Six Kid-Friendly Museums in Metro Manila for Curious Little Ones

In a world where kids are more glued to gadgets than ever before, finding ways to spark their curiosity and creativity offline can be quite a challenge. Fear not, parents and guardians! Metro Manila is brimming with kid-friendly museums that promise to captivate young minds and keep those tablets and smartphones at bay.

From interactive exhibits to hands-on activities, these museums are perfect for curious little ones eager to explore the wonders of art, science, and history. Check out our list of some of the best kid-friendly museums in Metro Manila that will make your little ones forget about their gadgets and dive into a world of discovery!

The Dessert Museum

Ready for a sweet adventure with your little ones? This is the perfect place to visit! Located at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, The Dessert Museum offers a feast for the eyes with its colorful dessert-themed rooms. This includes the Kake-Pop Kourt, where you and your kids can dance to your favorite K-Pop songs or ride the swinging giant cake pops; the Bewitched Bakery, where you can know your fortune with a big fortune cookie; or the Banana Beach, where you can slide and play around the banana-themed beach.

You can also make your kids feel like candy royalty by letting them try out the princess or prince costumes while exploring the museum! A trip to the Dessert Museum wouldn’t be complete without some snacks, so the museum gives away free, tasty treats like ice cream and cotton candy to visitors.

The museum accepts online reservations (P699) and walk-ins (P799). To book your tickets, click here.

Location: The Dessert Museum, Unit 124, 126, 127a, S Maison, Coral Way, Conrad Hotel Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

Operating hours: 10 AM to 9 PM daily

The Mind Museum

If your kids are interested in all things related to science, The Mind Museum is one to visit! Here, kids get to learn and explore subjects such as technology, the environment, space, and many more. It has several galleries, each dedicated to showcasing the wonders of science, including the Atom Gallery, featuring the hair-rising Static Ball; the Earth Gallery, which houses the first permanent Tyrannosaurus-rex exhibit in the country, and the Universe Gallery, which shows visitors what it’s like to live in space, among others.

The museum offers all-day passes (P750) or three-hour passes (P230 to P625), available for booking via their website. For those who would love to dive deeper into science, the museum also offers programs that allow children to participate in various activities and workshops.

Location: The Mind Museum, JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Operating hours: 9 AM to 6 PM (Tuesday to Sunday)

Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo

This collaboration museum from Lakbay Museo and Food Wanderer lets you travel and explore the country’s most vibrant regions without actually traveling. Nestled inside the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City, the Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo museum features a 3,000-square-meter gallery that displays over 10,000 replicas of Filipino delicacies. With these, kids get to explore the culture and history of about 17 regions in the Philippines through learning about their signature foods.

To top it off, the museum also has shops where you can buy Filipino delicacies, souvenirs, and many more. They also have function rooms available for booking for those holding private events. To check out their packages, which start at P699, visit their website.

Location: Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo, 2nd Floor, Filipino Village, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Parañaque City

Operating hours: 12 PM to 9 PM daily

Art in Island

Immerse your kids in art while they’re young by visiting this museum in Cubao! Art in Island, called the “First and Largest Mixed Media Art Museum in the Philippines,” allows visitors to be part of the art by interacting with light displays, animated projections, and art installations displayed across the venue.

Its visually stunning displays are also perfect for shooting photos, so make sure the whole family is picture-ready! If you ever get hungry, you can also drop by the Korean restaurant The Jeongwon, located just inside the Art in Island compound.

To book your tickets (P850) to Art in Island, click here.

Location: Art in Island, 175 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City

Operating hours: 11 AM to 7:30 PM (Tuesday to Friday), 11 AM to 8:30 PM (Saturday to Sunday)

The Book Museum

This museum in Marikina City is a must-visit for book-loving kids who are curious about history. Home to limited-edition books and published materials from over 200 countries, this museum gives visitors a peek at various countries’ vibrant pasts. It also houses an Ethnology Center, which features artifacts and crafts from tribes in the Northern and Southern regions of the country, among many others.

Entrance fee is only P300. To book your visit, contact them at (02) 570 4449 or [email protected]. The museum also accepts walk-ins.

Location: The Book Museum, 201 Southeast Dao Street, Marikina Heights 1810 Marikina City

Operating hours: 9 AM to 4 PM (Tuesday to Saturday)

Museo Pambata

Kids are guaranteed to have fun while learning at Museo Pambata, located in Ermita, Manila. The museum has various areas that allow children to explore and immerse themselves in the beauty of Filipino culture. This includes “Pamayanan,” a space that features photos and information about the country’s greatest heroes; “Habi,” which showcases beautiful, weaved crafts; and “Bahay na Bato,” which is reminiscent of middle- and upper-class families’ homes in the old days.

You can also let them unleash their creativity at the “Likhaan” space, where they can make various kinds of arts and crafts, or let them release their energy at the beehive-shaped playspace “Bahay Pukyutan,” surrounded by greens and trees, for a refreshing experience.

Entrance fee is only P450, but as of this writing, the museum is temporarily closed for renovations. While waiting for its reopening, you can take a virtual tour here.

Location: Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard cor. South Drive, Ermita, Manila

Operating hours: 10 AM to 5 PM (Friday to Sunday; temporarily closed)