Best 19 Things To Do In Lima, Peru

Nestled along the Pacific coast, Lima, the vibrant capital of Peru, is a city that has much to offer, from its rich history to culinary wonders. As the capital of Peru, Lima presents a tapestry of ancient history and modern charm to travelers. From exploring ancient ruins to savoring Peru’s national dish, ceviche, Lima offers an array of experiences promising a memorable travel adventure.

Whether you’re a history lover, a foodie, or an architecture enthusiast, Lima offers a variety of activities to choose from and immerse yourself in. Lima is a must-visit destination for any adventurer seeking to immerse themselves in the magic of South America.

Explore Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas is situated in the historic center of Lima. The Municipal Palace of Lima, Lima’s Metropolitan Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace of Lima are all in close proximity to each other around the Plaza de Armas.

Government Palace

The palace, situated adjacent to the Plaza de Armas, houses the executive branch of Peruvian government, as well as the residential place of the President of Peru.

Lima Metropolitan Cathedral

Situated in the Plaza de Armas, the Lima Metropolitan Cathedral was constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries. Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991, the cathedral holds significant historical and architectural importance. Adjacent to the Lima Metropolitan Cathedral stands the Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, an exquisite example of Baroque architecture and the residence of the Catholic archbishop.

Basilica and Convent of San Francisco

Nestled in the historic center of Lima, the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco boasts a striking Spanish Baroque design with a vibrant yellow façade. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, it stands as one of the largest Catholic churches in Latin America. Inside, the basilica’s interior design is equally captivating. Moreover, the site boasts catacombs that hold over 25,000 remains, predominantly consisting of skulls and femur bones.

Visit Sitio Bodega and Quadra Museum

The Sitio Bodega and Quadra Museum is a site from Viceroyalty of Peru discovered in 2005 during attempts to construct a new building atop the existing site. Located in the Historic Center of Lima, the museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s rich archaeological heritage.

Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo

The Convent of Santa Domingo’s construction lasted about 50 years, completed in late 16^th century. The salmon-colored religious structure is located one block away from Plaza de Armas in the historic center of Lima. The convent also houses a noteworthy vast library, worth visiting, which includes about 25,000 books. The current Rococo style bell tower of the Basilica and Convent of Santa Domingo was built in the 18^th century. The structure had damages several times due to earthquakes and led to restorations.

Explore Miraflores Neighborhood

Miraflores stands out as one of Lima’s trendiest districts, offering a plethora of activities for visitors to enjoy. Renowned for its safety and convenient proximity to numerous attractions, many travelers opt to stay in this vibrant area. Don’t miss exploring Calle Berlin and Calle de las Pizzas, which boast a diverse array of bars and restaurants, adding to the allure of Miraflores.

What to Do in Milaflores?

Parque del Amor (Love Park)

Parque del Amor is a renowned oceanside park featuring the iconic kissing couple sculpture designed by Victor Delfin, along with walls and benches adorned with vibrant mosaics. Situated in the Miraflores district, the park provides panoramic views of Lima’s stunning coastline.

Parque de Kennedy (Kennedy Park)

Kennedy Park is a beloved destination in the Miraflores district of Lima, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and affectionately known as the “cats park” due to its resident feline population cared for by volunteers. Surrounding the park, visitors can explore a diverse array of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars.

Larcomar Shopping Center

Larcomar Shopping Center is a highly sought-after oceanfront destination, attracting both locals and travelers alike for its diverse shopping and entertainment offerings. Visitors can indulge in Peruvian delicacies, especially ceviche, at numerous restaurants within the center. For ceviche enthusiasts, Mangos Restaurant or Popular are highly recommended dining options to savor this iconic dish.

Stroll around the Malecon/Milaflores Boardwalk

The Malecón is a scenic oceanside promenade that extends from the San Isidro district to Barranco. It offers a delightful walking experience, adorned with lush green parks and breathtaking views of Lima’s coastline.

Visit Huaca Pucclana

Huaca Pucllana is an ancient pre-Incan pyramid constructed from clay and mud bricks. Lima, along with many other regions of Peru, sits atop earthquake faults, Even during that era, the pyramid’s builders designed the structure with gaps between bricks to help absorb earthquake shocks.

It is a fascinating ancient site to explore, situated in the heart of the city within the Miraflores district, juxtaposed against modern-day buildings. Guided tours are available for those who wish to delve deeper into its history.

Shop at Inka Market for Souvenirs

Situated in Miraflores located on Gonzales Prada, the Inka Market is the perfect place to purchase souvenirs. Here, you’ll discover a diverse selection of artisan crafts, silver jewelry, pottery, and Andes-inspired alpaca wool clothing.

Explore Barranco Neighborhood

The Barranco neighborhood stands out as one of Lima’s trendy bohemian seaside neighborhoods, boasting a blend of contemporary residential apartments, historic buildings, colorful streets, and stunning ocean vistas. Known as Lima’s artistic hub, Barranco attracts a diverse community of artists and hipster residents. It’s also one the top recommended neighborhoods to stay in Lima, offering trendy restaurants, bars, museums, and art galleries.

What to Do in Barranco?

Explore Museums and Art Exhibits

For art and history lovers, Lima has an array of museums and art galleries showcasing diverse collections of arts, sculptures, and historical artifacts to explore.

Some of the art galleries and museums to check out are:

• The Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) showcases a diverse collection of contemporary Peruvian and international paintings, sculptures, installations, and multimedia artworks.
• The Lima Art Museum (MALI) boasts a vast collection of Peruvian art spanning from the Pre-Colombian eras to contemporary times, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, and decorative arts.
• The Peruvian Gold Museum exhibits pre-Colombian gold artifacts, jewelry, ceremonial objects, and ornaments.
• The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History is Peru’s largest and oldest museum. It houses more than 100,000 artifacts, spanning from the oldest civilizations in Peru to the present day.

Visit MATE Mario Testino Museum

If you’re an art enthusiast, make sure to visit MATE, an art museum founded by Mario Testino. As a globally recognized fashion photographer from Lima, Mario Testino gained fame for his iconic photographs of Princess Lady Diana.

MATE features an impressive collection of Peruvian and international photography alongside contemporary art pieces.

Housed in a 19th-century-style mansion in the Barranco neighborhood, MATE is situated adjacent to another notable museum, the Pedro de Osma Museum.

Take a Stroll Around Barranco’s Oceanfront

Barranco’s oceanfront provides some of the most breathtaking views of Lima’s coastal cliffs.Lined with lush green parks and modern, well-designed residential buildings, the waterfront offers a serene escape. Moreover, visitors can admire impressive old-style mansions like Casa Tudor and explore various art galleries along the shoreline.

Savor Peruvian Delicacies

Lima is renowned as the gastronomic capital of Latin America, boasting a plethora of top-notch restaurants. Barranco houses many of Lima’s finest Peruvian eateries, offering a diverse array of unique dishes to savor. Notably, ceviche holds a special place as Peru’s national dish.

Where to Eat in Barranco?

La 73 Paradero Gourmet

La 73 Paradero Gourmet stands out as one of Barranco’s highly recommended Peruvian restaurants, renowned for serving some of the finest ceviche and other delectable dishes.

During our visit, we indulged in their ceviche with tigre de leche, paired with a delightful chocolate tart. The ceviche was among the finest we’ve sampled throughout our trip.

Cala Restaurant

Cala Restaurant is a cherished oceanside dining spot renowned for its array of Peruvian specialties, including ceviche and causa. And of course, be sure not to miss out on tasting Peru’s iconic national cocktail, the Pisco Sour.

BLU

In the Barranco neighborhood of Lima, BLU holds recognition as the top gelato location. Some of the best unique flavors to taste are Peruvian muño mint, chocolate, lucuma, and cherimoya.

Lima Food Tours

If you’re a foodie, embarking on Lima food tours could be one of the best ways to explore Peru’s splendid gastronomy. Numerous food tours are available to choose from on platforms like TripAdvisor, Viator, and many others. These tours typically range from 2.5 to 5 hours in duration.

Lima FAQs

How to Get to Lima?

By Plane

Flying to Lima typically remains the primary option for international travelers seeking to reach other destinations in Peru, such as Cusco, Machu Picchu, or Arequipa.

Check out my posts below to learn more about traveling from Lima to Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, the Sacred Valley, and Arequipa.

Explore the Best of Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa: Travel Tips

Journey to Machu Picchu and Short Inca Trail: The Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate Sacred Valley Adventure: Ollantaytambo and Pisac

Non-stop Flights from US Destinations

If you are traveling to Lima from the United States, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and LATAM Airlines operate direct non-stop flights from certain US cities, including Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle to Lima once a day. Additionally, there are currently six non-stop flights a day from Miami to Lima.

Non-stop Flights from Europe

Currently, only a few direct flights are available from European destinations to Lima. Travelers from Europe can fly non-stop from Madrid, Paris, and Amsterdam to Lima.

Direct Flights from Latin America Destinations

For travelers heading to Lima from other Latin American destinations, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Paraguay all provide non-stop flights to Lima.

What are the safest places to stay in Lima?

Miraflores and Barranco are widely regarded as some of the safest places to stay in Lima. Another neighborhood worth considering to stay is San Isidro.

How to get to the city of Lima from the airport?

There are several options for getting to downtown Lima from the airport. Taxidatum offers a good and affordable transportation option to Lima. Taxi Green is another available choice. Additionally, Airport Express Lima operates official bus and shuttle services from the airport to Miraflores. If you prefer taking a taxi upon arrival, make sure to order one from inside the airport. Taxi kiosks are located right after baggage claim before you exit the airport.

Alternatively, you can also use Uber. Uber operates in Lima and can be used for transportation within the city.

Does it rain in Lima?

Situated in a desert coastal area, Lima is one of the driest capital cities in the world. Rain is rare in the city. Foggy weather or low clouds, known as garua by the locals, is typical during several months of the year.

Does Peru Require a Visa?

United States citizens do not need a visa for stays in Peru under 183 days. Additionally, many foreign visitors, including those from all European countries, do not require a visa for tourist visits.

What to watch out in Lima?

Although Lima offers many safe places to visit, there are a few things to be cautious of. Watch out for pickpocketing and avoid leaving your phone unattended in public places.

It’s also advisable to conceal your bags in the car, as thieves may target personal belongings by smashing windows at traffic lights. During my trip, a taxi driver warned me about this.

Opting to pre-book transportation from the airport or arranging it upon arrival is a safer choice. Beware of unauthorized public transportation services outside of the airport, as they may not be safe options.