Is Cebu Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Cebu is generally safe for solo female travelers. There are areas popular among tourists, with police presence and numerous safe accommodations. Locals are friendly towards tourists. However, like in any other place, it's important to stay vigilant, especially during nighttime or while travelling in less crowded places. Always use your judgment and intuition. Stick to well-lit and frequented areas and try to arrange your sightseeing during the daytime.

Safety rating

3.7 /5

Based on our research and crime data

2.9 /5

Based on 4 experiences from local women

Cebu is currently ranked #14 safest place in Philippines for solo female travellers, with an overall safety rating of 3.1 out of 5. . Check the full ranking.

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How safe is Cebu?

Safety at night:Moderate

Cebu, is a moderately safe city at night but caution is still advised. While the central city areas and tourist hotspots are generally safe, isolated areas can be riskier, especially late at night. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid showing expensive gadgets or jewelry, and try to avoid walking alone late at night. Public transportation and taxis are widely available and recommended during late hours. Like any city, Cebu has its safer and less safe areas, but overall, with a basic level of cautiousness, it is usually okay.

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in Cebu like jeepneys, taxis, and GRAB (the local version of Uber), are generally reliable. However, be aware of your belongings at all times, especially in crowded public vehicles like the jeepneys. As a solo female traveler, you might feel more comfortable using GRAB where you can share your real-time location with friends or family. Buses for inter-city travel are usually comfortable and safe too. Overall, exercise the usual caution and you should be fine as the commuters and locals often are very friendly and helpful.

Street harassment:Low

Generally, Cebu in the Philippines is quite welcoming to solo female travelers. Street harassment is not widespread or commonplace, and respect towards women is ingrained in the local culture. However, like many bustling cities worldwide, instances of minor harassment such as catcalling can occasionally occur. On such rare occasions, locals are often quick to intervene. Though generally safe, maintaining awareness of your surroundings, and understanding local customs and dressing modestly is always advisable.

Petty crimes:Moderate

Petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag snatching and phone theft do occur in Cebu, especially in crowded places and on public transport. However, locals are often respectful towards foreigners and if you take typical precautions, such as not showing off expensive items and keeping your belongings secure, your risk of falling victim to these crimes can be decreased significantly.

Is Cebu worth visiting?

Lovisa

Sweden

Group travel

Cebu had very fun activities but would only recommend to stay in Cebu for about 3-5 days. There are a few very nice activities such as whale shark snorkeling, canyoneering, swim with turtles and big school of sardines, visiting waterfalls, and exploring Cebu city. Me and my friend did all of them, but only needed about 3-4 days for it. Then there weren’t that much to do. We stayed in Cebu city and Moalboal.

Posted: July 18, 2024

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Is Cebu safe for women?

Safety index

2.9 /5

Based on 4 local experiences

Crime index

2.1 /5

Based on 4 local experiences

Aly

So far, it has been safe for me. but i've seen on the news the crimes around here. Especially at night. it's safe to go in groups or have 1 male with you. being alone in Cebu at night is moderate to high risk. but in the morning, it's all good. just avoid Downtown or the place where those street people are.

Posted: September 14, 2025

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