Tagaytay
Lungsod ng Tagaytay
A cool ridge town south of Manila, where viewpoint restaurants and parks overlook Taal Volcano. It is the classic weekend day trip.
Tagaytay sits on a ridge about 60 km south of Manila, at an altitude of roughly 600 m. It is consistently several degrees cooler than Manila, making it the top choice for locals escaping the heat on weekends.
Along the ridge road are numerous viewpoint restaurants and cafés, many overlooking Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, which rises from an island in the middle of the lake. The signature dishes are bulalo (beef shank soup), local pineapple, and coffee.
The main attractions include People’s Park in the Sky, a viewing park at the ridge’s highest point, converted from an unfinished hotel built during the Marcos era. Also nearby are Sky Ranch amusement park, which has a Ferris wheel, and Picnic Grove.
Weekend traffic is heavy, so it is best to leave early on a weekday. The trip from Manila takes about 2 hours by bus or chartered car, and you can continue to the historic town of Taal on the same trip.
Opening hours
Open all day (viewing restaurant approx. 07:00–22:00)
Nearby sights
- Taal Volcano
- Taal Heritage Town & Taal Basilica
- Enchanted Kingdom
- Rizal Shrine (Calamba)
- Las Piñas Bamboo Organ
- SM Mall of Asia
- Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
- Cultural Center of the Philippines