Day 1
Colonial centre & Museo Larco
Start the morning on Plaza Mayor, visiting the cathedral and the catacombs of San Francisco monastery. Spend the afternoon at the Larco Museum for pre-Columbian art and a garden lunch.
Lima sprawls grey and vast along the cliffs of the Pacific, yet those who stay tend to fall for it. Colonial balconies, pre-Columbian pyramids and bohemian barrios sit side by side, and threaded between them is one of the most thrilling food scenes on earth.
Mornings often hide under the garúa, a low sea fog; by afternoon the sun burns through and the clifftop malecones fill with joggers and paragliders. Give yourself over to long lunches, sunsets over the ocean and a pisco sour to close the day.
Itinerary
Day 2
Miraflores & Barranco
Morning at Huaca Pucllana and the Malecón with Parque del Amor, then walk or Uber to Barranco. Cross the Bridge of Sighs and end the evening in one of its bars.
Day 3
Pachacamac & magic water
Drive out in the morning to the Pachacamac temple complex, then a seaside ceviche lunch. Cap the night at the illuminated fountains of the Circuito Mágico del Agua.
Highlights
🏛️Landmark
Plaza Mayor & Old Town
The UNESCO-listed core around Plaza Mayor packs the cathedral, Government Palace and the canary-yellow Archbishop's Palace into a few blocks. Time your visit for the changing of the guard around noon.
🌄Viewpoint
Miraflores Malecón
A six-mile clifftop path above the Pacific, strung with parks, the giant kiss statue in Parque del Amor and paragliders overhead. Come at sunset, when the ocean turns molten gold.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Barranco & Bridge of Sighs
Lima's bohemian quarter of murals, galleries and boutiques wraps around the wooden Puente de los Suspiros, built in 1876. Legend says a wish comes true if you cross it holding your breath.
🖼️Museum
Larco Museum
A private trove of over 4,000 years of pre-Columbian art set in a bougainvillea-draped colonial mansion. Peek into the open storage rooms holding thousands of ceramics, then linger at the acclaimed garden restaurant.
🏛️Landmark
Huaca Pucllana
A 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid of the Lima culture rising improbably among the apartment blocks of Miraflores. The evening guided tour, when the ruins are lit, is the most atmospheric.
🍽️Food
Ceviche & Cebicherías
Peru's national dish is raw fish cured in lime with chili, red onion and sweet potato. Eat it at lunch, when the catch is freshest, at spots like La Mar in Miraflores.
Neighbourhoods
Miraflores
The comfortable base for first-timers: clifftop parks, cafés and hotels within walking distance of the sea. It also hides the Huaca Pucllana pyramid right in its midst.
Barranco
The creative, laid-back seaside quarter of murals, galleries and Lima's best bars. Cafés by day, live music and cocktails after dark.
San Isidro
A leafy, residential district with the El Olivar olive grove, excellent restaurants and a more local feel. Ideal if you want things quieter.
Centro Histórico
The colonial old town of Plaza Mayor, the cathedral and the catacombs of San Francisco. Best visited by day; the nightlife lives elsewhere.
Where to eat
Ceviche
Raw fish cured in lime with chili and onion, the definitive national dish. Freshest at lunch, best chased with a shot of leche de tigre.
Lomo saltado
A stir-fry of beef with onions, tomato and fries, served over rice. The most delicious legacy of chifa, Peru's Chinese-Peruvian fusion.
Nikkei cuisine
The marriage of Japanese and Peruvian flavours, made world-famous by Maido in Miraflores. Reserve months ahead.
Anticuchos
Grilled beef-heart skewers off the street brazier, smoky and spiced. Try them in the evening from the stalls around Surquillo market.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Summer, December to April, is sunny and warm (21-28°C), perfect for beaches and long evenings. From May to November the grey garúa fog settles in and the city stays cool and damp. Shoulder months of September-November or April-May bring fewer crowds and lower prices.
Getting around
The Metropolitano bus (its own dedicated lane) links Barranco and Miraflores to the centre; for everything else Uber or Cabify are simplest. Street taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before you get in. The coastal districts connect well on foot, and Pachacamac makes an easy half-day trip.
- Currency
- PEN S/
- Languages
- Spanish
How much does Lima cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
BackpackerS/.80per person / day
Mid-rangeS/.200per person / day
ComfortS/.400per person / day
Lima offers a range of options to suit various budgets.
Local tips
- ✓Use Uber or Cabify rather than street taxis, and grab a SIM or eSIM so the app works.
- ✓Book Central or Maido months ahead; for spontaneous ceviche, go at lunch when the fish is freshest.
- ✓Pack a light jacket even in summer, the garúa keeps mornings grey and cool.
