What's on in Cebu City (Cebu), Philippines through the year

Peak crowds — Sinulog, Year-end break in Philippines

• Festival

  Sinulog

  15–19 JanMajor festivalCrowdedClosuresBook early

  The Santo Nino procession on the Saturday and the grand parade on the third Sunday shut the city centre for two days and draw crowds in the millions. Hotels sell out months out. Source ↗

Still on: Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — Holy Week, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Holy Week

  20 Mar – 20 Apr · usuallyClosuresBook early

  Cebu empties into the provinces and the ports are the busiest they get all year. In the city itself Good Friday closes almost everything, malls included. Source ↗

Still on: Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Peak crowds — Holy Week, End-of-school-year break in Philippines

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Holy Week (20 Mar – 20 Apr (usually)), Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Amihan, the dry months (1 Dec – 15 May (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Habagat rains

  1 Jun – 15 Nov · usuallyMonsoon

  Cebu sits behind the mountain spine and takes the southwest monsoon in afternoon bursts rather than all day. Enough to flood the low streets downtown for an hour at a time.

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Jun – 20 Dec · usually

  The central Visayas are in the track and the December storms have done the most damage here in recent memory. Domestic flights and ferries stop a day ahead of a signal. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Habagat rains (1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Habagat rains (1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually))

Peak crowds — The Ber months, Term 1 wellness break in Philippines

• Holiday

  The Ber months

  1 Sep – 25 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Carols start in the malls on the first of September and run for four months, which is longer than anywhere else does it. December adds office parties, Simbang Gabi dawn masses and gridlock. Source ↗

Still on: Habagat rains (1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually))

Busy — The Ber months, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Habagat rains (1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually)), The Ber months (1 Sep – 25 Dec (usually))

Busy — The Ber months

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Habagat rains (1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually)), The Ber months (1 Sep – 25 Dec (usually))

Peak crowds — The Ber months, Year-end break in Philippines

• Season

  Amihan, the dry months

  1 Dec – 15 May · usuallyDry season

  The northeast wind keeps the city dry and the crossings to Bohol and Malapascua reliable. March to May is the hottest end of it, and when the whole country is on the move.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jun – 20 Dec (usually)), The Ber months (1 Sep – 25 Dec (usually))