13 Best Things To Do In Tagaytay, The Philippines

Bea
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 6 min read
best things to do in tagaytay

Heading to Tagaytay for the weekend? While this city may be known for its hearty servings of bulalo (beef shank soup) amid the cool Tagaytay breeze, there’s more to this city than meets the eye. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing weekend at a spa, get a quick cultural tour, or even go for outdoorsy activities like going on a picnic and horseback riding. If you don’t know where to stay, consider the best vacation rentals with a private pool. While touring, make sure to check these things to do in Tagaytay off your itinerary and have a blast!

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1. Shop at Ayala Malls Serin

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Following the health and contact tracing protocols, Ayala Malls Serin receives the Safety Seal ? This is in...

Posted by Ayala Malls Serin on Wednesday, June 23, 2021

If you’re a fan of shopping, Tagaytay is one of the best places to go in the south of Manila. Ayala Malls Serin is a shopping center in the midst of beautiful views and cold weather. Featuring an interactive garden atrium, this mall along Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway offers wide-ranging shops and restaurants for all budget types. If you’re traveling with a pet, leashed and diapered dogs are allowed inside. Besides the typical apparel shops and gourmet eateries, some other amenities at this family-friendly mall are free Wi-Fi and wheelchair and stroller rental.

Ayala Malls Serin

Address: Tagaytay - Nasugbu Hwy, Silang Junction South, Tagaytay, Cavite

Website: Ayala Malls Serin

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

Traveler's tips

Ayala Malls Serin Ayala Malls Serin

We had a lot of fun roaming in Ayala Malls Serin after a day filled with adventure. It boasts a supermarket, where we bought some extra toiletries during our stay in a hotel. It also offers a variety of restaurants and shops, from fresh cookies to fine dining. Make sure to also stock up on delicious bread and pastries from The French Baker!

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2. Play arcade games at Timezone

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Timezone Philippines on Friday, July 23, 2021

One of the trusted establishments when it comes to arcade games in the Philippines is Timezone. This branch in Ayala Malls Serin welcomes all the kids and kids-at-heart, offering a wide range of arcade games and basketball hoops. It might be fun to know that you can sing karaoke too!

These activities at Timezone come with higher stakes by offering a series of prizes. If you’ve taken the time to visit Ayala Malls Serin to have lunch or go shopping, make your trip more fun and play games at Timezone too!

Timezone

Address: Ayala Malls Serin, Tagaytay - Nasugbu Hwy, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite

Website: Timezone

Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)

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3. Dine with a view at Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

THEM VS ME on Valentines Day. Find ME. #papadomstagaytay #papadomsph

Posted by Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant Tagaytay City on Friday, February 14, 2020

Near and dear to tourists and locals, Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Tagaytay, especially if you want the iconic volcano and lake as your backdrop. Located in the famous Vista Point, the bar and restaurant is a popular party spot that offers a wide range of food. From classic adobo with a twist to pasta like aglio e olio, your belly will thank you later! Parties aside, if you simply want to dine somewhere casual and get the best view in city, you can’t go wrong with Papa Doms.

Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant

Address: Vista Point, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite

Website: Papa Doms Bar and Restaurant

Opening hours: 12pm - 2am (daily)

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4. Book a tee time at Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club, Inc.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The beautifully manicured greens and fairways at Tagaytay Highlands are calling you. Play a round or two of golf as you...

Posted by Tagaytay Highlands on Thursday, September 17, 2020

With beautiful landscapes and stunning vistas, it’s hard to imagine Tagaytay without golf. Whether you’re an experienced golfer or not, a day spent at Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club is one that’s well-spent.

The golf course offers 18 holes and other luxurious amenities like spa locker rooms offering shiatsu body massages and sauna, a well-equipped pro shop, and a state-of-the-art cable car system. There’s a lounge that offers delicious international dishes and other gourmet restaurants and specialty shops as well. Don’t pass up on one of the best outdoor activities in Tagaytay!

Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club, Inc.

Address: Tagaytay-Calamba Road 4120 Tagaytay City, Philippines

Website: Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club, Inc.

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5. Play bowling at The Sports Center

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Looking for a Tagaytay activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family? Why not challenge your loved ones to a game of bowling at The Sports Center? Located in Tagaytay Highland, this sports complex features a 14-lane disco bowling area that will take you back to the 70s. But wait, there’s more! This activity center is brimming with other facilities like a heated indoor lap pool, a billiards hall, an indoor basketball court, table tennis, a locker room spa, and a well-equipped fitness center.

The Sports Center

Address: Tagaytay Highlands, Sports Center Oval, Tagaytay, 4027 Cavite

Website: The Sports Center

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6. Eat bulalo at Mahogany Market

Bulalo in Tagaytay
Source: Photo by Flickr user Jasmine Rose used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Having a warm, hearty meal of Bulalo (beef shank soup) is a staple for any visit to Tagaytay, and Mahogany Market is one of the best places to find the dish. Located along Aguinaldo Highway, Mahogany Market has several bulalo eateries ready to fill your tummy with this scrumptious dish. Mahogany Market also houses some of the most wallet-friendly bulalos in Tagaytay, usually serving free side dishes and bananas, too. Rates here start at 120 PHP (2.40 USD).

Mahogany Market

Address: 2nd floor Magallanes Square, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City

Price: from 120 PHP / 2.40 USD

Opening Hours: 5 am to 8 pm.

Duration: around 3 hours required.

Facebook: Mahogany Market

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Megan

Megan
Luzon

Bulalo at Mahogany Market Flowers and herbs for sale at Mahogany Market

There are countless eateries offering bulalo in Tagaytay but you should head straight to Mahogany Market for the most authentic (and budget-friendly) bulalo. Mahogany Market is famed for its selections of the freshest and most tender beef cuts and with the eateries located right above the market stalls, you'll know their bulalo is always cooked fresh. Apart from the bulalo, try the crispy tawilis (straight from Taal Lake), okoy (shrimp fritters), and--if you're adventurous--papaitan (an Ilocano soup with beef or goat innards).

Other than the abundance of meats, Mahogany Market is also a great place to shop for vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There's a great variety at very low prices--plus, you can always bargain with the friendly local merchants.

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7. Relax and ride at Sky Ranch

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Sky Ranch</div>
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Miki Mijares used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Located along Nasugbu Via Tuy Road, Sky Ranch is becoming more and more popular as a must-visit in Tagaytay, and with good reason: this theme park features rides and restaurants that you can enjoy for a minimal fee. You can ride their Ferris wheel and get a breathtaking view of Tagaytay, or ride on their zipline for a more thrilling ride. Whether you’re a group of friends or a family visiting Tagaytay, Sky Ranch is definitely an ideal place to go.

Sky Ranch

Address: Tagaytay – Nasugbu Via Tuy Road, Barangay Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City (Beside Taal Vista Hotel)

Price: entrance fee: 1.00 USD / 50 PHP, Ferris Wheel: 3.00 USD / 150. 50 PHP per ride

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm; Sat to Sun & holidays: 8 am to 10 pm

Website: Sky Ranch, Tagaytay

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8. Hike to Taal Volcano

taal volcano ("binintiang malaki")
Source: Photo by Flickr user therealbrute used under CC BY 2.0

While many Tagaytay visitors would claim to have seen and taken photos of Taal Lake — the view is gorgeous from Tagaytay — only a few can really say they’ve seen it up close and personal. If you’re in for an adventure, you can hike to Taal Volcano, one of the most dangerous (but dormant, of course!) volcanoes in the Philippines. It’s a 45-minute hike, but it’s totally worth it — and you can even play golf at the top! You only have to pay a small fee of PHP 50 (1.00 USD) to experience this place to visit in Tagaytay.

Taal Volcano

Address: Taal Volcano, Talisay, Batangas, Philippines

Price: from 1.00 USD / 50 PHP

Opening Hours: n/a

Website: Taal Volcano Hike

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9. People's Park in the Sky

People's Park in the Sky
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Noli Fernan "Dudu... used under CC BY 2.0

People’s Park in the Sky is a treat for any history buff and lover of a breathtaking aerial view. This urban Park at the foot of Mount Gonzales, Tagaytay, is a wide expanse of nature converted from an incomplete mansion built during the Marcos regime. Aside from a view of the incomplete (but in-tact) mansion, you can visit the Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of Fair Love located in the Park too, and take photos of Tagaytay from way high up.

People's Park in the Sky

Address: Mt. Gonzales, Tagaytay City

Price: 0.01 USD / 0.60 PHP entrance fee

Opening Hours: 7:30 am to 6:00 pm

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10. Our Lady of Manaoag, Tierra de Maria

TagaytayCity
Source: Photo by user Manilaspirit used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Seek refuge in this peaceful shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Tagaytay. Located along Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Our Lady of Manaoag, Tierra de Maria is the place to be when you want to set aside time to reflect, meditate, and marvel at age-old artifacts, paintings, and sculptures. It also has a 50-foot (15.2 m) statue of Mother Mary, where many visitors come to pray. There is no entrance fee here and it’s open all day too, so just come as you please.

Our Lady of Manaoag, Tierra de Maria

Address: Tagaytay - Calamba Rd, Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines

Price: n/a

Opening Hours: 8 am to 6 pm

Duration: around 3 hours required.

Facebook: Tierra de Maria

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11. Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Picnic Grove, Tagaytay, Philippines
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ahmed Dawn used under CC BY 2.0

Tagaytay Picnic Grove is ideal for those who seek a more adventure-filled Tagaytay trip than a laidback one. It’s the go-to when you don’t know what to do in Tagaytay, for sure. Here, there’s an activity for everyone: you can zipline, take a serene walk through their eco-trail, or enjoy an afternoon of horseback riding. All this you can do for only a minimal entrance fee of PHP 50 (1.00 USD)!

Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Address: Tagaytay Picnic Grove Complex, Barangay Sungay East-End, Cavite, Philippines

Price: from 1.00 USD / 50 PHP

Opening Hours: 9 am to 6 pm.

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12. Puzzle Mansion

Posted by Puzzle Mansion Tagaytay on Saturday, 13 April 2013

Almost anyone would love a good puzzle, and here at Puzzle Mansion, you can get a unique glance at some of the world’s coolest puzzles. (Thankfully, you don’t have to solve one to get in!) Puzzle Mansion is exactly what it sounds like; it houses the largest jigsaw puzzle collection and has a museum filled with different kinds of jigsaw puzzles you can use to fill your afternoon. If you feel like staying over, that’s fine, too. This place has bed and breakfast available for its guests.

Puzzle Mansion

Address: Cuadra Street, Barangay Asisan Tagaytay City, Philippines

Price: entrance fee of 2.00 USD / 100 PHP

Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm

Facebook: Puzzle Mansion

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Megan

Megan
Luzon

View of Tagaytay

Don't miss out on pasalubong when you're on your way to Puzzle Mansion! If you're taking the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, definitely stop by Rowena's for a selection of great food items to take home. You can buy everything from pies to raw honey to bottled sardines here, along with more traditional Filipino pasalubong like polvoron, cornick, otap, tarts, etc.

If you want to stop for coffee, a good place to head to is Bag of Beans. A popular coffee shop, there are a bunch of branches throughout the town. Bag of Beans not only offers delicious coffee creations and rustic comfort food, they also have some of the best interiors in Tagaytay, not to mention some of the grandest viewing points to see the beautiful natural landscape of Tagaytay.

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13. Spa: Nurture Wellness Village

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

We are ready to have you back. We have received our Safety Seal Certification from Department of Tourism! This...

Posted by Nurture Wellness Village on Saturday, June 12, 2021

After a long day of walking around, horseback riding, and seeing the sights, you might want to unwind (or even spend the whole weekend) at Nurture Wellness Village. This resort is one of the most relaxing places you’ll ever enter. It has a full-service spa, health services, gorgeous hotel rooms, facilities for glamping (glamour camping), and a smorgasbord of healthy and mouth-watering food for all. It also has a children’s playground, a swimming pool, library, organic garden, and activities you can do to boost your overall wellness. Truly, no other place delivers on their promise of pampering like Nurture Wellness Village!

Nurture Wellness Village, Tagaytay

Address: Nurture Wellness Village Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West Cavite, Tagaytay, Luzon

Price: Starting from 193.66 USD / ~9,700 PHP (weekends) and 168.84 USD / ~8,700 PHP (weekdays) for 4-hour stay and 1 hour massage

Website: Nurture Wellness Village

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Tagaytay: a place for all

With its wide variety of activities available — from getting an adrenaline high from ziplining, unwinding at a spa, to visiting a park way up in the sky — Tagaytay is truly a place that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re a family, a group of friends, or a couple, there’s always something to do in Tagaytay.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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A young Filipina passionate about seeing the world, understanding its people and creating new ways for them to explore their potential and lead more meaningful lives. Also a big fan of beaches,...Read more

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