Travel guide · Peru
Lima travel guide
Clifftop Pacific capital of ceviche, colonial churches and adobe pyramids
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Felipe Ruiz Hoyos, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Peru's capital spreads along desert cliffs above the Pacific, and for many visitors it is the gateway to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It deserves more than a stopover: Lima is one of South America's great food cities, from cevicherías and chifa to world-ranked tasting menus, and its colonial centre around the Plaza Mayor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most travellers stay in clifftop Miraflores or bohemian Barranco, linked by the Malecón parks, and visit the centre, the Larco Museum and the adobe pyramids of Huaca Pucllana. The weather is mild and almost rainless, but grey and misty from June to October. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are December–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Peru
- Best time to visit
- December–April
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- LIM
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$180 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Ceviche, Pisco sour, Malecón de Miraflores and Barranco
Why visit Lima
- Lima is one of Latin America's leading food cities, with ceviche, Nikkei and chifa cooking and several acclaimed tasting-menu restaurants.
- The historic centre around the Plaza Mayor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has wooden balconies, baroque churches and the San Francisco catacombs.
- The Larco Museum holds one of the world's finest collections of pre-Columbian art in an 18th-century mansion.
- Adobe pyramids such as Huaca Pucllana stand among the apartment blocks of Miraflores.
- Clifftop parks along the Malecón, surfing at Costa Verde and paragliding over the sea fill the coastal districts.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
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Landmark · Historic Centre
Plaza Mayor
Lima's main square, where Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535, is lined by the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace with its carved wooden balconies, the Government Palace and the City Hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Historic Centre
Monastery of San Francisco
The 17th-century Franciscan monastery has cloisters lined with Sevillian tiles, a library of antique books and catacombs holding the bones of thousands of people buried here in colonial times, arranged in geometric patterns.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Pueblo Libre
Larco Museum
Set in an 18th-century mansion built over a pre-Columbian pyramid, the Larco Museum displays a superb collection of ancient Peruvian ceramics, gold and silver, textiles and its famous gallery of erotic pottery.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Historic Centre
Cathedral of Lima
Rebuilt several times after earthquakes, the cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holds the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, carved choir stalls and a religious art museum.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Miraflores
Huaca Pucllana
This large adobe pyramid, built by the Lima culture between about AD 200 and 700, rises in the middle of Miraflores.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- After dark
Waterfront · Miraflores
Malecón de Miraflores
A chain of parks, gardens and paths along the clifftops of Miraflores, about 80 metres above the Pacific.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Kids
Where to stay
Miraflores is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, food lovers and luxury
Miraflores
Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife, culture and food lovers
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of old mansions, galleries, murals and bars
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and food lovers
San Isidro
Financial district with an ancient olive grove, smart hotels and top restaurants
$ · Best for culture and budget
Historic Centre
Colonial core of plazas, balconies, churches and government palaces
What to eat
- Ceviche — Peru's national dish: raw white fish cured briefly in lime juice with red onion, chilli and coriander, served with sweet potato and toasted corn.
- Leche de tigre — The spicy, citrusy marinade left over from ceviche, served in a glass, sometimes with pieces of seafood.
- Lomo saltado — Stir-fried strips of beef with onion, tomato and soy sauce, served with chips and rice — a classic of Chinese-Peruvian fusion.
- Ají de gallina — Shredded chicken in a creamy yellow ají amarillo, bread and walnut sauce, served with rice, potatoes and black olives.
- Causa limeña — Layers of cold yellow potato mashed with lime and ají amarillo, filled with tuna, chicken or crab and avocado.
- Anticuchos — Skewers of marinated beef heart grilled over charcoal, served with potatoes and corn and a spicy sauce.
When to go
Lima can be visited year-round, but the sunniest months are December to April, when the city enjoys warm summer weather. From June to October the sky is usually grey and misty, though it rarely rains and this is the best time to combine Lima with dry-season Cusco and Machu Picchu.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December–April | Warm, sunny and humid with highs of 24–27°C; beaches south of Lima are busy at weekends. |
| Autumn | May | Cooler and increasingly grey, with fewer visitors. |
| Winter | June–September | Cool, damp and overcast under the garúa mist, with drizzle but almost no real rain; peak season for Cusco travellers passing through. |
| Spring | October–November | Grey skies slowly clear and temperatures rise; the purple Señor de los Milagros processions fill October. |
Getting there and around
Jorge Chávez International Airport is in Callao, about 15–20 km from Miraflores. Taxis and app rides take about 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. Official airport taxis and shuttle buses to Miraflores operate from the arrivals area.
Lima is vast and traffic is heavy. Most visitors walk around Miraflores and Barranco, use app taxis between districts and take the Metropolitano bus to the historic centre.
Plan your days
Two days covers the historic centre, Miraflores, Barranco and Huaca Pucllana, with time for great meals. Three days adds the Larco Museum and MALI; four days allows Pachacamac, the Palomino Islands or a long day trip to Paracas.
Practical information
- Currency
- PEN
- Language
- Spanish and Quechua
- Plugs
- Type A and C sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is not recommended for drinking; use bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 105 (police), 116 (fire), 106 (ambulance)
- Tipping
- In restaurants, 10% is customary if no service charge is included.
Pickpocketing and phone snatching occur in the historic centre, on buses and in busy areas; keep valuables out of sight. Use app taxis or hotel-arranged taxis rather than hailing cars on the street, and avoid quiet streets at night.
Flights to Lima
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Lima?
Two days covers the historic centre, Miraflores, Barranco and Huaca Pucllana, with time for great meals. Three days adds the Larco Museum and MALI; four days allows Pachacamac, the Palomino Islands or a long day trip to Paracas. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Lima?
Lima can be visited year-round, but the sunniest months are December to April, when the city enjoys warm summer weather. From June to October the sky is usually grey and misty, though it rarely rains and this is the best time to combine Lima with dry-season Cusco and Machu Picchu.
+What is Lima known for?
Ceviche, Pisco sour, Malecón de Miraflores, Barranco, Colonial historic centre, Larco Museum and Garúa sea mist. Lima is one of Latin America's leading food cities, with ceviche, Nikkei and chifa cooking and several acclaimed tasting-menu restaurants.
+Is Lima expensive?
Lima is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$180 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Lima?
No. Traffic is chaotic and parking scarce; app taxis and the Metropolitano cover visitor needs, and tours or buses reach day-trip destinations.