Urban parks: eight green spaces around the world that are worth a visit

BarcelonaBeing in London and strolling through Hyde Park, spending a weekend in Paris and visiting the Luxembourg Gardens, or going to Madrid and crossing El Retiro Park is a common practice for residents and tourists visiting these major capital cities. For city dwellers, urban parks and gardens are places to reconnect with nature, relax, and engage in various recreational activities. They are also spaces that promote health. A Greenpeace report maintains that, when it comes to green spaces in urban areas, all cities should follow the 3-30-300 rule, so that each person can see at least three trees from their home, have 30% vegetation cover in their neighborhood, and be within 300 meters of a decent park. According to the organization, being in contact with green spaces offers benefits such as mitigating high temperatures and flooding; improving mental health and contributing to better brain development and cognitive function; and helping to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and premature mortality. In the main Catalan cities, we also find green spaces that provide oxygen to the urban environment, with some notable examples such as the Devesa Park in Girona, the largest urban park in the country with more than 2,500 centuries-old trees; the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona, ​​built at the end of the 19th century and the first park specifically designed as a public park; the Parc del Milagro in Tarragona; and the Parc dels Camps Elisis in Lleida, with its various landscaped areas. However, these parks and gardens are far from the size of some of the most important and well-known urban parks found around the world.

Spanning over 400 hectares, Munich's English Garden is one of the world's largest urban parks. It was designed in 1789 as a two-part park: one part a military garden and the other the city's first public park. In 1792, the two parts were merged and opened to the public. It boasts 78 kilometers of walking paths, landscaped areas, and intriguing buildings such as a 35-meter-high Chinese pagoda, a Japanese teahouse where ceremonies are regularly held, and a small Greek-style temple dating from 1836. The park is bisected by a large artificial canal, known as the Eisbach (frozen stream), where there is a wave zone that many people take advantage of to surf.

Known as one of the city's oldest parks, this urban park stretches along a coastal stretch, lined with embassies and villas. Located at the southern edge of the city center, it offers magnificent views of the Baltic Sea and the islands surrounding Helsinki. Don't miss the breathtaking views from the Ursa Observatory and the vibrant cultural scene within the park, especially during the summer months.

Spanning over 140 hectares, Hyde Park is the largest park in central London. A recreational haven for Londoners and tourists alike, it offers a variety of activities besides strolling along its numerous paths, such as sunbathing, skating, cycling, or renting a rowboat on the central lake, the Serpentine, a small oasis inhabited by diverse aquatic life. One of its most iconic spots is Speakers' Corner, where on Sunday mornings a diverse array of characters (orators and eccentrics) gather to deliver speeches on a range of topics, from religious to political.

Spanning over 700 hectares, it is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. Established in 1662 as a deer reserve, it was redesigned in 1745 and opened to the public. Pay attention to the wooded areas; you can still find numerous deer families there. Other points of interest include the Phoenix Column, Dublin Zoo, the Wellington Obelisk, and the People's Garden, the only landscaped and cultivated area in this predominantly woodland park.

Spanning 125 hectares and boasting over 15,000 trees, El Retiro Park is a verdant haven in the heart of Madrid. It features several gardens, including the Perennial Garden, the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens (classical gardens with Andalusian influences), the Herrero Palacios Gardens, the Rose Garden, and the French Parterre. Besides being one of the city's green lungs, it is also a hub for culture, leisure, and sports for both locals and visitors. Among its most important architectural and historical landmarks are the Estany Gran (Great Lake), the Velázquez Palace, and the Crystal Palace.

It is the most important and iconic green space in the city of Buenos Aires, also known as "the Palermo Woods." Inaugurated in 1875, it occupies 370 hectares in the Palermo neighborhood, encompassing woods, lakes, plazas, and the beautiful Rose Garden. Most areas are open to the public, although there are some restricted-access zones, such as the golf course, the Japanese Garden, and the Eduardo Sívori Museum of Fine Arts. There are also areas under the jurisdiction of the National Government, most notably the Palermo Racetrack.

It is one of the largest parks in Tokyo. Located next to Meiji Shrine, it is one of the capital's main green spaces. Before becoming a Tokyo city park in 1967, Yoyogi Park was first a residential area for American military personnel during the Allied occupation. It then became the site of the Olympic Village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, and after the Games, it was opened to the public. It is divided into two sections: the park area, with a grove of trees near the spectacular Meiji Shrine, and a recreation area with a stadium, an open-air stage, and other facilities.

Probably the most famous urban park in the world. Planning began in the 1850s to meet the recreational needs of a rapidly growing city. Its original purpose, which it still maintains today, was to offer citizens a place to escape the stresses of urban life and connect with nature. We're talking about a green space of just over 340 hectares, encompassing expansive lawns, picturesque woodlands, meandering streams, and large lakes. Over time, additional features have been added, such as baseball and soccer fields, a carousel, two skating rinks, a zoo, formal gardens, memorials, and concert and theater halls.