History · Lima · Peru
8 historic sites to see in Lima
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Plaza Mayor, Monastery of San Francisco and Larco Museum. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–10 hours across 4 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 10–10 hours
- Areas
- Historic Centre, Pueblo Libre and Miraflores
Historic sites in Lima
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Landmark · Historic Centre
1.Plaza Mayor
The bronze fountain at its centre dates from 1650.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Historic Centre
2.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
3.Larco Museum
Visitors can also walk through the storerooms, where tens of thousands of pieces are shelved.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Historic Centre
4.Cathedral of Lima
The adjoining Archbishop's Palace can be visited on a combined ticket.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Miraflores
5.Huaca Pucllana
Guided tours explain its walls of handmade adobe bricks set like books on a shelf, and a restaurant on site looks over the ruins.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Historic Centre
6.Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI)
It is in the Parque de la Exposición, between the centre and Miraflores.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Historic Centre
7.Convent of Santo Domingo
Next to the Government Palace, this Dominican convent holds the tombs of Lima's two famous saints, Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín de Porres, cloisters decorated with Sevillian tiles and a bell tower over the centre.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Barranco
8.Museo Pedro de Osma
A republican-era mansion in Barranco displays one of Peru's finest collections of colonial art: Cusco School paintings, silverwork and furniture, set in elegant rooms and gardens.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Centre | Plaza Mayor, Monastery of San Francisco, Cathedral of Lima, Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) and Convent of Santo Domingo | 1 hour + 1 hour + 1 hour + 2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Pueblo Libre | Larco Museum | 2 hours |
| Miraflores | Huaca Pucllana | 1 hour |
| Barranco | Museo Pedro de Osma | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 5 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Larco Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Historic Centre): Plaza Mayor → Monastery of San Francisco → Cathedral of Lima, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Historic Centre): Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) → Convent of Santo Domingo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Pueblo Libre, Miraflores and Barranco): Larco Museum → Huaca Pucllana → Museo Pedro de Osma, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- March: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 0 rainy days, moderate crowds. Still warm and sunny, with fewer local holidaymakers once schools reopen.
- April: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 0 rainy days, moderate crowds. Pleasant and mostly sunny, with temperatures easing; a good month for visiting.
- October: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 0 rainy days, moderate crowds. Grey skies begin to clear; the city fills with purple for the Señor de los Milagros processions.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Miraflores — Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk
- Barranco — Bohemian seaside district of old mansions, galleries, murals and bars
- Historic Centre — Colonial core of plazas, balconies, churches and government palaces
- Pueblo Libre — Quiet residential district of the Larco Museum and historic bodegas
More of Lima
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Lima?
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.
+Which of these are free in Lima?
Plaza Mayor.