11 museums and galleries to visit in Manila

Museums and galleries in Manila are aplenty like this stunning National Museum of National History | Photo by Danica Condez for Nolisoli.ph

If you’re traveling to a major city, chances are, part of your itinerary may be to visit a museum or two. It’s a great way to immerse in a country’s or city’s heritage and culture, makes for great photos (and souvenirs!), and often is also accessible.

The case is also true for the Philippines, especially Manila. There are actually dozens of museums and galleries across the country’s capital alone, and aside from the varied collections housed in these spaces, each one has unique experiences that would surely make for great memories.

Now if you’re up for adding a bit of history, culture, and art to your itinerary, check out these museums and galleries. 

National Museum of Fine Arts

Padre Burgos Ave., Ermita, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of the National Museum of the Philippines

You can find works by Filipino masters and National Artists here. Works by some of the country’s leading modern painters and sculptors are also on display in this branch of the National Museum. There are 29 galleries and hallway exhibitions in total, so be sure to allot enough time when you visit.

A bit of trivia: The building used to be the old Legislative Building, and is also where the well-known “Spoliarium” by Juan Luna is displayed.

National Museum of Anthropology

Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Across the Fine Arts museum is the National Museum of Anthropology. Formerly, it was called the Museum of the Filipino People. Here, you’ll find artifacts from the country’s past. Among these, there are collections on textiles, archeological treasures, Bangsamoro art, maritime trade, and even baybayin.

National Museum of Natural History

Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo by Danica Condez for Nolisoli.ph

Also located along the Teodoro F. Valencia (or Agrifina) Circle is the newest among the three National Museums in Rizal Park. The Museum of Natural History was opened in 2018, and features the biological and geological diversity of the Philippines. The museum houses various specimens and exhibits on the flora and fauna that make up our country. Some of the exhibits are also interactive. A key feature of the National Museum of Natural History is the structure called the “Tree of Life” at the center, which connects to the various levels of the museum. 

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Metropolitan Museum of Manila

MK Tan Centre, 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City
Tuesdays to Saturdays. Pre-registration is required

Previously located within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas complex on Roxas Boulevard, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila—now known as The M—has moved to Bonifacio Global City. It features contemporary art by Filipino and international artists, typically with themes that revolve around social and multicultural discourse. Their mission is “art for all,” so there’s definitely a lot of interesting works to see.

Ayala Museum

Greenbelt Park, Makati Ave. corner Dela Rosa St., Ayala Center, Makati
Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets must be booked in advance; walk-ins are accepted if slots are available.
Admission fee: P650 for all exhibitions

Ayala Museum is one of the go-to museums, especially for its accessibility. It’s located by Greenbelt Park, meaning you can easily get to it if you’re coming from the mall. It’s also within Makati’s central business district, where a lot of activities and events take place. Ayala Museum’s collections cover archeological finds, fine arts as well as exhibitions on Philippine history and ethnography. 

Some of the popular exhibits are their history diorama and their gold of ancestors collection. The recently renovated museum now also houses a Filipiniana library. One of their recent exhibitions is the long-lost painting of Juan Luna, which will be on display until the end of 2023.

Intramuros

Manila

Photo from Nolisoli.ph

Intramuros, or the Walled City of Manila, is also a famous destination for tourists. There are lots of establishments and activities within the area, some of which, once you’re inside Intramuros, you can just walk to. You can check out Museo de Intramuros, built from the ruins of San Ignacio Church, for preserved church artifacts. 

Fort Santiago, while not exclusively a museum, houses various exhibits and installations on the country’s history, from the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupation. For a fun way to cap off the day, you can also visit the Destileria Limtuaco museum, where you can learn about the distillery’s history, legacy, and even try some of its products.

You may also like: What to do in Intramuros: Ride a bike or go museum hopping—drinking optional

Vargas Museum

Roxas Ave., University of the Philippines – Diliman, Quezon City
Tuesdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission fee: P20 for UP students; P40 for UP staff, faculty, and alumni; P50 for non-UP

The University of the Philippines’ campus in Diliman houses nine museums—one of which is the Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center. You can find a variety of art exhibits within: The first floor usually has contemporary art exhibitions, while the other galleries on its other floors house permanent collections, such as Jorge B. Vargas’ personal collection of art, books, memorabilia, stamps, and the like. There are also a few works by National Artists in the museum. 

Silverlens Gallery

2263 Chino Roces Ave., Makati
Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a dose of contemporary art, Silverlens is definitely one of the museums and galleries in Manila you need to check out. They represent a number of Filipino contemporary artists, who are regularly featured in art fairs and exhibitions around Manila and Southeast Asia. They also recently opened a gallery in New York.

Menarco Vertical Museum

Menarco Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City
Guided tours every Wednesday and Friday, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; unguided tours every Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Booking in advance is required.

Photo by Sam Ong for Nolisoli.ph

The building where this museum is housed is actually an office building. Touted as one of the healthiest buildings in Southeast Asia, Menarco Tower integrates contemporary art into its spaces to provide a positive psychological experience for the building’s occupants. Visitors can also see the art selected with the help of Silverlens Gallery and Ateneo Art Gallery. Across the tower’s more than 30 floors, you’ll see various forms of art in the lobbies and communal spaces.

You may also like: This BGC tower has a vertical museum—and you don’t have to work there to see the art

Palacio de Memoria

95 Roxas Boulevard Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City
Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Guided tours must be booked in advance. Walk-ins are allowed for self-guided tours.

Photo courtesy of Palacio de Memoria

This pre-war mansion was restored and turned into a venue for exhibits, weddings, and various other social events. But aside from being a beautiful event space, Palacio de Memoria also houses an ecclesiastical museum, an art auction house, and a gallery of decorative lifestyle pieces collected from all over the world. They also have an Italian-Filipino restaurant created by 2016 Asia’s Best Female Chef Margarita Fores.

(Fun fact: The opening scene of the Kathryn Bernardo-Dolly De Leon starrer “A Very Good Girl” was shot here.)

The opening scene of “A Very Good Girl” | Screencap from ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube

Pinto Art Museum

1 Sierra Madre St, Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo, Rizal

Photo courtesy of Pinto Art Museum

One of the most Instagrammed museums in the world, the Pinto Art Museum is a 1.2-hectare property with various gallery spaces housing Filipino contemporary and Indigenous art. Aside from the collection of art from notable artists, Pinto is also popular for the space’s design, as it has Greek architecture-inspired areas as well as sprawling greenery. It has also gained attention (for better or for worse) for being an open-air museum. The art museum also has a cafe.