California isn't the only one who's got a "Beverly Hills" (although that's where the idea came…read morefrom) so let's just get that out of the way. Cebu has its own to boast as well! That said, this tourist spot of Cebu Taoist Temple is located here in this beautiful Beverly Hills of Cebu. The drive through the subdivision was an experience in itself, but finally getting to this spot was the ultimate treat. The main entrance is guarded by a couple of dragons, and you can't help but notice another gigantic one as you walk through the driveway. Immediately, you know and feel this is a place you can go to if you're searching for some kind of inner peace and serenity. Silence is observed here - so one must be mindful to quiet down phones and voices. And you will be corrected by staff - there were a bunch of GenZ'ers who couldn't help themselves, I guess, posing for pictures and such while making too much noise, and boy, were they put in their place. They were mindful of themselves after that. It boasts beautiful structures as well as views. There are plenty of artwork and artifacts to see. There is a chapel where you can light incense for offering (or wishes, maybe, if that's your thing) however, women are not allowed to come in wearing shorts. Everywhere else is free for all. There is also a souvenir store available, and most of their items are reasonably priced. And ultimately, plenty of photo op spots! We enjoyed the stop. Would recommend it to first time Cebu visitors!

Get ready for some steps. The entrance is at the bottom of a large hill with a bunch of stairs to…read morereach this Taoist heaven. No charge to admire, but you are paying with a little sweat. Once you arrive the scenery is amazing, the overlook of the ocean and Cebu back drop is serene, and the place gives you this magical feeling of some sort of heavenly sanctuary within its surrounding chaos of a community. A must go if in Cebu.

This place is so neat & the best part is EVERYTHING inside is upside down it's like the "In"…read moremuseums in LA! 10/10 would recommend to a friend ! Admission: P250

This activity is located at the City Time Square center in Mandaue across Park Mall. When you go…read morethrough the entrance it'll be on the right side. You have to get to the second floor to find the place. If anything just ask security as you enter through. We arrived around 4 pm and paid 15 pesos for parking (pay as you exit). As you enter shoe lockers are to the left and reception to the right. (fyi: yes you must take off your shoes, in my case flipflops to enter the activity so bring socks if it bothers you to go bare footed). Entrance is at 250 pesos per person (adult). We paid our fee and waited a few minutes in the lobby as there were other guests already inside. The place itself isnt that spacious. You will run into others taking pictures. The area was divided into maybe about 6 or more themed rooms. As the name of the place indicates, everythig is upside down. A guide will help you throughout each room (take pics of you and your group using your own phone or camera) then you are free to roam around, we were told no time limit. The guides will tell you that you will need to flip your pictures to get the "upside down" photo effect that is intended. I'd say we spent about an hour at most going back to the themed rooms, posing and taking pics again. Once you exit you retrieve your foot wear and be on your way. I think it was a nice experience, but I believe the price is a little more than I would expect to pay for the activity. Don't get me wrong it was fun and the staff were all professional and helpful and even enthusiastic. It's a good place for quick first time kicks. Happy picture taking :) Free wifi, ask the receptionist for the password.

This museum is not that big, but it packs a lot of history. My favorite was during The World War…read moreII. I didn't know that the Filipinos had briefly used Japanese currency. Their new "Rice of Gods" room was amazing. Our tour guide mentioned a private donor from a Filipino philanthropist, donated everything in the room to share the history of Cebu. We were also educated that Museo Gugbo was originally a prison. There were still marks of prisoners name and other carvings during that era. One highlight that was also a favorite of mine was the walk of fame wall where all the past Presidents of the Philippines were hung in portrait paintings. Next to their portraits shares a brief history of their life and accomplishments during their time in office. I highly recommend if you have time during your visit to Cebu City, pay a visit here. You will learn a great deal about Philippine history and the native tribes of Cebu. Cheers!

Located on m.j cuenco ave., if coming from the colon area, it'll be on the right side…read more There is a street right before you see the front entrance to the museum (again coming from colon), make the turn and you'll see a gate to the left. Honk your horn if its closed and security will open the gates to lead you towards the parking area. Parking appeared to be limited maybe good for 5-6 vehicles. I'm not sure if they have other areas to park as there seem to be a narrow alley, ahead of the pebbled parking area, that possibly can accomodate one more vehicle. Parking is free. We went about 3:00 pm-ish and there weren't many people there. You make your way towards the front of the museum to pay the entrance fee (locals paid 30 pesos and I believe it was 75 pesos for foreigners. They also have discounts for senior citizens and students). So you go pass the gazebo structure from the parking lot, then cross the courtyard towards a fountain. Someone at a small desk will point you in the direction to where you make the payment then politely ask you to sign a guest book. Then you make your way around. You may opt for a guide (which we were told was free of charge) but we decided to explore the museum ourselves. There will be 4 areas where there is air conditioning, and ends after the world war 2 exhibit. There are interesting excerpts from history as well as artifacts. I particularly found the world war 2 area most interesting, though I wish there were more artifacts and maybe some interactive activites that can really immerse someone during that time in history. After leaving the world war 2 exhibit you head down a steep stairway, if you are tall be careful of the overhead. I consider myself short and even then I felt as if I was gonna bump my head. So be careful. The courtyard was spacious. There are a couple more exhibits around the courtyard that include maps and blue prints of various structures, cities and different islands in the Philippines. As previously stated, wish there were more artifacts to see and maybe an activity or two. However, what was displayed was informative and left me wanting to learn more about the Philippines and Cebu's history. Thank you for having a musem such as this to introduce us to Cebu's history. (tip: they allow you to take pictures, but without flash)

Dubbed "The Taj Mahal of Cebu" this colossal shrine is a true testament of one man's commitment of…read moreeternal love and devotion to his dearly departed wife. The first thing not to help but notice at drive in is a good sized water fountain in the middle of the grounds. As there was a crowd within the temple itself, I decided to do a lookout down below. What a beautiful 180 degree view of Cebu. Even the airport will be on your line of sight. That alone made the drive worth it. After taking all that view in, I finally decided to tackle the crowd and walk up to the very main temple. One can't help but notice the two lion statues in between stairs. At the very center is a gold plated statue of Teodorico Soriano Adarna's beloved wife, Leah Villa Albino-Adarna, surrounded by Greek-type and designed engineering and architecture. There are a few hallways on both sides of the first floor to showcase room filled with antiques and collections of paintings, furniture, vases and the like. It's pretty impressive, gotta say. There's a small cafe near the water fountain for refreshments, snacks and libations. It came in pretty handy during a hot June visit! Gone are the entrance fee of P50Php/person. It's now up to P120/pp on the weekdays and P150/pp on the weekends. Just like Teodorico's love for Leah, construction is still ongoing - for maintenance and additions. And with the way things are going and with so many visitors, I'd project it will continue to improve and grow. It is worth the visit, if only for photo ops! A definite must stop when in Cebu!

I was completely amazed after arriving to this temple. I read all the reviews of people who seem to…read morehave been underwhelmed or at least, in my opinion, under rated this place. Upon arrival you walk out on this massive terrace with a beautifully sculpted fountain that overlooks Cebu city. The statuary was elegant and profound. The designer/ creator put a lot of time and effort into creating such a serene terrace that just makes you want to sit and enjoy a nice cafe and breathe in the rich history. Once you get to the temple you're greeted with live music, more statues, and beautiful marble. You get a nice run down on the history from plaques and lots of amazing photo opportunities if you're into pleasing "followers". Highly recommend this place if in Cebu city.

The Yap-SanDeigo is one of the oldest houses to survive many natural disasters in the Philippine…read moreIslands. The oldest house to our surprise, the "1930 Jesuit House" is also located in Cebu City. We took the private tour and he did a fantastic job sharing the history of the home. Our guide shared that the Yap family have owned this home since the 1760's during the Spanish era. I am amaze how much history Cebu has. The house still stands today, much remains original including the stairs and the wood planks on the second floor. I suggest you take this tour if you are planning on visiting Cebu City. Truly a landmark for Cebu City. Cheers!

The tour guide is exceptionally helpful and will take a ton of family pics. Fun, educational, and a…read moremust for tourists. Bring some change for the guitarists inside.

If you could only pick one tourist spot to see in Negros Occidental, consider this place!…read more They call it The Ruins because well... it's ruined! But done so beautifully! I can only imagine how magnificent it must have been during its heydays! It's another story of a man's testament of love to his wife who died during child birth. Don Mariano Lacson built this beautiful structure in memory of his wife, Maria Braga Lacson who died while giving birth to their 8th child. According to our tour guide (and a bit of research) during WWII, Filipino guerrillas set the mansion ablaze to deter the Japanese forces from using it as some kind of headquarters. The house was blazing for three days because of the exceptional type of wood used in the structure. What's left of the house is the structure you see now. It's still currently maintained by Lacson's heirs. It is also available to rent for private events. Imagine the photographs! There is an entrance fee - it's affordable. There's also a restaurant on the grounds, so if you happen to need sustenance, it's available. It really is an architectural wonder! If at anytime you're in the area, make a stop! It'll be worth it!

My first attempt in visiting this place was it was closed for an event, however, they do have a…read morefacebook page where you can see those updates in any closures they might have - that i didnt know. Now i do! Anyways, so they have a parking lot for small and large vehicles. There also is an entrance fee for each person. It is a self-guided tour with notes on each artifact. There is a restaurant on site with both indoor and outdoor seating. There are stairs, but there is no second level - that was burned down during the War - all that is explained as well on one of the placards throughout the venue. Just the sheer size and how this was meticulously designed was the real marvel of this structure. Its really a sight to see. its not just a building - it was made out of love, and inspired by travel. This is a must-visit for both locals and foreigners.

Historic Site [CEBU CITY Philippines]…read more Unfortunately, Mom and I weren't able to finish this self-guided tour because of all the walking we already did earlier in the day from the other sightseeing locations but we managed to see a few of the sites. At the entrance were photos documenting the history of the fort. I found this interesting and informative. This was also where we paid a minimal admission charge. Entrance fee is 30 pesos (about $0.50 cents). Fort San Pedro is the oldest military structure in the Philippines. It is also the smallest fort (not as big is Intramuros in Manila) yet it is one of the most famous heritage sites in Cebu. It served as an army base in the early 17th century built by a Spanish conqueror some 50 years after Magellan first landed. The large stone walls and massive canons are impressive and can be found inside. The fort is located in the downtown area of Cebu, inside the popular nature park, Plaza Independencia. Wishes we had more time to visit the entire area. Review #3347

If your a history buff, make sure to visit Fort San Pedro. It's an interesting view of Cebu…read morehistory and this triangular fort. Make sure you come here with a guide as it's more informative when you have a guide. Canons still work it's cleaned and if you can find a small canon that fits. The wood walls were replaced cobble stones and other materials. There seems to be ghosts on the top floor over the entrance as it was a prison. This place I heard can even rent for event or weddings. Interesting place. I would recommend a visit if you are in Cebu. [11/100]

THE BIG: Tourist attraction monument made to honor the first treaty between the Philippines and…read moreSpain. Also on the site is a big "I heart Tagbilaran" sign. THE BLACK AND WHITE: Apparently the site where the monument was built is where the Spanish and Filipino leaders performed a blood compact to seal their friendship. A blood compact is where each party would cut their hands and pour blood into a cup filled with wine and drink the mixture. The monument is crowded and usually part of a Bohol tour. You can spend a max of 15 mins there and head on your way. Otherwise nothing too fancy to look at. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Free monument that is part of a tour guide. Tons of people around so you'll be queueing for a photo but it is a significant historic place.