Cebu is internationally known and loved for its beaches, particularly for the pristine white beaches and excellent scuba diving spots in the city's surrounding area. Some favorite destinations are Mactan and Moalboal, although many prefer to see the breadth of all Cebu has to offer and island-hop using boats and ferries.

But that isn't all that Cebu City is known for. It is the Philippines' oldest city and carries some of the country's most priceless historical relics and monuments. The Magellan Monument marks where the Spanish discoverer was killed, and the Lapu-Lapu Monument commemorates the man who slayed him --and who many call the first Filipino hero. You can also see the emblems that Magellan left to commemorate the Filipino's conversion to Christianity: Magellan's Cross, and the country's oldest religious relic, the Image of the Holy Child Jesus. The Image now lies in the Basilica of the Sto. Nino, and is recognized by the Vatican as the cradle of Christianity in Asia. Another famous church is the Chapel of the Last Supper, which has life-sized, hand-carved statues of Jesus and his disciples dating back to very early parts during the Spanish occupation.

Aside from the relics, Cebu's rich historical roots is resplendent in its architecture. Fort San Pedro was built by the Spaniards in the 1700s to repel the Muslim rebels, and the Osmena Residence houses not only the personal memorabilia of the country's first president but mementos from General Douglas Mc Arthur.