19+ BEST things to do in Lima, Peru

Last updated on December 21st, 2024

Don’t skip out on Peru’s capital city! From delicious eats, historic sites, and beautiful views, we’re sharing over 19 of the best things to do in Lima, Peru!

Located along Peru’s 3,000 km of coastline, Lima is the capital and largest city in Peru. It’s a city known for its towering cliffs and coastal views, colorful neighborhoods and street art, and for being one of the best food destinations in Latin America!

While many spend only a day in Lima (or sometimes don’t even leave the airport!) on their way to other destinations in Peru, we think the city deserves a bit more time. So during our one month in Peru we opted to spend five days in the city. And we had a fantastic time!

Our days were spent exploring different neighborhoods, seeing historic sights, devouring Peruvian food, walking along the coast, playing with cats, touring historic areas, and checking out local cafes.

And in this guide we’re sharing over 19 of the best things to do in Lima, Peru, based on our experience. Whether you’re looking to explore the culinary scene, see colorful street art, or learn about the city and country’s history, we’ve gotcha covered!

19+ BEST things to do in Lima, Peru

1. See the cats at Kennedy Park

Easily one of the best things to do in Lima, especially for animal lovers, is to visit Kennedy Park. This park in Miraflores is unexpectedly named after US President John F. Kennedy for his role with the Alliance for Progress, an economic development program between the US and Latin American countries.

But it is most famous for its cats! Over 20 years ago, a couple of cats were introduced by priests from the nearby church for plague control. And today there are dozens of cats that call this park home! They roam freely around the park and some will even come say hi.

And while they are strays, they are very well cared for. There is a volunteer group that ensures they are fed, spayed and neutered, plus taken to the vet as needed. You can donate to help them take care of the cats and even adopt one! 

In the park you’ll find lots of snack stands selling some popular Peruvian snacks. While here, you should definitely get some picarones and mazamorra morada, which are some of the best Peruvian foods to try in Lima and Peru!

2. Walk the Malecón de Miraflores pathway

Lima has one of the coolest cityscapes we have ever seen! The city is located up on cliffs that tower over the Pacific Ocean. And along Lima’s coast you can find a bunch of parks along a 10 km (6.2 miles) pathway called El Malecón. This was hands down our favorite thing to do in Lima!

Not only do you have amazing coastal views from this walkway, but there are also a handful of parks along the way, like Chinese Park, Lighthouse of Miraflores, and Love’s Park.

3. Tour the Huaca Pucllana ruins

The Huaca Pucllana Site Museum is an archaeological site built by the Lima culture, who were pre-Incan people. This important religious and administrative site was lost for decades and during this time was used as a dump and even for motocross. 

But it was rediscovered in 1981 and over the past few decades it has been excavated, preserved, and restored. At one point the site likely consisted of several pyramids, but today, only a large 25 meter high pyramid remains. This pyramid has several levels and is made of millions of mud adobe bricks. It’s pretty wild to see a pyramid like this right in the middle of the city!

To see Huaca Pucllana you must go on a guided tour which costs S/15 ($3.95 USD) as of September 2024. The tours last one hour and are offered in English and Spanish. We couldn’t find a set schedule for the tours, but they happen frequently and we didn’t have to wait long to get on one.

4. Paraglide over the beach

Since Lima is located on the edge of the ocean, it is a great place to go paragliding! On your flight you’ll fly along the coast and over the beaches, with spectacular views of the ocean and city. Aeroxtreme offers 12 minute flights for about $80!

Not feeling this adventurous? You can watch people paraglide from the Malecón!

5. Go surfing

If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, Lima is considered one of the best surf spots in the world! This is due to the constant swell that makes it a reliable place to catch some waves. During our walk on the Malecón we saw dozens of surfers in the water. If you don’t know how to surf, we’d recommend booking a surf lesson with Pukana Surf. 

6. Explore Lima’s Centro Histórico

The city of Lima was founded by the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Originally named “Ciudad de los Reyes,” or City of the Kings, it became a key Spanish colonial city due to its strategic coastal location. It was crucial in Peru’s fight for independence, achieved in 1821, and over time, Lima evolved into a major economic and cultural center in Latin America. 

And while Miraflores is the more modern side of town, Centro Histórico gives you a glimpse into Lima’s Spanish colonial past. This area is full of beautiful, historic architecture, so much so that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

There is a lot to see in this area, but here are some of the major highlights to check out!

Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas)

Lima’s Plaza Mayor is one of the most important places in the city. It was the heart of the original Spanish settlement in the 1500s and the entire Spanish South American empire. And is where Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Lima in 1535.

Surrounding this square are important buildings like the Governor’s Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Lima Cathedral. Even though none of the buildings in the square are original, the fountain in the middle of the square dates back to 1650!

San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs

One of our favorite stops in Centro Histórico was the San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs. 

This church was built in the late 17th century and today it showcases the works of San Francisco de Asís, other artifacts, and has a variety of rooms to tour. Like a library, which houses thousands of books that are hundreds of years old. It was probably the coolest library we’ve ever seen! There are no pictures or videos allowed inside the museum, so you’ll have to take our word for it and see it for yourself.

But beyond the rooms, the museum is most famous for what’s below the surface, the catacombs. Down here you will be able to see the skulls and bones of thousands of people! 😱 

Stroll Jiron de la Union 

The streets or avenues in the Centro Histórico have been renamed over the years. And as you read the street signs, you’ll notice there will be two names: both the old and the new names. The new names tend to start with the word Jiron, which means avenue or street. 

And one of the most popular is Jiron de la Union. This is a pedestrian only street right off the Main Plaza that is flanked by lots of shopping and restaurants. 

Convent of Santo Domingo

Another beautiful and important religious site in Lima is the Convent of Santo Domingo. The history of this convent goes all the way back to the first days of Lima in 1535. 

The courtyard of the building is a gorgeous square decorated in Spanish tiles. You can tour the inside of the convent, which includes the magnificent library, plus climb the tower, which is a must! From the top you’ll have 360 degree views of the surrounding city. 

Casa de Aliaga

The Casa de Aliaga is a historic home that dates back to the 16th century when Jeronimo de Aliaga y Ramirez obtained the house. Since then, the house has been the home of 17 generations of Aliagas. This makes it the oldest home in the Americas that has stayed with the same family!

You can tour the home for a small fee, plus the cost of a guide, which is required to visit. Inside you’ll see antique furniture, artwork, and learn about the family history. 

Churros San Francisco

If you get hungry while wandering around Centro Histórico, grab a sweet treat at Churros San Francisco! These churros are unlike any we have had before. They resemble a breadstick and are much denser than typical churros. The dough itself isn’t sweet, but it is filled with one of three fillings (we liked Manjar Blanco and Crema Pastelera) and then rolled in sugar.

This spot is VERY popular and often has a line, but it moves quickly. So don’t panic if you see a line down the street! 

Explore Centro Histórico on a tour!

In our opinion, the BEST way to experience Centro Histórico is with a guide! We went on a free walking tour with Inkan Milky Way and it was entertaining (shoutout to our guide Jorge) and jam packed with information!

The tour is about 2.5 hours long and while it is free, tips are expected. They suggested around S/50 ($13 USD) per person, which felt like a great deal for all that we learned.

7. Visit a local market

Visiting markets is one of our favorite activities when we travel! Lima is home to a handful of markets, including Mercado No. 1 Surquillo and Mercado No. 2 Surquillo in the Surquillo neighborhood. Here you’ll find fresh produce, seafood, butchers, spice and nut stands, clothes, household items, shoe repair, and so much more! 

While Surquillo isn’t one of the neighborhoods recommended for tourists, both markets are located close to the edge of Miraflores and we had a safe experience.

Another market in Lima to check is the Lima Central Market, which can be found near the Centro Historico.

8. Circuito Mágico del Agua

Located inside Parque de la Reserva is the Circuito Mágico del Agua. This park has 13 fountains and has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest public water fountain park in the world!

Every night (7:15 PM, 8:15 PM, and 9:10 PM), they have a water and light show that shares some of the history of Peru, with lots of colors, a narrated story (which we did not understand), and dancing fountains. It only costs S/5 ($1.30 USD) and is a magical experience!

9. Try traditional Peruvian food

Lima is said to be the culinary capital of South America. And there is no shortage of delicious spots to eat all over town! Here you’ll find world class restaurants, tasty traditional foods, and interesting flavor fusions.  

There are tons of must-try dishes in Peru and we went on our own Lima food tour to try as many as possible. Here were some of our favorite dishes and spots!

Ceviche

Quite possibly the most famous food in Peru is ceviche, which is raw fish that is marinated in lime juice, with onion, chile pepper, and salt. In fact, it’s the country’s national dish! 

You can try ceviche all over Lima. But one of the most popular in town is Al Toke Pez, which is a tiny spot that has become very popular due to Netflix. We loved ceviche de pescado and combinado, which comes with ceviche mixto (mixed ceviche), arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood), and chicharron de pota (fried squid).

A few other highly rated ceviche spots in town are: Ceviche House, Cevichería Barra Maretazo, La Mar Cevichería Peruana, and Punto Azul. 

Isolina

One of our favorite restaurants for Peruvian dishes is Isolina in Barranco. They have a very large menu with many of the classics like lomo saltado, papa rellena, ceviche, ají de gallina, and lots more. 

It’s a nicer place, so you’ll pay a little more than you would at a hole in the wall or local spot, but you taste the higher quality and care put into these dishes! We loved it so much we ate here twice.

It’s considered one of the best restaurants in Barranco and can get very busy, so be sure to make a reservation in advance!

El Chinito

El Chinito is a popular sandwich shop in Lima that has several locations across the city. Here you’ll find cheap eats including pan con chicharrón, which consists of pork, slices of sweet potato, and Salsa Criolla, which is a Peruvian red onion salsa. We loved this sandwich so much that we had it multiple times!

Siete Sopas

Siete Sopas was another one of our go-to spots in Lima. They offer a variety of Peruvian dishes, but are most known for their soups. Their menu features a soup of the day, plus two everyday options.

We got the sopa criolla which is a Peruvian beef soup. It has a broth made with aji panca, a popular Peruvian chile, plus beef and noodles. It is now one of Adam’s favorite soups of all time! And oh my gosh…the bread! Can you tell Adam still dreams about this place?

Pollo a la brasa

Primos Chicken Bar specializes in pollo a la brasa, which is Peruvian roasted chicken. We’ve had lots of chicken in our lives and we aren’t sure what it is, but Peru knows how to roast some chicken. It is perfectly moist and flavorful!

Anticuchos Bran

For the adventurous eaters, head over to Anticuchos Bran to try anticuchos de corazon, which are marinated and grilled beef hearts. We were hesitant to try it but they were actually really good and tasted like a really lean steak. 

Note: Anticuchos Bran is located in a slightly less safe neighborhood. We took an Uber there and back and felt totally fine.

10. Enjoy fine dining in Lima 

Lima is home to several of the top ranked restaurants in the world, including Mayta, Kjolle, Mérito, Central, and Astrid y Gastón. If you have a little extra to spend, these restaurants will be worth it for the experience, quality, and flavors. Make sure to reserve well in advance!

11. Check out the local coffee scene

12. Visit a Museum

For the history buffs, visiting a museum is one of the best things to do in Lima. The Larco Museum is said to be one of the best in the city! The museum’s main exhibit covers the last 2000 years of the region including pre-Inca artifacts, ceramics, and textiles. And maybe the most unique exhibit we’ve ever heard of in a museum…a collection of erotic ceramic pieces. 👀

Another great option is National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru, which is FREE to visit and showcases the history, anthropology, and archaeology of Peru through tons of artifacts.

13. Hunt for street art in Barranco

Barranco is one of the top neighborhoods in Lima! Known as the bohemian area of town, this neighborhood is filled with colorful buildings and lots of street art. And one of the best things to do in Lima is walk around to see the murals.

One of the best spots in Barranco for street art is around Bajada de Baños, plus the stairs and alleyways branching off it. But you can find random murals around just about every corner!

And one of the coolest things about the street art here is that it’s constantly changing. Our trip to Peru both started and ended in Lima and both times we wandered over to the Barranco neighborhood. On our second time, almost 4 weeks after our first visit, we saw multiple new murals, including one being painted right before our eyes.

Want to learn more about Barranco? Check out this free walking tour with Inkan Milky Way! They’ll be able to give you lots of fun facts about the area, plus take you to the best street art.

14. Walk down Bajada de Baños

The Bajada de Baños which translates to “Descent to the Baths” is a walkway that descends from the main area of Barranco down to an overlook of the Pacific Ocean. 

From the overlook you’ll see Costa Verde Avenue and beaches, which you can get to by continuing down the path. The walkway is lined with shops, artisans, street merchants, and restaurants and is one of the most picturesque spots in Lima!

15. Make a wish at the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros)

While strolling around Barranco, make sure to walk across the Bridge of Sighs, a wooden bridge that spans over the Bajada de Baños.

There is a legend that if you make a wish and cross the bridge without taking a breath, your wish will come true. Or if you cross with someone you love, you’ll have eternal love. We aren’t sure what the “real” legend is, but both were too good of a deal to pass up!

16. Visit Parque Municipal de Barranco

Near the Bridge of Sighs and Bajada de Baños is Barranco’s main square, the Parque Municipal de Barranco. It’s worth a visit just to admire the beautiful buildings that surround it, plus greenery. We often saw locals just sitting and enjoying the day here, plus kids kicking a ball around.

17. Enjoy Italian gelato at Blu Gelateria

While in Barranco, you MUST go to Blu Gelateria. This small spot makes some of the best gelato we have ever had (and we’ve had a lot)! They offer many of the classic flavors, like pistachio (which is delicious!), as well as Peruvian flavors, like lucuma, cherimoya, and more!

18. See the Pachacamac Ruins

Located just 45 minutes south of Lima are the Pachacamac Ruins. This ancient site was built around 200 AD and was a very important pilgrimage site for pre-Inca civilizations living near present day Lima. 

Even though it is hundreds of years old, many of the buildings are in relatively decent condition. There are temples, palaces, and artifacts on site to help learn about the Lima, Wari, Moche, and Ychma civilizations. From the top of the temple you’ll have wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean!

This half day tour includes a ride to and from the site with a guide who will share information about the site and the pre-Inca civilizations. 

20. Take a day trip from Lima

While there are tons of things to do in Lima to keep you busy for several days, there are also a few day trips we recommend. 

Visit Paracas and Huacachina

The most popular day trip from Lima is a tour out to Paracas and Huacachina.

Paracas is a small town that’s near the Ballestas Islands, which are known as the “Poor Man’s Galapagos.” On a 2 hour boat tour to the Ballestas Islands you can see sea lions and most famously, Humboldt penguins! We also loved riding bikes around the Paracas National Reserve. You can read about our experience and see even more things to do in Paracas in this guide!

Huacachina is home to South America’s largest sand dunes, reaching heights of up to 500 meters (1,600 ft). And the only natural oasis on the continent! There are quite a few things to do in Huacachina, including riding a dune buggy in the dunes, sand board, and even glamp out on the dunes if you want to stay the night (use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off any tour booked on Tripadvisor!).

Important to know: These towns are located about 4 hours south of Lima by bus. So it makes for a VERY long day trip! We personally would suggest visiting Paracas and Huacachina for more than a day, but if you are short on time, a day trip is a good option.

Nazca Lines

If you’re interested in the mysterious Nazca Lines, which are a series of pre-Columbian geoglyphs itched into the desert, then check out a flight tour over them! Similar to Paracas and Huacachina, it’s a long journey to get there, but if you’ve always wanted to see it then it may be worth it to you.

Planning your Lima trip

How to get to Lima

Lima is located in central Peru, on the west side along the Pacific Ocean. Being the largest city in the country, it’s the easiest to get to and most likely where your Peru adventure will begin. To get there, you will fly into Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), which is located in Callao north of Lima. 

The airport is not in the safest part of town, so after landing, you will want to head to one of the safer areas, like Miraflores or Barranco, which is typically a 40 minute ride (or longer) with traffic. And to get there, you have a few options.

Airport Express Lima

The cheapest way to get to Miraflores is via the Airport Express Lima, the official bus service of the airport. Tickets are S/20 (about $6 USD) per person and can be purchased on the bus, at the airport, or online in advance. This option is best for solo travelers, as it’s the most cost effective. If traveling with two or more people, an Uber or taxi might be a better option.

A+K tip: A perk of buying your Airport Express tickets online is that online tickets get priority if the bus is ever full. 

Green Taxi

Another popular way to get into town from the Lima airport is to take a taxi. However, not all taxis are created equal. After going through customs, you will come to an area with taxi stands. These are official airport taxis and will be safer and more reliable than the random taxis just sitting outside of the airport.

We personally went with Green Taxi for our ride from the Lima airport. It cost S/65 ($17 USD), which we paid at the stand, eliminating any possible scams by the driver. We’d highly recommend it!

Uber

Lastly, you can also take an Uber from the airport. We had heard some mixed things on if Uber can pick you up from the airport. Some people say that you will have to walk slightly outside the airport to get picked up. 

Because of this confusion and arriving at night, we opted to take the Green Taxi instead. However, we would suggest taking an Uber TO the airport when leaving Lima. We scheduled our ride in advance on Uber and they had no issue dropping us off at the airport. 

Getting around Lima, Peru

Lima is a massive city with 43 districts, but you’ll likely only visit a few of them. As a tourist, it’s best to stick to the Miraflores, Barranco, Lince, San Isidro, and Centro Historico districts. These are the safest districts and getting around them and between them is very easy. 

While Lima does have public transportation, we didn’t feel super comfortable using it with our camera gear. To get between neighborhoods or when something is too far, we suggest using Uber instead. Uber is reliable, easy to use, and very cheap in Lima. Just be prepared that drivers do cancel a lot in Lima, so if you have a time crunch, give yourself plenty of time.

Once in Lima’s neighborhoods, they are very walkable. So we suggest exploring on foot! The Malecón, parks, and other green areas around the city are wonderful to walk through.

When to visit Lima

Rather than having four seasons, Peru has two seasons: dry season and rainy season. But Lima also has its own special season: gray season. 

Lima is known as “La Gris” or “the gray.” And during the majority of the year, Lima is engulfed in clouds and fog. It is a bit dreary, but the ocean, greenspaces, colorful buildings, and street art help keep the city more lively. 

To see Lima when it is sunniest, you will want to visit in the summer, which is December through March. However, this is the rainier season in most of Peru, like at Machu Picchu. So we would personally suggest visiting Lima during the country’s drier months of April-October to have better weather around the rest of the country.

Is Lima safe to visit?

As a tourist, Lima is safe to visit. While there may be some unsafe areas of town, the main tourist areas, which we will cover below, are safe for foreigners. During our total of 5 days in the city, we had zero safety issues. However, there are a few things to be aware of before visiting Lima!

Be alert & keep your valuables secure. As for any travel destination, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables secure. The largest risk to tourists in Lima is theft. We suggest keeping your wallet and phone in a front pocket (preferably zipped). During our visit, we were walking around with expensive camera gear and never felt threatened.

There could be political unrest. Lima (and Peru) has had some political unrest in the past, which has caused protests and closures, and is something to be aware of if you visit. But for the most part, this would just cause an inconvenience or logistical challenge rather than a safety issue for tourists.

Take Ubers instead of taxis. One scam that could occur is being overcharged by a taxi driver. So make sure to take Uber instead!

Safest areas to explore in Lima

Lima is a massive city that encompasses 43 districts, but there are only a handful that are recommended for tourists. These include Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro, and Centro Histórico. Here’s a rundown of each area!

Note: Our list of the best things to do in Lima, Peru are within these safe areas, minus the two markets in Surquillo. However, they are located close to the safer neighborhoods and we had no issues there.

Miraflores

Miraflores lies south of downtown Lima, along the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the wealthiest districts of the city and is a more modernized and westernized area of town, with international shops and chain restaurants, plus many local options as well. 

Here is where you’ll find some of the best things to do in Lima, Peru, like Kennedy Park, the Malecon walking path, and tons of amazing coffee shops!

Barranco

Known for its art and bohemian charm, the Barranco neighborhood is one of our absolute favorite areas of Lima! In Barranco you’ll find the Bridge of Sighs, the Descent of the Baths, our favorite gelato shop, and the Barranco Viewpoint, plus lots of street art and nightlife.

San Isidro

This is considered to be the upscale part of Lima. And during our quick visits to the area you can definitely see a difference from some areas of the city. The buildings are even more modern, plus there are some nice restaurants and parks. There isn’t a ton to do here, but San Isidro is right by Huaca Pucllana, which is one of the best things to do in Lima.

Centro Histórico

The Centro Histórico neighborhood of Lima is where you’ll find the city’s many historical sites like Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, Convento de San Francisco, and important churches. Compared to the other areas, it feels more touristy and there are more people trying to sell you tours and items, so be prepared to say “no gracias” a lot and be more on alert for pickpocketing.

Centro Histórico is a bit of a drive from the other neighborhoods, but is a cheap Uber ride to get there.

Where to stay in Lima, Peru

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