Rizal Park (Luneta)

The Rizal Park (also Luneta Park) is Manila's green lung and the symbolic center of the nation. Here, on December 30, 1896, national hero José Rizal was executed by the Spanish — an event that sparked the Philippine Revolution. His monument and grave are guarded by an honor guard and are an almost sacred place for Filipinos.

The park spans 58 hectares and offers, in addition to the Rizal Monument, a Japanese and Chinese garden, an orchid garden, the National Museum of the Philippines (free admission!), and the planetarium. On weekends, the park transforms into a folk festival: families picnic, street performers perform, and young couples stroll hand in hand.

The National Museum is a must-visit: The National Museum of Fine Arts houses Juan Luna's monumental painting "Spoliarium" (1884) — a masterpiece depicting the pain under Spanish colonial rule and considered one of the most significant artworks in Southeast Asia. Admission has been free since 2014 — a rare generosity that should be taken advantage of.