Research, including one by the British Journal of Psychiatry, shows time and again that green spaces have a tremendous impact on mental health. But as Kermit says, “It’s not easy being green.” Apart from La Mesa Eco Park and Arroceros Forest Park, there’s just not a lot of flora in Metro Manila. In fact, according to the Urban Environment and Social Inclusion Index, only Muntinlupa and Quezon City meet the recommended amount of green space per capita. 

While Metro Manila doesn’t have an unlimited supply of Central Park-esque areas, it makes up for it with pockets of greenery that make living in this urban jungle much more tolerable.

Need a bigger dose of fresh air and stress relief? These eco parks and wildlife centers provide the perfect escape from city life.

Known as “Manila’s last ecological frontier,” La Mesa Ecopark is a nature reserve with spots for paintball, wall climbing, rappelling, and archery. After its management shifted to the Manila Water Foundation, the 33-hectare green space began a phased revamp. You can still enjoy nature walks, picnics, jogging, and cycling—La Mesa has trails and running paths with varying degrees of difficulty. Once the restoration is complete, you can look forward to the lagoon, Flower Hill, Neptune Garden, and campsites. 

Back in the day, fishing and boating were allowed, but it remains to be seen whether these activities will be available again.

The park is free for Quezon City residents with proper identification. However, some activities may require a separate admission fee. Visit the MWF website to book a slot.

Location: La Mesa Dam Compound, Greater Lagro (along Commonwealth Avenue), Fairview, Quezon City

Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday

Fee: ₱20 for non-residents

The “Last Lung of Manila” is a 2.7-hectare space on the south bank of Pasig River. It’s an ideal spot for naturalists to enjoy the hundreds of tree and plant varieties. Arroceros is home to at least 25 bird species and serves as a respite for migratory birds, too. You can check them at the bird-watching towers stationed throughout the park. Kids will also enjoy the koi pond and fountain.

If you’re a runner, Arroceros has a 0.8-km loop, perfect for an easy run amidst the tranquil greenery.

Location: 659 A. Antonio Villegas Street, Ermita, Manila

Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Many people don’t realize that in the middle of Quezon City’s busiest areas lies a 22.7-hectare sanctuary that’s both a zoo and a garden. As a rescue center, many of its animals are on display, including tigers, crocodiles, monkeys, pythons, and eagles. It also has over 2,000 plant species, ranging from native trees to vibrant flowering plants.

You can relish the peace beside the man-made lagoon, enjoy a quiet boat ride, or fish. If you want a private place to relax, you can book a cabana for ₱500. You can also explore their biking and running paths. Bikes are also available for rent. Unlike other green spaces on this list, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center has restaurants, making it fun for a daylong stay.

Location: Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: ₱15- ₱30

LPPWP is a 175-hectare protected wetland and nature reserve along the coast of Manila Bay. Its mangroves, mudflats, and lagoons host over 80 bird species on top of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and other animals. Established to protect critical habitats and biodiversity and promote ecotourism, it is often nicknamed the "last coastal frontier."

The park, often the target of urban development and reclamation projects, is a venue for environmental advocacy. Here, visitors can learn about the impact of pollution and climate change and the importance of preserving natural habitats. A boardwalk in the middle of the picture-perfect mangrove forest lets you appreciate LPPWP’s efforts.

Location: Coastal Rd. San Dionisio, Parañaque

Hours: Visits must be scheduled in advance, call (+63)991 771 2566

From historical walled gardens to modern urban oases, Metro Manila offers a diverse range of green spaces to explore.

More grass than trees, Luneta remains an idyllic Sunday family outing spot. You’ll find street vendors, dancing fountains, playgrounds, food stalls, martial artists, runners, Zumba folk, and more—each with their little corner of the 58-hectare park.

As one of the largest urban parks in the country, Luneta is divided into pocket gardens (including ones donated by Taiwan and Japan and the Manila Orchidarium), ponds, and monuments. It has Jose Rizal’s tomb (complete with guards in full regalia) and the Zero Mile Stone, which marks the starting point for measuring road distances. There’s also a lagoon and an open-air auditorium.

Within walking distance are Manila Ocean Park, the National Museum of Anthropology, and Intramuros, where you'll see more greenery.

Location: Ermita, Manila

Hours: Open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The historic walled city houses many small gardens, peppering the cobbled roads and heritage buildings with refreshing green spaces. If you’re looking for greenery in Intramuros, make sure to drop by the Baluarte de San Diego Gardens, Puerta Real Gardens, Plaza Moriones, Plaza de Roma, and Fort Santiago Gardens.

Location: Bonifacio Drive and Padre Burgos Street, Manila

Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Some areas may have different opening hours.)

Fee: ₱75

If you’re looking for a quiet place to think and gather your bearings, you can make a beeline for Paco Park. This former municipal cemetery has promenades and a chapel, making it a top choice for weddings and photoshoots. At the center is a picturesque fountain that lights up in the evening.

Location: General Luna Street, Paco, Manila

Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ayala Triangle Gardens comes alive every Christmas, thanks to its spectacular lights-and-sounds show. On a regular day, it’s pretty scenic, too: over a hundred trees canopying 20,000 square meters. You can jog around the area or simply enjoy the verdure on one of the benches.

While it’s a nice green spot in the middle of the central business district, Ayala Triangle’s claim to fame is its roster of restaurants. Choose from the roster of restaurants at the perimeter of the gardens (Manam, H Proper Coffee Roasters, Kazu Cafe, and more).

Location: Paseo De Roxas Street corner Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, Makati

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The main event in this national park is the 66-meter mausoleum where former President Manuel L. Quezon and his wife are interred.

Small green spaces, like the Hardin ng Mga Bulaklak, Cactus and Succulent Garden, and Tropical Garden, speckle QC Circle. The park also served as the first location for Mayor Joy Belmonte’s Joy of Urban Farming Project, which currently uses 1,500 square meters of the Circle’s 27-hectare space.

Urban merrymakers might enjoy the playground, amusement park, bike track, eateries, pond, Sky bike, paddle-boating, and go-karts. Entrance is free, but these activities may require a separate admission fee.

Location: Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

Hours: Open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This place is more blue than green, but it’s a much-welcome outdoor space for Marikina residents. The 22-hectare, 11-kilometer-long recreational green space stretches beside the Marikina River and makes room for an amphitheater, floating stage, Roman garden, Chinese pagoda, gazebo, and riverboats. There’s also a picnic area as well as a basic trail for runners and cyclists.

It’s also an ideal location to watch the annual Mama Mary Fluvial Parade in May.

Location: 300 Shoe Avenue, Sto. Nino, Marikina

Hours: Open 24/7

UP Diliman is a familiar stomping ground for joggers, barkadas, and families craving al fresco relaxation in Quezon City. There are pockets of green spaces around campus, but the Sunken Garden (and its surrounding areas) is the most popular. It hosts various activities—from university events to football workshops and fun runs.

You can pack a picnic lunch, but the university also has restaurants, street vendors, and concessionaires at your disposal.

Location: Diliman, Quezon City

Hours: Open 24/7 (guards may ask loiterers to leave by 10 p.m.)

Greenfield District is a mixed-use development a street away from Shangri-La Plaza. Amid the condos, strip malls, and office spaces are patches of green that comprise 40% of the total space. The biggest one is Central Park, which hosts the Greenfield Weekend Market (Friday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.). When you’ve gotten your fill from the bevy of eateries, you can work up a sweat at Climb Central Manila, an indoor wall-climbing gym.

You can also jog around the area—though foot traffic can be crowded during rush hour.

Location: Highway Hills, Mandaluyong

Hours: Open 24/7

The lawn alongside Estancia Mall may not seem like much, but you can’t be choosy about your green spaces in the big city. Families love the big, open plot of grass—great for running around, blowing bubbles, and flying kites. After some outdoor fun, you can pick from their many cafes and restaurants (Clockwork, Angkan, Sentro 1771, to name a few) or just enjoy a regular day of malling.

Location: Ortigas Center, Pasig

Hours: Open daily and closes at 10 p.m.

Ayala Land’s Bonifacio Global City and Megaworld’s McKinley Hill, McKinley West, and Uptown are well-known to Metro Manila folk for integrating green spaces throughout a mostly urban setting. Here, parks, gardens, and playgrounds mingle with skyscrapers, malls, and condos.

Some of the grassy stretches in the area include Track 30th, Terra 28th, the recently reopened Mind Museum Park, Bonifacio High Street, Forbes Town Center Park, Burgos Circle, and the De Jesus Oval. Greenway Park from 31st Street to McKinley is the longest linear jogging path in Metro Manila at 1.2 kilometers.

Fort Bonifacio is a favorite among joggers, dog walkers, and families for its mix of green settings with accessible, commercial amenities.

Location: Taguig

Hours: Open 24/7

Nearby residents love Jaime C. Velasquez Park (yes, that’s its official name) for providing much-needed breathing space in the city. However, it’s also a destination for non-Makati natives, thanks, in large part, to the Salcedo Saturday Market, which happens weekly from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No matter the day, however, you can take your family to enjoy the playground and pet park. After its revamp in 2021, the park improved its jogging path and installed bike racks for cyclists needing a breather between rides.

Location: Tordesillas, Makati

Hours: Open 24/7

Commonly confused with Salcedo Park, Legazpi Active Park, 1.2 kilometers away, is a well-manicured, open lawn complete with walkways, jogging paths, and a kids’ playground. It’s not huge, but there’s enough room to enjoy picnics, play Frisbee, or even listen to the occasional busker. Classes for calisthenics, martial arts, or other outdoor activities are occasionally held on the grass, too. Like Salcedo, it has a weekend market open every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Rada, Salcedo, and Gamboa Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Washington Sycip Park isn’t the most popular Makati park. In fact, people often lump it with Legazpi Active Park two minutes away. Unlike other green belts that promote physical activity, this park’s appeal lies in its Zen ambiance—it even has a Japanese rock garden!

Here, you can take pleasure in observing the numerous Impy Pilapil sculptures, koi pond, and gazebo.

Location: Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

You won’t often see this San Juan haunt in lists for best parks, but it’s a pretty nifty open space for residents of the area. Plus, it offers a great history lesson!

The shrine, the centerpiece of the 5-hectare park, features a sculpture of three revolutionaries by renowned artist Eduardo Castrillo. The shrine stands atop El Deposito, a Spanish-era water reservoir that played a key role in the 1896 battle.

Learn about this pivotal moment in Philippine history where Katipuneros, led by Andres Bonifacio, fought for independence. Explore the two museums on site—Museo ng Katipunan and Museo El Deposito—both offering free admission. You can also enjoy biking and running along the paved walkways.

Location: Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan

Hours: Open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Looking for a sprawling green space with lush lawns, walking paths, and various amenities for all ages? Head to Filinvest City Central Park, a popular spot for picnics, jogging, biking, and simply relaxing amid the greenery.

Families will love the playground and open spaces for kids to run and play. You’ll also find benches scattered throughout, providing peaceful spots to unwind and enjoy the fresh air. Filinvest City often hosts events and activities in the park, adding to its community spirit.

Location: Spectrum District, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Hours: Open 24/7, but some areas may have specific hours

Take your pick from the many refreshing green escapes in Metro Manila. Go from La Mesa Ecopark to Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, and all the parks in between. Never miss these urban oases and share your adventures with a strong 5G connection.

Manila’s green spaces offer more than just scenic views and fresh air — they’re perfect for creating memories and staying active. Whether you’re snapping photos with your brand new iPhone 16 Pro or tracking your fitness goals with your Galaxy Watch7, these parks provide the perfect setting. Try Globe Prepaid Go+99, and choose from GoSHARE, GoWATCH, and GoPLAY to share your experiences in nature online, stream fitness tutorials, or enjoy interactive gaming while soaking up the outdoors.