Perched on Cerro Artillería with commanding views over the harbour, the Museo Naval y Marítimo is the best naval museum in Chile and one of the highlights of Valparaiso. The collection covers the Chilean Navy from its earliest days through the War of the Pacific, with detailed models, weapons, navigational instruments, uniforms, and personal effects of key figures like Arturo Prat. The building itself — a former naval school dating to 1893 — is handsome and well maintained.
Allow at least an hour to work through the exhibits. The top-floor terrace alone is worth the visit for the panoramic view across Valparaiso's bay and the busy port below. To get there, take the Ascensor Artillería, one of the city's iconic funiculars, which drops you right at the museum's doorstep.