Top 10 Christmas Attractions Near and Within The Metro To Visit This Holiday!!

We are only two months away from the much awaited Holiday of the year! Now is the perfect time to bring your family or invite your friends to visit those colorful Christmas attractions near the Metro. Now that Christmas is nearly approaching, it is not really surprising that those Christmas-related gimmicks are starting to emerge. Philippines is known for having the longest Holiday season which usually starts around September and will conclude on the first week of January in celebration with the Three Kings. We can start hearing those Holiday songs as soon as the “ber” month begins while Christmas parties and other celebrations are in full swing during these period.  Take advantage of your Holiday vacation and make sure to visit at least one (or better yet all) of these Christmas attractions near or within the Metro.

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Policarpio Street In Mandaluyong City
Every holiday season, this particular street in Mandaluyong is illuminating with colorful flickering lights and adorned with flamboyant Christmas decorations. It has become a tradition for the residence of Policarpio Street to decorate their houses in a grandest way! It all started with Mrs Norma Lim’s house and the small Belen she placed on her garden. It soon started to grab attention until it became a tourist attraction. Now, every families of Policarpio Street celebrates the Holiday season by decorating and illuminating their houses and garden with overwhelming amount of Christmas lights and displays. Dubbed as “Paskong Pasko sa Policarpio” , the street alone managed to draw more than a hundred thousand visitors from all over the country making it as one of the famous Christmas Destinations in the metro! Policarpio will turn the lights on usually during the last week of November.
Entrance Fee : FREE

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Snow World At Star City in Pasay

[UPDATE] : GOOD NEWS! Snow World is Back!

Being on a tropical country, we are always dreaming to experience that “White Christmas” which is naturally impossible but the Snow World Attraction in Star City will turn these dreams into a reality. In partnership with Winter Wonderland Entertainment, Star City will take you to a very unique attraction which allows visitors to experience winter forever! The attraction is open daily regardless of the season! It features various ice sculptures and brags their Ice Slide which is considered as the biggest one in the country. The slide is about 68 meters long and the place is under 15 degree Celsius cold (yes you can literally see your freezing breath much like those in the movies). You can make snowballs and have some pictorials inside (with charges apply)!

Entrance Fee: Snow World has a separate fee on top of the standard admission rate of Star City. Currently, the Star Pass is worth Php549. They offer a bundle package (Star Pass + Snow World) worth Php 709. If not booked via bundle package, Snow World entrance is currently at Php 190 per pax.

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The Festival Of Lights In Ayala Triangle Gardens , Ayala
Whether you just need to find a place to relax after work or you want to bring your family in a place within the metro, the Ayala Triangle Gardens is definitely a perfect spot. The Festival of Lights has become a yearly Christmas attractions in the Metro which transform the garden into a colorful light and sound display! This is not a typical Christmas light display attraction as the lights are actually dancing in three wonderful Christmas medleys! Last year, the Ayala Triangle Garden started off their Light and Sound Show as early as November 15 and ran until January 8th. It is publicly accessible and there is no admission fee involved! The show runs daily for every 30 minute time interval!

[UPDATE: In observance of the pandemic, Ayala Triangle Gardens launched a virtual edition of their Festival of Lights last year. It is not yet clear if they will bring the highly anticipated Christmas light show this year]

Entrance Fee : FREE

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SM Mall of Asia Christmas Display
If you are planning for a Christmas shopping, then you should also take advantage of SM Mall of Asia’s annual Christmas display! The mall will be decorated with many Christmas decorations in almost every corner! Some of thei major halls will be filled with gigantic Christmas displays. The giant Christmas three and other picture-worthy Christmas attractions will instantly grab your attention. You should also not miss their colorful attractions in the Bay area. The Christmas displays were accompanied by wonderful holiday songs and for full holiday experience, make sure to wait for their 5 minute long fireworks display every Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM. (Check : Christmas Decors at SM Mall of Asia)

Entrance Fee : FREE

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Christmas Village in Crosswinds Swiss Luxury Resort in Tagaytay
If you are aiming for one luxurious staycation that will allow you to experience a pinch of Switzerland, then Crosswinds Swiss Luxury Resort is the right place! Just few hours away from the Metro, you will find this interesting resort and hotel in Tagaytay. The resort has many interesting features including the amazing Swiss Village adorned with Swiss-inspired houses which makes you feel that you are transported in a small Coca-Cola Village diorama. Speaking of which, one of their highlights is the Christmas Village located on top of the hill which includes a Santa House and store that kids will enjoy. This resort will definitely give you a different taste of Tagaytay!

Check Their Rates Here

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Fantasy World In Batangas
Dubbed as the Philippines’ Disneyland, the Fantasy World in Lemery, Batangas is starting to regain its glory after being reopened to public! Who would have thought that this abandoned themepark can become a huge hit again! It could have been the country’s version of Disneyland packed with amazing rides and other attractions but the Japanese owner couldn’t secure enough fund to make this ambitious project possible. You can , however, see those abandoned rides along the Medieval-inspired castle. The property is now being handed over to the homeowners association who are now doing a great job in promoting this old theme park. The place features a huge Instagram-Worthy castle which is actually accessible, a garden, a hanging bridge, abandoned rides (ideal for concept photographers) and more.

Entrance Fee : Php1,000 for 10 Pax

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The Gingerbread House in Alfonso, Cavite
Located in Alfonso, Cavite (just few minutes away from Tagaytay) is another interesting Christmas attraction. The Gingerbread House! As what the title suggests, you will be welcomed with a Gingerbread inspired house adorned with colorful candies, toy soldiers and snow-like decorations. Don’t worry, the house is not owned by a witch but just a product of the owner’s creative imagination. The interior is equally colorful and engaging. They have a bakery shop inside and a cafe which not only allows you to purchase their yummy pastries but also allows you to decorate your own! They got souvenir shops and they also have a spa dedicated for moms and their daugthers. Every corner of this place is absolutely picture-worthy! Don’t miss their huge teddy bear too!

Entrance Fee: Php150 (Adults), Php100 (Kids) Php120 (PWD/Seniors) – They are open Daily from 8am to 6pm

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Casa Santa Museum in Antipolo
So how does over 4,000 Santa Item collection sounds to you? Located in Antipolo within the Jardin de Miramar premises lies a very unique museum ~ the Casa Santa! It houses over 4,000 Santa and Christmas related items which fills the entire two story building. Much like the one in Alfonso, Cavite, Casa Santa has a Gingerbread-inspired exterior but you will be welcomed by an overwhelming collection that varies in size and shape. There’s a dining area filled with Santa memorabilla (from flatware to utensils). he Casa Santa was converted from a family rest house into a museum of Santa Claus collection in 1995. There’s a distinct collection of vintage snow globes, a collection of Santa images from different countries, the tiniest Santa image and a whole lot more! (Check : Biyaheng Antipolo : Casa Santa Museum)

Entrance Fee : Tickets starts at Php250 per head (minimum of 5-10 pax) Open Everyday from 8 am to 5pm (for 4 pax below- they are open from 2-4 pm every weekends)

NOTE: Casa Santa will reopen in September 1st

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Christmas Village In Baguio City
Baguio will not just give you that breezy Christmas experience but also allows you to experience the White Christmas! Matched with glowing Christmas trees, gigantic decorations and artificial snow, the Christmas Village in Baguio will truly uplift your Christmas spirit! Last year, they got two themes, one is dedicated for Pokemon (the hype of Pokemon Go game) and a Traditional Christmas village theme! Of course, the Christmas experience was made even more realistic with that 15 degree temperature (or even lower) so expect to see people wearing those thick jackets as if you are in foreign country! Definitely a great Christmas attraction for family which is just few hours away from the Metro!

Entrance Fee : Php100 for Adults, Php50 for Kids and Free for kids 3 years old below

Note: Christmas Village in Baguio typically opens every October to January

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The Giant Lantern Festival In Pampanga
If you are not fond of Christmas Villages, then you might consider marveling the Pinoy’s creativity by attending the Giant Lantern Festival in Pampanga. The event is held yearly in the city of San Fernando, Pampanga a day prior to Christmas Eve. It is now considered as one of the most popular festivals in the country which help the province to earn the title as the”Christmas Capital of the Philippines”. Each barrio or barangay will present their gigantic Parol (lantern) in front of the town church. The Giant Lantern exhibition will start this coming December 17, 2017!

Entrance Fee : FREE (Public Viewing)

Note: The lanterns are open for public viewing but requires entry pass to view them up-close.