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GUIDE: Museums in Metro Manila

Kara Santos

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.

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.

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.

Book Museum

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

Casa Manila

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

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

Marikina Shoe Museum

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

Museo El Deposito

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

Museo ng Katipunan

History museum dedicated to the Philippine Revolution.

Museo ng Makati

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

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.

Museo ni Jose Rizal – Fort Santiago

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

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.

National Museum of Anthropology

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

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.

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.

Palacio de Memoria

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

Presidential Car Museum

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

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.

The Mind Museum

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

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.

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