Kids

Before the School Bell: Kid-Friendly Places to Explore in Metro Manila

by Alexa Villano
June 6, 2025

Metro Manila has many hidden places you can take your kid to before school starts

In just a few weeks, school will start (again) for the kids, which means parents are utilizing the remaining vacation time they can spend with them. But if you are not in the mood to travel out of Manila, there are many places you can go to and spend time with them. Some of these places are also educational and cultural, so they are learning along the way.

Check out the places you can bring your kids while they are on break.

Metro Manila has many hidden places you can take your kid to before school starts — Photo from intramurosph

Intramuros

The Walled City has been a tourist destination, and through the years, the city of Manila has ensured that it remains one of the places people go to. When you are inside Intramuros, you and your kids can go to museums or churches. You can even rent a bike or a kalesa to go around. You can also board the tranvia.

Some of the stops you can go to are the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago, Baluarte de San Diego, and the museums of Casa Manila and Museo de Intramuros.

Want to have a memorable visit to Intramuros? There are tours that you can check out from groups like Renacimiento Manila, which have dates for tours.

Zoos

There are many zoos in the metro that you can take your kids to. It’s an opportunity to show them up close the animals they often see in books or on TV.

Zoos you can take them to include Manila Zoo, Malabon Zoo, Ninoy Aquino Parks, and Wildlife.

Museums

If you want to take your kids where they can learn and know more about the country, then the museum is a must-visit. There are several museums and exhibits that families can visit with small fees or even free.

You can check out our list of museums here, but you can also add the Women’s Museum in Tandang Sora and the renovated Museo Pambata in Manila.

Interactive Play Centers

If your kid is now in the immersive and sensory stage, then taking them to interactive play centers will be a big help. These places help in using their five senses – sight, feel, taste, hearing, and smell.

Check out Space and Time Cube in Quezon City and Pasay, Superpark in McKinley, PlayLab PH, and Gootopia, which has branches in Quezon City and Pasay.

So many places you can take your kids

There are so many options to bond with your kids while on vacation. So spend time with them and bond even just taking them to a playground or having conversations. Not only does it strengthen your relationship with them, but it also builds memories they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.