Open Museums: Find out which ones you can visit FREE of charge

Under the administration of the Ministry of Culture alone, Peru has more than 58 museums, which allows us to understand the great cultural landscape and visiting options that we have in different parts of the country. In order to motivate these visits, we have created the Open Museums program.  In this post we tell you a little more about what this is about, which ones you can visit, and when. 

What are "Open Museums"?

The "Open Museums (MUA)" initiative represents a comprehensive project that merges museums, art and heritage, by having museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture conduct artistic and cultural activities. This proposal is not only premised on free access, stipulated by Law No. 30599, but it also gets actively involved in the promotion and linking of various audiences with the museums and their valuable collections.

This initiative is strategically aligned with the objectives of the National Culture Policy, concentrating mainly on two fundamental aspects: strengthening the valuation of cultural diversity and promoting the recognition and appreciation of the cultural heritage.

Since "Open Museums" was implemented in 2017, 60 editions have been held, benefiting more than one million people, where every first Sunday of each month Peruvian citizens and residents have access, free of charge, to archaeological sites, museums and historical places administered by the State, nationwide.

Open Museums: Which museums can you visit free of charge in 2024?

This initiative that promotes culture in the country allows visits to more than 50 museums in different regions of the country. 

Though it is a long list, we show you below which ones you can visit in some regions. 

Open Museums in Lima 

In the city of Lima, we have 16 open museums that can be visited as part of this project. Several of these are located in Cercado de Lima (Historic Walled Lima), so you could plan a tour of the historic city center to discover them all in a single day full of history and culture. The museums in downtown Lima are: 

- José Carlos Mariátegui Museum: Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and the first Sunday of each month.

- Museum of Italian Art: Open regularly Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every first Sunday of the month. Free admission is from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

- National Museum of Peruvian Culture: General admission from Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and every first Sunday of the month. Free admission is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

- Mateo Salado Archaeological Complex: Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Open Museums in Peru

If you are on the Peruvian coast, some museums that you can visit free of charge, as part of Open Museums, are, in Ica, the Regional Museum of Ica "Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins" and the Julio C. Tello site museum in Paracas.  As for the north coast, in Lambayeque, there is the Huaca Chotuna museum, the Huaca Rajada site museum, the Túcume Museum, the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum and the National Museum of Sicán. And, following this route, in La Libertad, there is the Chan Chan Site Museum. 

In this region, you can also visit the Site Museum of the El Brujo Archaeological Complex. This amazing and modern museum houses 14 thousand years of history of human occupation in Peru and offers recreational and cultural activities for adults and children, the ideal plan to spend a Sunday with family and friends! You can check its schedule here. 

Please note that their opening hours are Monday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you wish to make any queries prior to your visit, you can do so by WhatsApp at +51 933 412 730, although many museums in the north of the country are open from Tuesday through Sunday.

You can also visit museums in the Peruvian Sierra, such as the Regional Museum of Archaeology in Junín, the Hipólito Unanue Regional Historical Museum in Ayacucho, or the Wari Site Museum, to mention a few. 

When is visiting these museums free of charge?

Thanks to the Open Museums initiative, every first Sunday of the month admission to different museums in the country is free of charge. Aside from free tours, the museums also organize different activities in which both adults and children can participate. Visit the museums on this list for free of charge, including the imposing El Brujo Archaeological Complex, every first Sunday of the month! 

You can also read:

• Discovering the Mochica edifices on the north coast of Peru

• The important work of Archaeological Conservation in the El Brujo Archaeological Complex

• The Moche Route, the Peruvian archaeological circuit that transports you to a surprising civilization