The bus terminals make for easier travel throughout the province of Cebu.
Jeepneys (or jeeps) are the most popular public transport in the Philippines; thus, they are dubbed the “Kings of the Road.” However, this label has negative connotations nowadays because of how reckless and undisciplined jeepney drivers tend to be.
So, the best way to navigate throughout Cebu, especially on long-distance trips, is through a bus because of its extensive routes. Unlike riding jeepneys, you do not have to take multiple short trips to get to your destination. And they are accessible thanks to the two major bus terminals in Cebu City—Cebu South Bus Terminal and Cebu North Bus Terminal.
Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) is the biggest terminal in Cebu, catering to thousands of passengers daily.
Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT)
Cebu South Bus Terminal (also known as CSBT) is the biggest bus terminal in Cebu. It has a parking lot that can accommodate around three hundred buses and fifty thousand passengers daily.
It has several bus routes to the southern provinces of Cebu and to the other islands in the Visayas region, like Bacolod, Dumaguete, and Leyte. There are also vans-for-hire (or V-hire) assigned to travel the same routes, albeit at more expensive fares.
CSBT focuses on routes to nearby provinces in southern Cebu.
It is equipped with reliable facilities, such as the spacious and air-conditioned waiting lounge and the centralized ticketing system for faster transactions. You can also dine in their canteen or buy gifts and delicacies at the souvenir shops.
Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT)
Cebu North Bus Terminal (also known as CNBT) is much smaller than CSBT, with only around ninety buses. Nonetheless, it helps approximately 2500 passengers travel to the northern parts of Cebu, like Medellin and Liloan, daily. It also offers direct routes to two of the most popular islands in Cebu—Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island.
Cebu North Bus Terminal is now more accessible since its relocation to one of the parking lots in SM City Cebu.
Previously, it was located in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City. Although its previous location allowed more facilities, like food stalls and waiting lounges, and twice the number of passengers, it was farther from the main road. Thus, in 2020, it was relocated to the North Reclamation Area across the Bayfront Hotel, just a walking distance from SM City Cebu.
Public Transport Terminals at the Malls of Cebu City
Some parts of Cebu City are excluded from most bus routes, though. So, most of the malls provide public transport terminals for jeepneys and V-hires that cover the innermost areas of the city.
The jeepneys at Ayala Public Utility Vehicle Terminal travel to Banilad, Talamban, and Mandaue City. There are also V-hires that travel to Busay (via the Cebu Transcentral Highway) and Lapu-Lapu City.
The jeepneys at SM City Cebu travel downtown towards Colon Street, while some towards Ayala and IT Park. Meanwhile, the V-hires there can take you to further areas, like Mactan and Cordova. Lastly, the mall itself provides buses, called MyBus, that travel to SM Seaside City Cebu, Talisay City, and Minglanilla.
The IT Park Transport Terminal across Ayala Central Bloc houses modernized jeepneys (locally known as BEEPs for bus-jeepney) and buses with routes covering most of Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City because of its strategic location.
Traveling around Cebu can sometimes be tricky even for locals because of its complex urban planning. So, making time to learn at least basic information about the terminals in the city and their assigned routes will save you from resorting to costly taxi fares.
