Lima

Travel Guide

Exposition Park showing a park and a fountain as well as a large group of people
Lima showing religious elements, interior views and a church or cathedral
Lima which includes street scenes and a high-rise building
Exposition Park featuring outdoor art, a garden and flowers
Lima showing a sunset and a pond as well as a large group of people

Lima Travel Guide Video

Spanish colonial houses, exquisite food, musicians in traditional dress, oceanfront entertainment and fine museums make the Peruvian capital a feast for the senses. 

Enjoy a culinary andcultural experience in bustling Lima, where the desert meets the coast, whereancient history mixes with 21st-century entertainment and where Peru’s poorhope to get rich.

The settlement along theRímac River was once inhabited by Incas and earlier civilizations. After theSpanish founded Lima in 1535, they ruled for over 300 years. Today, nearly athird of Peru’s 30 million residents live in the capital. From the slums on theCerros (hills) and the colorful colonial mansions, to the Catholic churcheswith Moorish roofs and Chinatown’s red gate, Lima’s urban sprawl isdiverse.

Explore Lima’s colonialpast in the central Plaza de Armas. A grand palace with marching guards, anornate cathedral and a 17th-century fountain define this historic square. Siton a bench and people-watch or browse nearby souvenir shops for brightlycolored souvenirs. Tour the Convento y Museo de San Francisco and its16th-century catacombs. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage or set out on foot andfollow the shopping avenues to the monument-rich Plaza San Martin.

Take a metered taxi to theMuseo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera in the Pueblo Libre district to seepre-Columbian art, including Moche ceramics from over 2,200 years ago. Foroceanfront entertainment, head south to Lima’s fashionable neighborhoodsMiraflores and Barranco. Try Peru’s staple seafood dish ceviche or thealcoholic drink pisco sour.

In summer, ocean breezesprovide a welcome reprieve from Lima’s desert air and smog. Winter days aremild, but often overcast. Because most Peruvians are poor and Lima attracts thewealthy, crime is an issue. Use the lockers and taxi service of your hotel andstick to the tourist areas.

Lima’s Jorge ChavezInternational Airport has connections to major global destinations. With dailyplanes and buses leaving from Lima for the surfing beaches of the PacificOcean, the lush Amazon jungle and the snow-capped Andes mountains, thisfascinating city is just the start of your Peru adventure.

Where to stay in Lima

Miraflores featuring a sunset, landscape views and general coastal views

Miraflores

4.5/5(54 area reviews)

Travellers to Miraflores praise its popular shops. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Huaca Pucllana Ruins and Indian Market.

Miraflores
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San Isidro

4/5(15 area reviews)

San Isidro is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Lima Golf Club and Costa Verde Beach while in the area.

San Isidro
Barranco showing street scenes as well as a large group of people

Barranco

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

Barranco is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Bridge of Sighs and Barranco Viewpoint while you're in town.

Barranco
Plaza Mayor featuring flowers and a park

Lima Historic Center

Unique features of Lima Historic Center include the historical sites and shopping. Make a stop by Church and Convent of San Francisco or Plaza de Armas de Lima while you're exploring the area.

Lima Historic Center
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San Miguel

You'll enjoy the bars and live music in San Miguel. You might want to make time for a stop at Plaza San Miguel Mall or Leyendas Park.

San Miguel
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San Borja

4/5(1 area review)

San Borja is a destination travellers like for its restaurants, and you might hop aboard the metro at San Borja South Station or La Cultura Station to explore sights like Museum of the Nation.

San Borja
Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport
Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport
4 out of 5
Av Elmer Faucett S N, Aeropuerto Jorge Chavez, Callao, Lima
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is €103 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
€103
13 Jul - 14 Jul
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Callao. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,002 reviews)
Confusing listing
"It was unclear from the reservation that the hotel was at the OLD Lima airport, so my Uber driver had to work at helping me figure out where I was staying. Should be a moot point by the end of July."

Reviewed on 8 Jul 2025

Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport
Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima City
Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima City
4 out of 5
Av. Salaverry 3060 - Magdalena del Mar, Lima, Lima
The price is €58 per night from 19 Jul to 20 Jul
€58
19 Jul - 20 Jul
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Lima. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,004 reviews)
"Amenities!! The sauna and jacuzzi were exactly what I needed to relax"

Reviewed on 6 Jul 2025

Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima City
Sheraton Lima Historic Center
Sheraton Lima Historic Center
4 out of 5
Paseo De La Republica 170, Lima, Lima
The price is €75 per night from 5 Aug to 6 Aug
€75
5 Aug - 6 Aug
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Lima. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (692 reviews)
"This is an excellent choice when staying near the Centro Histórico. The only negative is you don't have the walking options that you do in Miraflores, but there are some shopping and restaurant options next door in the shopping center. Very good service and breakfast buffet in this business friendly ..."

Reviewed on 7 Jul 2025

Sheraton Lima Historic Center
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Estelar Apartamentos Bellavista
Estelar Apartamentos Bellavista
3.5 out of 5
Bellavista 216, Miraflores, Lima, Lima
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly aparthotel in Lima. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (593 reviews)
"Staff was excellent - very accommodating. The room was good size except for the bathroom- it was incredibly narrow. Room was noisy because of location - you could hear the noise and partying. They play the music too loud in the lobby and started it at 6:30am. We could clearly hear it from our room. ..."

Reviewed on 3 Jul 2025

Estelar Apartamentos Bellavista
Petit Palace Apart Hotel Suites
Petit Palace Apart Hotel Suites
3.5 out of 5
Calle Independencia 279, Miraflores, Lima 18, Lima, Lima
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly aparthotel in Lima. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (434 reviews)
"Buen hotel y buena ubicación. Lo malo es que la cocina no tiene hornilla ni fuego para poder calentar o hacerte algo"

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2025

Petit Palace Apart Hotel Suites
Apart Hotel El Doral
Apart Hotel El Doral
3 out of 5
Avenida Jose Pardo 486, Miraflores, Lima
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Lima. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (112 reviews)
"The room was comfortable similiar to a studio, but witha a small living room with a sofa, small kitchen with freige but not microwave, and king bed. The bad room was good with enough space. The bed room had air conditiones / heater, it has great pillows and execellent matress. The location was excellent, ..."

Reviewed on 4 Jul 2025

Apart Hotel El Doral
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Lima

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
13
5 - Excellent 27%
4 - Good
27
4 - Good 55%
3 - Okay
9
3 - Okay 18%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Very safe and clean in some areas, unsafe, ugly in other areas. Dining options are far away from each other and public transport is only by bus and unreliable.

4/5 - Good

Mark

MATE....Mario Testino art museum is well worth a visit

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lima is not only a beautiful city, but also a paradise for foodies; a hidden gem with lovely people and vibrant life!

3/5 - Okay

Eugen

Good for a day visit (at least main square, but bad traffic and pretty rundown.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Really enjoyed Lima, go to barranco, the artisan district is lively and fun! History in downtown is good to.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Lima changed & improved a lot since I last visited 22 years ago. The areas around the hotel felt safe and easy to get around. I didn’t worry about looking at my phone in public which I would have done years ago. Nice bohemian vibe near bridge of sigh