Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishments featured in this article might have adjusted operating hours and a set of health protocols and requirements for visitors. Please coordinate with the management before visiting.
Despite being a small city, Tagaytay is big on natural scenery, various food finds, and fun activities for groups and families. Since it is only two hours away from Manila, it is very convenient for city dwellers to just drive up to Tagaytay whenever they need a change of scenery.
Are your feet itching to get out of the city? If you have a whole day to spare, this article will help you make the most out of your visit! So whether you’re wondering
where to eat in Tagaytay, which tourist attraction to visit, or
where to shop for souvenirs and gifts, this guide has you covered!
Tourist Attractions in Tagaytay
1. Picnic Grove
Location: Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Barangay Sungay East-End, Tagaytay City
Picnic Grove has long been the most-visited sightseeing spot in Tagaytay. This 13-hectare recreational park consists of many activities and shops for wandering travelers to explore. The most famous sight is the 500-meter eco-adventure trail that's surrounded by lush scenery and has a panoramic view of Taal Volcano and Lake. And best of all, it’s free to see! Other activities at Picnic Grove include horseback riding (PhP350/hour), riding a zip line or cable car (PhP200-PhP400), having a picnic at a rental hut (PhP100-PhP500), and bazaar shopping.
Picnic Grove is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day. The entrance fee is PhP50 for adults and children at least four years old. You’d want to go here early in the morning to avoid the crowd and to get a clear view of Taal Volcano and Lake.
2. Sky Ranch
Location: Tagaytay-Nasugbu Via Tuy Road, Barangay Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City
Ideal for thrill-seekers,
Sky Ranch is the first and only amusement park in Tagaytay which opened in 2013. It features one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the country, the Sky Eye, which gives riders a truly breathtaking view of Taal Volcano and Lake, as well as the whole city of Tagaytay from a height of 63 meters. Sky Ranch now has more than 20 different adrenaline-pumping attractions with admission prices ranging from PhP50 to PhP150.
Admission to Sky Ranch costs PhP50 for a general admission ticket. If you plan to try all of the rides, it is ideal to go here in the morning or at around lunchtime. However, it is best to ride the Sky Eye late in the afternoon or at sundown to see a more stunning scenery against the sunset. Sky Ranch is open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays.
3. Paradizoo
Location: Km. 63 Panungyan, Mendez, Cavite
If you are a nature and animal lover,
Paradizoo is a must-visit venue for you. Occupying ten hectares of land, this themed farm and zoo houses different farm animals that you can interact with, as well as colorful gardens, a vegetable farm, a playground area, and other educational and recreational amenities.
Paradizoo can be a bit difficult to reach by commute as it is nestled a good distance away from the main road. If commuting, you can take a shuttle bus from its sister zoo,
Zoori at
Residence Inn, a smaller zoo along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, which you can also visit to see wild animals. The entrance fee at Paradizoo is PhP199 for adults and PhP149 for children. It is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day.
Where to Eat in Tagaytay
1. Mahogany Market
Location: TMahogany Avenue, Brgy. Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City
When visiting Tagaytay to get your fill of bulalo (beef shank soup), Mahogany Market is always the first thing that comes to mind. It is not a restaurant, and it’s nothing fancy, but it’s where locals and tourists converge to enjoy the tastiest home-style bulalo in Tagaytay. You can find a strip of bulalo eateries above the ground floor where fresh Batangas beef is sold.
Their servings of bulalo are good for up to three people and with prices ranging from PhP300 to PhP350, theirs are also relatively cheaper than those of other restaurants. Mahogany Market opens as early as 6:00 AM, so it’s a good place to have bulalo for breakfast.
2. Breakfast at Antonio's
Location: Aguinaldo Highway (Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway), Barangay Bagong Tubig, Tagaytay City
Breakfast at Antonio’s is a special place made for breakfast lovers. The restaurant is a chic and rustic place where you can eat breakfast food at any time of day while you enjoy a magnificent view of Taal Volcano and Lake. They serve local and international breakfast favorites like their best-selling eggs Benedict (PhP430), pancakes and waffles, and the all-time Pinoy breakfast favorite beef
tapa (cured beef) with two eggs and your choice of a side (PhP515).
For your one-day Tagaytay trip, you can have your lunch at Breakfast at Antonio’s and not worry about running out of delicious breakfast treats. The restaurant is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day. Menu prices range from PhP50 to PhP1,900, and up to PhP4,900 if you want a bottle of wine to go with your meal.
3. Cafe Voi La
Location: : Crosswinds, Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Barangay Iruhin Central, Tagaytay City
Cafe Voi La is perhaps the best place to cap off the day in Tagaytay. One of the best-kept secrets of the city, this Asian fusion restaurant especially dazzles in the evening with its Instagram-worthy Vietnamese-inspired interiors. Their food offerings are just as colorful—a well-curated menu of Southeast Asian delicacies that are brimming with flavors. Some of the highly-recommended dishes are their Cafe Voi La signature chicken satay (PhP395/3pcs, PhP495/5pcs) and pad Thai (PhP595).
Cafe Voi La is nestled away at Crosswinds Tagaytay , about 10 minutes from Tagaytay Rotonda. It is open from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM from Monday to Thursday and from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Friday to Sunday. Prices range from PhP300 to PhP800.
Go to
Yoorekka for more restaurant suggestions in Tagaytay!
Where to Shop for Pasalubong (Souvenir Items)
1. Rowena's
Location: #152 Barangay Francisco, Tagaytay City
Rowena's is one of the most popular and well-established pasalubong stores in Tagaytay, which actually has been around for almost two decades. They are best known for their pies and tarts, for which Rowena's takes pride in using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Their all-time best seller is the buko (coconut) tart, which sells at PhP200 for a box of nine. There are also other flavors like mango, apple, ube (purple yam), and pineapple. Their cheese tarts (PhP220 per box of six) are also highly recommended as pasalubong for friends and families to indulge in.
The original store of Rowena's can be found along Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road. They also now have a branch at Tagaytay Rotonda and a smaller one at One Destination on Aguinaldo Highway.
2. Amira's Buco Tart Haus
Location: Aguinaldo Highway Corner SVD Road, Barangay Maitim 2nd East, Tagaytay City
Amira's Buco Tart Haus is a famous stopover along Aguinaldo Highway where travelers en route back to Manila buy some take-home treats. Founded in the 90's, Amira's takes pride in their original buco tart known for indulgent coconut fillings and a trademark crispy crust. You can get a box of nine for PhP200. They also have different flavors of cheese tarts, as well as egg tarts and many other local delicacies.
The main store of Amira's is located at the corner of Aguinaldo Highway and SVD Road, which is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
3. Ilog Maria
Location: KM. 47, Lalaan 1, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Cavite
There are other interesting things to take home from a visit to Tagaytay besides delicious treats.
Ilog Maria, a honeybee farm along Aguinaldo Highway, lets you explore nature and take home some of its famous wellness products. Believed to have been blessed by the Virgin Mary, Ilog Maria is where you can get natural beeswax products that bring rejuvenating effects to your health and well-being. Their products range from therapeutic oils, soaps, and candles, to beauty, skincare and natural household products.
Since Ilog Maria is secluded from the highway, it is best to go here in your own private vehicle. Otherwise, there are also tricycles at KM. 48 that can take you to the farm. It is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.
Stay safe as you travel! Make sure to follow social distancing protocols and observe health precautions wherever you go. Have a great trip!
This article was originally published in Yoorekka on May 26, 2018.