Marcelo Fernan Bridge

The Marcelo Fernan Bridge is a marvel of engineering that stretches across the busy Mactan Channel separating large Cebu Island from its smaller neighbor of Mactan Island. It is a cable-stayed bridge with a total length of 3,900 feet (1,200 meters). Gaze up at the pairs of imposing columns that sprout from the bottom of this impressive architectural feat.

The structure has four lanes for vehicles and two for pedestrians on the flanks. Walk along the bridge to reach its midpoint and admire the panoramic views.

Capture photos of the water and pick out your favorite attractions on the two islands. The vista incorporates local fishermen at work and an assortment of large and small boats. Gaze southwest to the parallel Osmeña Bridge. Stay for the sunset, when romantic shades of red darken the sky and the water. Appreciate the view of the lights of the islands’ sights and the boats crossing the channel at night.

Expect heavy traffic at peak hours on this busy bridge. Rent a boat from the Cebu Yacht Club or elsewhere to pass beneath the bridge and catch a glimpse of its underside. Small concrete piers where you can sit jut out from the flanks of the island beneath the structure.

Let the kids play in the Millennium Park on the Mactan Island side of the bridge. Inspect the Filipino Seafarers Memorial at the northern end of the park.

The structure dates back to 1999, when it was constructed to relieve heavy congestion between the two islands. The Japanese government played a role in the construction of the bridge, which takes its name from Marcelo Fernan of Cebu City, once the Senate President.

The Marcelo Fernan Bridge connects the southern part of Cebu Island to the northern coast of Mactan Island in the Metro Cebu region of the Philippines. Visit nearby sites on Mactan Island, such as the Cebu Yacht Club, the Mactan Island Golf Club and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rule. The Mactan-Cebu Airport is just beyond the bridge.