Tagaytay

Located at a mountain ridge on southern Cavite, the city of Tagaytay provides a mildly cool refuge from Manila's gritty side. It is the unofficial "Second Summer Capital" of the Philippines (the first is Baguio), and its proximity to Metro Manila draws local and foreign tourists alike. Despite the city's association with scenic Taal Volcano and the lake surrounding it, being in neighboring Batangas province, Tagaytay has many hidden things beyond the first impressions. Once a sleepy mountain town, Tagaytay has been a home to many things worth visiting: scenic viewpoints, religious sites, dining, and a new arrival, shopping malls.

Understand

Rising at about 600 m (2,000 ft), Tagaytay is cooler than the lowlands of Cavite, and some rich residents, both Filipino and foreigner, have set up mansions near to the scenic views of mountains and the dominating Taal volcano and lake. It is a city of 85,000 people (2020), scattered in 38 barangays. Due to its altitude, there are also some pine trees – similar to those in Baguio — growing here.

Tagaytay is unofficially called the "Second Summer Capital of the Philippines" by locals and tourists in comparison to Baguio; official statistics as of 2015 record 500,000 tourist arrivals. Tagaytay becomes crowded during Christmas and Holy Week, and the main highways to the city become jammed.

Name

Tagaytay's name is derived from the Tagalog word for "mountain ridge", but there is an urban legend circulating by word of mouth to describe the origin of the city's name. The tale describes the origin of the name "Tagaytay" as coming from the yells of a boy who was hunting with his father on the location of the current city. The boy shouted "Taga, itay" after his father hunted and caught one, and this words echoed at the mountain, that led to the name.

Orientation

Tagaytay, despite its city status, looks more of a aggregation of villages and towns, with subdivisions — gated or not — and farmland in between, however, large urban developments like high-rise condominiums and shopping malls have arrived in Tagaytay, and traffic jams have become a problem during peak season.

Important to local orientation are the main roads and the major junctions, which form the commercial centers. Aguinaldo Highway is the east-west artery and main commercial street, becoming Tagaytay-Calamba Road to Picnic Grove and People's Park east of the central roundabout, Tagaytay Rotonda. Tagaytay Rotonda, aka Olivarez Junction (after the eponymous college and mall complex), has two large malls and the roundabout where Aguinaldo Highway turns to the west. Mahogany Junction, and the Kaybagal area, rather two barangays with directional disambiguation on their names, has the casino, city hall complex, public market, the Sky Ranch theme park, the Summit Ridge mall, and the Taal Vista Hotel. Between the Mahogany and Olivarez areas are the strip of cliffside restaurants with views of Taal volcano and lake (and Batangas province), and a row of retreat houses. Western Tagaytay, which blurs into the adjacent municipality of Alfonso, has Crossing Mendez, another junction with a commercial strip, some accommodations, the Puzzle Mansion, and Zoori (Zoo and Residence Inn).

Climate
Tagaytay
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
51
 
 
27
19
 
 
 
27
 
 
28
19
 
 
 
32
 
 
29
20
 
 
 
54
 
 
30
21
 
 
 
205
 
 
30
21
 
 
 
301
 
 
28
21
 
 
 
451
 
 
27
20
 
 
 
459
 
 
27
21
 
 
 
363
 
 
27
20
 
 
 
252
 
 
28
20
 
 
 
213
 
 
27
20
 
 
 
138
 
 
27
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Source: Wikipedia
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
2
 
 
80
66
 
 
 
1.1
 
 
82
66
 
 
 
1.3
 
 
84
67
 
 
 
2.1
 
 
86
69
 
 
 
8.1
 
 
85
70
 
 
 
12
 
 
83
69
 
 
 
18
 
 
81
68
 
 
 
18
 
 
81
69
 
 
 
14
 
 
81
69
 
 
 
9.9
 
 
82
69
 
 
 
8.4
 
 
81
68
 
 
 
5.4
 
 
80
67
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Tagaytay has a mild climate and dramatic scenery, which makes it popular with residents of Manila. Average temperatures range from 22 °C (72 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F). There are three seasons, a cool dry season, hot dry season (summer) and the wet season. Peak seasons are the cool dry season, which includes the Christmas and New Year period, and the hot dry season, which includes the Holy Week peak period.

The cool dry season from December to March is the most pleasant season to visit, with daytime highs below the 30s and nighttime lows from 20 °C (68 °F) and below, and not much rainfall, except in December.

The hot dry season is characterized by daytime highs at 30 °C (86 °F), but is short, only lasting between April and May, and the weather becomes variable by May. While the humidity can make the heat unbearable, Tagaytay generally does have cooler temperatures, so many tourists flock the city during Holy Week.

Rainy season covers much of the year, from June to November, but the weather can be changeable. July and August has the most rainfall, and it's best to avoid those months.

Local information

Get in

Tagaytay is 60 km (37 mi) south of Manila, and is easy to reach than the more popular Baguio. While it's possible to reach the city by bus, many travelers bring a car.

By car

Most tourists to Tagaytay bring a car, making all major road entry points packed during times. Tagaytay is a hour from Manila under proper traffic conditions, but expect travel to be 1½-2 hours due to traffic jams or an occasional rainstorm.

From Manila

Manila to Tagaytay by car in a nutshell


  • Most direct: via CAVITEX and Aguinaldo Highway. Leads you to the Tagaytay Rotonda, the most important reference point that you have arrived in Tagaytay.
  • Fastest: via SLEX and Santa Rosa. 90 minutes from Manila (considering traffic). Toll fee: by distance, ₱57-221 (on Santa Rosa Exit) or ₱68-232 (on Eton City Exit)
  • Cheapest: via CAVITEX and Aguinaldo Highway. 2 hours or more with traffic in account. Toll fee: ₱24 (flat fee, CAVITEX)

From Manila, the main highways to Tagaytay are the moderately congested Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road (Route 420), the most traveled route with a interchange with the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) on the Santa Rosa end, and the perennially snarled Aguinaldo Highway (Route 62 in Bacoor, Route 419 between Bacoor and Silang, Route 410 from Silang to Tagaytay).

Many travelers from Manila drive to Tagaytay via SLEX. Most leave at Santa Rosa Exit, which directly connects to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road (Route 420), but it gets snarled during weekdays or peak season, so there are alternatives:

  • Via CALAX Leave SLEX at Mamplasan, and take the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) to Santa Rosa, where you turn right to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
  • Via Eton City Exit: Exit SLEX at Eton City, then follow partially divided Greenfield Park, and turn left to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road. The roads from Eton City exit are lightly traveled, so it is being promoted as an alternate route to Tagaytay from SLEX.
  • Via Carmona Exit: Exit SLEX at Carmona, then follow Governor's Drive through Carmona, then turn left at Carmona-Silang Road. It bypasses Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road to the north and useful if you are making side trips to Silang, but leads you through barangays in the middle of nowhere and local processions during the middle of the year can slow traffic down.

For the two options mentioned, 1 hour and 30 minutes is a good rule of thumb, if accounting for traffic.

  • Via MCX and Daang Hari: Exit into Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) in Muntinlupa, which ends at a circular junction with Daang Hari at the southern tip of Las Piñas. Afterwards, follow Daang Hari with an option of traveling up to Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, or turning into Molino-Paliparan Road into Dasmariñas, where you turn right to Governor's Drive to Palapala Junction. Approximate travel times are 1 hour, 50 minutes to 2 hours, if accounting for traffic conditions.
  • Via CAVITEX: Take the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx, or Coastal Road), exit at Bacoor, and follow Aguinaldo Highway all the way to Tagaytay. This is no longer a recommended option due to traffic jams along stretches of Aguinaldo Highway, and a trip can take about 2 hours or more.

For those taking Aguinaldo Highway or Governor's Drive on their road trip, beware of a travel restriction in force from December 2018, where vehicles cannot travel through those mentioned roads based on the final digit of their license plate number during weekdays.

By bus

Tagaytay is well served by buses from Metro Manila, but delays from traffic jams remain. Most buses to Tagaytay depart from Parañaque and head for other towns further inland within southern Cavite or to Western Batangas via Aguinaldo Highway. Buses going to Tagaytay can be found where they show "via Tagaytay" on their signboards. For a complete list, see Parañaque#By bus.

There are two bus companies which have trips terminating at Tagaytay.

  • San Agustin. Links Tagaytay with Parañaque, Nasugbu, and Balayan. Most buses run from Parañaque to Nasugbu or Balayan, but there are some trips which terminate at Tagaytay. (updated Aug 2019)
  • Starliner. Departures from Parañaque. Buses are in a yellow, orange and red livery. (updated Aug 2019)

Tagaytay does not have any bus stations; instead, buses stop at major road junctions: Tagaytay Rotonda (aka. Olivarez, the junction of Aguinaldo Highway and Tagaytay-Calamba Road), Mahogany Junction (the intersection of Mahogany Avenue and Crisanto M. delos Reyes Avenue), and Crossing Mendez (junction between Aguinaldo Highway and Tagaytay-Mendez Road). Buses terminating at Tagaytay generally turn around past Mendez or at the roundabout.

Regardless of carrier, the bus fare to Tagaytay from Parañaque is approximately ₱100-110 as of 2019. A trip from Nasugbu costs around ₱90, and Balayan from ₱100.

Alternative routes from Manila

If you don't bother taking a bus plying Aguinaldo Highway through congested suburban Cavite, you may consider taking the DLTB bus from Pasay and headed for Nasugbu via Carmona for ₱140-150, or take a bus to Santa Rosa, then transfer to a jeepney. The DLTB bus fare may cost as twice as the usual fare from Parañaque, but it saves time otherwise wasted on a traffic jam.

Bus travel via Santa Rosa, coupled with a jeepney trip to Tagaytay is a possible option, especially if you are coming from the airport or from Metro Manila's financial centers. There are many possible combinations, based on your starting point.

  • From NAIA: UBE Express operates premium buses to Nuvali (with a transfer to a jeepney from there) or Robinsons Santa Rosa Market. If you took the bus to the Robinsons mall, you must transfer to a jeepney plying the National Highway and get down at Balibago, where the jeepneys to Tagaytay depart. The fare is about ₱190.
  • From Pasay or Cubao: Jam and Jac Liner has buses to Balibago Complex from either point, with departures every 30 minutes. Fares start from ₱75. to ₱90. They provide a more direct connection with the jeepney terminal, which is within walking distance.
  • From Makati: Tas Trans operates another premium bus from The Circuit to Nuvali via Santa Rosa Exit.

By van

UV Express (formerly known as FX and GTExpress) also provide service to Tagaytay from Manila, especially EDSA Rotonda, Shaw Crossing, Buendia and Alabang. Fares range from ₱150 to ₱160.

By jeepney
  • Tagaytay Jeepney Terminal, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Iruhin West (near Tagaytay City Market). This terminal has a simple shelter for passengers, but passengers board from the sidewalk. It is served by jeepneys from Balibago, Santa Rosa and Calamba. (updated Aug 2019)

By boat

The nearest ports are in Batangas City and Manila, both with connections to local public transport.

From Batangas port

From Batangas port, there is one local jeepney route out of the port, which unfortunately does not serve the central bus station, but it's easy to find a connection as you enter downtown Batangas. Tricycles are the only direct option to reach the bus station, but there is a risk of rip-offs (a ₱100 charge for a long-distance tricycle ride is not uncommon within Batangas City).

At the bus station, options are:

  • Provincial buses: BSC (Batman Starexpress) has hourly departures to Nasugbu from Batangas. Get down at the Palico roundabout, where you can catch another bus on the direction of Tagaytay. A trip from Batangas to Palico takes about 2 hours with traffic in account, and about a hour to Tagaytay from Palico. The fare is about ₱125 to Palico, and ₱75 to Tagaytay from Palico.
  • Minivans: There are UV Express to Calamba or Dasmariñas. From Calamba, transfer to another van are available. From Dasmariñas, buses are available outside the bus terminal. They are often not a comfortable and affordable option; vans tend to be cramped, and the fares are twice as the bus. Beware of unlicensed ones though.

Get around

Tagaytay does not have any taxis, and they are not available from the malls either; the few taxis are generally those who pay thousands of pesos to get to the city from Manila. There are jeepneys across town, but almost all run to nearby towns and municipalities. Within Tagaytay, you'll either get around by car or if you don't drive, by tricycle or jeepney.

By jeepney

Jeepneys are common. Fares are usually around ₱20-50, sometimes a little more depending on the distance.

On foot

At the Tagaytay visitor's center and near the zip line is quite easy to walk and explore.

See

Most tourists visit Tagaytay to view Taal Volcano, an active volcano with a large crater lake with a small cone rising in the middle. Though part of nearby Batangas province, tours to the area are mostly organized from here (see #Do). You can just view the volcano from the slopes of the city; trips to the volcano are expensive though by local standards, but reasonable by foreign standards, especially if you bargain. Due to an eruption that is ongoing since 2020, it has been prohibited to visit the volcano.

  • 11th Airborne Division Marker. On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airborne Division of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger’s 8th U.S. Army airdropped military supplies and personnel together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops on the Tagaytay Ridge amidst enemy groundfire. Their mission was to secure Tagaytay City and guarantee the easy flow of troops and supplies to Manila, an action later proved as significant to the liberation of Manila. A marker was erected at the Silang Crossing to honor the event. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 41st Division USAFFE Marker, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road, Kaybagal South (at front of Sky Ranch). Tagaytay played a significant role in Philippine history. During World War II, Filipino soldiers and military officers found refuge on its vast forests and ridges. It was used as landing site and sanctuary for the Filipino USAFFE soldiers and paratroopers on their way to liberate Manila on February 3 to March 3, 1945. The 41st USAFFE marker is a place where one can know more about Tagaytay’s rich political history. It is adjacent to the Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts in Brgy. Kaybagal South. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 Divine Word Seminary, SVD Road, Mag-asawang Ilat, ☏ +63 46 413 1251. One of the biggest schools of theology in the Philippines in terms of population and land area, it is also one of the oldest religious institutions in the city. It is run by Divine Word Missionaries also known as SVD. (updated Nov 2015)
  • The Flower Farm (in Barangay Guinhawa, a 10-minute drive from the Aguinaldo Highway). On a windy slope of a hill sprawls a flower farm that keeps Manila abloom whole year round. This five-hectare flower farm has many varieties of flowers, such as chrysanthemums with assorted colors, gerberas, carnations, roses, and anthuriums. (updated Dec 2018)
  • Japanese Friendship Garden. This 1,200-square-metre (13,000 sq ft) garden was constructed to inculcate the value of freedom, peace and international unity into the hearts and minds of the people. It is in front of Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Center, in Brgy. Sungay East. (updated Nov 2015)
  • One Destination. This travel spot in the sky city is a strip of fancy restaurants and bars. Being the nightlife hub of Tagaytay, it offers varied cuisine and entertainment to tourists. Some of the noted establishments around are Dencio's Grill, Pancake House, Starbucks Coffee, Yellow Cab, RSM, Leslies, Max's Restaurant, Cliffhouse, Antonio's Grill, and Henlin. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 People's Park in the Sky. A blending of natural and man-made attractions, poised on the highest point of Tagaytay City and the province of Cavite. It stands on a 4,516 square metres (48,610 sq ft) of solid ground and overlooks four bodies of water – Taal Lake, Balayan Bay, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay - including nearby mountains. It is located at Dapdap West and Dapdap East, approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) east from the Tagaytay City Circle. The Palace In The Sky the main attraction of the site was designed to be the presidential guest house of former president Ferdinand Marcos, this complex was never completed. It is, however, now open to the public as a vantage area for viewing the Taal Volcano. The place is a short drive from the Aguinaldo Highway in Tagaytay City. It is 15 minutes' drive from Aguinaldo Highway. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Pink Sister's Convent. Behind the bars and glass of the Adoration Convent of Divine Mercy are those who answered the call to live in silence. Located at the Holy Spirit Drive in Barangay Maitin in the city, the convent often called the Pink Sisters Chapel has endless visitors carrying their own list of prayers. Also included in their visit is the chance to see nuns praying with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although they can only be seen behind the iron grilles of the altar. (updated Nov 2015)
  • St. Anne's Shrine (in Barangay Sungay). 7AM-7PM. The shrine is a small garden where a grotto of the Virgin Mary stands, surrounded by well maintained shrubbery and flower garden. In front of the grotto is a small grass clearing, which is conducive to quiet reflection. From Manila, take BLTB buses that pass by Barangay Silang Crossing to the Tagaytay Marker. At Tagaytay Marker, alight to take a utility jeep leading to Barangay Sungay where the gate of the shrine can be spotted from the road. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Sky Ranch Tagaytay, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road, Kaybagal South (beside the Taal Vista Hotel), ☏ +63 921 323-3389. M-F 10AM-10PM; Sa Su and holidays 8AM-10PM. 5 hectares (12 acres) amusement park opened in 2013, with an assortment of rides, restaurants and souvenir shops. It houses the 63 meters (207 ft) Ferris wheel Sky Eye. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay East. Tagaytay's playground is the popular Picnic Grove, a large park that features huts and tables for picnicking, horseback riding, a restaurant, an eco-trail boardwalk, a zipline and cable cars on the gentle slopes of the Tagaytay Ridge. It is a prime location, providing the finest view of the volcano far below. (updated Nov 2015)
  • Tierra de Maria. A Catholic sanctuary garden known for its 50-foot statue of the Virgin Mary found right beside Tagaytay Picnic Grove. Catholics consider this as the HOME (Haven Of Meditation and Enrichment) of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 Puzzle Mansion, Cuadra Street, Brgy. Asisan, . 8AM-5PM. Museum which is reputed for holding the largest jigsaw puzzle collection in the world according to Guinness. The museum was started by puzzle collector, Georgina Gil-Lacuna. (updated Dec 2020)

Do

Buy

Small shops line the roadway as you come into the area, the vegetables and fruits are fresh and good quality.

The area is also famous for its Buko Pie.

There is also the Good Shepherd Convent (like the one in Baguio) and you can get your favorite Ube jam, pili, etc. In addition to that you can also get their buko pie for which Laguna/Cavite is known.

Malls
  • Ayala Malls Serin. One of the newer malls, part of real estate conglomerate Ayala's development Serin, beside the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

Budget

Mid-range
  • Josephine Restaurant, KM 58 Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika West. Breakfast: 7-10AM; Lunch: 11AM-2:30PM (weekdays), 11AM-3PM (weekends and holidays); Dinner: 5-10:30PM (weekdays), 5-11PM (weekends and holidays). Provides authentic Filipino cuisine, best if you are seated at the back, which has great view of Taal Volcano. They also provide catering for large events. The ambiance is good especially for lovers and families too. A very cool place specially starting during the "ber months", from September. (updated Dec 2018)
  • 🌍 Neul Borm, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road corner C.M. Delos Reyes Avenue, Kaybagal South. 10AM-10PM. Korean dining, complete with hot pot and soju. (updated Dec 2018)
  • One Bagger Bulalo, 42H2+F7R, Tagaytay - Calamba Rd, ☏ +63 927 424 1535. 6AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2023)

Splurge

Drink

Coffee - Coffee shops are abundant in the city proper, some of the noted ones are Starbucks Coffee and Bag of Beans.

Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budgetunder ₱2000
Mid-range₱2000-4000
Splurgeover ₱4000

Budget
  • Amora’s Home, Kaykulot Rd. Sungay East (near Tagaytay Picnic Grove exit), ☏ +63 46 860 0221. Modern well maintained facilities, air-conditioned rooms with cable TV From ₱1500. 
  • Fat Bill’s Bed and Breakfast, Barangay Sungay East, ☏ +63 46 695 6349. Double and Family Rooms with TV and DVD player, and their bathroom has a hot and cold shower. 
  • Tagaytay Lake View Villa, #2 Hollywood Subdivision, Brgy. Tolentino East, ☏ +63 2 3439 6499. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, TV with cable channels, dvd player, breakfast, hot and cold shower with hygiene kit. Some of its facilities and services are mini-gym, mini-garden, kitchen facilities and housekeeping service. From ₱1313. 
  • Keni Po. In the heart of Tagaytay. M-Th ₱1200; F-Su ₱1500. 
  • Starflower Tourist Lodge, Km 62 Barangay Mendez West, Aguinaldo Highway, ☏ +63 2 8684579. Check-in: 9AM-noon, check-out: 9AM-1PM. Expansive views of Taal Volcano and Lake, rolling hills and greenery; mountain breezes from the balcony. From ₱1800. 
  • Tagaytay Econo Inn, Tourism Ave. Hollywood Subd., Brgy. Francisco, ☏ +63 46 413-4284. 17 comfortable and quality rooms, fully serviced and furnished to international standards. From ₱2000. 
  • Gloria De Castros Store., Leynes Talisay., ☏ +63 46 773-0138. Single/double fan room with own bathroom. Has a restaurant. ₱800. 

Mid-range
  • Alfonso Hotel, #4 Washington Ave., Royale Tagaytay Estates, Alfons, ☏ +63 46 413-0770, +63 46 413-4077. Each accommodation is air-conditioned and has cable TV and a private toilet and shower. From ₱2575. 
  • Days Hotel Tagaytay, Aguinaldo Hwy, ☏ +63 46-4132400. Resorts sit on a ridge 2500 ft above sea level and overlooks Taal Volcano. 
  • Hotel Dominique, Km. 55 Aguinaldo Hi-way, Brgy. Maitim II East, ☏ +63 46 413 0531. Hotel Dominique is along Aguinaldo Hi-way, a few meters away from the Tagaytay Rotonda. All of their rooms are fully air-conditioned, have a cable tv, telephone with NDD/IDD, and refrigerator. For suites, a bath tub is available. Some of their facilities include swimming pool, spa, game room, bar and restaurant, and a souvenir shop. From ₱4000. 
  • Emiramona Garden Hotel (Aguinaldo Highway, near Pink Sisters Convent and Angels Hills), ☏ +63 46 4134661. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. They have 48 rooms and 2 villas, each has a cable television, DVD Player, night table with lampshade, wardrobe closet with a full-length mirror, refrigerator, safety deposit box, and a balcony, and have the only glass-enclosed indoor pool in Tagaytay, plus an indoor jacuzzi with its gardens and waterfall as a background. From ₱3000. 
  • Golden Jade Hotel and Restaurant, Calamba Road, Brgy. San Jose, ☏ +63 46 413-0055. This hotel and restaurant offers rooms equipped with air conditioning, television, private toilet and bath. Some of its facilities and services are bar, restaurant, fitness room/gym, parking and Wi-Fi. ₱3000. 
  • Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay, Amadeo Rd, ☏ +63 2 521-1888 (for reservations), +63 46 483 8888, . Hotel offering 2 swimming pools, playgrounds, lush gardens, games room, free wi-fi. 
  • The Lake Hotel Tagaytay, ☏ +63 2 725-7080-81, +63 46 413-4680-81, . Overlooking Taal Volcano Lake. Offers spacious, modern, comfortable rooms and good service. 
  • MC Mountain Home Apartelle, Km. 68.9 Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway (Aguinaldo Highway), Buck Estate, Alfonso, ☏ +63 464132232. Each room has air conditioning, a television, deck or balcony, and private toilet and bath with shower. Rates include daily breakfast. From ₱2500. 
  • Mi-jo Hotel Tagaytay. Filipino and American dishes are served in the restaurant and a breakfast selection can be served in the room. From ₱2112. 
  • Royal Taal Inn, Calamba Road BGY Iruhin Central (In Front of La Verna House of Pray), ☏ +63 46 413 1066, fax: +63 2 857 2228, . ₱2376-3432. 
  • T House Tagaytay, 3195 Calamba Rd, ☏ +63 2 788-7356. 
  • Tagaytay Wingate Manor (info@wingatemanor.ph), Magallanes Drive, Maitim II West, ☏ +63 46 917 5688861. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. It offers 24 rooms, all of which have an air-conditioner, cable LCD television, and a mini-bar. Some of its amenities are 24/7 staffed reception area, swimming pool, and ample free parking. While staying here you can do some leisure activities like picnics, horseback riding, camping, golfing, and zip lining. From ₱2500. 
  • The Windy Ridge Hotel, Tagaytay Rotonda, Brgy. San Jose, ☏ +63 46 4134353. Offers ten rustic, yet elegant rooms with hot and cold baths and private jacuzzis. 

Splurge
  • 8 Suites By Fat Jimmy’s, ☏ +63 46 697-70-48. It provides eight uniquely designed chocolate themed rooms, spacious lobby, dining area, seminar rooms, infinity spa and a sprawling garden overlooking the Taal Lake. Lot 7, Ridge View Subdivision, Barangay Iruhin. From ₱4000. 
  • Lee Boutique Hotel, ☏ +63 46 483 0379. It offers rooms equipped with air-conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, Private toilet and bath. Some of its facilities and services are Oui Drink Tea Eat Rice Restaurant, free Wi-Fi Internet access , massage service on request. From ₱4296.25. 
  • One Tagaytay Place Hotel, Barrio Sungay, ☏ +63 922 834 8874, fax: +63 2 818 8319. 120 air-conditioned rooms with LCD TV & DVD player, Wi-Fi, minibar, microwave ovens and free morning newspaper. ₱3200. 
  • Summit Ridge Hotel, Km 58 Aguinaldo Highwa, ☏ +63 2 240 6888, . Experience the best view of Taal Volcano and go cloud-watching at the coldest spot in Tagaytay City. Summit Ridge Hotel and Promenade features within it several shopping, dining, and recreational facilities. Summit Ridge is also a venue for meetings and banquets. 
  • Taal Vista Hotel, Km 60 Aguinaldo Highway, ☏ +63 28864325. ₱5280-19010. 
  • The Theodore Hotel, Km. 54, Silang Crossing East Aguinaldo, ☏ +63 46 483-0350. It offers accommodation rooms namely The Cherry Blossom, The Neo Baroque, The Skyline, The Moorish, The Farm, The Whimsical Garden, The Modern Filipino, The Geometric Room, and The Theodore. It has a lounge area, which is an exclusive recreational and dining area for checked-in guests. It consists of the patio where Chess and other board games are available for guest use. It also has a garden that has a splendid view of the Taal Lake. From ₱5000. 
  • Anya Resort Tagaytay, 4XPC+J47, Buenavista Hills Road, Barangay, Tolentino West, ☏ +63 2 8657 1640. (updated Aug 2023)

Stay safe

Tagaytay is a safe place to visit, and the locals are very nice, just beware of the usual things in Tagaytay such as scammers and pickpockets; in short exercise the usual level of common sense when travelling.

Beware of the obvious scams and ensure that if you are visiting Taal volcano or any other attractions with guides that they have the proper identification usually administered by the Philippine Tourist Board.

As with all tourist destinations, they like to "plus plus" everything, that is add the taxes and the tourist fee on later, so make sure that you ask for the complete price inclusive of tourist fee. It is recommended that if you visit Taal Volcano and you go horseback riding, that you demand to pay your guide a tip and forego paying ₱500 as a tour guide fee at the ticket office as this ensures that your working guide actually gets paid as they get undercut from the ticket office; a tip of ₱200 usually suffices.

Connect

Police, Medical and Fire: 911. 911 may also be texted from cellphones. Tourist hotline: +63 2-5241728, +63 2-5241660 Immigration hotline: 527 Directory assistance: 187 (fee applies)

Mobile phone reception is good in the area.

Go next

Indang, a quiet, off-the-beaten-track municipality with some historical sights and some resorts, can be reached within 15 to 30 minutes.

Western Batangas can be reachable by a 30-minute or 1-hour road trip. Nearest places are:

  • Nasugbu — The touristic and commercial center of the region, with luxury beach resorts, mountain hiking, and a few sights.
  • Lemery and Taal — Two contrasting towns, separated by a river that once connected Taal Lake and volcano with the sea. Lemery is mostly commercial, with some sights and a few beaches, while Taal has heritage homes, a very old basilica, and butterfly knife (balisong) producers and shops.

Taal Volcano can be visited without having to book a tour in Tagaytay, but tend to be expensive if a tout approaches you on the Batangas side. Talisay is the main entry point, within the designated park boundaries, and has luxurious lakeside resorts, but its town center has little to nothing to see.

Routes through Tagaytay
Dasmariñas ← Silang ←  N  S  → Alfonso → Nasugbu
Santa Rosa ← Silang ←  N  S  → END
Merges with ←  W  E  → Talisay → Tanauan
Indang ← Mendez ←  N  S  → END


This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.