How to get to Cebu is one of the most common questions from travelers who want to come to the Philippines. It makes sense: it’s one of the country’s main gateways, since it has an international airport. In addition, it’s also a city that appears constantly in Philippines travel itineraries, as it serves as a base to reach lots of destinations. Therefore, we’ve decided to explain in as much detail as possible how to get to Cebu from other countries and from the most popular places in the country.
Where Cebu is and its transport infrastructure
Cebu is located on Cebu Island. So, to distinguish them, people usually talk about Cebu Island and Cebu City. In this article, we’re going to focus on Cebu City, which is also the main gateway to the whole island. In specific cases, if we refer to the island, we’ll make it clear.
Cebu is one of the islands in the Central Visayas region. Cebu City sits on its eastern coast and, after Manila, is one of the most important cities in the Philippines. In fact, it’s considered the country’s oldest city and first capital.
Next to Cebu and separated by the Mactan Channel is the small island of Mactan. This is where Mactan–Cebu International Airport is located, because it’s easy to cross to the city via two bridges that connect the two islands. This is one of the most important airports in the Philippines and it has 2 terminals, one almost newly opened for international flights.
In addition, Cebu has 2 main bus terminals. As their names indicate, the North Bus Terminal (next to the SM City mall) serves destinations in the north of the island such as Maya or Hagnaya, which are the jumping-off points for Malapascua and Bantayan, respectively. Buses to the south depart from the South Bus Terminal, which is the one you need to take if you’re going to places like Moalboal.
Finally, on the island of Cebu there are lots of ports connecting it with other islands in the archipelago. The main one is Cebu’s own port, which has several piers or terminals. The most important ones for those of us traveling around the Philippines are Piers 1 and 3, since boats to and from Bohol, Surigao, and Leyte arrive and depart here. Other relevant ports are Santander/Liloan (to cross to Negros or Siquijor), Argao (to go to Bohol from Moalboal), Danao (to go to the Camotes), Hagnaya (to cross to Bantayan), and Maya (to go to Malapascua). Recently, boats to the Camotes Islands have also started departing from Mactan Island.
How to get to Cebu from abroad
The only way to reach Cebu from other countries is by plane. If you’re coming from Europe or the Americas, you’ll most likely have to make a stopover in other countries before arriving in the Philippines. From Spain there are no direct flights to Manila, so you should allow at least 18–20 hours of travel.
The main long‑haul airlines that land in Cebu are Qatar Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, and Asiana.
If you’re thinking of traveling to Cebu from Spain, which is what we know best, flight prices vary a lot depending on how far in advance you buy and the dates. As a rule, flights from Spain to Manila are cheaper, but it’s worth comparing with those to Cebu. If you book well in advance, it’s possible to find deals from $600 (round trip), but it’s more common for prices not to drop below $700–800. If you wait too long and your travel date is very close, it’ll be hard to see anything cheaper than $900, especially in the summer months and periods like Christmas or Easter.
How to get to Cebu from other Asian countries
If you’re traveling around Asia and it’s time for the Philippines, Cebu is an excellent alternative for entering the country. The airport receives planes from almost any Asian destination and many of them are operated by low‑cost airlines such as AirAsia, Cebu Pacific Air, Jeju Air, and Scoot. Among the cheapest origins: Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore.
It won’t be very hard to find tickets around $50 or under $100, especially if you buy in advance. Still, bear in mind that you’ll have to pay for baggage separately in almost all cases. Remember to do this in advance because at the airport it’s much more expensive.
Flights to Cebu land at T2, the international terminal. Once there, you’ll have money changers (although the exchange rate here is usually very bad—learn more in Money in the Philippines), ATMs, places to buy SIM cards, and taxis.
Once at the airport, you’ll need to reach your final destination. You can read how to get around without being scammed in How to get from Cebu airport to downtown.
How to get to Cebu from Manila
In this case you can choose between plane and ferry. Since flights from Manila to Cebu are quite inexpensive, taking a boat doesn’t make much sense, as you’ll spend more than 20 hours compared to 90 minutes by plane.
Getting to Cebu from Manila by plane
Flights from Manila to Cebu usually cost around $20. This price tends to remain low even if you don’t buy very far in advance. Even so, if you want to travel cheaply to Cebu, the sooner you book, the cheaper you’ll find them. The main airlines operating the route are Cebu Pacific Air (the same as Cebgo), AirAsia, and Philippine Airlines, offering more than 30 daily frequencies.
Getting to Cebu from Manila by ferry
If you feel like taking things more slowly, you can board one of the ferries operated by 2GO Travel, which depart from Manila Port. They take about 22 hours to reach Cebu, so there are no seats—just bunks. On board you’ll find bathrooms, showers, shops, and restaurants.
The price of the ticket depends on the class you choose (more or less comfortable bunks, air‑conditioning, private bathroom…), but bear in mind that it ranges between 2,000 and 2,500 pesos. The highest fares correspond to bunks in 4‑ and 6‑person cabins, perfect if you’re traveling as a group.
Book your Manila–Cebu ferry ticket
❄️ Keep in mind that if you choose an air‑conditioned bunk, it can get quite cold. Go well prepared with warm clothing.
The Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino de Cebu
How to get to Cebu from Malapascua
If you’ve managed to tear yourself away from Malapascua and want to know how to get to Cebu, you just have to retrace your steps.
First you’ll need to take one of the bangkas that depart from Barrio (Logon) for 200 pesos. They usually start around 6h30am and finish around 4h30pm–5pm, but it’s not set in stone. It’s not unusual that, if they don’t reach 10 passengers, they ask you to pay for the whole boat (2,000 pesos). If you don’t want to pay that much (understandable), you can wait a while or go to the other pier—the one opposite where you are—to see if boats are leaving earlier there. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
Once on Cebu Island, you can take a van (they usually charge 350 pesos per person) or walk a bit until you see the bus station. The buses are slower but more comfortable, and charge around 250 pesos depending on the type of bus. Allow between 4 and 6 hours. They’ll all drop you at the North Bus Terminal unless you’ve arranged otherwise with the van.
If you want to reach Cebu faster, you can also hire a car or a van with a private driver. A car costs about 2,500–3,000 pesos.
If you need it, you can leave us a comment and we’ll send you our trusted contact. It could take about 3 hours.
How to get to Cebu from Bantayan
Although there used to be Air Juan flights, they are no longer operating, so the only way to get to Cebu from Bantayan is by combining the ferry and ground transport.
The first step is to take one of the boats that run from Santa Fe to Hagnaya between 4h am and 6 pm every day, roughly every hour. The companies are Island Shipping and Super Shuttle. The ticket costs about 360–400 pesos (+10 pesos port fee) and the journey takes between 1 and 2 hours depending on sea conditions. You can check schedules and book from this link.
After that, walk a bit to find the waiting buses. You have them with or without air‑conditioning, as you prefer. Prices are around 250 pesos and they take about 4 hours. They arrive at Cebu City’s North Bus Station.
This trip can easily take more than 6 hours; it all depends on the traffic at the entrance to Cebu, which is rarely light. If you want to get there faster, you can negotiate taxi or van services at the port. It’ll cost you around 2,500–3,000 pesos.
Note that there are also boats from Bantayan to Medellín Port but, if you look at the map, they’re farther north and you’ll take longer to reach Cebu City.
How to get to Cebu from Moalboal
To go from Moalboal to Cebu it’s as easy as hopping on one of the buses that run along the main road toward Cebu. Since you’re most likely staying in Panagsama, you’ll first need to get there by tricycle, which shouldn’t cost you more than 100 pesos. Tell the driver you’re going to Cebu and they’ll drop you at the “stop”, which consists of a few chairs by the roadside, near the 7‑ELEVEN.
You simply need to get on the first bus that comes by. The fare is around 200–250 pesos, but it depends on the type of bus (with or without air‑conditioning). They take about 3.5–4 hours, depending on inbound traffic to Cebu. If you can choose, the yellow ones, from the company Ceres, are a bit better. Don’t worry, the conductor will come by to collect the fare at some point.
It’s not possible to book these buses in advance, but don’t worry because they run constantly throughout the day. Even so, there are more departures between 6h am and 10h pm.
If you want to get to Cebu from Moalboal faster, many private cars offer this service. They usually charge 2,500–3,000 pesos. If you need a contact, we can also give you one if you leave us a comment.
How to get to Cebu from Bohol
The most direct way to get to Cebu from Bohol is by taking one of the many boats that connect the two islands. In this case, you can choose between 3 ports in Bohol: Tagbilaran, Tubigon, and Getafe. The first is the most popular, as it’s the closest to the tourist areas of Bohol and Panglao. If you’re in Anda, Getafe is convenient; while if you’re in Carmen or Loboc, Tubigon may be worth it.
Finally, you also have the option of reaching the south of Cebu from Bohol by taking a boat to Oslob. This is a good alternative if you’re then heading to Moalboal. Boats depart at 5h30 am from Tagbilaran and at 6h30 am from Momo Beach in Panglao. The journey takes between 1.5 and 2 hours and you can book tickets here. In any case, this route is explained in How to get to Moalboal.
a) Getting to Cebu from Bohol via Tagbilaran
Several companies operate from this port: Oceanjet, SuperCat, and Lite Shipping. The first has the most schedules and runs roughly from 6h am to 5h40 pm. Oceanjet and SuperCat boats take about 2 hours, while Lite’s take 4. You can check schedules and book here:
Prices are around 800 pesos per person, although it also depends on the class you choose on board.
b) Getting to Cebu from Bohol via Tubigon
If you’re in Carmen, visiting the Chocolate Hills, or in Loboc, it might be a good idea to depart from Tubigon to reach Cebu. As it’s closer to Cebu than Tagbilaran, tickets are cheaper (between 200 and 500 pesos) and it takes less time (between 60 and 90 minutes), unless it’s a RO-RO ferry. You can check schedules and prices from this link.
If you’re in Tagbilaran, keep in mind that to get to Tubigon you’ll need to take a bus that takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours. This route will only be worth it if, as we said, you’re in Carmen or need to take a night ferry to Cebu, since from Tubigon there are several Lite Shipping departures.
c) Getting to Cebu from Bohol via Getafe
Finally, another idea if you’re in the Anda area (check the map) is to go to Getafe Port. From this port, some boats depart to the ports of Cordova and Hilton, located on Mactan Island, where the airport is. The trip takes roughly an hour and a half; to Cordova you have the company Sunriser and to Hilton, Edgel Ferry Express IV. Prices are around 350 pesos per person.
How to get to Cebu from Siquijor
If you’re on the “Enchanted Island” you have 3 ways to get to Cebu: by boat, by plane, and by bus. The one we find simplest and most economical is by boat, but it’s up to you.
a) Getting to Cebu from Siquijor by boat
You can take one of the Oceanjet boats that depart from Siquijor Port every day at 7h20 am, 8h20 am and 14h30 am and take about 4 hours to reach Cebu. It stops in Bohol and can be booked online.
There are different categories: Open-Air, Tourist Class, and VIP. The last 2 are air-conditioned; the other has less comfortable seats but you won’t freeze. Prices are around 1,600 pesos.
Another alternative is to board one of the SuperCat boats, but bear in mind that it operates from Larena Port (note that this is much farther from San Juan, Siquijor’s accommodation area; also beware because it’s very prone to canceling trips on a whim). It departs daily at 7h30 am and arrives in Cebu at about 12h pm approximately. The price is very similar to Oceanjet and you can book from this link. — NOTE, this company isn’t as reliable as Oceanjet and lately it’s been canceling many ferries due to “maintenance”. We’d go with the first one.
The other option is the company Lite Shipping. Its boats depart every day except Mondays at 7 pm from Larena Port and take about 11 hours (although, beware, they sometimes run a bit late). The ticket is around 800 pesos. You can book here.
b) Getting to Cebu from Siquijor by bus
For this, you’ll first need to go to Dumaguete by boat. Depending on whether they’re RO-RO or fast boats, they take more or less time. They run from dawn to dusk almost every hour. Prices are around 300 pesos and only the Oceanjet ones can be booked here.
Once there, take a tricycle to the Ceres bus station (8 pesos per person). There you can board one heading to Cebu. They cost about 400 pesos and take around 6–7 hours, depending on traffic. What they do is board a boat in Bato and cross to Cebu Island.
If you have to wait a long time for this bus, you can take a jeepney to Sibulan Port (12 pesos/30 minutes) and take a boat to Liloan (around 80 pesos/25 minutes). After that, you’ll have to take any bus going to Cebu (4 hours/200 pesos).
As you can see, it’s an option that requires quite a lot of time and it’s not something we recommend because it’s super tiring.
c) Getting to Cebu from Siquijor by plane
From 2025 December 15th there are flights from the small Siquijor Airport to Cebu Airport. They are served by Sunlight Air and flight takes less than 1 hour. If booked in advanced, they could cost less than $30 so it’s a great option to cut time.
d) Getting to Cebu from Siquijor by plane via Dumaguete
There are still no flights from Siquijor’s small airport, so the only alternative you have is to take a boat to Dumaguete (45’–1 hour) and from there head to the airport (barely 10 minutes by road) to catch a flight to Cebu. Cebu Pacific is the only airline operating this 50-minute route about 2 or 3 times a day. Prices vary a lot, but they usually hover around $30.
Flights from Dumaguete to Cebu
How to get to Cebu from Siargao
To get to Cebu from Siargao you can choose between plane and boat. Of course, the first is the simplest, but also a bit more expensive. Your call!
a) Getting to Cebu from Siargao by plane
There are several daily flights from Philippine Airlines, Sunlight Air, and Cebu Pacific covering this route, which takes just 60 minutes. Prices for these flights vary a little, but you can find them from $30 if bought well in advance. Otherwise, it’ll rarely cost you less than $50. So it’s worth comparing against ferry prices.
Bear in mind that Sayak Airport (IATA: IAO) is small and doesn’t have very modern infrastructure, so delays and cancellations due to bad weather sometimes happen. If you have another flight from Cebu, whether international or domestic, with another airline, we advise you to avoid short layovers.
b) Going from Cebu to Siargao via Surigao by ferry
The other alternative to reach Cebu is to take one of the boats from Siargao to Surigao (the fastest is Evaristo and Sons, which you can book here) and then continue to Cebu.
To go from Surigao to Cebu by ferry you can choose between 3 companies:
- Oceanjet: operates a daily fast boat (the only one) at 1 pm and arrives around 6h30 pm—it’s the only fast boat. It can be booked on this platform. It’s the most comfortable option.
- Cockalion Shipping Lines: departs every day except Sundays at 7 pm. Cannot be booked online.
- Starlite Ferries: departs every day except Sundays at 9h in the morning. This one can be booked online.
On the last two ferries you’ll lie down in bunks. Prices vary by class, but figure about 1,300 pesos. The journey takes roughly 10 hours.
Another alternative is to take a flight from Surigao to Cebu, but it doesn’t make much sense unless at the time you want to travel they’re much cheaper than Siargao–Cebu.
How to get to Cebu from Camiguin
The easiest way to get to Cebu from Camiguin is to book a seat on one of the one or two daily direct flights connecting them. These are operated by Cebu Pacific Air (or its subsidiary Cebgo) and, for their usual price, it’s worth it. It’s not unusual to see them around $20 (or less) if bought in advance and you’ll be in Cebu in under 50 minutes.
Book Camiguin–Cebu flights here
Another way to get to Cebu would be via Bohol, but it’s quite a long route, which we don’t think is really worth it. If you still want to do it this way, bear in mind you’ll need to:
- Take the Super Shuttle boat from Balbagon to Jagna (Bohol). It departs daily at 9h30 am and the ticket costs about 800 pesos. It takes around 3.5–4 hours. You can book here.
- Take a bus from Jagna to Tagbilaran. The journey takes between 90 and 120 minutes and the ticket costs about 150 pesos, depending on the type of bus.
- Take a tricycle or jeepney from the bus terminal to the port. It’ll take about 15–30 minutes. This costs under 50 pesos.
- Take one of the boats from Tagbilaran to Cebu. They run more or less until 6h30 pm, with some night options. They take between 2 and 4 hours. The price is around 800 pesos. You can book here.
The last-resort option to get to Cebu, if there were no flights or boats to Bohol, would be to take a boat to Balingoan (Mindanao) and from there travel overland to Cagayan de Oro. Then from Cagayan you can take a flight or go by ferry. Obviously, this will be much longer.
How to get to Cebu from Palawan
Many travelers combine Palawan with some of the Visayas, so you’re probably wondering how to get to Cebu from Palawan. Well, this depends a lot on where you are, but you basically have 3 options: fly to Cebu from Puerto Princesa, fly to Cebu from El Nido, or (a less common one) fly to Cebu from San Vicente.
If you’re visiting Puerto Princesa, Sabang, or Port Barton, the best move is to book a Puerto Princesa to Cebu flight. They’re operated by AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines, so they tend to be quite cheap (around $20) if bought well in advance. Otherwise, they’re around $50 or even much more. Note that domestic flight prices are currently sky‑high.
Book your Puerto Princesa–Cebu flight here
To travel from Sabang and Port Barton to Puerto Princesa, you can take one of the vans from Sabang to Puerto Princesa and one of the vans from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa.
If you’re in El Nido, the most convenient thing is to take one of the El Nido to Cebu flights by Air Swift (now Cebu Pacific Air). There are 1 or 2 daily frequencies and, as it’s a small plane, you should consider that they fill up quickly and the prices aren’t very cheap. It depends a lot on timing and season, but it’s hard to see them under $80–100.
If you want to save money, you can also take a bus or van from El Nido to Puerto Princesa (4–6 hours) and then catch a flight to Cebu.
Finally, Cebu Pacific offers some weekly flights between San Vicente and Cebu. In our experience, it’s not a very convenient alternative, since public transport connections from both El Nido and Port Barton to San Vicente are almost non‑existent. That said, if you’re in Port Barton, there are transport options for about 500 pesos per person and, if the flight is very cheap, you could consider it.
Is it possible to go by ferry from Palawan to Cebu?
It is, but in our opinion it’s not worth it. There are no direct boats between Puerto Princesa and Cebu, just a weekly one linking Puerto Princesa with Iloilo. This is operated by Milagrosa Shipping and takes more than a day to complete the route, since it stops on Cuyo Island for several hours. From Iloilo you could take another boat to Cebu (about 18 hours) or a flight.
We only recommend this alternative if you have plenty of time, want to visit Cuyo, or explore Panay Island. You won’t save much money compared to flight prices.
How to get to Cebu from Coron
After visiting the wonderful islands around Coron, the best way to get to Cebu is to take one of the direct flights from Busuanga Airport (IATA: USU) to Cebu. These are operated daily by Sunlight Air, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. They take about 90 minutes and the price is around $40 (if you book many months in advance they can be as low as $25), although this depends a lot on how far in advance you buy, so we encourage you to book as soon as possible:
If the schedule doesn’t work for you for any reason, you’ll also find flights from Coron to Cebu with a stop in Manila or Clark. Naturally, this will take longer. If you can, buy with the same airline so you’re not stranded in case the first one is delayed. Remember that airlines won’t take responsibility if you miss the second flight because of a delay on the first when they’re different carriers.
How to get to the airport from Coron? From Coron Town there are vans to the airport for 250 pesos per person. You just have to tell your hotel reception so they can call them and have them pick you up.
Frequently asked questions about how to get to Cebu
To finish, we want to answer the most common questions travelers ask us about this topic:
How do you get to Cebu Island?
It depends on where you are, but the island has an international airport and several ports, the most important being the one located in the capital, Cebu City. The most common way is to arrive in Cebu by plane, but it’s also accessible by boat from Bohol, Camotes, Surigao, Leyte, Negros, and Siquijor, among other islands.
How do you get from Manila to Cebu?
The most convenient option is to fly, since flights are inexpensive (around $20) and ferries take more than a day.
How do you get to Cebu from Bohol?
The usual thing is to take one of the many fast boats or ferries from Tagbilaran (Bohol’s capital) to Cebu City’s Pier 1. There are also other departure ports that may suit you: Tubigon, Getafe, and Ubay. If you want to go to the south of Cebu Island, there are also boats to Oslob.
How do you get from Cebu to Moalboal?
Since both destinations are on Cebu Island, you can go overland. To save money, go to Cebu City’s South Bus Terminal, from which frequent buses depart for Moalboal. They take between 3.5 and 4 hours. You can also take a taxi or a car with driver, which will be faster.
Cebu Guide
This isn’t the only information you’ll find about this Philippine destination. You have a comprehensive Cebu Guide where you’ll see everything: accommodation, activities, restaurants, and much more.
If you’re thinking of doing the reverse of any of the routes we’ve detailed—that is, going from Cebu to any of these places—you’ll find them in each of the guides on our website. We have sections dedicated to this specifically.
Since the Philippines is huge, we’ve had to make a selection of destinations for getting to Cebu. If you have any particular question, we’ll be happy to answer it in the comments.
