Walking Manila’s Green Loop: From Binondo to Intramuros (and Beyond)

The last time I wandered through Binondo, I was with my friends who wanted to 5really get to know the city. They dragged me down Escolta’s art deco corridor, over Jones Bridge’s restored walkway, and straight into something Manila rarely offers: a scenic riverside stroll that doesn’t require dodging traffic.

The Pasig River Esplanade stretched ahead like a dare: Go on, try walking me. This wasn’t the Pasig I grew up with—back then, the river was more punchline for a song than destination. Now it’s stitching together a walkable Manila, one bridge at a time.

What struck me wasn’t just the novelty of walking beside water in Manila. It was how this path connects places that once felt like separate worlds. The colonial stones of Intramuros no longer feel like a museum diorama when you can walk there along the river. Arroceros Urban Forest Park—Manila’s “last lung”—sits tucked into this emerging green loop, no longer under threat but thriving.

And here’s the kicker: Mayor Isko Moreno confirmed the Metropolitan Theater connection opens September 17 (barring any incident). Start in Binondo, cross Jones Bridge, follow the river breeze through Intramuros, and end up at the MET’s neon-pastel steps—all without Manila traffic as your soundtrack.

For a city famous for swallowing sidewalks, this feels rebellious. A pedestrian rebellion, proving Manila still has room for anyone who wants to feel river wind without exhaust fumes.

It’s not just a plan anymore. You can walk it right now.

Your Manila Walking Tour Route

Start: Binondo via Escolta Street Enter Manila’s Chinatown through its art deco heart. Grab xiao long bao, freshly pressed cane juice, admire the restored facades, and prepare for about 3-4 kilometers of actual pleasant walking. We walked from our hotel at the Reina Regente (Lucky Chinatown Hotel where we had our girls night out),

Stop 1: Jones Bridge The restored 1920s bridge offers skyline views and Instagram-worthy lamp posts. This is where old Manila meets the new riverside path. Cross slowly. Pause for photos of the restored lamp posts and skyline views.

Stop 2: Pasig River Esplanade Follow the newly paved walkway from the Central Post Office toward Plaza Mexico. River views, benches, and shade—imagine that in Manila.

Stop 3: Intramuros Walking Tour Enter through Plaza Mexico. Hit Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, or just wander the cobblestones and channel your inner Maria Clara and Crisostomo. Your choice of historic adventure. (Entrance fee is P50)

Stop 4: Arroceros Urban Forest Park Detour for Manila’s expanded “last lung”—trees, walking paths, and a fish pond. Perfect for a breather before your final stop.

Stop 5: Metropolitan Theater (from Sept 17) End your walk with a photo op at the MET’s neon-pastel facade. The riverside link officially opens mid-September 2025.

Practical Walking Tips

Best Times: Early morning (7-9 AM) or late afternoon (4-6 PM). Midday will cook you faster than street-side turon and fishballs.

What to Bring:

• Hat or umbrella for Manila’s sun
• Refillable water bottle
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Phone for photos (obviously)

Food Stops Along the Way:

• Binondo: Lumpia, dumplings, hopia from heritage shops
• Escolta: Third-wave coffee and creative spaces
• Intramuros: Sit-down Filipino restaurants for your post-walk meal

The Bigger Picture: How Manila Is Going Green

This walking loop isn’t happening in a vacuum. Here’s where Manila’s green transformation actually stands:

Arroceros Urban Forest Park: The Comeback Story

Remember when this park was almost paved over for a government building? Not anymore. Protected by city ordinance in 2020, Arroceros expanded from 2.5 to 7.5 hectares and reopened in February 2022 with proper walking paths, a restored fish pond, and riverside access. As of April 2024, the city reaffirmed its commitment to keeping it development-free.

Pasig River Esplanade: Connecting the Dots

This riverside walkway is part of the national “Pasig: Bigyang Buhay Muli” project. Phase 1A (Central Post Office to Jones Bridge) opened in January 2024. Phase 1C (Jones Bridge to Plaza Mexico) followed in June. Phase 3, linking Plaza Mexico to Fort Santiago, began construction in February 2025, adding 2,000 square meters of new public space.

Translation: The full Binondo-to-Intramuros riverside walk will be complete soon.

The Debates Still Happening

Not everything is moving fast. The Intramuros Golf Course remains exactly that—a golf course, complete with night golfing. Urban planners like Paulo Alcazaren keep pushing for its conversion into a public park with sports facilities, picnic areas, and native flora. But skeptics worry about maintenance costs and political will. At the last Creative Tourism Conference at the Metropolitan Theater last September 3-4, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno reiterated the call to transfer back the management of the golf course back to the city.

The ambitious “City Walk” vision—an elevated pedestrian corridor linking Rizal Park, Intramuros, and the National Museum—remains on drawing boards. Great concept, no shovels in the ground yet.

What’s Actually Working

The Real Test

Manila is genuinely creating walkable, green spaces in its historic core. The Pasig Esplanade works. Arroceros is protected and expanding. Intramuros is reconnecting to the rest of the city on foot instead of just by car.

But here’s the thing about Manila development projects: the real test isn’t the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It’s whether these spaces survive beyond mayoral terms. Can the city maintain what it’s building? Will the next administration continue nurturing walkable infrastructure, or will we get another round of “traffic solutions” that prioritize cars over feet?

The loop is walkable now. The question is whether it stays that way.

Ready to walk it yourself? Start in Binondo this weekend. Bring water, comfortable shoes, and maybe a little skepticism—but also hope. Manila might just surprise you.

Looking for more Manila walking routes? Check out our guides to [Escolta’s Art Deco District] and [Malate’s Historic Walk]. Or share your own discoveries from this green loop—tag us and tell us what we missed.