Where to stay · Lima · Peru
Where to stay in Lima
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Miguel Angel Chong, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Miraflores. Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk. Best alternatives — budget: Historic Centre; nightlife: Barranco.
Key facts
- First visit
- Miraflores
- Families
- Miraflores
- Budget
- Historic Centre
- Nightlife
- Barranco
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Miraflores | Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk |
| Families | Miraflores | Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk |
| Couples | Barranco | Bohemian seaside district of old mansions, galleries, murals and bars |
| Budget | Historic Centre | Colonial core of plazas, balconies, churches and government palaces |
| Luxury | Miraflores | Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk |
| Nightlife | Barranco | Bohemian seaside district of old mansions, galleries, murals and bars |
| Food lovers | Miraflores | Clifftop district of parks, hotels, restaurants and the Malecón ocean walk |
| Quiet stays | San Isidro | Financial district with an ancient olive grove, smart hotels and top restaurants |
Lima neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, food lovers and luxury
Miraflores
Miraflores is where most visitors stay: a modern, well-kept district on the cliffs above the Pacific, with the Malecón's chain of parks, Parque Kennedy at its centre and many hotels, restaurants and cafés along Avenida Larco and Avenida José Pardo. Huaca Pucllana and the Larcomar shopping centre are here, and the Metropolitano and Corredor Azul buses run to the centre.
- Good
- Walkable, well-policed streets; Huge choice of hotels and restaurants; Ocean views from the clifftop parks
- Watch out
- Less character than Barranco; 45–60 minutes from the airport in traffic
- Nearby
- Malecón de Miraflores, Parque Kennedy, Huaca Pucllana, Parque del Amor
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife, culture and food lovers
Barranco
South of Miraflores, Barranco was a summer resort for wealthy Limeños in the 19th century and keeps its colourful republican-era mansions, street art and the wooden Puente de los Suspiros. It is the city's artistic quarter and nightlife centre, with galleries, museums, boutique hotels and bars around the Plaza de Armas de Barranco and along Avenida Grau.
- Good
- Characterful streets and boutique hotels; Best bars and live music; Walk to Miraflores along the cliffs
- Watch out
- Noisy on weekend nights; Fewer large hotels
- Nearby
- Puente de los Suspiros, Bajada de Baños, Museo Pedro de Osma, Plaza de Armas de Barranco
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and food lovers
San Isidro
San Isidro is Lima's business and diplomatic district, with office towers, upscale hotels and several of the city's best restaurants. Its centrepiece is El Olivar, a park planted with olive trees dating back to the colonial period, and the Huaca Huallamarca adobe pyramid sits among the houses. It is quieter than Miraflores at night.
- Good
- Calm and green; Excellent restaurants; Between the airport and Miraflores
- Watch out
- Business feel; Quiet in the evenings and at weekends
- Nearby
- Bosque El Olivar, Huaca Huallamarca, Miraflores
$ · Best for culture and budget
Historic Centre
The Centro Histórico, around the Plaza Mayor and Jirón de la Unión, holds the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace with its carved wooden balconies, and the Monastery of San Francisco. It is busy by day and has a handful of hotels, but most visitors come on day visits from Miraflores, about 30–45 minutes away by Metropolitano or taxi.
- Good
- Major colonial sights on foot; Low prices; Chifa in Barrio Chino
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy; Some streets feel unsafe after dark; Far from the coast
- Nearby
- Plaza Mayor, Monastery of San Francisco, Barrio Chino, Plaza San Martín
$ · Best for food lovers and budget
Surquillo
Surquillo borders Miraflores across the Vía Expresa and is a working-class district with Mercado de Surquillo No. 1, where cooks buy produce and stalls serve ceviche, plus a growing number of small, acclaimed restaurants. Few visitors stay here, but it is a short walk from Miraflores' hotels.
- Good
- Authentic market food; Low prices; Walkable from Miraflores
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Rougher feel on some streets
- Nearby
- Mercado de Surquillo, Miraflores, San Isidro
$ · Best for culture and quiet stays
Pueblo Libre
Pueblo Libre is a calm, traditional district west of the centre, home to the Larco Museum and to old bars such as the Antigua Taberna Queirolo. Few tourists stay here, but it makes an easy half-day trip from Miraflores.
- Good
- Peaceful local atmosphere; Larco Museum on the doorstep; Traditional bars and restaurants
- Watch out
- Few places to stay; Taxi needed to reach the coast
- Nearby
- Larco Museum, Plaza Bolívar de Pueblo Libre
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Miraflores | $$$ | Malecón de Miraflores, Parque Kennedy, Huaca Pucllana, Parque del Amor |
| Barranco | $$$ | Puente de los Suspiros, Bajada de Baños, Museo Pedro de Osma, Plaza de Armas de Barranco |
| San Isidro | $$$$ | Bosque El Olivar, Huaca Huallamarca, Miraflores |
| Historic Centre | $ | Plaza Mayor, Monastery of San Francisco, Barrio Chino, Plaza San Martín |
| Surquillo | $ | Mercado de Surquillo, Miraflores, San Isidro |
| Pueblo Libre | $ | Larco Museum, Plaza Bolívar de Pueblo Libre |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Lima for first-time visitors?
Miraflores. Miraflores is where most visitors stay: a modern, well-kept district on the cliffs above the Pacific, with the Malecón's chain of parks, Parque Kennedy at its centre and many hotels, restaurants and cafés along Avenida Larco and Avenida José Pardo.
+Where should families stay in Lima?
Miraflores: Walkable, well-policed streets.
+Which area of Lima is best for a budget stay?
Historic Centre ($): Colonial core of plazas, balconies, churches and government palaces.