Looking for free museums to visit around Metro Manila? While there are a lot of different museums and art galleries you can visit around different cities catering to different niche interests, not all museums are free to visit.
Since October is Museums and Galleries Month, we thought we’d compile some of the best free museums we’ve personally visited around Metro Manila where visitors can learn about the history of the Philippines and appreciate the country’s art and culture.
For first-timers and international tourists, I’d recommend starting with the three National Museums in Manila, since these are huge and all walking distance from each other in Rizal Park and are open daily. Just visiting these three could easily take you half a day (or more). You can also combine museum visits here with sightseeing in Intramuros, the main tourist hub.
There are also a few smaller museums in other areas, but getting to them requires extra planning due to their locations, with most being far from the airport or located inside universities operating only on weekdays.
Below are the best free museums you can visit in Metro Manila.
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National Museum of Fine Arts
The Fine Arts Museum houses a collection of paintings and sculptures by classical Filipino artists. It’s home to 29 galleries and hallway exhibitions comprising of 19th century Filipino masters, National Artists, leading modern painters, sculptors, and printmakers. Notable artwork here includes Spoliarium and The Parisian Life by Juan Luna.
Padre Burgos Drive, Teodoro F. Valencia (Agrifina) Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Open daily 9am to 6pm.
National Museum of Anthropology
The Anthropology Museum houses Ethnological and Archaeological exhibitions of the Philippines, including the wreck of the San Diego, ancient artifacts, and zoology divisions. This museum also contains a model of an Ifugao house in the courtyard of the building.
Padre Burgos Drive, Teodoro F. Valencia (Agrifina) Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm.
National Museum of Natural History
The Natural History Museum houses 12 permanent galleries spread over six floors, that exhibit the rich biological and geological diversity of the Philippines. It includes creatively curated displays of botanical, zoological, and geological specimens that represent our unique natural history. A central feature is the architectural “Tree of Life” that connects all the unique ecosystems in the Philippines, from mountain ridges to marine reefs.
Padre Burgos Drive, Teodoro F. Valencia (Agrifina) Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm.
Museo ni Jose Rizal – Fort Santiago
Also known as The Rizal Shrine, this museum is dedicated to the lifework of national hero José Rizal. The Museo ni Rizal is a living testament to Dr. Jose Rizal’s enduring legacy and his pivotal role in the Philippine struggle for independence. Here, you can find Rizal’s actual prison cell, which contains a life-size wax effigy of Rizal by National Artist for Sculture Guillermo Tolentino.
While Museo ni Rizal is free to visit, it’s located inside Fort Santiago which has a separate entrance fee of P75. Skip the lines and book discounted tickets to Fort Santiago here.
Santa Clara Street, Barangay 656, Intramuros, Manila. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
Centro de Turismo Intramuros
Set within the restored ruins of the old San Ignacio Church, Centro de Turismo Intramuros is a modern gallery with interactive displays that also serves as an community event space. This is a compact and easy introduction to museums and is accessible to families with kids, seniors, PWDs (there’s an elevator) for those sightseeing around Intramuros.
The main ground floor of Centro de Turismo Intramuros is FREE of charge to the public but it’s connected to Museo de Intramuros, which requires a ticket entry. The Full Access Tour to Museo de Intramuros and Centro de Turismo Intramuros costs P150 (regular) and P120 for students, seniors and PWDs. Additional P50 for Belfry Access. Book discounted tickets to Museo de Intramuros here.
Arzobispo cor. Anda Sts., Intramuros, Manila. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm.
Museo ng Makati
Museo ng Makati is a compact museum set in a historic house, that showcases the history of Makati city and displays modern artwork from Makatizens. While this museum is small, it’s of interest to those staying in Poblacion (the downtown area of Makati), looking for places to visit during the day before enjoying the vibrant nightlife.
J. P. Rizal Street, Poblacion, Makati City. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays.
Museo ng Katipunan
The grounds of Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City has two free museums next to each each other, which you can visit at the same time.
Museo ng Katipunan is a history museum detailing the history of the Philippine Revolution. It provides an educational approach to understand the Katipunan, its primary movers, and their actions that led to revolt.
Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan City. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 4 pm.
Museo El Deposito
This history museum focuses on the Spanish-era Carriedo water system and its central underground reservoir known as El Deposito. The museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the history and engineering of this vital water supply system through exhibits and a portion of the actual underground tunnels and reservoir to walk through.
Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan City. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 4 pm, closed Mondays.
Museo ni Manuel Quezon
Quezon Memorial Shrine in Quezon City has four free museums all walking distance from each other, which you can visit at the same time. The Museo ni Manuel Quezon is a history museum located within the Quezon Memorial Shrine that highlights the life, political career, and historical context of former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon (the first President of the Commonwealth). The museum also houses the mausoleum where Quezon and his wife Aurora are interred.
Quezon Memorial Circle. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 am to 4 pm.
Quezon Heritage House
A historic house museum inside Quezon Memorial Circle that focuses on the personal life of former president Manuel Quezon, which complements the nearby Museo ni Manuel L. Quezon. The house is a reconstruction of the house at 45 Gilmore Street in New Manila that once served as residence of former President Manuel Quezon’s family.
Quezon Memorial Circle. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 am to 4 pm.
Presidential Car Museum
Museum within the Quezon Memorial Circle that features the largest collection of historic state cars in the Philippines. It displays cars used by the former Philippine Presidents along with automotive memorabilia.
Bahay Modernismo
A heritage house museum inside Quezon Memorial Circle that recreates the nostalgic mid-century domestic environment in Quezon City, the birthplace of postwar modern housing common in the 1950s and 1960s. This modern interactive museum offers a fun spot for kids and kids-at-heart, particularly the Boomer Generation who grew up in this era.
Free for a limited time or for select groups only
Some private museums, such as Ayala Museum in Makati and The Metropolitan Museum of Manila in BGC, sometimes offer free entrance or hold free exhibits, in line with Museums and Galleries month held every October. Ayala Museum has small area with free access next to the mall and free for Ayala Museum Members, local and foreign kids 3 years old and below; legally blind and ICOM card holders.
The Manila Clock Tower Museum offers free entrance for select groups like seniors and PWDs and students from Manila on field trips.
I posted a shareable version of this list of Free Museums to visit around Metro Manila for easy reference on my page on Facebook.
Checklist: Museums in Metro Manila
In case you’re looking for more museums to visit in and around Metro Manila and are willing to pay entrance fees, I’ve compiled a more detailed checklist of the museums organized per city to help you out. The checklist of museums in Metro Manila also includes a few worthy spots outside (but still near) Metro Manila that you can visit on day trips.