National Museum of the Philippines - Cebu

Great intro and outro to your Cebu trip. I believe this was just newly renovated and it shows. Interiors, layout and design is really great. Loved that they have included old maps and the painting section of Martino Abellana. Cool stuff all around. Plus it’s free! Keep it up, Cebu!

A fantastic museum to visit! There are five galleries inside the museum, including nature of Cebu, city history, trade history, map exhibition, and art gallery. The building is modernly decorated inside and air conditioning is available. No admission fee for visitors!! The museum staff were so accommodating and professional. Definitely worth visiting for foreign visitors.

November 2025 - Not just it's open to public even during weekends but best of all admission is free... to think how beautiful and creative and world-class the government has transformed this old building... great job! I like how the Philippine map evolved into what it is now.

Had to wait for around 2 minutes in the waiting area before being admitted. No entrance fee! Videography and flash photography are not allowed. Museum is airconditioned and covers vast artifacts about Cebu -- from local trees, bats, sea creatures, stones, pottery. There is also a gallery of Tinong's paintings and drawings. They have an art corner for kids (or even kids at heart!). Crayons and printed coloring materials are provided. Toured the place for more than an hour.

Old malacañang of cebu. Must visit! Free entrance. No videography, no touching of items. Appreciate and walk slowly. 2 floors with 5 sections to explore.

I visited the National Museum of the Philippines in Cebu on a Saturday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised—no long lines, no wait time. The comfort room was clean, which is always a plus. Inside, the museum is spotless, well-organized, and thoughtfully curated. It showcases not just the history and artifacts of Cebu, but also the rich natural history of the Philippines—from land and sea animals that once thrived here, to tools used in traditional fishing, and even the contents of salvaged shipwrecks around the island. The galleries are climate-controlled with humidifiers, helping preserve the artifacts and making the experience comfortable for visitors. Honestly, one hour isn't enough to fully explore and appreciate everything. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike!

Visited the National Museum of the Philippines in Cebu City and had a great experience overall! Entry is done in batches, so we had to wait in line before getting in but it wasn’t a problem at all since there are shaded benches outside which made the wait comfortable. Before entering, we were asked to register and attend a short orientation, which was quick and helpful. One of the best things: entrance is absolutely FREE! That alone is a big plus, especially for the quality of the experience. The entire museum is fully air-conditioned and quite strongly, which was very refreshing especially after being outside. The layout of the museum is very organized. The flow is linear, so you don’t feel overwhelmed or confused about where to look first. You’re guided naturally through the displays without the need to constantly scan left and right. The signages and reminders around the museum are clear and easy to understand. However, I did find the display labeling system a little confusing. The exhibits are numbered, and you have to refer to a single display legend or layout to figure out what each number means. It takes a bit of effort to match the numbers with the names or descriptions, and I think that could be improved by placing the names closer to the actual displays. Despite that minor detail, the overall visit was very enjoyable. The staff was accommodating, the exhibits were impressive, and the space was well maintained. A must-visit cultural stop in Cebu City, highly recommended for locals and tourists alike!

At my very first trip to Cebu, we went to the museum after the 3rd National Patriot Scholars Congress at Dusti Thani Mactan Cebu. It's also the first time I ever went to a museum so it's a great learning experience to see all the artifacts and memorabilia situated in the National Museum. The actual building is even part of the history as it was the "Malacañang of Cebu" so the whole experience was a historical one indeed, and I'm happy that the Almighty had given me the opportunity to experience this along with my scholar friends of DOST-SEI.