts
• Fashion

Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2)

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or purchase
• Amenities: Filipino food, drinks, WiFi, shower

Domestic lounges (Terminal 1)

• Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines lounges

Resorts on Mactan Island or hotels in Cebu City. Many dive resorts are on surrounding islands.

Cebu is the Philippines' original capital—historic churches, world-class diving, whale sharks, and island-hopping adventures:

Cebu City attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Magellan's Cross: 40 min—where Christianity arrived in the Philippines (1521)
• Basilica del Santo Niño: 40 min—oldest church in the Philippines
• Fort San Pedro: 40 min—Spanish-era fortress
• Temple of Leah: 1 hour—impressive Roman-style temple
• Tops Lookout: 1.5 hours—panoramic city views

Island adventures:

• Oslob whale sharks: 3-4 hours—swim with whale sharks (controversial but popular)
• Kawasan Falls: 3 hours—canyoneering adventure
• Moalboal: 3 hours—sardine run, diving, sea turtles
• Bohol: 2-hour ferry—Chocolate Hills, tarsiers
• Bantayan Island: 4 hours—pristine beaches, laid-back

Diving & snorkeling:

• Moalboal sardine run: Millions of sardines in tight ball
• Malapascua: Thresher shark diving
• Hilutungan Island: Easy snorkeling from Mactan
• Nalusuan Island: Marine sanctuary

Food & drink:

• Lechon Cebu: Roast suckling pig—the best in the Philippines
• Sutukil: Grilled seafood Cebu-style
• Dried mangoes: Cebu is famous for them
• Sinigang: Sour tamarind soup
• San Miguel beer: The Filipino lager

Local tips:

• Whale shark ethics: Oslob is controversial (feeding alters behavior); research before going
• Traffic: Cebu traffic can be terrible; plan accordingly
• Sinulog Festival: Third Sunday of January—massive cultural celebration
• Mactan resorts: Stay on Mactan for beach access; Cebu City for nightlife
• Island hopping: Book through hotels or operators
• Dive certification: Cheap and excellent in Moalboal or Malapascua
• Jeepneys: Colorful local transport; an experience itself
• English spoken: English is widely spoken—easy communication
• Magellan landed here in 1521; he was killed by Lapu-Lapu in the same visit
• Cebu is more relaxed than Manila but still has urban challenges