Tagaytay. A favorite weekend getaway for Metro Manila residents. A day trip for tourists tired of polluted Metro Manila.
Over the years, Tagaytay has progressed from being this rustic town to a busy city. Gone were the days when families simply had picnics along one of the nipa sheds by the road. Most of the land overlooking Taal Volcano are now laden with commercial establishments, and worse, skyscraping condominium buildings. Traffic is bad during the weekends, and the crowds are just plain too plenty.
But, let me fill you in on a little secret. Tagaytay is best visited on a weekday. Seriously, file that leave and take the day off. It’s so much better than going with a flock of burnt-out office bees who do not have time except for the weekend. Here’s one great way to relax in Tagaytay. Have fun!
Caution: For best results, bring or hire a car. I’m sure you can do this by riding the public transport, but I’m not confident you’d see a lot (or be able to relax) without your own vehicle.
Say hello to the world’s smallest volcano
Or the volcano within a volcano, as my geology instructor once taught. Though technically this volcano lies in Batangas, it is best seen in Tagaytay. Head to Taal Vista Hotel for an unobstructed view of the volcano, along with the multitude of fishing cages in Taal Lake. Just head to the balcony and you’d have the view all to yourself.
Keep warm with a bowl of bulalo
Is there anything more perfect than having a bowl of bulalo (beef shank soup with vegetables and corn) in a cool weather? Yes, a view overlooking Taal Volcano. There’s a bulalo district in Tagaytay, where rows of bulalo joints are open to serve one of the Filipinos’ favorite hot soups.
We had our lunch at Bulalo Point, though their version of the bulalo wasn’t the most spectacular taste-wise. Their servings were big, however, and their prices were affordable.
Go for desserts at Bag of Beans
The restaurant used to be just a small shop. Now, it has developed to become one of the busiest local restaurants in Tagaytay. But since you’re there on a weekday, it’s almost crowd-free. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake while you’re there. Admire the quaint and homey feel that the resto exudes. You’re in Tagaytay after all. Relax.
Buy some freshly made bread from Sonya’s Garden
While many opt to have their lunches here, I just couldn’t bother spending that much for just salad and pasta. So, we headed to Sonya’s simply to see the garden and to buy their famous bread. Actually, the only time I heard about how good their bread was was in Biyahe ni Drew, a famous local travel magazine show.
The garden wasn’t too fancy, to be honest. It was quite small and less manicured than I expected. There were shops lining the pathway, and a spa can be found at the end — maybe that’s what draws most people here. Anyway, we just headed to the bakeshop where we bought some bread — pan de coco, raisin bread and cheese hopia. Of the three, I loved cheese hopia the most.
Say a prayer at Caleruega
Follow the steps along the hill and their polished estate until you reach the tiny chapel. The place should be devoid of crowds. The only other group there with us was a couple having their pre-nuptial shoot and some nuns who paid a visit to the chapel. The Monastery of Transfiguration sits on top of the hill, and its brick structure houses only a few pews. It is, on my opinion, best visited on the month of June, when the mountains around it are covered by the growing green croplands.
Buy some food to bring back home
Stop by the road and buy some fruits. Tagaytay is home to pineapple-growing, so buy the freshest ones while you are in town.
Got a sweet tooth? Tagaytay is your haven. Of all the pastries that Tagaytay may offer, I’d recommend Amira’s buco tart. It’s getting more expensive now, but it’s really very good. I loved the filling especially.
Hope you had a fun-filled Tagaytay trip! Happy travels! 🙂
Your food photos are mouthwatering! Amira Buco Tart is our favorite pasalubong from Tagaytay. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Milai! All great food are worth sharing. Cheers!
Hi, Can you please send me full itinerary One day tagaytay Travel? Estimated time, how to get from each spot to another, etc. Thanks in Advance
Hi Monique! It’s best to have your own car to explore Tagaytay. We did the itinerary above in just one day, but you could always slow things down and extend your travel for two days. Have a great time in Tagaytay! 🙂
Hi Monique . any month of the year ba pede mag byahe to Tagaytay?
Hi Cindy,
Yes, pwede magtravel to Tagaytay anytime. But the best months are during the dry season (November to early May). Happy travels!
– Karen
how about the estimated cost?
Hi Leiz,
It cost us P2000 for the car rental (I think), plus gas. Food is dependent on how much you eat, but P1000 per person should be plenty including all the food you would bring home. I remember we spent around P400 per head at the bulalo place and around P200 each at the Bag of Beans. Entrance fees were minimal. It was only at Caleruega where we paid some.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your trip to Tagaytay! =)
Hi Karen
Thank you so much for sharing this post. My husband and I have a long layover in Manila (12h35m) and are thinking about doing a daytrip to Tagaytay. We land at 08:40 on a Saturday morning. Do you think this is enough time for the trip? I was advised that taxis from the airport will be too expensive. Would you be able to advise how we can arrange for transportation there and back? Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Diya,
Sorry for the late reply. If this was a weekday trip, I would have said yes instantly. Unfortunately, your travel day appears to be a weekend, and I only hear horrible traffic stories when traveling to Tagaytay on a weekend. It would be a risk, I must say, and I personally wouldn’t push through, especially with the connecting flight involved.
However, if you still think you could manage, you could contact a vehicle for hire before arriving, so that you could go straight from the airport, then adjust your itinerary as needed, depending what time you arrive in Tagaytay. Allow plenty of time for the drive back to the airport.
I’m sorry I couldn’t help with the car rental. I used to know somebody who rents out his vehicle, but I couldn’t contact him through his number anymore. A typical rate (after all the van hires I did around the country) would be P2500 for an 8-hour van rental, plus gas, toll and driver’s meals. A sedan car should be a little cheaper though.
Otherwise, you could go around Intramuros or eat around Chinatown. Any of these two would be easier trips from the airport. Hope this helps and enjoy Manila!
Thank you so much Karen! That was a big help! I’d still like to attempt the trip for several reasons. Aside from the pictures I’ve seen that have captured my heart, that day is our anniversary and it has been my hubby’s dream to go on a Ferris wheel. We’ve often seen Ferris wheels on our travels but never managed to actually get on one. I am so tempted to travel there just so that I can take him on the Sky Eye in Sky Ranch. If we can make it there, just see the view and grab a ride on the Sky Eye it will be worth it for us 🙂
I will do as you suggest and look into the possibilities of hiring a sedan for the day. Thank you again for your help!
No problem Diya. Hope everything turns out well for your Tagaytay trip. And Happy anniversary to you and your husband! 🙂