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The city of Cusco, ancient capital of the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire) and cultural epicenter of the Andes, holds traces of its glorious Inca past and its fusion with the colonial era in every corner. Although many travelers are attracted by its majestic archaeological sites like Sacsayhuamán or the Coricancha temple, few know that the best way to fully understand the history and cultural legacy of this ancient city is through its historical and thematic museums.
From original Inca pieces, pre-Columbian art, viceregal sculptures to mummies, catacombs, ancient textiles, and objects returned by foreign universities, Cusco’s museums offer an unparalleled educational, visual, and emotional experience. Here we present 7 essential museums in Cusco that every curious traveler should visit.
1. Coricancha Site Museum
Located beneath the esplanade of the Coricancha temple, the Coricancha Site Museum presents a unique underground exhibition. Its five rooms are dedicated to the Inca worldview, where you can appreciate ritual ceramics, lithic tools, original textiles, and funerary objects, such as mummies with clear examples of cranial trepanations.
This museum is perfect for complementing your visit to the Temple of the Sun (Coricancha), one of the most sacred places of the Inca Empire. The informative panels, along with the option of hiring a guide, make the visit an illustrative and immersive experience.
Address: Av. El Sol s/n (within the Coricancha esplanade)
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entry: S/15 or with the Cusco Tourist Ticket (S/70)
2. Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (MAP)
Situated in a beautiful colonial mansion just steps from the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (MAP) is one of Cusco’s most sophisticated and complete museums. Its ten thematic rooms exhibit pieces up to 3,000 years old, belonging to pre-Inca cultures such as Moche, Nasca, Chavín, Chimú, and, of course, the Inca.
Among its treasures are finely decorated ceramics, gold and silver objects, ceremonial wooden sculptures, and ritual textiles. This collection is part of the prestigious Larco Museum in Lima. Its modern lighting and well-structured explanations make it a first-class museum.
Address: Plazoleta de las Nazarenas 231, Cusco
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Entry: S/20 adults / S/10 students
3. Museum of the Cusco Cathedral
The Basilica Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, the main Catholic temple of Cusco, is not only a place of worship but also a living museum that houses masterpieces of the Cusco School of painting from the 17th century, one of the most important in Latin America.
Among its artistic treasures are the famous canvas of the Lord of Earthquakes (Señor de los Temblores), multiple Baroque sculptures, liturgical objects carved in gold and silver, as well as altarpieces, pulpits, and choir stalls carved in cedar wood. It is a visit that blends devotion, colonial art, and cultural heritage.
Address: Plaza de Armas del Cusco
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Entry: S/25 foreigners / S/13.50 Peruvians and children
4. Machupicchu Museum – Casa Concha
The Casa Concha Museum, also known as the Machupicchu Museum, houses over 360 archaeological pieces recovered by the Peruvian State after an agreement with Yale University, having remained outside the country for almost a century. These pieces were discovered by Hiram Bingham during the first excavations of Machu Picchu.
The museum is located in a beautiful colonial mansion that was once the residence of Inca Túpac Yupanqui. The rooms offer a chronological journey through Machu Picchu, with ceramics, tools, deformed skulls, and religious objects. The visit includes models, maps, and interactive material.
Address: Calle Santa Catalina Ancha Nº 320, Cusco
Hours: Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Entry: S/20 foreigners / S/10 Peruvians / S/5 Peruvian students
5. Inca Museum of Cusco
Administered by the National University of San Antonio Abad of Cusco, the Inca Museum is the most representative for understanding the evolution of Andean cultures, from pre-Inca times to the peak of the Inca Empire. Its valuable collection includes ceremonial keros, utilitarian ceramics, musical instruments, mummies, and feather art.
The museum is located in the former residence of Inca Huáscar, a colonial mansion that preserves original Inca structures. Its spaces also exhibit textiles made by highland communities and replicas of Inca houses. It is one of the most visited by schoolchildren and national tourists.
Address: Cuesta del Almirante Nº 103, Cusco
Hours: Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. / Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Entry: S/10 foreigners / S/5 Peruvians
6. Museum and Catacombs of the Temple of San Francisco
The Museum of the Temple of San Francisco offers a unique experience: exploring underground catacombs where the skeletal remains of Franciscan religious figures rest. This temple, erected in 1572, is one of the oldest in Cusco and houses an impressive 12-meter (approx. 39 feet) canvas, called The Family Tree of the Franciscan Family, considered one of the largest in South America.
Its architecture blends Baroque, Romanesque, and Plateresque styles, with an impressive sacristy, stained glass windows, and sculptures carved in cedar. A recommended visit for those who enjoy the enigmatic and artistic.
Address: Plaza San Francisco s/n, Cusco
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. / Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Entry: S/5 adults / S/3 students
7. Casa Garcilaso Museum – The Memory of the Inca Chronicler
Located in the mansion where the illustrious mestizo Inca Garcilaso de la Vega lived, this museum offers a complete tour of Cusco’s history, from pre-Inca times, through the Inca splendor, and the arrival of the Spanish. In addition to archaeological objects, colonial paintings, religious vestiges, and ancient tools are exhibited.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural activities, being a dynamic space to learn about the cultural fusion that shaped the current Cusco. It is part of the Cusco Tourist Ticket tour.
Address: Calle Heladeros 165, Cusco
Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entry: Included in the Tourist Ticket (S/70)
