Free Museums in Manila

Most of the museums in Manila offers free admission to celebrate the International Museum Day. It is celebrated annually every May 18.

But we don’t have to wait for that day as there are museums in Manila you can visit for free all year round.

Here’s the list of FREE museums in Manila:

The National Museum of the Philippines or NM is a government agency museum that includes research and conservation programs within the museum and throughout the archipelago. The museum houses four buildings in Manila: the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Planetarium that are repositories of the natural and cultural history of Filipinos and our environment.

From July 1, 2016, admission is free to all museums and facilities for both local and foreign visitors.

National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts formerly known as the National Art Gallery.

It houses one of the country’s most well known paintings, the Spoliarium by Juan Luna Y Novicio. It is displayed across El Asesinato del Gobernador Bustamante (The Assassination of Governor Bustamante), the largest known work by Luna’s contemporary and friend, Félix Resurrección Hidalgo.

Fee: Free for all
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Location: Old Legislative Building, Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila

National Museum of Natural History

This is the newest of the 4 museums. It is a glass-domed museum that houses exhibits on the Philippines’ unique flora and fauna.

Read more about our Trip to the Philippine National Museum of Natural History

Fee: Free for all
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Location: Teodoro F. Valencia Circle, Ermita, Manila

National Museum of Anthropology

The artifacts in the collection are considered cultural treasures among the people of the Philippines. These artifacts reflect the most unique aspects of the Philippine culture and highlight the ingenuity of the Filipino.

Fee: Free for all
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Location: Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, Manila

National Planetarium

The exhibit includes Ethno astronomy, learning how planets and stars have guided in sea navigation, agriculture, fishing and the right timing of celebrating life.

There’s an admission fee for planetarium shows (P50 for regular viewers, P30 for students with ID, and P40 for senior citizens and PWD). They have three shows available: “A Planet for Goldilocks,” “Journey to a Billion Suns” and “Hayabusa: Back to the Earth.”

Read more 5 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting The Planetarium

Fee: Free for all (Exhibit hall only)
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM
Location: Rizal Park Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila

Museo ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

This is also known as The Money Muesum. It has a collection of preserved coins, paper notes, medals, artifacts and monetary items found in the Philippines during its different historical periods.

Fee: Free for all
Hours: Monday to Friday (except holidays), 9 AM to 4 PM
Location: Inside the BSP Main Complex
A. Mabini St. corner P. Ocampo St. Malate, Manila

Do know more museums we can add to the list? Let us know.