City, Philippines
Cebu for solo travelers
Is Cebu good for solo travel?
The Philippines' second city and the Visayas hub: big malls, good hospitals and cheap flights, with Moalboal, Bohol and Siquijor within reach. The city is congested and not pretty, but practical for long stays.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Very friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women in the main districts. Expect catcalls, use Grab at night and watch drinks in nightlife areas. |
How to meet people in Cebu
Coworking and nomad meetups in IT Park, dive shops and language schools, hostels on Mactan, and day trips from Moalboal that group solo travelers.
Good things to do alone
- Day trip to Oslob and Kawasan Falls canyoneering
- Eat lechon and puso (rice) at a local stall
- Visit Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño
- Sunset drink at Tops lookout in Busay
- Ferry to Bohol for a day
Where to stay in Cebu
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Cebu IT Park / Lahug | Nomads and expats: cafés, coworking, condos, nightlife |
| Ayala Center / Cebu Business Park | Malls, hotels, clean walkable district |
| Mactan (Lapu-Lapu) | Near the airport, beach resorts and dive shops |
| Colon / Downtown | Cheap stays, old churches, local food and markets |
Solo travel across Philippines
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Siargao | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Moalboal | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Manila | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boracay | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Palawan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| El Nido | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Cebu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Coron | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bohol | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Panglao | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Makati | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Baguio | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| La Union | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Dumaguete | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Siquijor | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Puerto Galera | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Malapascua | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Port Barton | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Sagada | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Banaue | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Vigan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Iloilo | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| BGC | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bantayan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Davao | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Tagaytay | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Angeles City | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Cebu good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). The Philippines' second city and the Visayas hub: big malls, good hospitals and cheap flights, with Moalboal, Bohol and Siquijor within reach.
How do you meet people in Cebu?
Coworking and nomad meetups in IT Park, dive shops and language schools, hostels on Mactan, and day trips from Moalboal that group solo travelers. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Cebu?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Cebu safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women in the main districts. Expect catcalls, use Grab at night and watch drinks in nightlife areas.
More about Cebu
Going to Cebu solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Cebu meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.