Is Lima Worth Visiting: My Honest Review

Is Lima, Peru Worth it?

Table of Contents

I went to Lima expecting the worst. I had heard the stories (and the warnings). Keep your phone away in public, don’t wander around at night. Stay vigilant. Don’t trust anyone.

Now that I’ve been, and spent a full day exploring Lima, I can happily say that Lima surprised me and it’s taken me a couple of weeks being back in Canada to sort out my feelings about Lima. I had a full on expectation vs reality experience, but in the best way possible!

So back to the big question, is Lima worth it? I’m shocking myself by saying this but absolutely, yes! However, you need to know where to stay and how to spend your time there in order to have the best experience! Read on to find out why I was surprised by Lima, what I loved about it and what I didn’t love so much, as well as who I think would be best suited to spending some time in Lima.

View of Miraflores ocean and beaches from the boardwalk

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Kerry sitting in a cafe in Barranco Lima

Quick Tips for visiting Lima

Best time of year to visit: December to April is when Lima gets the best weather (warm, sunny and dry). May to November is also relatively dry, albeit a bit cooler, but the skies tend to be grey most days.

Where to stay: Barranco or Miraflores
Budget: Ancestral Hostel Barranco
Moderate: Hotel Limade
Luxury: Hotel B

Top things to do in Lima:
1. Wander the streets (and cafes) of Barranco
2. Catch the sunset along the Malecón de Miraflores
3. Take a Peruvian cooking class

Best restaurants:
1. Aka Sushi Barranco
2. Mangos Restaurant
3. Ciclos Café – for the coffee!

My honest opinion

I went to Lima expecting to feel unsafe. It’s a big city and navigating big cities can be hard, however, I think the way that I spent my 1 day there set me up for success. I stayed in Barranco (the arts district + AMAZING coffee scene) and spent my time exploring Barranco, Miraflores and a little bit of time in Downtown Lima (the Historic Centre of Lima).

The thing that most blew me away about Lima was honestly Barranco. From the moment my friend Candace and I hopped out of our Uber and into our hostel, there was music playing… and not just any music! In our hostel lobby, there was a LIVE saxophone player! It set the scene for the rest of our time in Lima.

After we checked into our hostel, we decided to wander the streets to find some ice cream. We passed so many beautiful restaurants and bars, with music filling the streets. There were some street performers practicing a dance in the main square (Plaza Barranco) who were really really good and then the ice cream we found (also in the main square) was to die for! It was from a place called Crem dela Crem. Then the rest of the food in Lima OH MY GOODNESS don’t get me started! It was incredible! But more on that later.

Anyway I’m rambling but I hope after reading that, you understand why I ended up enjoying Lima so much and why I think it is totally worth a visit. For more about my 1 day in Lima, you can read my blog post An Incredible Lima 1 Day Itinerary because in this post I go through exactly how I spent 1 day in Lima and all of the details on how to get from place to place, where to eat and more.

I never felt unsafe in Lima, however I do know that it is common to experience pickpocketing and of course scams from time to time as it is in any big city, so it is still very important that you travel smart and be aware of your surroundings.

kerry sitting at Ancestral Hostel's rooftop bar with a beer on a really sunny day. Kerry is wearing a cap with an alpaca on it — Ancestral Hostel’s Rooftop bar

Kerry walking along the Miraflores Boardwalk at sunset in Lima — Ancestral Hostel’s Rooftop bar

4 Things I love about Lima

Let’s start with the positive, beginning with the area that I stayed in because it was so damn cool!

1. Barranco

The 2 most popular areas of Lima to stay in are Barranco and Miraflores. I stayed in Barranco at this unique hostel and walked to Mirraflores because they are pretty much right next to each other.

Barranco is the arts district that has the biggest personality I’ve probably ever seen in a neighbourhood. It is full of gorgeous colonial-era, very colourful houses and has a creative bohemian energy. There are art galleries, live music around every corner and amazing cafes with AHMAZING coffee.

One of my favourite cafes that I went to was Ciclos Café. If you like coffee, then definitely go here for one! They also have some small treats and savoury food. I had a quiche which was a little too rich for me but I would 100% go back for their coffee.

A quiche and a latte at the Ciclos Café in Barranco — Ciclos Café in Barranco

2. The food

Don’t get me started on the food. I almost wish I had stayed an extra day just to be able to experience more of the food. You could easily spend a lot of money on food in Lima because it is home to some amazing Michelin star restaurants. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune on food to still have an incredible experience. Lima is also famous for its seafood so if you like seafood it’s the place for you!

Don’t leave Lima without trying these:

Ceviche
Nikkei Sushi – this is Japanese / Peruvian fusion Sushu. I went to Aka Sushi Barranco which wasn’t too expensive but was still absolutely delicious.
Ají de gallina – One of my favourite Peruvian dishes.
Lomo saltado – stir fried beef with onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and fries.
Tequeños – these are also my favourite and I ate them all around Peru. They are essentially just deep fried sticks of dough filled with cheese and come with guacamole for dipping a lot of the time.

Nikkei Sushi in Lima — Nikkei Sushi at Aka Sushi Barranco

3. The history

There is so much history in Lima which stretches back as far as before the Spanish arrived when the city was home to pre-Columbian cultures who built ceremonial centres and irrigation systems along the coastline.

There are a few different ruins that you can visit in Lima, including:

Huaca Pucllana – this is the must-see ruins in Lima and the only one I visited while I was there. They are located in Miraflores and are the most impressive ruins in Lima. This crazy pyramid dates back around 1,500 years and was used by the Lima culture for ceremonies and administration.

We had not planned on going to see it but ended up bumping into someone who was on same flight back to LA as us while we were on the Miraflores Boardwalk and he had planned to go there that night, so we decided to join. And yes! It is open at night as well as during the day.

Huaca Pucllana at night in Barranco Peru — **Huaca Pucllana**

Pachacamac – This was one of the most important pilgrimage centres in pre-Hispanic Peru. Multiple civilizations used it over the centuries, including the Incas.

Mateo Salado – These ruins are underrated and less visited than the others. They are a large complex of pyramids spread across a residential area. They really show you how deeply layered Lima’s history is beyond the touristy centre which is just so fascinating.

Huaca Huallamarca – This pyramid is located in San Isidro and is visually striking. It’s perfect for anyone who is short on time and wants a small dose of ancient Lima history.

4. The coastline

The coast in Lima is beautiful and extremely dramatic. Think massive cliff sides with their edges dropping down 80 meters (262 feet) into the ocean. I spent my last night in Peru walking along the Miraflores Boardwalk and the sunset from there was one for the books. There were so many people chilling out and enjoying the evening.

Miraflores Boardwalk coastline at sunset

The Barranco coastline is just as stunning but less polished than Miraflores. I think Miraflores feels like a more expensive / touristy version.

Then there is the Costa Verde beaches, which is the collection of beaches at the base of the cliffs. This is a great place to watch surfers. The most accessible (if you want to get down to the ocean) are Makaha and Waikiki, near Miraflores.

If you are looking for a more local atmosphere than Miraflores, you could venture out to the San Isidro coastline. Out here, you get a more residential feel, compared with the touristy, hotel feel of Miraflores and it’s less crowded. To get there from Barranco, it’s about a 20 minute Uber ride.

4 Things I didn’t like about Lima

Honestly I didn’t come across anything too terrible about Lima except maybe that I had an awful experience at the airport (long story) and ended up missing my flight due to one of the airline staff making a mistake.

1. The traffic

The traffic in Lima is awful! Getting anywhere is a nightmare and getting to the airport from Miraflores and Barranco can take at least an hour. Make sure you leave extra time getting anywhere but ESPECIALLY when you are heading to the airport.

2. The buses

This kind of goes hand in hand with the traffic. We caught the bus into Downtown Lima to do a free walking tour and the bus was absolutely packed both ways so there were no seats and we were squished in like sardines. Sadly, if you are staying in Miraflores or Barranco and want to visit Lima city, it’s a bit of a faff to get there and takes a lot of time.

3. Possibility of pickpockets

This did have me on edge a bit so I kept my bag close to me and didn’t have my phone out while on the streets in crowded places unless I really needed to. I was find but you just never know if you going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

4. The heat

Okay I was NOT ready for the heat in Lima and it’s probably my own fault that I didn’t enjoy it because I dressed in jeans and a jacket for the day we explored downtown Lima. Oops! For reference, I visited in November which is the beginning of summer in Peru.

Who Lima is for

Although Lima is a city, it’s not just a city. It has layers. Lima is for people who enjoy learning about the history and culture of a place.

I’d say it is an especially great city for anyone who loves culture and food because you can literally eat your way through the city. Oh and if you like cute bars set in beautiful buildings, you will LOVE Barranco. I know, I know, I’m a little Barranco obsessed.

I’m usually more about the nature of a place and the photo spots, but I also love a good bit of ancient history and unique neighbourhoods in a city like Barranco. For me, 1 day in Lima was perfect to soak up some of the culture and to see what all the fuss was about.

In a nutshell, if you enjoy wandering through neighbourhoods, experiencing food and drinks and learning about the history and/or culture of a place, even if it doesn’t end in a stunning photo spot, then I think you will really enjoy Lima.

Who Lima isn’t for

If you are just looking for epic views and good photo spots, Lima might not be for you. If you aren’t too bothered with trying new foods or are not a coffee addict, then Lima might not be for you. If you dislike busy cities and getting stuck in traffic, I hear you, and I feel the exact same, but even with the busyness of Lima, I really appreciated the beauty and the colourful culture of the city.

Top things to do in Lima, Peru

One of the first things I did in Lima was a free walking tour of the Historic Centre of Lima. I joined this tour because I felt like I had to see the main Downtown Area of Lima while I was there, but I honestly don’t really think it was worth it. If you do do a free walking tour of Lima, I recommend Guru Walks (we made the mistake of booking one with our hostel which went WAY over time and we didn’t get to eat lunch until around 4pm)!

Downtown Lima was like any other city in my opinion and next time I would prefer to spend more time in Barranco and Miraflores and see some more of the ruins instead of heading to the city centre.

If you need more help deciding what to see and do in Lima head over to my blog post which has a list of the very best things to do in Lima.

Where to stay in Lima

The best places to stay in Lima are Barranco and Miraflores. Both of these neighbourhoods are located next to the coast and have lots of cool restaurants, cafes and bars. I stayed at Ancestral Hostel Barranco which was super affordable and had a very pretty rooftop restaurant but for more of the most beautiful and unique hotels, here is my list.

rooftop bar at the Ancestral Hostel Barranco — Rooftop bar at the Ancestral Hostel Barranco

My final thoughts on whether or not Lima is worth a visit

Although I don’t think Lima is for everyone, I think most people will be able to find a small part of Lima that they can enjoy. I mean, Lima is SO big. For me, it was Barranco and Miraflores that I loved but maybe you have discovered another part of Lima that you love? Let me know in the comments!

I had SUCH a magical trip to Peru and have visited quite a few different places! Here are some more guides to help you plan your trip of a lifetime: