Ceviche capital on Pacific cliffs
Lima is Peru's sprawling capital, set on cliffs above the Pacific. It is one of South America's top food cities, from street ceviche to world-ranked restaurants. Colonial churches downtown and pre-Inca adobe pyramids add depth before trips to Cusco.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
The UNESCO-listed colonial core around the Plaza Mayor, with the cathedral and government palace. Carved wooden balconies line the streets.
Free to walk; some buildings charge.
A Baroque monastery with a fine library and underground catacombs full of bones. Tours are guided.
Small entry fee.
A bohemian clifftop district of colorful mansions, murals and bars. The Bridge of Sighs is its symbol.
Free.
A clifftop park path with ocean views, Love Park and paragliders. It links Miraflores neighborhoods.
Free.
An adobe pyramid built by the Lima culture, right in Miraflores. Guided tours explain the site.
Entry includes a guided tour.
A private museum of pre-Columbian art in a colonial mansion. It is famous for gold, ceramics and an erotic pottery gallery.
General admission S/ 50, 2026 per official site.
Peru's main art museum, spanning ancient textiles to modern painting. It sits in a grand 19th century building.
Paid entry.
Lima's cevicherias and markets show why it is a food capital. Food tours visit Surquillo market and street stalls.
Prices vary.
A park of illuminated fountains with an evening light show. Families love it.
Small entry fee for the park.
A vast pre-Inca and Inca sanctuary in the desert south of Lima. A modern museum explains it.
Entry covers the ruins and the museum.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one downtown, day two museums and Huaca Pucllana, day three Barranco and a food tour or Pachacamac.
Boat trips to see sea lions and seabirds.
155 mi · Bus, about 3.5 hours each way
Ruins of the oldest city in the Americas.
112 mi · Tour, about 3.5 hours each way
A river valley known for wineries, pisco and rafting.
112 mi · Bus or car, about 3h each way
Marine wildlife boat tours around the Ballestas Islands, paired with dune buggying and sandboarding at the desert oasis of Huacachina.
155 mi · Direct Cruz del Sur express coach in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, or day tour.
Major pre-Inca coastal temple complex of adobe pyramids dedicated to the creator god Pachacamac.
20 mi · Drive via the South Pan-American Highway in about 45 minutes, or guided tour.
5,000-year-old UNESCO-listed sacred city of pyramid complexes contemporaneous with the pyramids of Egypt.
112 mi · Drive via the North Pan-American Highway in about 3 hours.
Best: December to April. Sunny summer, while June to October is grey under the coastal mist.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
July 28 and 29
Independence celebrations with parades.
October
Huge purple-robed processions through central Lima.
Irregular, check official announcements
A large celebration of Peruvian cooking that has not run on a fixed schedule in recent years.
Dates vary, check locally
Smaller events that change from year to year.
September (or periodic dates)
Latin America's largest food festival, celebrating Peruvian biodiversity, street food, and ceviche masters.
Peru is at US State Department Level 2 (increased caution) for crime and unrest; use app taxis, stay in Miraflores or Barranco at night and avoid flashing phones.
Miraflores and Barranco are pleasant to walk; the city overall is huge and traffic heavy.
The Metropolitano bus rapid transit and one metro line help, but most visitors use ride apps.
Sources disagree on: scores.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers
Safe, central, on the clifftop with many restaurants.
Best for: couples, art, nightlife
Bohemian district with galleries and bars.
Best for: business, luxury
Green and calm with upscale hotels.
Best for: history fans, budget
Close to the main colonial sights, but quieter and less comfortable after dark.
Best for: history buffs, budget travelers, sightseers
Walking distance to colonial basilicas, catacombs, and palaces, though quiet and deserted at night.
| Main airport | Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), 11 mi from the center |
| To the center | Take an official airport taxi or a ride app to Miraflores or the centre; it takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. |
| Around town | Use ride apps between districts and walk the clifftop Malecon. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Cabify, InDrive, DiDi |
Raw fish cured in lime with chili and red onion, best at lunch.
Stir-fried beef with fries, a Chinese-Peruvian dish.
Peru's national cocktail.
Shredded chicken in a creamy yellow chilli sauce.
Grilled beef heart skewers, a classic street snack.
Layered chilled potato terrine seasoned with yellow aji amarillo chili and lime, filled with shredded chicken or tuna and avocado.
| Plugs | Type A and C, 220 V |
| Tap water | Use bottled water |
| Tipping | About 10 percent in restaurants is common. |
| Payments | Cards accepted in most places; carry soles for markets and small shops. |
| Etiquette | Greet with a handshake or cheek kiss among friends. Avoid drinking tap water. |
The coast around Lima was home to cultures such as the Lima and Ichma, who built adobe pyramids still standing in the city. Francisco Pizarro founded Lima in 1535 as the capital of Spain's Viceroyalty of Peru. A 1746 earthquake destroyed much of the city. Peru declared independence here in 1821.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.