National Museum of the Philippines

The National Museum of the Philippines is the place to go in the Philippines to discover, reminisce, and learn about the country's identity and heritage from the past to the present. The National Museum Complex is comprised of three museums: the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Anthropology. The museum is a widely known cultural center in the Philippines, displaying archaeology, ethnology, botany, geology, and zoology. The National Museum Complex in Rizal Park in Manila also manages the National Planetarium, and the museum has 19 regional, branch, and site museums throughout the Philippines.

National Museum of Fine Arts

National Museum of Fine Arts

                If you relish art and history and want to see some of the country's works of art, the National Museum of Fine Arts is the perfect place for you. The National Museum of Fine Arts has 29 galleries and hallway exhibitions that showcase Filipino masters, national artists, and leading modern painters, sculptors, and printmakers. It is an ideal museum for art enthusiasts because it houses the works of great and well-known Filipino artists. On exhibit here is Spoliarium, a prize-winning work by the 19th-century Filipino painter Juan Luna. There are also works by Filipino masters such as Guillermo Tolentino, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, and Vicente Manansala on exhibit.

Fine Arts Exhibitions

• Spoliarium Hall
• Gallery I: Luis I. Ablaza Hall
• Gallery II: Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines, Inc. Hall
• Gallery III: Ramon and Milagros Del Rosario Family Hall
• Gallery IV: Fundacion Santiago Hall
• Gallery V: Dr. Jose Rizal Hall
• Gallery VI: Far East Bank and Trust Company-Andres and Grace Luna de San Pedro Memorial Hall
• Gallery VII: Special Exhibition Hall
• Gallery VIII: Silvina and Juan Laya Hall
• Gallery IX: Early 20th Century Philippine Portrait Hall
• Gallery XI: Society for the Preservation of Philippine Culture (SPPC) Hall
• Gallery XII: Security Bank Hall
• Gallery XIII: Vicente and Carmen Fabella Hall
• Gallery XIV: Pillars of Philippine Modernism
• Gallery XV: E. Aguilar Cruz Hall
• Gallery XVI: Philippine General Hospital Hall
• Gallery XVII: Special Exhibition Hall Dedicated to Women’s Art
• Gallery XVII: Pillars of Philippine Modernism
• Gallery XIX:  Pillars of Philippine Modernism
• Gallery XX: Placuna placenta: Capis Shells and Windows to Indigenous Artistry
• Gallery XXI: Government Services Insurance System (GSIS) Hall
• Gallery XXII: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Hall
• Gallery XXIII: Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Northwest Hall
• Gallery XXIV: Philam Life Hall
• Gallery XXV and XXVI: Special Exhibition Hall (Temporarily Closed)
• Gallery XXVII and XXVIII: Special Exhibition Hall
• Gallery XXIX: Philippine Modern Sculpture Hall
• Old Senate Session Hall
• 2nd Floor North Wing Hallway Gallery
• 2nd Floor Northwest Wing Hall
• 2nd Floor Northeast Wing Hallway
• 2nd Floor South Wing Hallway Gallery
• 2nd Floor Southwest Wing Hallway Gallery
• 2nd Floor Southeast Wing Hallway Gallery
• 3rd Floor South Wing Hallway Gallery
• 3rd Floor Southeast Wing Hallway Gallery
• 3rd Floor Southwest Wing Hallway Gallery
• 4th Floor East Wing Hallway Gallery   

For more information, click here: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/exhibitions/fine-arts/

National Museum of Natural History

National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is the ideal place to see the country's natural treasures such as fauna and flora, marine life, botanical illustrations and paintings, and more. The museum has 12 permanent galleries that showcase the Philippines' rich biological and geological diversity. It has botanical, zoological, and geological specimens on exhibit. The well-known and eye-catching "Tree of Life" structure is located here. A replica of Lolong, the world's largest crocodile in captivity, is also on display. The museum currently houses the country's largest plant collection and a large collection of animal specimens from all over the country.

Natural History Exhibitions

• Gallery I: Philippine Biodiversity
• Gallery II: The Geology of the Philippines
• Gallery III: Minerals and Energy Resources
• Gallery IV: Life Through Times
• Gallery V: Carabao Family
• Gallery VI: The Mossy, Motane, and Pine Forests
• Gallery VII: Tropical Lowland Evergreen Rainforest
• Gallery VIII: Ultramafic and Limestones Karst Forests
• Gallery IX: Freshwater Wetlands
• Gallery X: The Marine Realm
• Gallery XI: Our Natural Inheritance
• Gallery XII: The Pioneering Naturalists in the Philippines
• The Ayala Reception Hall
• Hyundai Hall
• The Shell Philippines Centennial Upper Courtyard
• Martha Atienza
• Richard McGregor Hallway

For more information, click here: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/exhibitions/natural-history/

National Museum of Anthropology

National Museum of Anthropology

Do you want to learn more about Filipino ancestry and culture? The National Museum of Anthropology is the ideal place for you. The National Museum of Anthropology houses Philippine ethnographic, terrestrial, and underwater archaeological collections that tell the story of the Philippines from prehistory through artifacts. Here, you can see cultural heritage, ancient artifacts, ethnic arts, customs and traditions, and languages. There are also exhibits of indigenous peoples, such as the Ifugao and Lumads.

Anthropology Exhibitions

• Baybayin Gallery
• Palayok Gallery
• Kaban ng Lahi Gallery
• Manlilika ng Bayan Hall
• Bangsamoro Gallery
• Lumad Mindanao Gallery
• Biyay Gallery
• Entwined Spheres Gallery
• Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Gallery
• Rice, Biodiversity, and Climate Change Gallery
• Tabawan Gallery
• 300 Years of Maritime Trade in the Philippines

For more information, click here: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/exhibitions/anthropology/

Visiting Hours

Admission is free for all visitors, both local and foreign.

Tuesdays – Sundays

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The museums are closed on Mondays.

Holidays

Closed on November 1, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday.

Persons Who Can Visit

• Fully vaccinated individuals, adults, and minors.
• Unvaccinated minors must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.

Proof of identification and vaccination are required upon entry.

Safety Guidelines

• A temperature check is required upon entry in each building.
• Persons with COVID-19 symptoms will not be accepted.
• Face masks must be worn at all times within the museum building while use of face shields shall be voluntary.
• Visitors are allowed to bring own sanitizing kits (small bottle of alcohol, small spraybottles, and tissue papers).
• The following items are not permitted inside the museum buildings:

§  Art materials (including ink pens) other than pencils.

§  Bags and camera bags larger than 33 x 43 cm.

§  Backpacks, baby backpack carriers, long umbrellas or other bulky items.

§  Food and drink.

§  Plants, flowers, or other organic materials.

§  Tripods and video cameras.

§  Wrapped packages including gifts.

§  Pets

• Social distancing of at least 2 meters between persons not belonging to the same household must be observed at all times.
• Frequent hand washing/sanitizing is encouraged.
• Use of elevators shall only be allowed for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. 

Rules and Regulations

• Flash photography is strictly prohibited.
• Taking videos is strictly prohibited.
• Wearing bonnets, caps, and hats are not allowed inside the museum.
• Backpacks and bags bigger than a short bond paper must be deposited at the baggage counter.

 

How to get there

1. From Guadalupe, ride the MRT to Taft Avenue Station.
2. Transfer to LRT 1.
3. Take the LRT1 from MRT Taft Station to United Nations Avenue Station.
4. From United Nations Avenue Station, walk towards P. Burgos.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are walk-in visitors allowed? Yes.
• Is an online reservation for one person or more than three people required? No. Only reservation for group (20-30 persons) is mandatory. For groups of 20-30 persons, you need to reserve and book here: https://reservation.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/
• Are the National Museums of Fine Arts, Natural History, and Anthropology located in the same building? No. The three museums have different buildings, but they are close to each other (walking distance).
• Is there any forms that we need to fill out before entering any of the three museums? Yes. Filling out a form for name registration is required. Before entering the museum, one person must go to the registration area and register the names of the persons he or she is with.
• Are there clothes that are not allowed to be worn inside the museum? None. You can wear anything you want, but avoid wearing clothes that may display any images or slogans that might be deemed offensive.

Contact Information

P. Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila

inquiry@nationalmuseum.gov.ph or cmvod@nationalmuseum.gov.ph

(+632) 8298-1100, 3000, or 85277889