Lima, Peru: travel guide
Peru's sprawling coastal capital — colonial Centro Histórico, the cliff-top Miraflores district, bohemian Barranco, and the world-renowned Peruvian gastronomy scene.
- Country
- Peru
- Currency
- PEN
- Time zone
- America/Lima
- Nearest airport
- LIM
Top places to visit in Lima
Monastery of San Francisco & Catacombs
Monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · entry PEN 40
Baroque-Moorish monastery famous for its bone-lined catacombs (an old colonial cemetery) and a stunning library of antique texts.
Basilica Cathedral of Lima
Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · entry PEN 30
Lima's main cathedral on Plaza Mayor, begun in 1535; holds the remains of conquistador Francisco Pizarro and a museum of religious art.
Larco Museum
Museum · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry PEN 35
A premier private museum in a colonial mansion housing pre-Columbian gold, silver and a renowned collection of erotic Moche pottery, set in lush gardens.
Malecón de Miraflores
Viewpoint · 4.7 rating · about 1 h
A miles-long clifftop boardwalk of parks and gardens along the Pacific, popular for jogging, cycling and watching paragliders.
Circuito Mágico del Agua (Magic Water Circuit)
Activity · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · entry PEN 4
A Guinness-record park of 13 illuminated, choreographed fountains with nightly laser and music shows in the Parque de la Reserva.
Parque del Amor (Love Park)
Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h
Clifftop park on the Miraflores Malecón with a large kissing-couple sculpture and Gaudi-style mosaic walls overlooking the Pacific.
Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros)
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
A small wooden footbridge from 1876 in bohemian Barranco, surrounded by murals, bars and the romantic Bajada de los Baños alley to the sea.
Huaca Pucllana
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · entry PEN 15
A great adobe pyramid of the Lima culture (4th-7th century) rising in the middle of Miraflores; visited by guided tour only.
Mercado de Surquillo
Market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
A bustling local food market across from Miraflores, packed with exotic fruits, fresh fish, ajies and Peruvian produce; a favourite stop on food tours.
Casa de Aliaga
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry PEN 40
One of the oldest colonial mansions in the Americas, occupied by the same family since 1535, with opulent period rooms shown by appointment.
Plaza Mayor de Lima
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
The historic heart of Lima and a UNESCO World Heritage site, ringed by the Government Palace, Cathedral, and Municipal Palace with a 17th-century bronze fountain at its centre.
MATE - Museo Mario Testino
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry PEN 30
Photographer Mario Testino's museum in a restored Barranco mansion, showing fashion photography and his Andean-dress Alta Moda series.
Things to do
- Tandem Paragliding over Miraflores Cliffs Adventure · 0.3 h · from PEN 300 per person
- Lima Food & Market Tour Food · 4 h · from PEN 250 per person
- Pisco Sour & Peruvian Cooking Class Cooking Class · 3 h · from PEN 220 per person
- Barranco Art & Street-Art Walking Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from PEN 90 per person
- Historic Centre Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PEN 100 per person
- Surf Lesson on the Costa Verde Adventure · 2 h · from PEN 150 per person
- Lima City Bike Tour Cycling · 3 h · from PEN 120 per person
- Larco Museum Guided Visit Cultural · 2 h · from PEN 120 per person
Day trips and tours
- Lima City Tour: Historic Centre & Coast 4 h · from PEN 120
- Islas Palomino Sea Lion Swim 5 h · from PEN 180
- Pachacamac Ruins Half-Day Trip 4.5 h · from PEN 150
Where to stay in Lima
- Miraflores about PEN 90 per night
Safe, modern clifftop district with parks, shopping, restaurants and ocean views — the default base for most first-time visitors to Lima.
- Barranco about PEN 75 per night
Lima's bohemian seaside quarter — colourful colonial mansions, street art, bars and galleries; walkable to Miraflores.
- San Isidro about PEN 110 per night
Lima's upscale financial and residential district — quiet, green, with high-end hotels and the El Olivar olive grove.
Hotels
- Belmond Miraflores Park 5-star · PEN 1,400 to PEN 3,500 per night
- JW Marriott Hotel Lima 5-star · PEN 900 to PEN 2,000 per night
- Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4-star · PEN 420 to PEN 700 per night
- Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco 3-star · PEN 300 to PEN 460 per night
- Pariwana Hostel Lima 2-star · PEN 55 to PEN 180 per night
- Selina Miraflores Lima 3-star · PEN 60 to PEN 260 per night
Where to eat
- Central Peruvian, Contemporary, Tasting Menu · about PEN 900 per person
- Maido Nikkei, Japanese-Peruvian · about PEN 700 per person
- Astrid y Gaston Peruvian, Contemporary · about PEN 600 per person
- La Mar Cebicheria Peruvian, Seafood, Cevicheria · about PEN 150 per person
- Isolina Taberna Peruana Peruvian, Criollo, Comfort Food · about PEN 120 per person
- Panchita Peruvian, Criollo, Grill · about PEN 110 per person
- El Mercado Peruvian, Seafood · about PEN 160 per person
- Kjolle Peruvian, Contemporary · about PEN 500 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial airport taxis
Jorge Chavez Airport arrivals
Touts approach arriving travellers offering rides, then charge several times the normal fare or take a long route; some vehicles are not authorised.
How to avoid it: Pre-book a transfer or use an authorised taxi counter / a ride-hail app from outside the terminal.
Rigged or no-meter taxis
Citywide street taxis
Lima street taxis have no meters; drivers quote inflated prices to tourists or claim not to have change.
How to avoid it: Agree the fare before getting in, or just use Uber/Cabify where the price is fixed in the app.
Fake police / plainclothes officers
Historic Centre, transit hubs
Someone posing as a police officer asks to inspect your money or passport for "counterfeits" and pockets cash or swaps notes.
How to avoid it: Real police do not inspect your wallet on the street; decline, ask for ID, and offer to go to a station.
Distraction theft and pickpocketing
Plaza Mayor, Mercado Central, crowded buses
Thieves work in teams: one distracts (spilled liquid, a question, a bump) while another lifts your phone, wallet or bag.
How to avoid it: Keep bags in front, do not flash phones, and stay alert in crowds and on combis.
ATM / card skimming
Standalone ATMs, some shops
Skimming devices on ATMs or tampered card readers copy your card; cloned cards are used later.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks or malls, cover the keypad, and watch your card during payments.
Express kidnapping via rogue taxi
Hailed street taxis at night
A rogue driver (sometimes with accomplices) drives the passenger between ATMs forcing cash withdrawals.
How to avoid it: Avoid hailing random taxis at night; use a trusted app and share your trip with someone.