If this is your first time heading to the Philippine’s Queen City of the South, then it is very important to know how you are actually going to get into the city from the airport.
Because remember, the airport is still located on a different island (Mactan). To get to Cebu City itself (or at least the larger Metro Cebu area), you will need transportation that knows the proper routes.
One of the smartest solutions for travelers is to enlist one of the many airport pick-up services in the city. These include your usual fare of luxury hotel drivers who are always standing by Mactan Airport’s arrival lounge, as well as the hired drivers that come in Cebu travel packages. You may also call for a rental that comes with its own hired driver (all while having the freedom to check out every part of the city as soon as you step out).
No matter which airport pick-up you use though, the trip from Mactan to Cebu City has certain areas that first-timers need to account for in their itinerary. Here are the top three:
1. Daytime Traffic
If you are going to Cebu, it is highly advised that you arrive either very early in the morning, or late at night. This goes especially during the weekends. Traffic to the Cebu mainland is highly congested and it could leave you sitting anywhere between one to three hours before you cross either of the two big bridges leading there.
On the other hand, if you think you have a little choice, then just have something to do in the car while on the road. You can also just check out if there are some sights on Mactan Island that are worth seeing (and there are plenty, given it has its own significance in Philippine pre-colonial history).
2. Cebu’s Big Bridges
Speaking of which, what are the big bridges linking Cebu and Mactan together? Well, if you look at the map, you can easily see them side by side.
The oldest is the Sergio Osmena bridge and you will be crossing it if you pick the route that will take you closest to Cebu’s urban center.
Meanwhile, the younger bridge is called the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. It is much farther from the city, but is favored by those whose destination lies in the Talamban and Banilad areas.
However, there will be a third bridge that is nearing completion by the end of 2021. This is the highly anticipated Cebu-Cordova Expressway, and it is going to be longer and closer to many of Cebu’’s biggest shopping centers. So if you are planning a trip here sometime during the next year, then you can look forward to crossing this bridge too!
3. Mandaue City
For the time being, Cebu’s two main bridges will still not take you to Cebu City itself. Rather, you will first enter the city of Mandaue. (And while it may not have a lot of tourist spots, Mandaue has its own hidden gems as well as its own rich history as Metro Cebu’s industrial hub).
At this point, you may have already been riding for an extended period of time. Fortunately, Mandaue has plenty of quick stops and strip malls where you can grab a quick bite before heading back on the road.
Now, this may all sound like quite a lot to experience just from an airport pick-up ride! But you know, it is also part of what makes Cebu City a one-of-a-kind travel destination. It has the allure of a tropical, island getaway, but it is still centered on a bustling (and growing) metropolitan hotspot. So, once your pick-up arrives, better brace yourself!
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