Lima has a wide variety of museums with themes ranging from archaeological artifacts, ancient and contemporary art, to torture, gold and weapons. Here are just a few that present information about pre-Incan and Incan culture, Colonial Lima, and modern Lima.

Museo de la Nación (Museum of the Nation)

The Museo de la Nación traces Peru’s archaeological history back to 10,000 BCE, with 4 floors of artifacts from the Moche, Nasca, Wari and Inca cultures.
Located in the district of San Borja, 2465 Javier Prado Este.
Tel. 467-9878 or 476-9873 Open Tu-Sun 9am-5pm. s./6 entrance. 1 hour guided tour s./10

Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera

This museum, founded in 1926, is located in an 18th century vice-royal mansion and holds over 40,000 pieces of pre-Colombian Peruvian art including gold and silver jewelry, textiles and thousands of ceramic pieces. Its permanent exhibit is shown chronologically, and by regions of Peru. Also on site is the popular Sala Erótica with more adult-themed ceramics. Also inside the museum complex is the Museum Café, serving food and beverages on the terrace and gardens.
Located in the district of Pueblo Libre, 1515 Avenida Bolivar.
Tel. 461-1312 or 461-1835 Open Mon-Sun 9am-6pm, open on holidays. S./30

Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso

This gruesome museum depicts the tortures inflicted during the Spanish Inquisition which lasted for 250 years.
Located in the district of Lima Centro, 548 Junín, off Abancay.
Tel. 311-7801. Open Mon- Fri 9am-5pm. Free entrance and 30 minute guided tour.

Convento de San Francisco

A seventeenth century church with elegant viceroyal architecture, thousands of rare books, and beautiful murals, including a Peruvian rendition of the Last Supper. The biggest draw, however, are the famous catacombs, discovered in 1943, which are underground passages containing the skulls and bones of over 25,000 bodies.
Located in the district of Lima Centro, 471 Ancash at Lampa, a 5 minute walk from the Plaza de Armas.
Open Mon-Sun 9:30am-5:45pm. s./5 entrance includes guided tour.

Fuerte Real Felipe

A fort built in 1747 to protect the coast from pirates, and the location of the last stand of the Spanish royalists during the battles of independence in the 1820s. A guided tour (offered in Spanish only) takes you through the vast grounds of the fort and shows Lima’s history of pirates, the war of Independence, the area where prisoners were kept, and magnificient views of the Pacific Ocean and the port of Callao.
Located in the district of Callao, Plaza Independencia.
Tel. 429-0532. Open 9am-2pm

Museo de Arte

This museum is dedicated to art by native Peruvians, and spans over 3000 years of history, including a Contemporary art exhibit from the past 50 years. Located in the district of Lima Centro, in the Palacio de la Exposición, which was built in 1872 with plans made by Gustave Eiffel and is located in the Parque de la Exposición, 125 Paseo Colón at Garcilaso de la Vega and Grau.
Tel. 423-4732 / 423-6332 / 423-5149. Open Thurs-Tues 10am-5pm, closed Wed. s./12, s./1 on Sundays