Best Tagaytay Tourist Spots 2024: Best Taal View, Where to Eat, Family-Friendly | Guide to the Philippines (original) (raw)
Put on your favorite cool-weather outfit and take note of the fun activities and attractions that await you when you go on Tagaytay tours. Here are the best Tagaytay tourist spots you shouldn't miss:
1. See the Beauty of Taal Lake and Volcano
Taal Volcano, reputed to be the smallest active volcano in the world, is visible at dining establishments and other attractions that are located along the ride on the Aguinaldo highway.
Aside from relishing the cool weather, taking a moment to have a glimpse of Taal Lake and Volcano from Tagaytay City restaurants, Tagaytay cafes, and best hotels in Tagaytay has become a must-do for returning visitors.
- Book a Tagaytay sightseeing tour
- Check out our Tagaytay and Little Boracay Calatagan Batangas beach day tour
Its prime location along a mountain ridge gives you an unobstructed view of the famous “island within a lake, inside a volcano”.
Take note that Taal Volcano is active so always check first for advisories on its activities before planning a Tagaytay trip.
2. Have Fun at Sky Ranch
If you’re looking for a fun and memorable experience with the kids, add Sky ranch to your things to do in Tagaytay!
Sky Ranch Tagaytay is an entertainment complex with everything you can expect from an amusement park, which includes rides and other attractions that appeal to every age group. You can visit it as part of a Tagaytay day tour.
For a panoramic view of the city and Taal Lake and Volcano, ride the Sky Eye, which is one of the tallest ferris wheels in the country.
3. Visit People’s Park in the Sky
Formerly known as the Palace in the Sky, the People’s Park in the Sky is an incomplete mansion converted into an urban park and is considered one of the must-see Tagaytay tourist spots you can include in your visit. Located at the top of Mt. Sungay, the view from the peak is breathtaking.
It is said that during former President Marcos’s administration, First Lady Imelda Marcos ordered the mansion to be built to accommodate former US President Ronald Reagan’s planned trip to the Philippines.
Construction stopped when the visit was canceled. What’s left of the scaffolding and roads can now be enjoyed by the public. You can visit this attraction as part of a Tagaytay day tour from Manila.
4. See Creativity at Puzzle Mansion
Photo from Puzzle Mansion
Here’s another mansion that’s worth a visit, especially if you’re a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast! The Puzzle Mansion is a museum that houses one of the largest collections of finished puzzles in the world. The collection is so big that it even earned a Guiness World Record for puzzle collector Georgina Gil-Lacuna in 2012.
Don’t miss the dazzling 2D and 3D puzzle sets, along with various shapes, sizes, materials, and subject matter. Puzzle reproductions of paintings by world-renowned artists such as Picasso, Degas, and Gaudi are not to be missed.
5. Relax at Tagaytay Picnic Grove
If you’re pressed for time and want to make the most of your Tagaytay stay, a visit to the Tagaytay Picnic Grove should be on top of your list, especially if you’re with kids and a big group.
The park is filled with many exciting activities like the eco-trail, horseback riding, zipline, cable rides. All of these can be enjoyed with the breathtaking view and the cool Tagaytay weather to boot. Take note that there’s an entrance fee with additional fees per ride, park attraction, and hut rental.
6. Feast on Bulalo at Mahogany Beef Market
Sip on a steaming hot bowl of bulalo soup (beef marrow stew) to keep you warm in the chilly Tagaytay weather or if you're looking for the best rainy season activities in the Philippines.
One of the most famous go-to places for bulalo are the stalls at the Mahogany Market eatery. At a low price, you get an overflowing bowl of soup that can easily feed 2 to 4 people, depending on the size of your collective appetites.
This eatery is located at a public marketplace, so don’t expect fancy service here; you’re in for a no-frills dining experience.
But what it lacks in finesse, it more than makes up for its ability to appease any latent bulalo cravings you might have, pronto. Don’t forget to get some fresh fruits and other Tagaytay delicacies at the nearby market after your hearty meal.
7. Appreciate Art at Museo Orlina
Photo from Museo Orlina
Museo Orlina is the perfect destination if you want to surround yourself with beautiful glass sculptures and commissioned works of art. Named after renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, this museum houses replicas of commissioned artwork and also serves as a venue for other artists.
The museum boasts arts made by both local and foreign. One of the major aims of the museum is to showcase these artists their paintings, sculpture, and other works of art using various media.
8. Discover Nature and Wildlife at Paradizoo
Miniature horses, llamas, ostriches, and camels are just some of the adorable farm animals you’ll find at this nature-inspired theme park in Tagaytay, Philippines. The nature park offers attractions that are family-friendly.
The cultural park also provides a range of educational, recreational, and community adventure programs.
With all the refreshing greenery and laidback atmosphere surrounding you, Paradizoo is a great alternative if you’re looking for a wholesome, gadget-free, farm-inspired trip for the family.
9. Eat at Antonio’s Garden
Photo from Antonio's Tagaytay
Name any special occasion that requires a great ambiance and excellent cuisine, and chances are, Antonio’s Garden will be at the top of every foodie’s list.
This Spanish colonial-style mansion is located on a hillside estate in Tagaytay, Philippines, and in recent years has quietly built a reputation for mouthwatering food and exemplary service.
In 2015, it was the only Philippine restaurant to be included in the prestigious San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, with its Lechon de Leche (suckling pig slow-roasted and rubbed with herbs and spices) as the winning dish that helped the restaurant clinch the coveted prize.
Expect organic dishes and impeccably crafted plates that will stimulate your appetite. If you don’t mind shelling out more than usual for a sumptuous meal set against effortlessly chic interiors, go ahead and make a reservation today.
10. Pray at Tierra de Maria
Photo from Tierra de Maria
It’s hard not to get into a solemn mood as soon as you enter the gates of Tierra de Maria. Aside from the many posters reminding visitors to observe silence, the 50- foot image of Mother Mary with her outstretched arms is a welcoming sight that will inspire you to get into a prayerful state of mind.
Add the breathtaking view from the panoramic deck, and you’ll come out feeling spiritually refreshed and invigorated. It’s one of the most fulfilling attractions one can do in the city.
11. Visit Bag of Beans
Photo from Bag of Beans
What started out as a rustic hole in a wall cafe along Aguinaldo Highway has now become so well known that the name Bag of Beans is linked to the chilly city itself. It has become so successful that more branches have sprouted around Tagaytay City, each one just as beautifully appointed as the last.
Along with their other branches of Tagaytay restaurants, they’ve expanded their menu considerably, too, so you can have a hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals here as well.
12. Unwind at Nurture Wellness Village
Photo from Nurture Wellness Village
If you’re looking for a full-on pampering session that will leave you totally refreshed and rejuvenated, then the Nurture Wellness Village should be in your Tagaytay itinerary. It offers complete packages for health and wellness services that go for more than the usual 1-hour massage.
From its commitment to sustainability to its holistic approach to wellness, it is an oasis for those who need it the most. The list of credentials it has accumulated through the years speaks for itself, which includes: one of CNN Go’s Most Relaxing Spas in Asia, TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 3 years in a row, Top 7 Spa by Asia Spa Magazine.
13. Discover Sonya’s Secret Garden
Photo from the Philippine Department of Tourism
Sonya’s Garden is technically located outside of Tagaytay City, but this charming place has become so synonymous with the city itself that most visitors are not aware of the fact. We can easily dismiss this minor detail because Sonya’s Garden represents many of the fine attributes we associate with Tagaytay: verdant greenery, colorful flowers, and healthy meals.
Taste their edible flowers, feast on their healthy lunch buffet, and discover another secret spot nearby for a quick dip in chlorine-free water. Their Secret Haven is a natural mineral spring-fed river that you can visit when you check in their bed and breakfast.
14. Go on a coffee farm tour at ECHOfarms and PCBI
During the tour, you will visit the processing areas in both ECHOfarms and PCBI, and you will see how coffee is made, from the planting process to the actual brewing. After sampling the varieties grown here, you can head to the ECHOstore and purchase your favorite types to take home.
15. Enjoy a side trip to Fantasy World
Touted as the Philippines ’ version of Disneyland, Fantasy World was originally intended to rival the world-famous amusement park. But then construction abruptly stopped, and it never quite became fully operational, at least not to the extent it was supposed to operate.
Today, what’s left of it has turned into a tourist attraction of its own. With its colorful buildings and Bavarian-inspired castles, visitors have been coming to Fantasy World to enjoy the colorful surroundings while taking lots of pictures.
Start Planning Your Tagaytay City Getaway!
If you’re one of those people who enjoy drinking a hot cup of coffee while taking in the cold weather and spectacular views, then it’s time to start making arrangements for your next getaway to Tagaytay!
Get your sweaters and empty tummies ready. The chilly Tagaytay weather and their scrumptious world-class dishes are all ready for you to explore. Explore Tagaytay tours and activities that you can add to your itinerary.