If when traveling you love visiting museums, or if you are just keen on seeing how our Government Palace looks like inside, but at the same time try to maintain a low budget, then this post is for you.
Let’s start with which Lima´s best museums offer entry at no cost and when:
MUSEO DE ARTE DE LIMA (MALI)
This amazing museum, just renewed a few years ago, has a very large and complete collection of Peruvian art, going from pre-Incan times until today.
To visit it carefully takes around 2 hours or maybe a bit more (including the temporary expositions rooms), but it’s totally worth it.
Usually, visiting this impressive place costs S/. 30 soles ($10 USD approx.) but every Thursday from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM is for FREE. Also, there’s FREE entrance every first Friday of each month from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Don’t leave Lima without visiting the MALI, it’s truly a great cultural experience!
MUSEO NACIONAL DE ARQUEOLOGIA, ANTROPOLOGIA E HISTORIA (MNAAHP)
Located in the district of Pueblo Libre, this interesting museum will teach you mostly about the formative cultures of our country.
The place itself is also historical as it is the house where our liberator, Don Jose de San Martin, lived while in the city.
Usually, visiting this museum costs S/. 10 soles ($4 USD approx.) but every first Friday of each month opens its doors for FREE from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
MUSEO DEL BANCO CENTRAL DE RESERVA (BCR)
Walking around Lima Centre you will be able to easily find this museum, located in the corners of Jirón Lampa and Jirón Ucayali.
This old bank offers visits for FREE, all days except Monday, to a small but compact exposition of Peruvian pre-Hispanic art, popular art, colonial and modern paintings. Also a collection of historical coins
The heart of this place is the pre-Incan golden artifacts room you can visit inside what used to be the bank’s vault.
You can visit this museum from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM and on Saturday and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Now, it’s the government buildings turn:
GOVERNMENT PALACE
Our president’s place of work, and commonly called “House of Pizarro”, is open for FREE visits on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 AM.
In order to enter this formidable building, reservation and at least two weeks’ notice is needed, but you can ask us to add this impressive place to any of our personalized tours and we will take care of the proper arrangements for you.
PERUVIAN CONGRESS
This impressive government building constructed in 1939 is where our congressmen and congresswomen work every day to debate the laws that will rule our country.
They are open for FREE visits on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
The tour lasts 45 minutes and the way to get in is by going to the back entrance (that is in Jirón Andahuaylas second block) with your original passport, but take in account these free walk-in visits are just for groups up to 10 people. For bigger groups, a reservation should be made in advance.
