Nestled high up on the ridge of the majestic Taal Volcano, Tagaytay is a picturesque destination renowned for its breathtaking views of Taal Lake and the verdant surrounding landscapes. Tagaytay offers an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, inviting visitors to unwind and immerse themselves in nature’s splendor. From its cooler climate to its delectable cuisine, Tagaytay promises an unforgettable experience with friends and family without having to travel too far from Manila.
I’ve listed here some of the things that you can do and tourist spots you can visit in the second summer capital of the Philippines. But before we go to the list, I would like to answer some of the frequently asked questions about Tagaytay:
What is the easiest mode of transport to Tagaytay City?
Private transportation would be the easiest and fastest way to get here. For those who don’t have access to a private vehicle, you have three other options:
1) By bus from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in Uniwide Coastal Mall in Paranaque or via DLTB Terminal at LRT Buendia
2) By van from Metropoint Mall, Festival Mall Alabang and Starmall EDSA-Shaw
3) By private van transfer which you can book here: Private Intercity Van Transfer between Manila and Tagaytay
4) By joining tour groups which you can book here: Tagaytay Day Tour
Is it possible to do a day trip to Tagaytay?
Definitely! Tagaytay is just 2 to 3 hours away from Metro Manila depending on which point of Metro Manila you’re coming from and on the traffic situation. Best to leave early in the morning so you can cover as many destinations as you want.
Enjoy a cup of coffee with a view
There are a lot of places in Tagaytay where you can get coffee while appreciating the view of Taal Lake but here are a few of my favorites:
- Balay Dako
- Bag of Beans Charito
- Starbucks Domicillo (my favorite in Tagaytay!)
- Starbucks Reserve® Hiraya (newest Starbucks addition in Tagaytay, might be my new favorite lol!)
- Concha’s Garden Café
- Ridge Park Kainan sa Kubo
- Josephine Restaurant
Roam around Picnic Grove
Picnic grove is probably the most visited place in Tagaytay and goes way back to the 1970s. For kids in the 80s (like me lol!), it was part of field trips during elementary and highschool. Most people who grew up in Manila and nearby towns/cities have probably been here at least once in their life. There are several activities you can do in Picnic Grove such as horseback riding, ziplining, food tripping, riding their cable car and ferris wheel, or just plain lounging in the picnic huts while enjoying the view.
If you would like to join a group tour coming from Manila that includes a trip to Tagaytay Picnic Grove, you can book your tour here: Tagaytay Day Tour
Bring out your inner plantita in Sonya’s Garden
Sonya’s Garden is probably a haven for plant-lovers and vegetarians visiting Tagaytay. I’m neither but I still enjoyed my visit there. Every corner is picture-perfect and insta-worthy. As per latest checking, they are open daily from 8am to 6pm and walk-ins are welcome. They serve buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner so if you are planning to avail of these, you can go to their website to check the menu: Sonya’s Garden Restaurant. They mostly serve vegetables but if you’re are a carnivore, you still have options to order a steak, seafood or chicken dish separately. The establishment also runs a bed and breakfast so if you’re planning to stay a few nights, check out their rates here: Sonya’s Garden Bed and Breakfast
This joiner group tour from Manila also includes Sonya’s Garden as part of the tour. To make your trip convenient, you can book them here: Tagaytay Day Tour
Treat yourself to a relaxing massage at Qiwellness Living
Qiwellness Living offers a teahouse where guests can relax, sip tea and eat dimsum; a bathhouse where you can meditate and rejuvenate; and a guesthouse where you can stay the night if you’re too lazy to drive/commute back to Manila. To book a day tour at Qiwellness, click here: Qiwellness Living Spa and Dining Experience in Tagaytay. This package includes a spa session with a choice between their different massages – Silk, Deep Tissue or Qiharmony – while enjoying a view of the Taal Lake. But before you get your massage, you also have exclusive access to the Yin and Yang pool. After your massage, you will be treated to a tea and dimsum at the teahouse to cap off your spa experience.
Say your prayers at Calaruega Church
Calaruega Church is one of the famous churches where weddings are held near Tagaytay. It is located in Nasugbu, Batangas but only a few minutes away from Tagaytay City. For one thing, it’s a really beautiful church surrounded by greeneries which makes it very picturesque. Secondly, it’s because while it is located out of town, it is only a few hours’ drive from Manila. It is also near some nice reception venues around Tagaytay such as Antonio’s, Balay Indang, Fernwood Gardens, Canyon Woods, Tagaytay Highlands, among others. Wedding-talk aside, it’s one of the churches you must visit, and probably say a little prayer in, during your next Tagaytay visit.
To make your visit to Calaruega Church more convenient, you can book this joiner group tour to Tagaytay from Metro Manila: Tagaytay Day Tour
Go grape-picking at Twin Lakes Hotel (Seasonal)
Twin Lakes Hotel can arrange grape-picking during harvest season, which is between March and April every year. This activity is free for its hotel guests and sometime in 2021, Twin Lakes extended this offer to dine-in guests of the Twin Lakes Cafe with a minimum spend of P2,000. Best to double-check if this activity is available during your visit. If you would like to know more about the vineyard, please check our blog entry about this here: Vineyard at Twin Lakes
Bring out your inner child at Sky Ranch
Sky Ranch has always been one of the go-to places whenever tourists visit Tagaytay ever since its inception. It is open to guests from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Mondays to Thursdays and from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Fridays to Sundays. Entrance fee as per last checking is PhP 390 via Klook which is discounted from the original price of P980. This grants access to the main park as well as the Royal Canine Paw Park. For more updated information, visit their Facebook page here: Sky Ranch Philippines Facebook Page
You can also read more about Sky Ranch in our blog entry here: Sky Ranch Tagaytay: Your Ultimate Guide to Fun and Adventure
If you do not have your own transport and looking for a group tour that will take you to Sky Ranch Tagaytay from Metro Manila, you can book a tour here: Tagaytay Day Tour
Stay overnight in some unique staycations
Being one of the most frequented vacation spots near Metro Manila, Tagaytay also has a lot of gorgeous Airbnbs and hotels known for the unique experience each of them has to offer. Here are some of them:
- Transport yourself to the wizarding world at a Harry Potter Airbnb
- Be surrounded by hectares of pine trees at Crosswinds Resort Suites
- Go grape-picking at Twin Lakes Hotel
- Dip in a kawa bath at La VeryOl’s Mountain View Garden
- Enjoy a relaxing massage in a spa village at Nurture Wellness Village
You can read more about our stay at the Harry Potter Airbnb here: Leave the World of Muggles at this Harry Potter-themed AirBnB in Tagaytay
Feel like you’re in Switzerland at Crosswinds
If you are not planning to stay overnight, you can just hang out at Crosswinds. This 100-hectare property lets you experience Switzerland with over 20,000 pine trees sprawling across the property. It has Swiss-themed chalets sitting on a lush terrain in one of the highest overlooking points of Tagaytay. It also has several instagrammable cafes aligned to its theme:
Go food tripping and eat Bulalo
Last but not the least, who goes to Tagaytay without trying their staple food bulalo? Some people even go to Tagaytay just to eat bulalo. There are several restaurants who serve this dish or at least their rendition of it. See our list below – this is not a complete list but should be enough for you to make a choice of where to eat. Before your visit, make sure to check their operating hours first to ensure they are open during your visit. Check as well if they need reservations or if they accept walk-ins.
- Leslie’s Ridge and Restaurant (my favorite ‘coz they give unlimited bulalo sabaw refill)
- Balay Dako (also serves Sizzling Bulalo)
- Bulalo Point Tagaytay
- Ridge Park Kainan sa Kubo
- Diner’s Original Bulalo
- Aozora Japanese Restaurant (serves Bulalo Ramen)
- Josephine Restaurant
- Hiraya Cafe at The T House Tagaytay (serves Bulalo Noodle Soup)
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