Getting around · Lima · Peru
Getting around Lima
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- LIM
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Bus
The Metropolitano is a bus rapid transit line on a dedicated lane along the Vía Expresa, linking Barranco and Miraflores with the historic centre in about 30 minutes. The Corredor Azul buses run along Avenida Arequipa between Miraflores and the centre.
Buy a rechargeable card at Metropolitano stations; buses are packed at rush hour.
Metro
Metro Line 1 is an elevated line running from Villa El Salvador in the south to San Juan de Lurigancho in the northeast, passing through the centre; it is less useful for most visitors.
Taxi
Taxis are unmetered; app-based taxis are the easiest and most secure option, with prices set in advance.
Use an app or ask your hotel to call a taxi rather than hailing one on the street.
Walking
The Malecón makes walking between Miraflores and Barranco a pleasure, about 30–45 minutes along the clifftops.
Cycling
Cycle lanes run along the Malecón and some main avenues; bikes can be rented in Miraflores.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic is chaotic and parking scarce; app taxis and the Metropolitano cover visitor needs, and tours or buses reach day-trip destinations.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Pachacamac | About 1 hour by car | Organised tour or taxi |
| Palomino Islands | About 2 hours by boat from Callao, round trip | Boat tour from Callao |
| Caral | About 3.5–4 hours by road | Organised tour |
| Paracas and the Ballestas Islands | About 3.5–4 hours by bus | Bus from Lima, or an organised tour |
| Lunahuaná | About 3 hours by road | Organised tour or bus via Cañete |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Lima?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Lima?
Bus: The Metropolitano is a bus rapid transit line on a dedicated lane along the Vía Expresa, linking Barranco and Miraflores with the historic centre in about 30 minutes. The Corredor Azul buses run along Avenida Arequipa between Miraflores and the centre.