Museum Tours

While there are plenty of museums to visit, the National Museum Complex in the heart of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a good start. If you are in Boracay, there are tours that will take you to the Motag Living Museum in Aklan, about 30 minutes away from White Beach. There you will get to see and experience the culture, farming methods, and traditional crafts through demonstrations. Tam-Awan Village in Baguio also showcases the culture and arts of the Cordilleran people, some of which belong to indigenous tribes high up in the mountains barely touched by modernization.

Yes, phones and cameras are allowed inside the museum but some exhibits and artworks are not allowed to be photographed. While artworks on display are remarkable, museum tours are best enjoyed with your naked eye and not behind the lens. However, some attractions like Lakbay Museo and Dessert Museum highly encourage their guests to take as much pictures as possible. The colorful interiors and vibrant designs make a perfect backdrop for portraits.

As a general rule, artwork or artifacts must not be touched unless the display instructs you to do so. Many of the museum displays feature historical pieces and are quite irreplaceable. Not touching them prevents accidental damage and ensures they do not come into contact with oil or dirt.

The duration depends on the number of museums you will visit and the size of the museums. Some require more interactions than the others, like the living museums in Aklan and Benguet. Check the description of your chosen tour where you will see the exact duration of the trip.

Different museums have different age restrictions. Check description of a tour to know the minimum age allowed in the museums you will visit.

Some museum tour packages come with a guide available speaking in Filipino and English languages.

Food and drinks are not allowed in the National Museum Complex and other regional museums. But for Dessert Museum, you can enjoy a wide array of delectable treats!

Museums expect an influx of visitors during weekends so it is recommended that you join a museum tours on weekdays. Most museums are open from Tuesdays to Sundays and closed on Mondays. There is no ideal time to go on a museum tour. It is always a good time to learn about history, culture, and gain a deeper understanding of a place. Museums launch different exhibits featuring different artists and some even have scheduled demonstrations so if you haven’t visited a museum in a while, chances are there are new things to see!