Good to know
Good to Know
- Most major museums open Tuesday-Sunday; confirm hours on official sites as schedules vary and holidays can affect availability.
- Passport or photo ID required at ticket counters to validate student/senior/resident discounts—carry copies.
- Photography rules vary: Museo Larco allows non-flash; always check museum website or ask staff before photographing.
- Mornings (10:00-13:00) are typically quieter than evenings and weekends.
- Several smaller museums (Museo Central, LUM) offer free admission and cover important cultural history.
- Historic Centre museums (Cathedral, San Francisco) are within walking distance of each other; plan 2-3 hours minimum.
- Pueblo Libre district (Larco, MNAAHP, Museo de Arte Italiano) is worth a half-day visit; both museums accessible in same day if starting early.
- Many museums have on-site cafés and restaurants; Larco's garden café is particularly popular for breaks.
- Huaca Pucllana best visited late afternoon for evening light and photography.
- Pachacamac (35+ km south) requires half-day commitment; consider organized tour to avoid transport hassle.
- Magic Water Circuit evening shows run nightly; Friday-Sunday crowds are heaviest; arrive early for good viewing spots.
- No official multi-site pass; buying direct from museum websites/boxes usually cheaper than third-party skip-line cards.
- Guided tours available in English and Spanish at major museums; book in advance for non-peak visits.
Must See Sites
Plaza De Armas (Plaza Mayor)
- Location
- Historic Centre, Lima
- Proximity
- City center
- Entry Cost
- PEN 0.00
- Description
- Lima's founding square and historic heart, surrounded by colonial buildings including the Cathedral and Palacio de Gobierno. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights
- 24/7 public access
- Stunning colonial architecture
- Central meeting point for walking tours
Cathedral of Lima
- Location
- Plaza de Armas, Historic Centre
- Proximity
- City center
- Entry Cost
- PEN 40
- Description
- Spanish Baroque cathedral built starting in 1535, featuring carved choir, ornate altars, and Museum of Religious Art. Contains Francisco Pizarro's tomb.
Highlights
- Intricate carved choir and altars
- Religious art collection
- Surviving structure from multiple earthquakes
Monasterio De San Francisco
- Hours
- Monday-Sunday 09:00-18:00
- Location
- Jirón Áncash and Lampa, Historic Centre
- Proximity
- City center
- Entry Cost
- PEN 15
- Student Discount
- Yes
- Description
- Colonial-era Franciscan monastery founded in 1540, famous for underground catacombs containing approximately 70,000 human remains arranged in patterns. Includes library with historical texts and Last Supper mural.
Highlights
- Underground catacomb network with 70,000+ remains
- Library with 25,000 books in multiple languages
- Baroque church with religious art
- Well-preserved through multiple earthquakes
Museo Larco
- Hours
- Monday-Sunday 09:00-19:00
- Location
- Avenida Simón Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre
- Proximity
- Pueblo Libre (northwest of center)
- Entry Cost
- PEN 40
- Senior Discount
- Yes
- Student Discount
- Yes
- Children Free Under
- 8
- Description
- Lima's premier pre-Columbian museum housed in an 18th-century colonial mansion with beautiful gardens. Home to the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian art with over 45,000 cataloged pieces spanning 5,000 years.
Highlights
- 30,000+ ancient pottery artifacts
- Unique pre-Columbian erotic art collection
- Gold, silver, and textile exhibits
- On-site café and museum shop
Museo De Arte De Lima (MALI)
- Hours
- Tuesday-Sunday 10:30-18:00 (Saturday closes 17:00)
- Closed
- Mondays
- Location
- Paseo Colón 125, central Lima
- Proximity
- City center (near Parque de la Exposición)
- Entry Cost
- PEN 40
- Free Thursday
- Thursday 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00
- Senior Discount
- Yes
- Student Discount
- Yes
- Children Free Under
- 8
- Description
- Comprehensive art museum in historic Palacio de la Exposición showcasing 3,000 years of Peruvian art. Features 18,000+ artworks covering pre-Columbian, colonial, republican, and modern periods.
Highlights
- Pre-Columbian ceramics and textiles
- Colonial and republican works
- Photographs by Martín Chambi
- Contemporary art section
- Library, shop, and café
National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru (MNAAHP)
- Hours
- Monday 12:00-19:30; Tuesday-Sunday 08:45-17:00
- Location
- Plaza Bolívar, Pueblo Libre
- Proximity
- Pueblo Libre (northwest of center)
- Entry Cost
- PEN 15
- Description
- Peru's oldest museum (founded 1822), featuring comprehensive archaeological history spanning over 10,000 years. Contains iconic artifacts like the Estela de Raimondi, Manos Cruzadas de Kotosh, and Obelisco Tello.
Highlights
- Chavín, Paracas, and Inca artifacts
- Thirty exhibition rooms
- Colonial-era objects
- From earliest hunter-gatherers to republican period
Museo De Arte Contemporáneo (MAC Lima)
- Location
- Barranco
- Proximity
- Barranco neighborhood
- Description
- Contemporary art museum opened in 2013, housed in distinctive glass cube structure at entrance to bohemian Barranco district. Features emerging Latin American and international artists.
Highlights
- Interactive exhibits
- Spacious outdoor grassy area
- On-site café
- Work by contemporary photographers and artists
Museo Pedro De Osma
- Location
- Barranco
- Proximity
- Barranco
- Entry Cost
- PEN 70
- Description
- Museum housed in beautifully restored colonial mansion featuring one of Peru's best painting collections with works dating back to the 16th century. Exhibits colonial religious art, textiles, silver, and sculptures.
Highlights
- 16th-century paintings collection
- Gallery dedicated to Mary
- Silver armadillo in silver gallery
- Botanical gardens
Huaca Pucllana
- Location
- Miraflores
- Proximity
- Miraflores (south of center)
- Description
- One of Lima's oldest archaeological sites. Pre-Inca ceremonial site built by millions of adobe bricks that once served as administrative center dedicated to Pachacamac.
Highlights
- Ancient adobe pyramid
- Evening light shows best for photography
- Located amid modern Miraflores district
Pachacamac Archaeological Complex
- Location
- South of Lima
- Proximity
- 35+ km south of center (day trip)
- Description
- Pre-Inca and Inca ceremonial site with palaces, temple pyramids, and burial grounds showing Lima, Wari, Ychma, and Inca cultures. Site Museum opened 2016 contains 6,500+ artifacts including the famous Pachacamac idol.
Highlights
- Temple of the Sun (built by Incas)
- Multiple archaeological layers
- On-site museum with artifact collection
- Guided tours available
Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Mágico Del Agua)
- Hours
- Monday-Thursday 14:00-20:00; Friday-Sunday 12:00-20:00
- Location
- Parque de la Reserva, central Lima
- Proximity
- Central Lima
- Entry Cost
- PEN 4.00
- Description
- Famous fountain and light show featuring thirteen water fountains with synchronized water, light and music performances. Set in 8-hectare park existing since 1929.
Highlights
- Largest collection of water fountains in single public space
- Nightly light and sound show
- Family-friendly outdoor experience
- Sculptures and information panels
Other Notable Museums
Museo Amano
- Focus
- Pre-Columbian textiles
- Hours
- Monday-Sunday 10:00-19:00
- Entry Cost
- PEN 35
Museo De Oro Del Perú (Gold Museum)
- Focus
- Pre-Columbian gold and silver artifacts
- Note
- Controversies noted in visitor feedback; consider with open mind
Museo De Arte Italiano
- Focus
- Italian Renaissance to Baroque art
- Entry Cost
- PEN 3.00
- Note
- Inexpensive; located in Pueblo Libre
Andres Del Castillo Museum
- Focus
- Peruvian minerals, geology, Chancay ceramics, pre-1532 textiles
- Hours
- Daily 10:00-17:00
- Location
- Next to Plaza San Martín
- Entry Cost
- PEN 10
Natural History Museum (Museo De Historia Natural)
- Focus
- Dinosaurs, geological findings, paleontology
- Hours
- Tuesday-Friday 10:00-15:00
- Entry Cost
- PEN 10
- Note
- Budget-friendly; especially good for families with young children
Museo Central (MUCEN) - Central Reserve Bank
- Focus
- Archaeology, colonial art, numismatics
- Entry Cost
- PEN 0.00
- Note
- Free admission
Lugar De La Memoria, La Tolerancia Y La Inclusión Social (LUM)
- Focus
- Peru's recent history (1980s-1990s internal violence and terrorism)
- Entry Cost
- PEN 0.00
- Note
- Free admission; important historical site
Passes And Practical Info
- Payment
- Most museums accept both cash and card; carry soles and passport ID for discounts
- Tickets
- Purchase individually at each museum or site; most accept online booking
- Busy Times
- Evening slots and weekends busier; Thursday afternoons generally quieter. Mornings less crowded.
- Transit Card
- Lima Pass is public transport card only, not for museums; mainly useful if using Metropolitano or corridor buses multiple times
- Museum Pass Official
- No citywide official Lima attraction pass currently exists
Discounts
- Seniors
- Discounts available at most major museums
- Children
- Free or discounted (usually under 3-8 years)
- Thursday Free
- MALI free Thursday 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00
- First Sunday Policy
- State museums may offer free entry for Peruvian residents and foreign residents with valid ID
- Students With Valid ID
- Typically 40-50% off
General Pricing Range
- Premium
- PEN 40
- Mid Range
- PEN 15
- Budget Option
- PEN 3.00
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this history, museums & sightseeing research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Lima
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.