TOP MUSEUMS IN THE PHILIPPINES TO VISIT FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

by Vincent Pagtakhan

May 2, 2024

Explore the history, arts, and culture of the Philippines by visiting these Manila museums. Which museums in Manila and the surrounding areas are the best to visit these days? What special features and events are offered by these museums? Find out by reading on.

The Philippines’ capital, Manila, together with the other Metro areas, have a wide range of attractions and things to do for visitors of all interests. In addition to the historical, cultural, and tourist attractions, you can participate in museum tours in the Philippines, which are excellent for family outings and one of the greatest things to do during the rainy season.

Manila’s historical core is seen as being located at Rizal Park, popularly referred to as Luneta. The National Museum Complex, which consists of four buildings with different exhibits in each, is located in its neighborhood.

In addition to the National Museum of Manila, there are several exciting and contemporary museums that both children and adults in general will find quite enjoyable.

This article offers an excellent selection of the top museums that you may visit to see the best of Philippine history and culture as well as contemporary museums that make for an enjoyable and educational photo opportunity. If you want to see the city on your own, avail travel insurance. Simply confirm that you meet the prerequisites in order to acquire the travel insurance

National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila is a must-see if you enjoy visual arts. Its centerpiece is Juan Luna’s “Spoliarium,” an enduring and well regarded piece of Filipino painting from the 19th century. renowned rare creations by renowned Filipino geniuses, such Félix Resurrección Hidalgo and Guillermo Tolentino, are also kept there.

Constructed in the early 1920s, the building is a work of art with neoclassical architecture. Originally constructed as a legislative hall, it currently houses artwork by both contemporary and historical Filipino masters.

Select from a variety of tours offered by the National Museum of the Philippines. You can also include a visit to Intramuros in your tour of the National Museum complex.

Mind Museum

The Mind Museum might be a better fit for you if the Museo Pambata is, well, too juvenile. This 3-acre museum in Manila is relatively young, having opened its doors in 2012.

There are various galleries, each featuring a distinct theme relating to science, such as electronics and atoms or the Earth and the universe.

Life-size dinosaur sculptures, a planetarium, a 3D theater, and some really cool interactive experiments are all there. If you are bringing children, make sure you keep a tight eye on them so they get the most out of their stay.

The static electricity exhibit, where you can touch a static ball and feel your hair rise up, is a fun display. Additionally, there are kiosks where you can do tests.

Dessert Museum

Giant doughnuts, a candy cane forest, and cotton candy fields where you can really choose the rainbow floss are all there. Since it’s still intended for kids, it has a playground, slides, and swings.

Without the ability to sample a variety of desserts, it wouldn’t be a dessert museum, which it is! These sweets are also not your typical desserts; rather, they are deliberately chosen to go with the many “exhibits” in the museum. In addition, there’s an educational aspect featuring interesting facts about your preferred sweets.

S Maison in Conrad Hotel Manila, Mall of Asia Complex (Mall of Asia), Pasay is where you can find the Dessert Museum. For a lower price, purchase your Dessert Museum admission ticket online in advance.
National Planetarium
Located in the heart of Rizal Park, between the Chinese and Japanese gardens, lies the planetarium. Come here beginning at 1:00 p.m. for the lavish performance at the 310-seat theater.

Using a starball projector, a movie presentation can replicate the sky. There’s plenty to make adults exclaim “wow,” but it’s mostly aimed towards students. There are four showings a day, so make sure to schedule your visit accordingly.

Lakbay Museum

Situated in S Maison at Conrad Hotel Manila, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, the new Lakbay Museo is another contemporary and entertaining museum from the same creative brains as Dessert Museum. Nevertheless, in July 2022, it permanently closed.

It was the first millennial interactive museum in the Philippines, offering 14 distinct experiences that allow visitors to see 11 different locations in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon in under two hours.

Without having to travel the entire country, visitors learned about the local cuisine, culture, and sites. The interactive displays highlighting Filipino culture and daily life, such as sari-sari stores and a carinderia, were the highlights of this place.

A model of the Mayon Volcano, Ilocos culinary displays with empanadas and longganisa, the Ivatan houses of Batanes and the Bale houses of Ifugao, and complimentary samples of local vinegar, dried fish, and other items were also available. While touring the museum, guests were delighted by cultural performances as well.

Island Art Museum

The selfie generation will love this museum because it’s one of the most unusual ones in the nation. Here, the walls are covered in expertly created optical illusions; there are no dioramas or exhibits.

The plan is for you to strike a posture in the setting and have a picture taken (from one of the handy locations for photos). When done correctly, you are taken to a new location, era, and reality.

This attraction can get very crowded, so you may have to fight for picture ops if you visit during peak season, which is pretty much any holiday. However, there’s enough to keep folks circulating here all the time.

Among other places, you can snap photos of yourself riding a chariot, taking shots in a flying carpet, battling monsters, and inside a bottle! Even in person, you could be lost in the illusions since they are so masterfully done.

Upside Down Museum

Similar to Art in Island, this collection of displays is ideal for photo ops. This is a larger, localized version of the kind of museums found in the United States and other Asian nations.

There are fifteen different themed exhibits, ranging from the iconic Upside Down House to the Giant Shoe. Additionally, there are a variety of mind-boggling and Instagram-worthy illusions here. To ensure you have a great time, remember to include a power bank and an additional SD card.

Please read: REASONS FOR GOING TO TAGAYTAY FOR YOUR SUMMER VACATION

Conclusion

The bravery, adversity, and sacrifices made by Filipinos over many centuries to obtain what we have right today must be remembered by museums throughout the Philippines.

It was old civilization who used to maintain the crafts and now this museum preserve these arts for us and expose it for extra learning for those people who wants to know the narrative of our early days through museums around the Philippines.

To what extent have you visited the museums mentioned above? What more museums in the Philippines would you like to add to this list? Feel free to leave a comment below.

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