Top places to visit in Lima

• Monastery of San Francisco & Catacombs

  monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Baroque-Moorish monastery famous for its bone-lined catacombs (an old colonial cemetery) and a stunning library of antique texts.

• Basilica Cathedral of Lima

  cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Lima's main cathedral on Plaza Mayor, begun in 1535; holds the remains of conquistador Francisco Pizarro and a museum of religious art.

• Larco Museum

  archaeology · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A premier private museum in a colonial mansion housing pre-Columbian gold, silver and a renowned collection of erotic Moche pottery, set in lush gardens.

• Malecón de Miraflores

  boardwalk · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A miles-long clifftop boardwalk of parks and gardens along the Pacific, popular for jogging, cycling and watching paragliders.

• Circuito Mágico del Agua (Magic Water Circuit)

  park · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A Guinness-record park of 13 illuminated, choreographed fountains with nightly laser and music shows in the Parque de la Reserva.

• Parque del Amor (Love Park)

  park · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Clifftop park on the Miraflores Malecón with a large kissing-couple sculpture and Gaudi-style mosaic walls overlooking the Pacific.

• Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros)

  bridge · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A small wooden footbridge from 1876 in bohemian Barranco, surrounded by murals, bars and the romantic Bajada de los Baños alley to the sea.

• Huaca Pucllana

  ruins · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A great adobe pyramid of the Lima culture (4th-7th century) rising in the middle of Miraflores; visited by guided tour only.

• Mercado de Surquillo

  food-market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A bustling local food market across from Miraflores, packed with exotic fruits, fresh fish, ajies and Peruvian produce; a favourite stop on food tours.

• Casa de Aliaga

  historic-house · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the oldest colonial mansions in the Americas, occupied by the same family since 1535, with opulent period rooms shown by appointment.

• Plaza Mayor de Lima

  square · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The historic heart of Lima and a UNESCO World Heritage site, ringed by the Government Palace, Cathedral, and Municipal Palace with a 17th-century bronze fountain at its centre.

• MATE - Museo Mario Testino

  art-museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Photographer Mario Testino's museum in a restored Barranco mansion, showing fashion photography and his Andean-dress Alta Moda series.

Things to do

• Tandem Paragliding over Miraflores Cliffs Adventure · 0.3 h · from PEN 300 per person
• Lima Food & Market Tour Food · 4 h · from PEN 250 per person
• Pisco Sour & Peruvian Cooking Class Cooking Class · 3 h · from PEN 220 per person
• Barranco Art & Street-Art Walking Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from PEN 90 per person
• Historic Centre Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PEN 100 per person
• Surf Lesson on the Costa Verde Adventure · 2 h · from PEN 150 per person
• Lima City Bike Tour Cycling · 3 h · from PEN 120 per person
• Larco Museum Guided Visit Cultural · 2 h · from PEN 120 per person

Day trips and tours

• Lima City Tour: Historic Centre & Coast 4 h · from PEN 120
• Islas Palomino Sea Lion Swim 5 h · from PEN 180
• Pachacamac Ruins Half-Day Trip 4.5 h · from PEN 150

Where to stay in Lima

• Miraflores about PEN 90 per night

  Safe, modern clifftop district with parks, shopping, restaurants and ocean views — the default base for most first-time visitors to Lima.

• Barranco about PEN 75 per night

  Lima's bohemian seaside quarter — colourful colonial mansions, street art, bars and galleries; walkable to Miraflores.

• San Isidro about PEN 110 per night

  Lima's upscale financial and residential district — quiet, green, with high-end hotels and the El Olivar olive grove.

Hotels

• Belmond Miraflores Park 5-star · PEN 1,400 to PEN 3,500 per night
• JW Marriott Hotel Lima 5-star · PEN 900 to PEN 2,000 per night
• Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4-star · PEN 420 to PEN 700 per night
• Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco 3-star · PEN 300 to PEN 460 per night
• Pariwana Hostel Lima 2-star · PEN 55 to PEN 180 per night
• Selina Miraflores Lima 3-star · PEN 60 to PEN 260 per night

Where to eat

• Central Peruvian, Contemporary, Tasting Menu · about PEN 900 per person
• Maido Nikkei, Japanese-Peruvian · about PEN 700 per person
• Astrid y Gaston Peruvian, Contemporary · about PEN 600 per person
• La Mar Cebicheria Peruvian, Seafood, Cevicheria · about PEN 150 per person
• Isolina Taberna Peruana Peruvian, Criollo, Comfort Food · about PEN 120 per person
• Panchita Peruvian, Criollo, Grill · about PEN 110 per person
• El Mercado Peruvian, Seafood · about PEN 160 per person
• Kjolle Peruvian, Contemporary · about PEN 500 per person

Getting to Lima

Airport: Lima (LIM)

How visitors arrive in Lima

• Flight into Jorge Chávez International Airport By air from International · most visitors

  The airport is the main entry point for international visitors to Peru, and most foreign tourists pass through it. Source: andina.pe

From the airport to the centre

• Official airport taxi desks unconfirmed

  Official taxi companies such as CMV, Mitsui and Taxis Verde have counters just outside the arrivals hall. Book there and agree the fare before you get in; this is the safer choice over touts. Source: worldtravelguide.net

• Airport Express bus

  An express bus runs from the airport to several stops in Miraflores. Source: lima-airport.com

• If you pre-book a driver, ask for their name and check the plate; do not let strangers help you find transport outside customs. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  The Metropolitano bus rapid transit mostly uses dedicated lanes, linking the northern suburbs, the centre and San Isidro and Miraflores, alongside other city bus routes.

• Metro limited to a few areas

  Lima's Line 1 metro is an elevated line running roughly north-south east of the centre, and it does not serve many areas where visitors stay.

• Ride Hail

  Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Cabify operate in Lima as an alternative to street taxis, which have no meters.

• Walking

Paying

• Taxis are unmetered: agree the fare and confirm whether it is quoted in soles or dollars before getting in. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial airport taxis

  Jorge Chavez Airport arrivals

  Touts approach arriving travellers offering rides, then charge several times the normal fare or take a long route; some vehicles are not authorised.

  How to avoid it: Pre-book a transfer or use an authorised taxi counter / a ride-hail app from outside the terminal.

• Rigged or no-meter taxis

  Citywide street taxis

  Lima street taxis have no meters; drivers quote inflated prices to tourists or claim not to have change.

  How to avoid it: Agree the fare before getting in, or just use Uber/Cabify where the price is fixed in the app.

• Fake police / plainclothes officers

  Historic Centre, transit hubs

  Someone posing as a police officer asks to inspect your money or passport for "counterfeits" and pockets cash or swaps notes.

  How to avoid it: Real police do not inspect your wallet on the street; decline, ask for ID, and offer to go to a station.

• Distraction theft and pickpocketing

  Plaza Mayor, Mercado Central, crowded buses

  Thieves work in teams: one distracts (spilled liquid, a question, a bump) while another lifts your phone, wallet or bag.

  How to avoid it: Keep bags in front, do not flash phones, and stay alert in crowds and on combis.

• ATM / card skimming

  Standalone ATMs, some shops

  Skimming devices on ATMs or tampered card readers copy your card; cloned cards are used later.

  How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks or malls, cover the keypad, and watch your card during payments.

• Express kidnapping via rogue taxi

  Hailed street taxis at night

  A rogue driver (sometimes with accomplices) drives the passenger between ATMs forcing cash withdrawals.

  How to avoid it: Avoid hailing random taxis at night; use a trusted app and share your trip with someone.

Best time to visit Lima

• Jan 27°C
• Feb 28°C
• Mar 28°C
• Apr 25°C
• May 23°C
• Jun 21°C
• Jul 20°C
• Aug 19°C
• Sep 20°C
• Oct 21°C
• Nov 22°C
• Dec 24°C

More in Peru

• Cusco
• Aguas Calientes
• Arequipa
• Puno
• Ica
• Iquitos

Frequently asked questions about Lima

What are the top-rated places to visit in Lima?

The highest-rated places in our Lima guide are Larco Museum, Basilica Cathedral of Lima, Malecón de Miraflores, Monastery of San Francisco & Catacombs, Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros).

Where should I stay in Lima?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Lima: Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro.

How do I get around Lima?

Ways to get around Lima covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Lima?

Scams reported to us for Lima include Unofficial airport taxis; Rigged or no-meter taxis; Fake police / plainclothes officers. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Lima?

Average daytime highs in Lima run from 19°C in Aug to 28°C in Feb.

Which airport is nearest to Lima?

The nearest airport to Lima has the code LIM.