Best Things To Do in Lima

Lima is a city full of impressive history, scenery worth admiring and sites you must see. The best things to do in this city are numerous, but here are the ones that stand out from the rest. Before travelling, I recommend that you find the best way to get to and from the airport, so that you arrive in time to make the most of every minute of your stay in the Peruvian capital.

As in almost all cities, its historic centre is a must-see destination. There you will be able to see different iconic buildings of the country. You can also sample the local cuisine and visit museums. These activities will allow you to connect much more with the culture of the country. Take advantage of Lima's proximity to the sea and visit one of its paradisiacal beaches, you won't get bored in this beautiful city!

The historic centre of Lima has been declared a World Heritage Site and is definitely a place you must visit when you travel to the city. You will be able to see how the past and present of a city coexist on a daily basis by observing the imposing mansions, churches and works of art.

One way to get to the historic centre is by Hop on Hop off tourist bus. You can get off at the stop closest to the centre at any time of the day and start exploring. The best thing is that you can do this tour on foot. I suggest you visit the Plaza de Armas or Plaza Mayor of Lima, the most popular place in the area.

Around this square you will be able to see the Lima Cathedral, the Government Palace and the Archbishop's Palace. If you have time, I recommend you to enter each of these sites and appreciate their architectural richness. Other striking destinations are the Municipality of Lima and even some museums such as the Museum of the Holy Inquisition.

In the centre you will also find many souvenir shops and restaurants where you can have a coffee or a snack. In addition, you should walk along Jiron de la Union Street, the most important street in the centre. A walk through this side of the city will be a great adventure to start your stay in Lima.

Information of interest

• Location: Historic Centre, Lima 15001, Peru.

• When to go: all year round.

• Hours: Any time.

Lima is known for its varied cuisine and interesting flavours. If you travel to this city you should definitely take a gastronomic tour in Lima. These can be a simple walking tour through markets or an evening stroll visiting different restaurants, and even, if you like cooking, a very good plan is to take Peruvian cooking classes.

The Peruvian dish par excellence is ceviche. Don't hesitate to order this dish when you go on one of these tours. I recommend visiting prestigious restaurants such as Maido, Central or Astrid & Gaston, especially if you want a more elegant experience.

Another main dish you have to try is the grilled chicken, made with seasonings characteristic of Peruvian cuisine. It comes with fried potatoes and a salad. The lomo saltado is a simple but delicious dish, seasoned with onion and accompanied by white rice.

If you prefer to try snacks, I recommend the choclo con queso, made with Peruvian white corn, accompanied by different sauces. But if you are looking for a dessert, I suggest the lúcuma juice or the chicha morada. These are easily available in the city's markets. All these dishes are just a small part of Peruvian gastronomy, visit Lima and experience a world full of flavours!

The Parque del Amor is located in the district of Miraflores. If you visit it you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and views of the Pacific Ocean. You can also see the iconic sculpture known as "El Beso", made by the Peruvian artist Victor Delfin.

This park is known for being a small refuge for couples in love. Its entire design and structure is inspired by the Parque Güell in Barcelona. Its walls are decorated with mosaics with love phrases written in Spanish and Quechua. You will also find names of famous couples and people who helped financially to build this iconic space in Lima.

When you arrive at the park you will see a beautiful garden with flowers in the shape of hearts. You can sit on one of the benches and enjoy the sunset. In the surrounding area you will find several cafes, public toilets and car parks. It is an ideal place to end a day of exploring the city, especially if you are travelling as a couple.

On the other hand, if you are travelling as a couple and you are interested in seeing more romantic places, I also recommend you to take some excursions from Lima. For example, you could visit the Gocta Waterfall in Chachapoyas, or Punta Sal in Tumbes, among other places. Perfect getaways for couples or if you are going to spend at least two days in Lima.

Useful information

• Location: Av, Mal. Cisneros, Miraflores 15074, Peru.

• When to go: every month of the year.

• Hours: any time of the day.

Lima is a city where you can experience contrasts between the modern and the pre-Hispanic. The latter can be seen in its iconic huacas, ancient structures that were sacred sites for the Incas. More than five thousand years ago, they used to perform rituals where the Incas honoured the gods and asked for their protection.

Although many of them are nowadays deteriorated due to the passage of time, some are still worth a visit. For example, in the district of Miraflores, just on block 8 of Calle General Borgoño, you will find the Huaca Pucllana. It has a tourist route made up of bridges, ramps, paths, among other elements.

Another of the most interesting is the Huaca Mateo Salado, located in the Cercado de Lima, near Breña and Pueblo Libre. In its surroundings you will see houses and shops. Here you will see five stepped pyramids. The main one is about 18 metres long. You will also see a wall protecting three of them.

Huaca Puruchuco and Huaca Huallamarca are also popular. Although you can visit them on your own and free of charge, I recommend you do so in the company of a specialised guide. If you like this experience, you will probably enjoy taking an excursion from Lima to Cusco and Machu Picchu to learn about Peru's Inca past - you will be travelling back in time!

Useful information

• When to go: all year round.
• Schedule: all day.

Lima is a city full of interesting museums that you have to visit. One of them is the Larco Museum. This site has an extensive collection of pre-Columbian art. You will see ceramic pieces, ancient artefacts from Peruvian cultures and various jewellery.

This museum was built in a colonial mansion from the XVIII century AD. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has a permanent exhibition of pre-Columbian art. Here you can explore more than five thousand years of history. You will learn about the evolution of this Andean people and other curious and interesting facts.

Other places you must see in this museum is the Erotic Gallery, where you will learn about the pre-Columbian Peruvian perception of sexuality. You will also be able to enter deposits that house more than 30 thousand archaeological pieces that have been preserved over time. At the end of your tour you can visit the museum's café-restaurant.

Information of interest

• Location: Av. Simón Bolívar 1515, Pueblo Libre, Lima 21, Peru. Access: Calle Navarra 169 (opposite Larco Park) - Price: around 10 €. Half price for students and minors.

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm. Opening hours usually change on 24, 25 and 31 December. On 1 January it is usually open from 10 am to 6 pm.

Walking along the Miraflores Malecon is another activity you can enjoy during your stay in Lima. It is a park with different paths through which you can walk along the cliffs of the Costa Verde. Near this boardwalk you will be able to see the Pacific Ocean, and if after enjoying this view you still want to see more of the Peruvian coastline, you can take a tour to the islands near Lima.

There is a total of five kilometres of walking that are divided into three sections. One of them is the Malecón de la Marina, located in the north. This begins at the Manuel Bonilla stadium and extends to the Miguel Grau Park. The second, the Malecón Cisneros, is the central stretch that runs from the Miguel Grau Park to the Villena Bridge.

Finally, the Malecón de la Reserva, the southern stretch, runs all the way from the Villena Bridge to the Armendaríz descent. Along this long but entertaining route you will see beautiful parks, sports fields, flower gardens, monuments and much more.

During the summer this is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Many people gather here to enjoy a picnic in the sun or just lie on the clean green grass. The sunsets are beautiful to watch and you will also have a good view of the 21 metre high Marina Lighthouse.

Information of interest

• Location: Malecón de Miraflores, Mal. de la Reserva 275, Miraflores 15074, Peru - Price: free admission.

• When to go: all year round, especially in summer.

• Hours: any time of the day.

Juan's Traveller tip
You can cycle along the Miraflores Malecon by bicycle along its cycle path. There are several rental options that are sure to suit your time and budget. This way you can enjoy this tourist destination of the city in a more entertaining way.

Lima is a city full of culture and history, that's why its museums are places you should include in your visit. Among them, the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) stands out. This museum exhibits a wide collection of Peruvian art from pre-Columbian to contemporary times, including paintings, sculptures and textiles. It is located on Paseo Colon, opposite the Museum of Italian Art, which you can also visit.

This site has a total of 4500 square metres. It is one of the most important museums in Latin America and was made with the iron construction technique. Its style is neo-renaissance and it is surrounded by statues and gardens. Inside you will find a collection of permanent and temporary exhibitions that are well worth a closer look.

The museum's collections are organised according to the different periods of Peru's history. The permanent exhibition has nine rooms, including the pre-Columbian art room, textiles, colonial art, silverware, 19th-century republican art and traditional art, the largest of its kind.

Other spaces you can visit are the 19th and 20th-century art room, the photography room and the contemporary art room. Keep in mind that you can take pictures only if you do it without flash. Also consider that if you travel to Lima in December, the rainy season is likely to have started. Therefore, visiting museums is the best option to enjoy the city and take shelter.

Useful information

• Location: Paseo Colón 125, Parque de la Exposición, Lima 15046, Peru - Price: around 10 €. On Sundays the entrance fee is two for one.

• When to go: all year round.

• Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, from 10:30 am to 6 pm. Saturdays from 10:30 am to 5 pm.

Touring the district of Barranco, located in the south of the city, is a very entertaining activity that you will surely love. This is a bohemian place full of life all day and most of the night. Make the most of your time and stroll through its colourful streets, its varied bars, art galleries and much more.

Besides the joy that the locals themselves give to this district, what makes the difference in this place is its peculiar architecture. You will see old mansions that are now bars and museums, as well as a busy boardwalk that borders the Costa Verde. You can also take the time to pass by the Puente de Los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), made of wood and built in 1876.

Under the bridge you will find the Bajada de los Baños, a natural creek that now houses restaurants, cafes and a pedestrian walkway. You will also have the opportunity to visit La Santísima Cruz Church, San Francisco Church and the Municipal Library. If you like museums you can visit the Pedro de Osma Museum, the Electricity Museum and the Mario Testino Museum.

Continue your tour to the Plaza San Francisco, one of the most beautiful places in Barranco. Also, stroll along the Casa de Abraham Valdelomar and the Malecon de los Ingleses. This district can be explored in an afternoon, so I recommend including it in one of your city tours.

Useful information

• When to go: all year round.
• Hours: all day.

Lima's Chinatown is known as the Asian corner of the city. This place is part of the Central Market and is located in Barrios Altos, near the historical centre of the city. The origin of this neighbourhood dates back to 1849, when Chinese citizens migrated mainly from the province of Canton. Most of them arrived to work in coastal haciendas and with the passing of time they settled in what today is the Barrio Chino de Lima.

Visiting this place is an enriching experience that you must have. I mainly recommend you visit the chifas, as Chinese food restaurants are popularly known. In addition, some of them offer dishes that mix Chinese and Peruvian gastronomy, so eating here will be an explosion of flavours!

After lunch you can continue exploring this area of the city by passing through the Chinese Arch or Portada China. I also recommend strolling along Calle Capón and, if possible, enjoying the Chinese New Year celebrations. For that you should travel to Lima in January to enjoy these important dates for the Chinese community in Peru.

Useful information

• Location: Paseo Colón 125, Parque de la Exposición, Lima 15046, Peru.

• When to go: all year round.

A great advantage of visiting Lima is that you have many beautiful beaches close to you. You can choose some that are ideal for a family day out and even other beaches where you can surf. Get your swimming costume and sunscreen because you will have a great holiday in Lima!

Among the beaches that you can visit especially in summer in Lima, El Silencio, located south of the city, stands out. You can enjoy a wide bay of white sand and calm waters. Meanwhile, Waikiki beach, located on the Costa Verde, offers good waves for surfing. You could even take a lesson and learn to surf, are you up for it?

A trip to the beaches of this city is ideal if you will be in Lima for 3 days or more. Besides the ones I already recommended, you can choose the beach depending on where you are. If you are staying in the south of Lima, I recommend Embajadores beach, if you are in the north, you can go to La Isla, El Puerto or Hermosa beach.