The Mind Museum

The Mind Museum opened in 2012 in Bonifacio Global City, privately funded and built around interactive exhibits rather than cases - five galleries covering the atom, life, the earth, the universe and technology, with a walk-through model of a cell, a full-size dinosaur cast, a planetarium dome and a Foucault pendulum. It is aimed squarely at children and school groups and is the best science museum in the country by a wide margin, which says as much about the field as about the institution. Outside is the Science in the Park garden with large kinetic and physics exhibits. Entry works on timed sessions of a few hours rather than open all-day access, so booking ahead matters, particularly at weekends and during school holidays when it fills. It sits in BGC, which is Metro Manila's most walkable district and has enough restaurants around the park to make an afternoon of it.

What you actually see

• The five galleries - atom, life, earth, universe and technology.
• The walk-through cell - the oversized biology model.
• The planetarium - the dome shows on the schedule.
• The outdoor park - large kinetic exhibits in the garden.

When to go

Year-round; weekday mornings during term time are quietest. Book a session ahead - weekends and school holidays sell out.

Honest expectations

Entry is by timed session, not open access, and it is expensive by local museum standards. It is built for children - adults without them may find two hours plenty. Weekends are loud and crowded.

Nearby

Bonifacio High Street and BGC's restaurants are minutes away; Makati is across the river.