Discover the most amazing museums in Lima: History, art, and culture in a single tour

The Lima Peru museums invite you to discover their history in a simple and close way. From pre-Hispanic art to classic cars, each room shows you a part of Peru worth knowing. You will find ceramics, textiles, metals, minerals, and more, all in accessible spaces, with free admission in the case of free museums in Lima, or even low cost. If you are curious and enjoy learning while traveling, here I will tell you which are the most visited and how to visit them without spending too much. Are you up for it?

What are Museums?

They are open spaces for everyone, where objects that help us understand history, art, and science are cared for and displayed. Although they do not seek to make money, they do seek to share knowledge. In addition, they connect people with different cultures in a simple way. That's why visiting one is always a good idea.

Why is a museum important?

Museums in Lima keep valuable objects and share them with everyone, helping to better understand art, science, and history. Thanks to them, we learn in a close and entertaining way. They also play a key role in the education of children and adults.

Why are museums in Lima key to understanding the soul of Peru?

Before being the capital of the Viceroyalty, Lima was already an important place for the cultures of Lima and Ichma, surrounded by huacas and temples that are still standing. Then the Spaniards arrived and built churches, convents, and palaces. Today, many of these spaces have become museums that keep key moments of our history. For this reason, visiting them helps to better understand Peru.

Museums as guardians of time in the Peruvian capital

Museums in Lima Peru show our past, from art to the daily life of ancient Peruvians. Whether in a site museum or in an exhibition hall, each space holds something worth knowing. Thanks to them, we understand how they thought, what they did, and how they saw the world.

How many museums are there in Lima?

The Peruvian capital has the most museums in the country; the museums in downtown Lima alone total 46. In total, there are more than 70 public and private spaces that share art, science, history and archeology. From site museums to art galleries, each one offers something different.

●     11 art museums
●     3 science museums
●     20 history museums
●     13 archeology museums
●     9 site museums
●     7 museums around Lima
●     Other 24 museums

The most visited museums in Lima

The MALI (Lima Art Museum)

The Lima Art Museum, or Museo de Arte de Lima, operates in the old palace of the exhibition of neo-Renaissance style, built between 1870 and 1871. Since 1973, it has been considered a Historical Monument and Cultural Patrimony of Peru by the INC. Today, its rooms gather pre-Hispanic art objects of 3,050 works, 194 colonial paintings, 6,175 republican paintings, 471 works of recent acquisition, 1887 modern and contemporary works. It is a space that connects past and present through art.

Important data

Location: Corner 9 de diciembre Ave. with 28 de julio Ave.
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General: S/ 40
● Peruvians and residents: S/ 15
● Peruvian students and teachers: S/ 7.50
● Foreigners: S/ 15

Rules: You can take pictures and videos, but no flash, selfies or tripods.

Museo Larco

Museo Larco was founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco Hoyle, this museum stands out for being one of the first to display an archeological collection from the northern coast of Peru. It all began in 1923, when his father gave him a Mochica portrait vase with great detail and artistic value. Since then, he has collected more than 45,000 pieces that today tell part of our history. Each object has something unique to say.

Important facts

Location: 1515 Simón Bolívar Avenue, Pueblo Libre.
Hours of operation: Open every day, including holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General: S/ 50
● Senior citizens: S/ 35
● Peruvians and residents: S/ 15
● Students: S/ 25

National Museum of Peru- Muna

Created by the Ministry of Culture in 2016, the National Museum of Peru - MUNA is one of the largest museums in the country that houses more than 500 000 archaeological pieces that tell how the different cultures of Peru lived. Its modern design and ample spaces make it ideal for learning without getting bored. Here, history is experienced in a simple and close way.

Important facts

Location: Kilometer 31 of the old Panamerican Highway South, Lurin, Lima.
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● Currently, admission is free for all visitors.

Pedro de Osma Museum

The opera house is an elegant French-style mansion built in 1906 by Pedro de Osma y Pardo, and declared National Heritage in 1980. In its rooms are exhibited pieces of viceregal art, silverware, portraits, and furniture of the XVIII and XIX centuries. It also includes objects from the Tiahuanaco and Inca cultures, as well as a valuable collection of Cusquenian paintings.

Important facts

Location: Av. Pedro de Osma 421, Barranco.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● National adult: S/ 30
● Foreign adult: S/ 35
● Retired (national and foreign): S/ 20
● National student: S/ 15
● Foreign student: S/ 20
● Local residents: S/ 20
● CONADIS entrance fee: S/ 10

San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs

The museum gallery was founded in 1969 and is part of the living history of Lima. Built in 1535 by the Franciscan order, it played a key role in the evangelization and social life after the arrival of the Spaniards. In 1947, it was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Nation. Today, it opens its doors to show religious art, viceregal architecture, and ancient funerary rituals in an environment full of history. It combines religious art, viceregal architecture, and art from colonial times.

Important facts

Location: Plazuela San Francisco, between jirones Ancash and Lampa, Cercado de Lima.
Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, including holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission: S/ 20
● University or technical students: S/ 10
● Children: S/ 5

National Museum of Archaeology and History of Peru

The museum exhibition was created in 1822 by José de San Martín and began with collections of minerals and plants from Peru. Over time, it added pieces from pre-Hispanic times. In 1992, the merger of the Archaeology museum in Lima and the Anthropology one adopted its current name. Today, it houses more than 70,000 ceramics, 22,100 pieces of lithic material, 18,000 silver, gold, and copper objects, 40,000 complete pieces of textiles, and objects that show how the country's cultures lived.

Important data

Location: Plaza Bolivar s/n, Pueblo Libre.
Hours: Open every day, including holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● Seniors: S/ 10
● Students: S/ 1

Gold Museum of Peru

The museum of gold Lima was founded by Miguel Mujica Gallo on March 27, 1910 and shows how pre-Hispanic cultures worked the metal, from the extraction of the mineral to the creation of unique pieces. It also exhibits ceramics, textiles, wood, and stone objects from cultures such as Mochica, Chimu, Lambayeque, and Vicus. Many of these pieces were part of the funerary trousseau of ancient dignitaries. It also stands out for having the largest collection of Tumis in Peru.

Important data

Location: Alonso de Molina 1100, Monterrico, Surco.
Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission: S/ 40
● Seniors: S/ 32
● Students and minors: S/ 17

Pre-Columbian Textile Museum - AMANO

This museum was founded in 1964 by the Japanese Yoshitaro Amano with the purpose of caring for and protecting the textile heritage of ancient Peru. It is the only pre-Columbian art museum Lima in the country dedicated exclusively to pre-Columbian textiles. It has four permanent rooms where more than 120 pieces are displayed, along with tools, fibers, spinning techniques, dyeing and looms of cultures such as Chavin, Nazca, Mochica, Huari, Lambayeque, Inca and more than 400 Chancay textiles. Each room allows a close-up view of the art of weaving that was perfected over centuries.

Important facts

Location: Retiro Street 160, Miraflores.
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost of entrance tickets:

● General admission: S/ 35
● Adults and seniors: S/ 25
● Students and minors: S/ 15

Museum of the Central Bank of Peru

The museum collection was inaugurated on March 9, 1922, It is not always visited, but it keeps unique pieces that tell the history of ancient Peru. Its rooms gather ceremonial ceramics, gold, silver, and copper objects, as well as textiles, stone, and wood carvings. You can also see art from millenary times to the 21st century, including republican painting and popular art. And to close the tour, a numismatic room that draws attention for its details.

Important data

Location: Crossroads of Jr. Lampa and Jr. Ucayali, Downtown Lima.
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● Totally free of charge

Andres del Castillo Museum of Minerals MAD

The exhibition of the Andres del Castillo Museum presents crystallized minerals with unique shapes and colors, which are surprising for their variety and detail. You will find from small samples to large pieces that seem to be sculpted by nature. In addition, the tour includes rooms dedicated to metals, ceramics and textiles of pre-Hispanic Peru, all in one place to learn more about our history and geology.

Important facts

Location: Jr. de la Unión 1030, Downtown Lima.
Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission: S/ 15
● Foreign adults: S/ 20
● National adults, seniors and students: S/ 10
● Foreign adults, seniors and students: S/ 10 S/ 15
● Children and school children: S/ 5

Italian Art Museum

The exhibition of the Museum of Italian Art is the only one of its kind in Peru and the only Italian museum outside Italy. It was donated in 1921 by the Italian community as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the country's independence. Its building, in Florentine Renaissance style, houses more than 200 works of the twentieth century. In its six rooms, you can see paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, including a showcase inspired by "Spring" by Sandro Botticelli.

Important facts

Location: Historic Center of Lima
Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission: S/ 6
● Children and school children: S/ 1

Automobile Museum Nicolini Collection

If you like antique cars, you will love this museum. It was created by Jorge Nicolini, who started his collection at the age of 18. Today, you can see 120 classic vehicles that are perfectly preserved and in perfect working order. You will find car models from the early 1900s, as well as from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Each car has its own story on wheels.

Important facts

Location: Intersection of block 37 of La Molina Avenue with Totoritas Street, La Molina.
Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission (adults): S/ 20
● Children and school children: S/ 10

Best site museums around Lima

Huaca Pucllana Site Museum

One of the best museums in Lima was inaugurated in 1984, the Huaca Pucllana site museum presents pieces discovered during excavations in 1981. These objects tell how the ancient cultures that inhabited the area lived. In addition to the museum, the tour includes a guided tour of the huaca and a park where native flora and fauna are preserved. It is a complete experience that connects history, nature, and knowledge in the heart of Miraflores.

Important facts

Location: Block 8 of General Borgoño Street, Miraflores.
Hours of operation: Wednesday to Monday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● General admission (day): S/ 15
● General admission (night): S/ 17
● Children and school children: S/ 7.50

Museum and Sanctuary of Pachacamac

The Museum and Sanctuary of Pachacamac was founded in 1965 and allows visitors to learn about the history of the site from 200 A.D. to the arrival of the Incas in 1470. Through its rooms, you can see important findings such as the idol of the god Pachacamac, a door decorated with spondylus shells, ceramic offerings of the Wari culture and quipus used by the Incas. It is a space that combines history, symbols and beliefs in a single tour.

Important facts

Location: Antigua Panamericana Sur, kilometer 31.5 - Lurin.
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost of admission tickets:

● Adults: S/ 15
● University students: S/ 5
● Children and adolescents: S/ 1

Free museums in Lima: Enjoy without spending a sol

International Museum Day

Every May 18, International Museum Day is celebrated throughout Peru. During this special date, many cultural spaces open their doors with free admission. In addition, they organize night tours, workshops, and live music. It is an excellent opportunity to visit several museums in one day without spending money.

State museums with free admission

If you want to enjoy museums without spending, there is excellent news: every first Sunday of the month, some state museums open their doors with free admission. This initiative seeks to encourage more people to get to know our history and art in an easy and accessible way. Among the most visited are the MALI, the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the National Museum of Peruvian Cultures. So you know, every first Sunday is a good excuse to go out and learn something new.

Special dates and events with free admission

Did you know that you can also get free admission to several museums on special dates? During the year, the Ministry of Culture organizes activities such as "Museum Day" and other cultural days with free admission. To make sure you don't miss anything, go to museos.cultura.pe and check which museums have free admission and when. This way you can organize yourself better and make the most of your visit.

Recommendations for your museum tour in Lima

What to bring to a museum in Lima?

• A bottle of water to stay hydrated.
• Sun block lotion.
• Your original ID or passport.
• Camera or cell phone with good battery.
• Some cash, especially if there are stores, cafeterias or if you need to pay the entrance fee.
• With that, you are ready to enjoy without complications.

Plan your route

If you are interested in knowing a little bit of everything, from the ancient to the present, I recommend you to combine some museums according to each stage of history. This way, you will get the most out of your tour of Lima:

• To know the pre-Columbian period: Larco Museum + National Museum of Peru.
• To explore the colonial period: Pedro de Osma Museum + Museum of the Inquisition.
• To get closer to contemporary art: The museum of contemporary art Lima MAC (Barranco) + MALI Museum.

Recommendations for each area

• The museums in the historic center and Miraflores are ideal for a one-day tour.
• Avoid Mondays, as many museums are closed.
• Check the website before you go to find out about events on that day.
• Find out about the restrictions of each museum.

How to plan a museum tour according to your budget

If your budget is tight, don't worry. You can combine museums with free admission with other low-cost museums, and the best thing is that many are close to downtown Lima. This way you enjoy more, spend less, and make the most of your day. You just need to get organized before leaving.
 

Tell me, which museum would you dare to visit first? I would love to know how your experience was and what caught your attention. And if you know of any little-known museums that are worth visiting, don't hesitate to share them. Every visit has something special, and telling about it can inspire others to discover new spaces.