With kids · Manila · Philippines
Manila with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Manila is easier with children than its traffic suggests: free museums with big exhibits, Manila Ocean Park, The Mind Museum, Intramuros by kalesa and air-conditioned malls with play areas. Stay in BGC or Makati and plan one district per day. Top picks: National Museum of Natural History, Manila Ocean Park and The Mind Museum. Families usually base themselves in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
- Rainy-day options
- 3
Best things to do with kids
Museum · Ermita and Malate
1.National Museum of Natural History
Housed in a restored 1940 government building, the museum is built around a central atrium with a towering 'Tree of Life' structure. Galleries cover the islands' ecosystems, from coral reefs to mountain forests, and include the skeleton of Lolong, a saltwater crocodile over 6 metres long.
A favourite with children; weekends are busy, so go on a weekday morning.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Architecture
Aquarium · Ermita and Malate
2.Manila Ocean Park
An oceanarium on the bayfront behind the Quirino Grandstand, with a walk-through tunnel tank, jellyfish displays and animal shows, close to Rizal Park and the National Museum.
Combine it with Rizal Park and the Natural History museum for a full family day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
3.The Mind Museum
A hands-on science museum in BGC with galleries on the universe, Earth, life, atoms and technology, plus a life-size dinosaur skeleton cast. Interactive exhibits make it one of the best indoor outings for children in Metro Manila.
Book a time slot online for weekends and school holidays.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Intramuros
4.Intramuros
The walled city founded by the Spanish in 1571 was the seat of colonial government for more than three centuries. Much was destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Manila, but its walls, bastions, churches and rebuilt colonial houses make it the best place to understand the city's history, on foot, by bamboo bike or by horse-drawn kalesa.
Walk part of the walls near Baluarte de San Diego, and consider a guided walking or bamboo-bike tour for the stories behind the ruins.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
Castle · Intramuros
5.Fort Santiago
The Spanish citadel at the mouth of the Pasig River, where national hero José Rizal was imprisoned before his execution in 1896. Brass footprints trace his final walk, and the Rizal Shrine museum displays his writings and belongings amid gardens and old walls.
Visit late afternoon for cooler air and river views from the ramparts.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Kids
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Park · Ermita and Malate
6.Rizal Park (Luneta)
The large urban park beside Manila Bay is centred on the Rizal Monument, guarded by ceremonial sentries, near the spot where José Rizal was executed. It includes Chinese and Japanese gardens, open lawns and fountains, and fills with families at weekends.
Visit in the late afternoon, then walk to the bayfront for the sunset.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
Rainy-day ideas
- National Museum of Natural History — A favourite with children; weekends are busy, so go on a weekday morning.
- The Mind Museum — Book a time slot online for weekends and school holidays.
- Manila Ocean Park — Combine it with Rizal Park and the Natural History museum for a full family day.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, shopping and first-timers
Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
BGC is a modern district of wide pavements, parks, public art and the open-air Bonifacio High Street, with international restaurants, cafés and hotels. It is one of the easiest places in Metro Manila to walk around and suits families and business travellers.
- Good
- Clean, safe-feeling and walkable; Great dining and parks; Good for children
- Watch out
- Far from historic Manila in traffic; Little local character
- Nearby
- Bonifacio High Street, The Mind Museum, Uptown Mall
Family travel tips
- Group sights by area: the National Museum, Rizal Park and Manila Ocean Park are all next to each other.
- Malls are useful for cool breaks, clean toilets and food courts.
- Use Grab cars rather than jeepneys with young children and luggage.
- Plan outdoor sightseeing early in the day in March to May.
- Carry rain gear and expect traffic delays during the June–October rainy season.
Day trips for families
- Tagaytay and Taal Volcano (About 1.5–2.5 hours by road) — A cool ridge town overlooking Taal Lake and the active Taal Volcano, with viewpoint restaurants, bulalo beef-marrow soup and fruit stands.
- Corregidor Island (About 1–1.5 hours by ferry) — A fortified island at the entrance to Manila Bay, scene of a key Second World War battle, with ruined barracks, gun batteries, the Malinta Tunnel and a Pacific War memorial, usually toured by trolley bus.
- Pagsanjan Falls (About 2.5–3 hours by road) — Boatmen paddle and drag canoes upriver through a forested gorge to a waterfall, where a raft takes you under the cascade; the ride back down shoots small rapids.
When to go with children
The best months overall are December–March. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Manila good for kids?
Manila is easier with children than its traffic suggests: free museums with big exhibits, Manila Ocean Park, The Mind Museum, Intramuros by kalesa and air-conditioned malls with play areas. Stay in BGC or Makati and plan one district per day.
+What can kids do in Manila?
National Museum of Natural History, Manila Ocean Park, The Mind Museum, Intramuros and Fort Santiago.
+Where should families stay in Manila?
Bonifacio Global City (BGC): Planned, walkable district of towers, parks and outdoor malls in Taguig.