Wondering what you can do in Q.C.? In this article, we listed the top 11 things to do in Quezon City and the places you can visit.

Things to do in Quezon City

1.            Take a time out at these nature parks

Relax and be at one with nature by visiting these nature parks in Quezon City. Whether you’re on a budget or you don’t have time to go out of town, these places offer you a quick and sweet escape from the hectic city life.

●     La Mesa Eco Park (La Mesa Dam Compound, Greater Lagro, Q.C.)

La Mesa Eco Park gives its visitors a true forest experience. With a minimum donation of Php40, you can already access its rich flora and fauna. Among the activities you can do based on the park’s latest guidelines include running, walking, and meditation.

But once the pandemic is over or the IATF lifts restrictions, you can try other activities like boating, swimming, photoshoots, and picnics.

The park is open from 6 am until 12 noon every day. You can also follow their official

 Facebook page for updates.

●     La Mesa Watershed (4332, Quezon City Dr, Novaliches, Q.C.)

La Mesa Watershed and the La Mesa Eco Park are both parts of the La Mesa Nature Reserve that’s open to the public. Eco Park is best for recreational activities. The Watershed, meanwhile, is more suited for people who seek fun and adventure.

Its total land area measures 26.59 km², so you’ll need a guide to go around the place.

Right now, the place allows trail run, hiking, and biking. They also accept a maximum of 50 visitors per day. To enter, you need to give a minimum of Php200 per head if you’re with 5-10 people. If your group is less than 5 or you’re going solo, the minimum donation is Php1,000.

●     Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (Elliptical Rd, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila)

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) is strategically located in the heart of Quezon City. But once inside, you can’t feel that you’re in the middle of the bustling metropolis at all. It’s the home to over 3,000 trees and more than 1,000 animals. It also

serves as the rehabilitation center of injured wild animals. Once they’re healed and ready, the park releases them back into the wild.

The entrance fee costs: Php30 for adults, Php15 for students, and Php100 for foreigners. People with disabilities, senior citizens, and children below seven (7) years old can go inside the park for free.

The park is open every Wednesday to Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm.

2.            Go on a food trip

Hungry? Go to Q.C. As the largest city in Metro Manila, you can always find a unique restaurant in this place. Hop around Maginhawa Street to try out various food places with quirky themes.

Or visit Tomas Morato for a fine dining experience.

●     Maginhawa Street (Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City)

Are you looking for a place where you can enjoy good food while doing an activity you enjoy? If yes, then Maginhawa Street is your place to go. This two-kilometer street inside Teachers Village is perfect for foodies who love to discover extraordinary food places.

For example, Snacks & Ladder is one of the places you must try if you love board games. Or if you’re an art lover, you can visit Van Gogh is Bipolar.

●     Tomas Morato Avenue (Diliman, Q.C.)

Tomas Morato is a suburb in Quezon City famous for its fancy restaurants. The eateries here are perfect for romantic date nights, formal dinners, or when you simply want to enjoy classy foods.

Alternatively, this place is also popular for its comedy bards, discos, and karaoke places.

3.            Try out these under-the-radar coffee shops

Coffee shops are the usual go-to place to study, work, catch up with friends, and get a good beverage. But commercial shops are often crowded. It can also get too repetitive. So if you’re looking for a coffee shop that’s oozing with chill vibes, take a look at our top 5 recommendations:

●        Common Folk Coffee Bar (Katipunan Avenue)

●        MA+D Manila Café (Diliman)

●        Kandle Café (Mother Ignacia, Diliman)

●        Jiro Coffee Studio (Mother Ignacia, Diliman)

●        Prominent (Scout Alcaraz Street cor. D. Tuazon, Banawe, Q.C.)

4.            Discover unique finds in these local markets

Are you in the mood for shopping? Skip malls. Try these local markets instead. It’s a good way to support local Filipino products and small businesses. As a shopper, visiting these local markets isn’t about running an errand or fulfilling a routine. Rather, it lets you find unique stuff you can’t find in most malls.

The prices here are also cheaper compared to larger establishments. Talk about hitting multiple birds in one stone!

Here are the popular local markets you can visit in Quezon City:

●        Sidcor Sunday Market (Eton Centris Walk Parking Lot)

Sidcor Sunday Market is the most popular weekend market in Q.C. It offers a huge selection of food, plants, clothes, household goods, and pottery.

It’s open every Sunday from 6 am to 2 pm. If you want dibs on the best products, you must go to the weekend market as early as possible.

●        Dapitan Arcade (Dapitan, cor. Kanlaon St. Quezon City)

This place is popular for its export-quality home improvement items. Find hard-to-find products at low prices to decorate your house and create your style.

●        Quezon City Memorial Circle Plant Center

Shout out to all plantitas and plantitos out there! The Q.C. the circle plant center is the place for you. You can find tons of domestic and exotic plants in this area, including other gardening tools.

●        Farmers Market (Cubao, Quezon City)

Another go-to-market in the city is the Farmers Market where you can buy fresh seafood, cooking ingredients, household products, flowers, and more.

5.            Strike your most Instagrammable pose at this 3D art museum

Art in Island is an interactive art exhibit where you can strike a pose and pretend that you’re a part of the painting.

The entrance ticket to the gallery costs Php500 for adults and Php400 for students, PWDs, and senior citizens. You can go and buy your tickets directly in Art in Island without prior reservation. Their new restaurant, Jeongwon, is also a must-try when you visit this interactive museum.

6.            Visit an animal shelter

If you love furbabies, you might want to pay a visit to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). This non-government organization takes care of abused dogs and cats and prepares them for adoption.

Chances are, you can find a furbaby that can capture your heart and be your loyal companion. If you don’t have the ability to adopt yet but have some free time, you may want to apply as a volunteer. PAWS offers volunteering opportunities where you can do direct animal care, perform admin tasks, or spread awareness to prevent animal cruelty.

You can find PAWS at Aurora Blvd. Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights. It’s only 500 meters away from LRT-Katipunan.

Aside from PAWS, you may also want to visit other local dog pounds to see if there’s any dog you can help or adopt.

7.            Unleash your artsy side at Cubao Expo

Cubao Expo is an artsy hub behind Farmers Plaza and Gateway Mall. it’s a popular hangout place for millennials due to its vibrant resto-bars at night.

During the daytime, it’s a haven for artists, book lovers, and collectors. This artsy hub gives you access to offbeat establishments that sell art items, collector toys, antiques, kitsch items, and other vintage collections.

Most of the stores here also look vintage, as if you’ve traveled back in time.

8.            Go on a side trip to this 3D printing shop

3D printing is one of the coolest things you can do in Quezon City. But instead of buying a 3D printer right away, you can visit this 3D printing shop first to learn more about this fantastic technology. Google Map your way there.

MakerCarl works with the best 3D printing artists. They have over 80 printers in-house, expanding their knowledge about 3D printing. You can also buy your starter items like filaments.

This can be your next most interesting hobby. Later on, once you’re good at it, you can even turn it into a business.