Cebu Taoist Temple, Temple of Leah and Tops: A Visitor Guide

If you have a free half-day in Cebu City and want views, a working Chinese temple and a few easy photo stops, this loop through the hills is a good use of it. If you want quiet, empty spaces, it is not. Most of the day is easy walking, short stops and time in a vehicle. The Helios Cebu Highlands Tour covers the whole circuit in six hours, from hotel pickup to hotel drop-off, as a shared small-group tour of up to 15 guests.

Below: the stops in the order you meet them, what is worth your time, and what to bring.

The route at a glance

The hills behind Cebu City rise quickly from the coast, and the tour climbs into them by road. The stops, with the approximate times Helios lists, are:

1. Hotel pickup, about 30 minutes, as you are driven up into the hills
2. Taoist Temple, about 45 minutes
3. Sirao Flower Garden, about 1 hour
4. Tops lookout, about 45 minutes
5. Temple of Leah, about 1 hour
6. Return to your hotel, about 45 minutes

The listed stop times are approximate, and the six-hour figure covers the whole tour.

Taoist Temple: the one with real religious weight

This is the first stop, in the hillside district of Beverly Hills, and it was built by Cebu's Chinese community. It is a place of worship as well as a sight. Worshippers come to pray and make offerings, so keep your voice down, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and do not photograph people at prayer without asking. Follow your guide's lead on where you may go inside.

The terraces give you the first view over the city. It is a good view, but it is the warm-up, not the best one of the day.

Sirao Flower Garden: pretty, built for photographs

Sirao is nicknamed Little Amsterdam for its rows of celosia and other flowers. Be realistic: this is a photo-stop garden, with marked photo spots and a lot of people taking the same pictures. How full the beds look depends on the season and recent weather. Expect more phones than quiet strolling, especially at weekends and on holidays. About an hour is enough for most people.

Tops: the best view of the day

Tops is a lookout high above the city, looking across Cebu and Mactan to the sea. The high point is exposed, so the weather matters. On a clear day the view is excellent. In haze or cloud it is flatter, and nothing in a tour can control that. Tops is also busy, as it is one of the best-known viewpoints around Cebu. Allow your 45 minutes to be spent mostly on the railing, not queuing for the perfect angle.

Temple of Leah: a monument, not a place of worship

The last stop is a Roman-style building that a husband raised in memory of his wife, Leah. The story is the point. It is a monument to love and grief on a hilltop, and visitors come for the columns, the statues and the architecture. It is not a religious site like the Taoist Temple, but it is still worth treating as a memorial. About an hour is listed, which is generous for the building itself, and the pace is relaxed.

What is included and what to bring

Included are the local guide for the whole tour, hotel pickup and drop-off (the area is confirmed with your booking), and entrance to the Taoist Temple, the Sirao Flower Garden and the Temple of Leah. Food and drinks, an optional dinner and personal expenses are not included, so carry some cash for snacks and drinks at the stops.

• Comfortable shoes with grip, as paths and steps in the hills can be steep
• A hat, sunscreen and water, since the Philippine sun is strong even when the hills feel a little cooler than the city
• A light layer or rain jacket, as showers can arrive quickly. See our Philippines packing list
• Modest clothing for the Taoist Temple
• A charged phone or camera, because most of the day is about views

Who it suits, and who might skip it

It suits first-timers in Cebu, people with a spare half-day, and anyone who wants a guide and transport sorted without renting a car. It is less suited to travellers who dislike shared tours, as you travel with up to 15 other guests, or who want a long, unhurried time at a single place. If you have more days, our guide to the best things to do in Cebu shows what else to add, and the month-by-month guide helps with timing.

FAQ

Is the Helios Cebu highlands tour private?

No. It runs as a small-group shared tour for up to 15 guests. No private format is listed for this trip.

How long does the tour take?

Six hours in total, including hotel pickup and the drive back. The stops are listed as roughly 45 minutes to an hour each.

Are entrance fees included?

Entrance to the Taoist Temple, the Sirao Flower Garden and the Temple of Leah is included. Food, drinks, an optional dinner and personal expenses are not.

Where does the tour start?

With a pickup from your hotel in Cebu. The pickup area is confirmed when you book, so check it with your booking details.

Can I combine it with other Cebu plans?

Yes, though it fills a good part of a day. For longer trips from the city, read our guide to a Bohol day trip from Cebu before deciding how to spread your days.