October is Museums and Galleries month in the Philippines. If you’re looking for something new to do in the metro aside from visiting malls, why not explore museums instead. Whether you’re on a museum date with friends or exploring solo, there are many notable museums around Metro Manila worth your time. Some of these are completely free to visit.

Here’s a reference list of museums in Metro Manila for those who want to learn more about history, culture, or appreciate art. I’ve included their location, business hours and entrance fees if any.

NOTE: This list is based on museums that I’ve personally visited in Metro Manila. I’ll update this post whenever I visit a new museum.

Art in Island

Interactive art museum where you become part of the art. Has 3D paintings and digital projections. Kid-friendly.

• Address: 175 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 11 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday to Sunday: 11 am to 8:30 pm.
• Fees: P850 (adult), P700 (junior high school to college student), P600 (kindergarten to grade school students, senior citizens, PWDs), Free (children three feet below)
• Book discounted tickets here.

Ayala Museum

Well-curated museum showcasing Philippine history and culture with archival videos, interactive displays, fine art, indigenous textiles, and archaeological artifacts all in one space. This contains some interactive exhibits including artifacts you can play with and a diorama AR experience.

• Address: Greenbelt Park, Makati Avenue, corner Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm (except holidays)
• Fees: P750 (regular), P450 (kids under 12, students, PWDs, teachers, seniors, museum workers, librarians & other partners). Free for kids below 3, Ayala Museum members, legally blind & ICOM card holders.

Belen Museum

The Belen Museum (also known as The Spirit of Bethlehem) is a private collection of over 800 nativity sets from all over the world. You can check out nativity scenes from Japan, Italy, Rome, Spain, Australia, Africa, the Philippines and more.

• Address: 2nd Level, E-Com Building Annex, Riverbanks Center, Barangka, Marikina City
• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm (Friday to Sunday only), Events by appointment
• Fees: General admission: P75/head

Book Museum

Quirky museum with limited edition books and published materials from over 200 countries and islands and a worthy ethnological collection.

• Address: Book Museum cum Ethnology Center, 127 Dao Street, Marikina Heights, Marikina City.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9 am to 4 pm.
• Fees: P200 per head for the galleries (breakdown: P40 for Book Museum, P30 for Cordillera Display Area, P20 for Mindanao Display area, P10 for Marikina Historical Pathway, P100 for Annex). Optional: P100 consumable voucher at the James Dean Café.

Casa Manila

A living museum that features the lifestyle of an affluent Filipino family during the late Spanish colonial era.

• Address: Plaza San Luis Complex, General Luna cor. Real Sts., Intramuros, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 6 pm
• Fees: P75 (regular), P50 (discounted
• Book discounted tickets here. 

Destileria Limtuaco Museum

Liquor museum of the oldest distillery in the country housed within an atmospheric stone house. Optional craft spirits liquor tasting available at the bar on-site.

• Address: 482 San Juan de Letran St., Intramuros, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.
• Fees: P100 (regular), P50 (Student / Senior with valid ID), P200 (Premium with tasting upgrade (adults only)
• Book discounted tickets here. 

Eugene Torre Chess Museum

Museum named after chess grandmaster Eugene Torre with rare chess sets from around the world on display plus a giant chessboard you can play with.

• General Ordoñez, corner Maroon St., Marikina City (inside Pan de Amerikana restaurant)
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 6 am to 9 pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

First United Building Community Museum

Displays artifacts & memorabilia related to a local businessman. The building hosts cultural events, and has a 24/7 co-working space.

• Address: 413 Escolta St. Mezzannine Level, First United Building, Binondo Manila
• Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 7 pm
• Fees: P50

Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo

Interactive museum where visitors can enjoy the food culture around the country through exhibits and experiences like lambanog tasting and sawsawan sampling. Lots of food-centric photo booths for IG snaps.  

• Level 2, Filipino Village, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Paranaque City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 8 pm.
• Fees: Starts at P799 (regular rate)
• Book discounted tickets here.

Manila Clock Tower Museum

A modern history and art museum with a cafe on-site housed in the formerly haunted clock tower of Manila City Hall.

• 4th Floor, Manila City Hall, Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm.
• Fees: P100 (regular), P50 for 12 years old and below
• FREE ENTRANCE: PWDs, senior citizens, students from Manila schools on educational field trips

Marikina Shoe Museum

Museum dedicated to Marikina’s shoe industry that displays some of the shoes of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

• Address: J. P. Rizal Street, Marikina City
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (except holidays)
• Fees: P50 (with 10% discount for senior citizens and PWDs)

Museo El Deposito

Modern waterworks museum with a portion of the Spanish-era underground reservoir that visitors can walk through.

• Address: Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 4 pm.
• FREE ENTRANCE

Museo ng Katipunan

History museum dedicated to the Philippine Revolution.

• Address: 29 Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 4pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

Museo ng Makati

A classic old Manila house from the 1800s detailing the history of old Makati along with modern art from Makatizens.

• Address: J. P. Rizal Street, Poblacion, Makati City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

Museo ng Pag-Asa

Museum of Hope that houses gifts and tokens given to former Vice President Leni Robredo and showcases highlights of the Pink Movement.

• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (except holidays)
• Address: 84 Cordillera Street, Sta. Mesa Heights, Barangay Lourdes, Quezon City
• Fees: P100 (regular), P50 (children, students, PWDs, and senior citizens), Free entrance on Wednesdays

Museo ni Jose Rizal – Fort Santiago

Also known as The Rizal Shrine, this museum is dedicated to the lifework of national hero José Rizal.

• Address: Santa Clara Street, Barangay 656, Intramuros, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
• FREE ENTRANCE

Museo ni Manuel Quezon

A mausoleum in the base of the Quezon Memorial Shrine that contains the remains and memorabilia of the father of Quezon City, the First President of the Commonwealth, Manuel Luis Quezon.

• Address: Quezon Memorial Circle, Diliman, Quezon City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

National Museum of Anthropology

Extensive collection of Ethnological and Archaeological exhibitions from around the Philippines.

• Address: Padre Burgos Drive, Teodoro F. Valencia (Agrifina) Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-6pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

National Museum of Fine Arts

Fine art museum featuring 29 galleries and hallway exhibitions of 19th century Filipino masters, National Artists, leading modern painters, sculptors, and printmakers.

• Address: Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am – 6pm
• FREE ENTRNACE

National Museum of Natural History

Houses 12 permanent galleries that exhibit the rich biological and geological diversity of the country. At the center is a “Tree of Life” structure that connects the unique ecosystems from mountain ridges to marine reefs.

• Teodoro F. Valencia (Agrifina) Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-6pm
• FREE ENTRANCE

Palacio de Memoria

Restored pre-war mansion that serves as an elegant events venue.

• Address: 95 Roxas Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City
• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm; booking required for guided tours
• Self-guided tours: P300 (adult), P240 (students), P214 (senior citizens/PWD), P150 (4-12 year olds)
• Guided tours: P600 (adults). P480 (students), P429 (senior citizens/PWD), P300 (4-12 year olds)

Presidential Car Museum

Museum within Quezon Memorial Circle that features the largest collection of historic state cars in the Philippines.

• Address: Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• FREE ENTRANCE

San Agustin Church Museum

Features a huge collection of religious artifacts, architecture, carvings, furniture, choir books of the UNESCO-listed San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines.

• Address: San Agustin Church, Gen. Luna Street cor Real St., Intramuros, Manila
• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
• Fees: P200 (regular); P160 (discounted)

The Mind Museum

A world-class science center/museum in Taguig with over 250 interactive exhibits in 5 interconnected galleries. 

• Address: JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm
• Fees: P625 (three-hour pass; adult); P475 (three-hour pass; child or private school student up to college); P190 (three-hour pass; public school student up to college); P190 (three-hour pass; teacher); P750 (all-day pass)
• Book discounted tickets here.

Vargas Museum

Houses the collection of art, stamps and coins, library, personal papers and memorabilia of Jose B. Vargas bequeathed to University of the Philippines Diliman campus.

• Address: Roxas Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm
• Fees: P20 (students), P40 (UP staff, faculty members, and alumni), P50 (non-UP)