Best Time to Visit Cebu, the Philippines

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Cebu several times on trips to the Philippines. I’ve spent a few nights here and also used it as a ‘jumping off’ point for island hopping.

In my experience, the best time to visit Cebu is between January and April. This is the dry season in the Philippines, so rain is uncommon. However, it can be hot and humid. Expect temperatures of between 30°C and 40°C during the daytime.

Several festivals are also held in Cebu between January and April. My favourite is Sinulog, which takes place roughly the second week of January.

Since January to April is the best time to visit Cebu, prices for flights and hotels are often at their highest. Especially in January for Sinulog. However, the Philippines is a very affordable country to visit, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

If you want to visit at an alternative time, I’d recommend October to December.

Temperatures in Cebu between October and December usually hover between 25°C and 30°C, but tropical storms are not uncommon. The weather rarely causes much damage in Cebu. However, it can result in cancelled or delayed ferries, which isn’t ideal if you’re looking to island-hop.