Famous for its cooler climate, scenic landscapes, and views of Taal Volcano, Tagaytay is one of the Philippines most popular day trip destinations from Manila. Tagaytay is full of panoramic vistas and scenic views overlooking Taal Volcano in the middle of Taal Lake.  If booking a Tagaytay day trip from Manila, expect to browse some markets, eat local dishes, visit observation decks overlooking Taal Lake, and even take a Bangka ( traditional boat of the Philippines) on Taal Lake to get close to the volcano. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Booking a Day Trip from Manila Booking a Tagaytay day trip from Manila is a great choice for a quick escape from the city without the need to plan, drive, and book all the attractions. Let a tour company handle all that while you spend your time enjoying the scenery hassle free.  Booking a day tour is convenient and saves you time. You are paired with expert guides who know the area and they stop at places you’d otherwise pass by. So I highly recommend booking a day tour to the Tagaytay area.  I booked this tour: Taal Volcano Experience Scenic Countryside and Volcano Tour The Taal Volcano Experience Tour just offered everything I was looking for in a day trip from Manila. Markets, Nature, and Volcanoes.  Through Viator or Get Your Guide, there are other Manila day tours you can look into and find the right one that best suites your Manila travel itinerary. Below are a few other tours that are worthwhile:  Spectacular Manila to Tagaytay: Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Amazing Taal Volcano Tour (Boat Included) Full-Day Manila City Tagaytay Taal Volcano and Lake Tour What to Expected on a Tagaytay Day Trip While on the Taal Volcano Experience tour I felt like the first half of the tour was a food tour, which I loved and the second half delivered with Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.  Here is the Tagaytay day trip itinerary. So whether you are booking the same Taal Volcano Tour that I did or traveling solo, feel free to follow this itinerary. If you find other cool stuff along the way, leave a comment and let me know!  Pickup from Hotel I stayed at the City Garden Suites Manila in the Ermita district.  The tour description for the Taal Volcano Experience offered free pickup/drop off from hotels in Makatai, Taguig, Ermita, Malate, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, and Pasay. For other areas, they might charge extra.  The tour van was large, spacious, and comfortable (Picture above is from a Jeepney, not the actual van). It made the couple hours drive to and from Taal Lake pretty stress free.  Try Balut at Tinahan Ng Itlog Ni Kuya Our first real stop along the way to Taal Lake was at a small roadside shack called Tinahan Ng Itlog Ni Kuya. Our guide had us try Balut.  For those that don’t know, balut is a popular Filipino street food. It consists of a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo inside.  The one I tried here I believe was a 16 day old egg so the embryo was more developed. To be honest, I like balut. If you can get passed the texture, it tastes just like a boiled egg.  Buko Pie at Cecilia’s Buco Pie, Tarts, and Pasalubong According to our tour guide, no Tagaytay day trip is complete without trying Buko Pie. Buko Pie is a sweet and creamy coconut filled pastry. It was a nice treat. Perfect blend of fresh, creamy, and coconut flavors.  We stopped at a road side stop called Cecilia’s Buco Pie, Tarts, and Pasalubong. This store had Buko Pies and a lot of Pasalubong, which makes for the perfect gift to bring back home to friends, family, or people at work. Pasalubong is like the Philippines version of Japan’s Omiyge. Sample Fruits at Vangelyn Fruit Stand The Philippines is know its variety of fresh tropical fruit. Thanks to the warm climate and fertile soil, you can find a variety of bananas, mangoes, pineapples, coconuts, jackfruit, and so much more!  On the way to Taal Lake, we stopped at a local fruit stand to try fresh Bananas and Jackfruit. I’ve seen jackfruit but have always been curious about the taste, so I was glad to try it finally. It kind of tasted sweet almost candy like.  Tagaytay Public Market Who doesn’t love a good market when traveling. As I stated earlier, this Manila to Taal Volcano tour felt more like a food tour at least the first half of it, I’m not complaining.  But we made a pit stop at the Tagaytay Public Market mainly just to walk around and see what local vendors were selling. We did try some pastry type food items that were, just alright! I love walking local markets, so this stop was an awesome addition to the Taal Volcano Tour.  People’s Park in the Sky – Observation Deck For great views of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, there are numerous observation decks in the Tagaytay area. The tour I was on stopped at an observation deck called People’s Park in the Sky.  We took a Jeepney from the parking area to the top, there is a fee to ride the Jeepney.  People’s Park in the Sky did look a little run down but seemed to be a popular area. The views here were spectacular. The majority of the time here it was foggy, but it would come and go and reveal the lake and volcano.  Taking a Bangka on Taal Lake to View Taal Volcano The final destination on our Taal Volcano tour from Manila was of course Taal Lake an Taal Volcano.  We actually got to sit in a Bangka which is a traditional Filipino boat or canoe. It’s wooden with outriggers on each side. The outriggers are usually made of long bamboo poles and they are placed on each side of the boat.  There was a boat captain but he took us on an hour-ish boat ride around Taal Lake and got us pretty close to Taal Volcano. Unfortunately, you cannot access the Taal Volcano Island. So taking a Bangka on Taal Lake is as close as you can get.  Information about Taal Lake and Taal Volcano Taal Volcano is one of the most famous natural landmarks n the Philippines especially because it is so close to Manila.  Taal Volcano is considered to be one of the smallest yet most active volcanoes in the world. It’s most recent eruption was January 2020.  Taal Lake was formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. This combination is unique because you have a volcano within a lake that is within a volcano.  Taal Lake is the third largest lake in the Philippines.  Conclusion A Tagaytay day trip from Manila is the perfect escape for travelers who are spending multiple days in Manila. I felt visiting the Tagaytay area was a great way to get out of the city and see beautiful nature and experience riding in a Bangka. There is a lot to do and see in Tagaytay. Taking a boat ride on Taal Lake to get close to Taal Volcano was definitely a highlight but I also loved trying the unique food and fresh fruit along the way. Add Tagaytay to your Philippines itinerary.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇵🇭 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Manila, the sprawling capital of the Philippines, is a city where rich history, delicious food, and exciting experiences come together. If you are looking for things to do in Manila. I am sharing my recommendations and experiences after spending four days in Manila.  I’ll cover the best things to do in Manila from exploring Intramuros to eating street food and checking out a museum or two. I took a solo trip to Manila and navigated my way through the city with ease and of course safety is priority, I’ll cover that too!  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Why Visit Manila I feel Manila gets a bad rap. Most people who travel to the Philippines, either are here for a layover or avoid it completely. I’ve been to other parts of the Philippines, I visited Cebu and Bohol and loved my time there.  I was always curious about Manila, after all, I never heard great things about the crime, trash, and chaos that everyone warned me about. But I knew there was more to Manila than the chaos I listed above, I wanted to check it out myself and see if what people said about Manila was actually true.  After spending four days in Manila on a solo trip, I do agree with some of what is said about Manila, but on the other hand, I had such a great time exploring the city and its many attractions.  Manila might not be for everyone. It’s true, it was dirty, there were homeless people sprawled out on the streets, and stray animals everywhere. But there were also amazing museums, interesting historical sites, great day trips, and amazing food.  So why visit Manila?  As long as you use common sense and stick to areas I list in this post, you won’t run into any issues. Instead you’ll learn a lot about the Philippines diverse history and culture, see how people live today, and get a better understanding of the country.  Is Manila Safe? When I told friends and family that I was traveling to Manila by myself, everyone was worried or flabbergasted that I was even considering it. After all, what do they know about Manila that I don’t? I did my research and felt confident that it wasn’t as dangerous as most make it out to be.  Like any other major city, you have to be aware and vigilant at all times. That is just being a good traveler.  The Philippines is known for petty crimes and scams. I made sure to watch my belongings, not pack anything valuable except my camera, and I knew better then to fall for any scams. Although I wasn’t presented with any during my visit.  There are good and shady places in Manila. Districts like Makati and Bonifacio Global City are generally safe. There are neighborhoods and districts like Tondo or Malate that are known to be dangerous, I obviously did my research and avoided those areas.  There was a lot of security out in the streets and building entrances, so I felt fairly safe knowing that.  Of course, there are things like natural disasters that do occur as well. I got caught in a bad storm where the streets were flooded, I waded through water that was up to my knees, had to throw out my shoes afterwards, bummer!  Overall, as a solo traveler to Manila, I felt perfectly safe. I did my research beforehand, planned well, booked tours, and was always aware of my belongings and surroundings.  Recommended Things to do in Manila After spending four days in Manila, turns out there is a lot to do and see. If you are like me and like just about everything, then Manila has plenty of options. Enjoy shopping? Manila has great malls. Into history? Then you’d love Intramuros. Are you a foodie like me? Then join a food tour and try amazing dishes that are from the Manila area.  Here is a list of things to do in Manila that I personally did and recommend.  Explore Intramuros and Fort Santiago My #1 recommended site and attraction in Manila is visiting Intramuros and Fort Santiago. I stayed n the Ermita area of Manila just to be within walking distance of Intramuros.  Intramuros is a historic walled city that was built in the 1500s by Spanish explorers. Within the walls of Intramuros, you can find San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Manila Cathedral, and Fort Santiago.  Planning your trip to Intramuros? I have an Intramuros Travel Guide Post where I dive into the history, getting around, what to see while exploring Manila’s historic walled city.   Stroll Around Rizal Park In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Manila is Rizal Park, named after Jose Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines.  Rizal Park is a sprawling urban park that is popular among both locals and tourists. Locals were out and about whether it was exercising, family gatherings, or simply taking laps around the park. Tourists, like me were going to the gardens and taking pictures of statues.  Within Rizal Park you have the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Anthropology, a Japanese and Chinese Garden, the Dancing Fountain, Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal, Jose Rizal Monument, and so much more.  Visit the National Museum of Anthropology Are you looking for free things to do in Manila? Both the Museum of Anthropology and Museum of Natural History are free and a must visit.  The Museum of Anthropology showcases an extensive collection of artifacts, tools, and displays that highlight the history and traditions of the Philippines indigenous peoples.  The museum is multiple floors and has exhibits on indigenous cultures, archaeological finds, maritime trade, and arts. For opening hours and more information, check out the National Museum of Anthropology website.  Check out the Museum of Natural History Originally, I was just going to do one of the museums in Manila but it’s hard to beat a free entrance price and the Anthropology Museum was so interesting. So I had a few hours to kill and decided to visit the Museum of Natural History, across the park. Both museums are located in beautiful neoclassic buildings, the entrance to the museum is free, and there is a bag check.  Like the Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Natural History is multiple floors showcasing the Philippines rich biodiversity from marine life to the tropical rainforests.  One of the highlights, for me at least was the taxidermied body of Lolong, a giant Indo-Pacific Crocodile. Lolong was 6.17 meters long (20 ft 3 inches) and weighed 1,075 kilograms (2,370 lbs.). Lolong was captured in a marsh because he was becoming a problem and was brought to a nature park in Bunawan to live out his days. The crocodile died while in captivity of pneumonia and cardiac arrest. What they don’t tell you is he died because the local town had no idea how to care for him. He died of infection and stress. It was all about money and tourism. RIP Lolong. Make your way to Chinatown I visited Manila’s Chinatown twice. I walked here after visiting Intramuros, and my food tour ended up here.  Chinatown is located in the Binondo district of Manila and it is the oldest Chinatown in the world. Chinatown in Manila is kind of run down but it’s fun to walk around and sample food. Try dumplings, grilled squid, and anything you can find in Manila’s Chinatown.  Join a Food Tour Joining a food tour is one of the best ways to experience food culture where ever you are. I always like to set up a food tour the first day of my trip. It kind of boosts my confidence when ordering and I get to try a lot of new food I might not know about.  Manila can seem overwhelming, so I recommend booking a food tour in Manila.  I booked this, Manila Street Food and Night Market Tour and really enjoyed it. We started at Tutuban Center and worked our way down to Chinatown.  Along the way we tried various dishes like Isaw, kwek-kwek, grilled squid, and of course balut.  You can check out the food tour here, see if it is right for you. Try Balut If you are feeling adventurous and want to try an authentic and local street food snack, then try Balut. In Manila, especially at the night markets, you can find vendors selling balut.  Everyone has heard of balut and knows what it is but most people are terrified of eating it. It’s a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo. I’ll be the first to admit, it doesn’t look great and I hesitated eating it a few times. To this date, I’ve tried balut three times and I actually don’t mind the texture and flavor. It tastes like a boiled egg with a little more texture to it. I feel if you are visiting Manila or the Philippines in general, then eating balut or at least trying it is something you have to do. So try it and please let me know what your experience is like.  Manila has Great Malls: Go to Robinsons Place I am not much of a mall-goer or shopper in general. But there have been some malls in Asia that have blown me away and I actually do enjoy. Robinsons Place in Manila being one of them.  For starters, Manila gets hot and humid, so finding a large mall to escape the heat and cool off in the air conditioning is a must. Next, I find food courts at some of these malls to be fantastic with a huge variety of local and chain restaurants.  If you are into shopping the malls in Manila have hundreds of name brand stores and local shops.  Robinsons Place was a huge mall in the Ermita area. Robinsons Mall is huge, you could spend an entire day here. It’s multiple levels and goes in every direction.  Walk the Esplanade Right outside Intramuros along the Pasig River is an Esplanade that is great for walking, checking out the city lights at night, or taking photos.  The Esplanade is a perfect place to come to and relax and escape some of the noise and chaos that comes with Manila.  At night, you might see vendors selling street food, fun activities going on here, or even small festivals.  When I visited Manila, this was a popular place for couples to hang out, take photos, and enjoy time together. Unfortunately, I was by myself, but I enjoyed the people watching.  Take a Day Trip One of my most recommended things to do in Manila is to get out of Manila and take a day trip, especially if staying in Manila for multiple days.  There is so much to explore just outside the city. Just go to Viator type in Manila and see the list of things to do.  I ended up taking this Taal Volcano Tour and it was nice to get out and see a different side of Luzon outside the big city.  The Taal Volcano Tour included a few stops at markets along the way, and stopped at a few places in Tagaytay. We then took a Bangka (traditional boat) in Taal Lake and got close to Taal Volcano.  Conclusion From the historic charm of Intramuros to trying balut during a street food tour, Manila is a city with a lot to offer and deserves more attention. I took a solo trip to Manila not knowing what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised by so many things, like the cleanliness of Rizal Park, the gigantic malls, and of course Intramuros.  With so many people shocked