Whenever I feel like I need a quick weekend or summer getaway and am a bit too lazy or under the budget to go far, the first place that comes to mind is Tagaytay City.Tagaytay City is located in the Province of Cavite, on the island of Luzon, approximately 56 km (35 mi) south of Manila. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay on the North, Taal volcano and Taal lake on the south and Laguna Bay on the east.
The City is linked by the national highway to the Metropolitan Manila Area and to the Province of Batangas. It is also connected by the roads to the adjoining municipalities of Amadeo, Mendez, Indang, Silang and Alfonso in Cavite towards the northwest, to the cities of Calamba and Santa Rosa in Laguna in the northeast and to the town of Talisay in Batangas in the south
Places of interest
Tagaytay Picnic GroveTagaytay's playground is the popular Picnic Grove. It features huts line along the gentle slopes of the Tagaytay Ridge. It is a prime location, providing the finest view of the volcano far below. It is in Barangay Sungay East. For the image, please see the infobox at the top.It has Sarangolas{Kites}
People's Park In The Sky
An artful blending of natural and man-made attractions, poised on the highest point of Tagaytay City. It stands on a 4,516 sq, meters solid ground and overlooks four bodies of water – Taal Lake, Balayan Bay, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. It is located at Dapdap West and Dapdap East, approximately 6 to 7 km away from Silang Crossing.
Tagaytay Highlands
Tagaytay Highlands is a world-class recreational and residential complex nestled amid the natural splendor and cool, unpolluted atmosphere of the Tagaytay Ridge. With tons of exciting activities, plush facilities, fine dining & drinking, and Asia's most exciting golf course, it serves as a getaway haven from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. It is also considered as the country's premier destination for luxury living.
Divine Word Seminary
Divine Word Seminary, one of biggest schools of theology in the Philippines in terms of population and land area, is also one of the oldest religious institutions in the city. It is run by Divine Word Missionaries also known as SVD.
41st Division USAFFE Marker
Tagaytay played a significant role in Philippine history. During World War 2, Filipino revolutionaries found refuge on its vast forests and ridges. It was used as landing site and sanctuary for paratroopers on their way to liberate Manila. The 41st USAFFE marker is a one place where you will know more about Tagaytay’s rich political history. It is located beside the Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts, Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City.
11th Airborne Division Marker
On February 3, 1945, the 11th Airbourne Division of Lt. Gen. William Krueger’s 8th Army airdropped military supplies and personnel together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops on the Tagaytay Ridge amidst enemy groundfire. Their mission: to secure Tagaytay City and guarantee the easy flow of troops and supplies to Manila, an action later proved as significant to the Manila Liberation. A marker was made at the Silang Crossing to honor the event.
Filipino-Japanese Friendship Garden
This 1,200 sq. meters garden was constructed to inculcate the value of freedom, peace and international unity into the hearts and minds of the people. It is located in front of Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Center, Sungay East, Tagaytay City.
How to get there:
By plane
The closest major airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila).
Driving there:
Driving directions to Tagaytay for those with private cars, vans or taxi
cabs:
Option 1: via SLEX Sta. Rosa Exit, the most popular and easiest, is a straight drive all the way to Tagaytay Public Market (and right smack into Tagaytay Econo Inn) where you turn right going to Tagaytay city proper and Nasugbu/Balayan/Lemery Batangas or left going to People's Park in the Sky. Usual travel time from Makati CBD is 1.5 hours.
Option 2: SLEX Greenfields Exit, an alternate route to Tagaytay that pass by Pramana, Nuvali, Eton City and Paseo de Sta. Rosa, ideal to avoid traffic buildup on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay National Road on Saturday mornings thus making it the fastest route to Tagaytay on weekends.
Option 3: SLEX Southwoods exit then Governor's Drive in Carmona going to Dasmarinas. Turn left on Maguyam Road just before the Shell Station to your left.
Option 4: Roxas Boulevard, Baclaran, Coastal Road, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas via Aguinaldo Highway. Not recommended due to presence of heavy traffic made worse by SM Dasmarinas and Robinsons Palapala. At the end of Aguinaldo Highway is the Tagaytay Rotonda (roundabout) where a statue of Ninoy Aquino, a BPI with ATM, Days Inn, Max's Restaurant and 7-11 store as landmarks.
Option 5: Another route for the adventurous to Tagaytay is via Daang Hari that passes by Molino, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas and Silang. It bypasses the traffic chokepoint of Bacoor rotonda but not SM Dasma and Robinsons.
Option 6: From Sto. Tomas, Batangas via StarToll in going to Lipa City, take Sambat exit and follow the national road to Talisay then go up Ligaya Drive, the zigzag road to Tagaytay (sometimes called Bitukang Manok, not for the faint of heart and newbie drivers)
Note: If you're a foreigner, you can hire vans to get there or an airport taxi. Some taxi drivers charge a fixed rate or double the meter fare plus toll fees.
By bus
If you're going to Tagaytay via public transportation, request the driver to drop you off at your destination if along the way or at Tagaytay Rotonda (landmarks: Ninoy Aquino monument, BPI, Max's, 7-11) where you can ride jeepneys or tricycle to your target place.
From Manila Airport to Tagaytay City: the cheapest way is to ride the shuttle service from all terminals that pass by MRT Taft Avenue Station and ride BLTB or Crow Transit Buses to Tagaytay. Alternatively, hire a taxi to take you directly to Tagaytay.
From Mandaluyong to Tagaytay: Ride vans (V-Hires) bound for Batangas and Tagaytay in front of Starmall at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard (walking distance from MRT Shaw Boulevard station). Fare as of posting time is PhP150.00 (this is the best option for those living in Rizal province)
From Laguna to Tagaytay: In Pagsanjan Public Market, there are vans/fx/V-Hires going to Palapala in Dasmarinas Cavite. On reaching Pala-pala transport terminal (near Robinsons Dasmarinas and SM Dasma), transfer to a bus going to Tagaytay where it's less than an hour away.
Calamba to Tagaytay: ride shuttle service at the public market beside Waltermark Calamba or at the Calamba Central Terminal. Cheaper alternative, ride a jeepney going to Balibago complex in Sta. Rosa then transfer to Tagaytay-bound jeepneys.
Balibago to Tagaytay Public Market: Regular jeepneys plying the route to/from Balibago Transport terminal in Sta. Rosa Laguna to Tagaytay Public Market route.
From Alabang: ride the van/fx at the terminal at the corner of SLEX and Alabang-Zapote Road, Filinvest Festival Mall, or still another at Starmall (formerly Metropolis Mall Alabang)
From Cubao, Quezon City: ride buses going to Nasugbu, Lemery or Calatagan at Cubao Bus Terminal in front of Ali Mall.
Shuttle service (vans, FX, V-Hires) in front of EGI Mall (Jollibee) at the corner of Taft Avenue and Sen. Gil Puyat Ave (Buendia) going to Nasugbu, Balayan and Lemery, Batangas that all pass by Tagaytay.
Shuttle service (vans, FX, V-Hires) going to Nasugbu, Balayan and Lemery at Metropoint mall basement at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue (accessible from LRT EDSA Station or MRT Taft Avenue station, this is also the so-called EDSA Rotonda though there's really no rotunda there). Current fare is PhP160.00 (regardless of where you're going since it's a derecho trip...information provided by Tutubi's officemate who lives in Balayan, Batangas)
Buses to Tagaytay:
JAM Transit has trips to Tagaytay, Balayan, Batangas, Lemery. Jam Transit terminal is at Taft Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue accessible from LRT Buendia station.
Crow Transit (Crow bus terminal at the corner Taft Ave & EDSA right below MRT Taft Avenue station and walking distance from LRT EDSA station, same terminal as Erjohn & Almark and Genesis behind Sogo Hotel and MacDonalds) has buses to Nasugbu/Calatagan/Balayan in regular schedules.
BLTB (EDSA, Malibay, Pasay City) has buses every 15 minutes to Nasugbu, Balayan or Calatagan Batangas that pass by Tagaytay
Kirby Bus to Tagaytay from Lawton
San Agustin bus with signboard "Mendez-Tagaytay" from Harrison Plaza on Vito Cruz (Pablo Ocampo) or Baclaran via Coastal Road, Aguinaldo Highway to the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas and Silang before reaching Tagaytay. (note this is a slow route due to lots of chokepoints in Cavite)
Saulog Bus Lines with signboard "Mendez-Tagaytay" from Harrison Plaza in Manila or Baclaran via Coastal Road, Aguinaldo Highway to the towns of Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas and Silang before reaching Tagaytay (note this is a slow route due to lots of chokepoints in Cavite)
Celyrosa Bus Lines, ordinary buses (i.e. non-airconditioned) in Pasay City (note this is a slow route due to lots of chokepoints in Cavite)
Here is a cool tourism video about Tagaytay:
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