Rizal Park

Also called Luneta, this sprawling seafront park is the symbolic center of the nation — home to the Rizal Monument and its ceremonial honor guard, marking the spot of the hero's 1896 execution. Locals come for morning exercise, fountains, gardens and open-air concerts. It anchors the museum district just north. Best for: an easy, free introduction to Manila's civic heart, ideally paired with the nearby national museums.