10 New Indoor Attractions in the Metro You Should've Visited by Now

(SPOT.ph) Where 2020 saw a lot of our favorite hangouts shut their doors, 2022 saw the resurgence of travel, dining, and entertainment all across the country. In what can only be described as "revenge" openings and revenge travel, a new spot opened up practically every week of 2022, alongside the growing want of people to finally head back out into city streets. Now, dear Spotter, if you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of new places to check out, we've got you covered. We round up 10 of the Metro's newest indoor activities and attractions that you ought to visit before 2023 brings in even more places to explore.

Also read: 10 Places In and Around Metro Manila to Bring Your Balikbayan Friends

Here are 10 indoor activities and attractions that opened (or reopened) in 2022:

Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo

Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo is the bigger and newer iteration of the then-IG playground in S Maison. For just P799 (P699 if you buy tickets online), explore the massive 3,000-square-meter space that features food art installations of the different regional dishes in the Philippines. There are also exhibits of various famous destinations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, native fabrics, a collection of grains and beans, a playground with Filipino street games, and other experiences unique to the country represented here.

Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo is at 2F Filipino Village, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Parañaque City. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo's Facebook page.

Nightmares Manila

Up for some screams and cheap thrills? Nothing livens up the soul like a good scare, so if you're down for this kind of fun, hit up Nightmares Manila, a five-floor horror attraction in Parañaque, with your friends or S.O. It consists of two haunted houses, four escape rooms, and a zombie shooting arena. Talk about scary—in a fun entertaining way, of course. But hey, when you're done with all the screaming and running around, there's also a place to eat, shop, and take pictures right within the compound.

Nightmares Manila is at Dr. A. Santos Avenue corner Rainbow Drive, Goodwill 2 Subdivision, Parañaque City. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Rates start at P299. For more information, visit Nightmare Manila's Facebook page.

Gootopia

Remember the early 2000s when getting slimed seemed to be the coolest thing, especially for the Nickelodeon fans out there? Well, let that dream become reality in Manila's first-ever slime fun house. A mix of both a slime lab—where you get to mix and make your own slime—and a fun theme park with games and activities, Gootopia is a spot for kids and kids-at-heart. Take part in the various Gootopia games and activities. Pro tip: get a high score to avoid getting slimed at the end (or you could aim low if you really want that Nickelodeon feels).

Gootopia is at Level 3, South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rates start at P699. For more information, visit Gootopia's Facebook page.

EkartRaceway

Ready, set, and go-kart your way around the first all-electric multi-level indoor go-kart track in the city at SM City North Edsa's EkartRaceway.  Push the pedal to the metal—with safety in mind, of course—around the track. Live out your Mario Kart or F1 driving dreams here at their mini-Monaco track-like space. Rates start at P750/ seven minutes for Junior Karts, P950/ eight minutes for Adult Karts, and P1,200/ eight minutes for two-seater Karts. Feeling the need for speed and want another lap or two? There are also ride bundles and yearly memberships for serious riders who want to drive more often. 

EkartRaceway is at the 3F SM City North Edsa Main, Quezon City. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Rates start at P750. For more information, visit EkartRaceway's Facebook page.

DreamLab

Dream Lab is a 4,000-square meter experiential learning space for kids and kids-at-heart. With ticket prices starting at P788, the attraction aims to teach Filipinos about entrepreneurship and other facets of creating a business empire. Expect several hands-on activities at different stations, such as mixing and branding personalized household and cosmetics products in the Tolling Station, running a hotel at Dream Hotel, experiencing firsthand how to use a POS machine in the Market, learning about packaging and how it affects your products at Ads-Venture and many more.  

Dream Lab is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the last call to enter is at 6 p.m.). Dream Lab is at U/G Ayala Malls Circuit Makati. For more information, visit Dream Lab's website.

Whimsical Wonderland

Whimsical Wonderland features 17 uniquely mesmerizing rooms filled with the objects of a wild imagination. Take the journey into supernatural realms and spark your creativity with sights you can only dream of. Giant chess pieces, dazzling light displays, and giant fur trees are just some sights to see. Tickets to enter this magical spot cost P499 for walk-ins but are cheaper online at P349. 

Whimsical Wonderland is at 4/F Eastwood Mall, Eastwood, Quezon City. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets start at P499. For more information, visit Whimsical Wonderland's Facebook page.

Manila Clock Tower Museum

Located on the fourth floor of the Manila City Hall, The Manila Clock Tower Museum features an immersive and multi-sensory experience curated to tell the history of Manila. Aside from the usual display of the leaders and officials of the city, it also hopes to educate its guests about the Battle of Manila during World War II. There are various video presentations and a 3D-wall installation featuring key moments during the war designed by Ohm David and Elba Cruz.

The Manila Clock Tower Museum is at 4/F Manila City Hall, Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, Manila. It is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit Manila Clock Tower Museum's Facebook page.

Tales of Illumina

Tales of Illumina is a 45,000-square-foot indoor theme park with over 30 light and sound installations that are not only IG-worthy but also very educational. You get to hear from famous (or rather infamous) creatures of Philippine mythology, such as the manananggal and the kapre as they tell you about themselves. Aside from myths and legends, it also features well-known works in Philippine literature, like the Ibong Adarna and Florante at Laura. Enjoy walking through the winding pathways of the park and immerse yourself in the various dwellings of the supernatural. With surround sound-themed background music and even wall-to-wall mirrors and lights, it'll be hard not to feel a sense of wonder as you discover the different worlds within.

Tales of Illumina is at 2/F Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth, Quezon City. Tickets, which are available online and on-site, start at P799. For more information, follow Tales of Illumina on Facebook.

Museo ng Pag-asa

During the 2022 Presidential Elections, then-candidate and now-former Vice President Leni Robredo collected a massive collection of memorabilia and trinkets from people across the nation and beyond. Feeling that the souvenirs should not be kept for her eyes only, she and her team decided to put up the Museo ng Pag-asa. This museum is filled to the brim with creations and tokens that highlight the spirit of bayanihan, creativity, and craftsmanship from the different regions Robredo visited during her campaign. 

The Museo ng Pag-asa is located at  84 Cordillera, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City. It is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit Angat Buhay Foundation's Facebook page.

Art in Island/ Media Square

Okay, granted this already-popular spot only reopened quite recently, you still have to visit it ASAP. Art in Island was known for its massive murals and colorful backgrounds that let visitors be part of the art. But following a temporary closure in August 2022, it has since become more of a mixed-media museum bringing together art, media, and technology through digital display, larger-than-life projection, and transcendental audio. 

The Media Square is at 175 15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information, follow Art in Island on Facebook and Instagram.