Looking for free museums to visit around Metro Manila? To celebrate Museums and Galleries Month this October, several museums are waiving entrance fees and hosting special activities. Here are a few you can visit before the month ends.
National Museum of the Philippines Complex
The three National Museums in Manila (National Museum of Fine Arts, Anthropology, and Natural History) in Rizal Park, which are permanently free to visit, are great starting points for local and international tourists. This month, NMP is hosting a series of workshops, lectures, and tours. that could help deepen visitors’ appreciation of the Philippines’ rich history, culture, and biodiversity.
If you’re an art lover eager to appreciate notable paintings, like Juan Luna’s Spoliarium and sculptures by classical Filipino Artists and contemporary artists, then the National Museum of Fine Arts should be your first stop.
If you’re interested in the country’s rich culture and history, visit the National Museum of Anthropology nearby. This museum houses ethnological and archaeological exhibitions of the Philippines, featuring ancient artifacts and zoology divisions.
The National Museum of Natural History, with its architectural “Tree of Life” that connects all the unique ecosystems in the Philippines, is another top draw. The galleries, spread over six floors, exhibit the country’s rich biological and geological diversity.
National Museum Complex, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Open daily 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Centro de Turismo Intramuros
Set within the restored ruins of the old San Ignacio Church, Centro de Turismo Intramuros is now a vibrant visitor hub with interactive exhibits that blend Intramuros’ rich history with modern technology. While the adjoining Museo de Intramuros (which features collections of religious art and artifacts) requires a ticketed entry, Centro de Turismo’s Visitor Center on the ground floor is free to visit.
Centro de Turismo Intramuros, Old San Ignacio Church, Arzobispo St, Intramuros, Manila. Open daily 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
UST Museum
The University of Santo Tomas Museum, the oldest museum in the Philippines, is opening its doors to the public with free admission for the entire month of October.
The UST Museum, located in the historic Main Building of the university in Manila, was established in 1896. The museum safeguards the university’s cultural properties and features a diverse range of collections, including natural history specimens, visual arts by Filipino masters, religious artifacts, ethnographic items, and numismatic collections.
UST Museum. Main Gallery, University of Santo Tomas Main Building, España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila. Open Mondays from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Ayala Museum
Ayala Museum in Makati is holding a rare free admission day to encourage visitors to explore the world of Filipino folklore and mythology.
For Guni-Guni: Free Admission Day on October 25, visitors are encouraged to come in Filipino folklore-inspired costumes. During the day, the museum will be hosting mini art workshops, eye-spy activities, live painting, storytelling for kids, themed tours, and curated playlists from the Filipinas Heritage Library.
In the evening, select guests can visit the galleries or join the Folklore Trail, a mission-style adventure with challenges and encounters with creatures from Filipino folktales in the various galleries.
The privately run museum showcases Philippine history, art, and culture through curated exhibits and programs, including a Diorama Experience of Philippine History, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, a boat gallery, and a collection of artworks by prominent Filipino artists.
Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue, corner Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City. Free admission day only runs October 25, 2025. Slots for the activity from 7:00-9:00 pm are limited and pre-registration is required. Book here: ayalamuseum.org/freeday.
Quezon Heritage House
With the Philippine historical drama Quezon, directed by Jerrold Tarrog, currently screening in cinemas, visitors might want to visit the Quezon Heritage House, the former residence of President Manuel L. Quezon.
The reconstructed house, which features memorabilia, artifacts, and furniture from the family’s original home in New Manila, is one of four free museums within the grounds of the Quezon Memorial Circle.
This weekend, the Quezon Heritage House is hosting a three-day event highlighting the timeless joy of handwritten letters and postcards. From October 24 to 26, 2025, visitors can send free postcards from the historic home, while stamp lovers can buy and admire vintage stamps and rare collections through a special sale and exhibit.
Quezon Heritage House, Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road Brgy. Central, Diliman Quezon City. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For group visits and guided tours, email [email protected] or call +63 915 392 1044.
Malacañang Heritage Mansions
Want to get up close to Malacañang Palace? Several heritage structures within the Malacañang complex have been converted into museums that are open to the public, with guided tours available by request. Teus Mansion gives an in-depth look at the lives of our Republic’s 17 Presidents, while Bahay Ugnayan houses the historical timeline of key events that occurred in the private and public life of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
From October 21 to November 21, visitors can get a free Museum Passport with every guided tour of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions as a souvenir.
Teus Mansion and Bahay Ugnayan, Malacañang Palace, Jose P. Jose Laurel St, San Miguel, Manila. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For private guided tours, email [email protected] and visit museums.gov.ph for more details.
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