11 Best Things to do in Lima Peru

Lima is a huge, fast paced city, and if you’re visiting for the first time, it can feel overwhelming to figure out where to stay and how to spend your time. I felt exactly the same on my first visit. Once I worked out which areas to focus on, Lima completely surprised me in the best way.

I spent 1 full day in Lima and managed to pack in a lot, with a few great spots still left on my list for next time. From wandering vibrant neighbourhoods to coastal viewpoints, there’s far more to Lima than most travellers expect.

This guide rounds up the best things to do in Lima, including free walking tours, the best places to watch the sunset, top coffee spots, and other must see experiences to help you make the most of your time in Peru’s capital.

Huaca Pucllana Ruins at night with the moon

glass of beer at sunset on the rooftop of Ancestral Hostel Barranco

Best Things to See in Lima

Table of Contents

Icecreams at Crem Dela Crem Barranco — Crem Dela Crem Barranco

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!

Map of Must-See Sights in Lima

The below map will help you get a feel of where everything is in Lima. You can even use the map in google maps to use when you are there!

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

#1 Do a free walking tour of Lima

I never used to do these, but Peru really opened my eyes to how much you can get to know a city on a free walking tour. The one I did in Lima however (which I booked through my hostel), I wouldn’t recommend, purely because the tour ran super late, so that we didn’t get to eat lunch until 4pm and part of the tour included getting to Lima from Barranco on public transit which took AGES.

Instead, I recommend doing one of the following walking tours:

Tour of the Historic Center of Lima + Pisco Sour Tastings (2 hours)
Lima Street Food Tour & Market Experience (2.5 hours)

#2 Wander around Barranco

Barranco is my favourite part of Lima and it’s where I stayed for a couple of nights at the end of my trip to Peru. Barranco is what I would call trendy, with art murals, incredible coffee shops, bars and restaurants and beautiful, colourful buildings. It’s definitely worth a visit, even if you aren’t staying there.

Things to do while in Barranco include:

Visit the Museo De Arte Contemporaneo
Visit the Jade Rivera Museum – a Peruvian artist famous for his murals and paintings.
Walk across the Bridge of Sighs (hold your breath and make a wish)
Go shopping in the beautiful boutiques
Go to one of the markets – The Barranco Arts and Crafts Market or the Barranco Organic Market.
Get ice cream from Crem Dela Crem – SO GOOD!

#3 Do the Miraflores Boardwalk

Best done at sunset, the Miraflores Boardwalk takes you around the cliffs above the ocean and is also known as the Malecón de Miraflores. My friend and I walked all the way from Barranco to Miraflores along the coast and the views were stunning, especially at sunset. It probably took us about an hour altogether.

The entire walk stretches for around 6 to 10 kilometers (4-6 miles) and is a really nice built pathway which is popular amongst walkers and joggers.

Kerry walking along the Miraflores Boardwalk at sunset in Lima

#4 Try the Lima Ceviche

Lima is most famous for it’s Ceviche so if you are going to try Ceviche anywhere in the world, make it Lima! One of the restaurants that I had recommended to me for Ceviche (but I sadly didn’t have a chance to try) was Mangos Restaurant in Miraflores.

If ceviche is a major reason you’re visiting Lima, this detailed ceviche guide does a great job breaking down the best spots.

#5 Visit a café in Barranco – They are SO cute!

I was OBSESSED with the cafes in Barranco and couldn’t get enough of them. There was one in particular that had amazing coffee which was called Ciclos Café. I got a boring old latte (which was delicious) but my friend Candace got the Espresso + Stumpy + Chocolate which was a tasting experience. They also have an Espresso Flight which would be perfect for anyone obsessed coffee drinkers out there (I wish Dave could have experienced this).

#6 Do a tour of the Huaca Pucllana Ruins

These ruins in Miraflores are so incredibly cool! I had really wanted to see some ruins in Lima but I kind of let the second half of my day lead me to wherever and it just so happened to bring me here for a night tour! The ruins open back up at 7pm for night tours which was perfect! The entrance fee was 17 soles and included a tour of the ruins.

I cannot believe there is something like this just sitting next to people’s apartments! Like WHAT!

Huaca Pucllana at night in Barranco Peru

#7 Visit the Pachacamac Ruins

The Pachacamac Ruins are an ancient archaeological site just outside of Lima that was once one of the most important religious centres in pre Columbian Peru. They were used by pre-Inca civilisations to worship Pachacamac, a powerful creator god believed to control earthquakes and the natural world.

The site is made up of temples, pyramids and plazas spread across the landscape. Entry costs around 15 soles plus a little extra for a guided tour. As it is a little outside of Lima, this is a great site to visit if you have more than 1 day. If you only have 1 day, I would probably opt for the Huaca Pucllana Ruins which I personally, really enjoyed.

#8 Check out Lima’s historic Plaza de Armas

Lima’s Plaza de Armas is where Lima was founded in 1535 and it is the historic centre of the city. It is essentially a big square surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings like the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima and the Archbishop’s Palace. I went here on my free walking tour which was great because we learnt about each of the buildings and a bit of history of the square.

Karry in Downtown Lima on a free walking tour

#9 Do a tour of the catacombs

This is something that I’m kind of sad I missed out on but I just couldn’t do it all. Lima’s catacombs are located beneath the San Francisco Monastery. They were used as a burial place during the colonial period so it’s an eery place to visit (or so I’ve read) but super interesting! They are actually not too far from the Plaza de Armas so you could visit them after.

You don’t need to pre-book, you can just show up and buy a ticket and join the next available tour. You are not allowed to wander the catacombs by yourself.

#10 Try Nikkei Sushi

This is a Japanese / Peruvian fusion Sushu and believe me when I say, if you like sushi, you don’t want to miss out on this sushi! I went to Aka Sushi Barranco which wasn’t too expensive but was still absolutely delicious but you can find restaurants that cook this type of sushi all over Lima, just look for Nikkei Sushi on the menu.

#11 Take a Peruvian cooking class

What better souvenir is there than to take home a new recipe to add to your weekly meals. The food in Peru is SO delicious and the cooking classes are so much fun!

Check availability and prices here!

frequently asked questions

Lima has the best weather from December to April. It tends to be warm, sunny and dry. May to November is also relatively dry but a bit cooler with skies that are grey most days. The most popular time to visit is during Summer from December to April because of the gorgeous sunny, hot weather that Lima gets.

Depending on how much you enjoy visiting large cities, I think anywhere from 1 day to 3 days is perfect for Lima.

Lima averages around 154m (505 ft) above sea level. This is very different to Cusco which sits at 3,399m (11,151 ft).

I thought Lima felt safer than I had expected it to, however petty crime is common, include pick pocketing and phone theft. Make sure you have an eye on your belongings at all times and don’t have your phone out in crowds. Lima tends to be safer in neighbourhoods like Barranco and Miraflores and parts of San Isidro. I visited Lima as a tourist and felt comfortable exploring during the day, especially in the main tourist areas.

Personally, I think Lima is worth it but this depends on what kind of traveller you are. Read my thoughts here on what I loved about Lima and what I didn’t like about Lima.

Tap water in Lima is not considered safe for tourists to drink. Stick to bottled water, including for brushing your teeth to avoid getting sick from bacteria in the water.

My thoughts

There is so much to do and see and Lima but it is a massive city so I recommend just picking a few top things to see in a couple of areas rather than hopping all over the city trying to see it all. I stuck to Lima’s Historic Centre, Barranco and Miraflores, with a last minute trip at the end of my day to the Huaca Pucllana ruins which are also located in Miraflores.

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: