Lima

Travel Guide

Exposition Park featuring a park and a fountain as well as a large group of people
Lima featuring religious elements, a church or cathedral and interior views
Lima which includes street scenes and a high rise building
Exposition Park featuring flowers, a garden and outdoor art
Lima which includes 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 and cultural experience in bustling Lima, where the desert meets the coast, where ancient history mixes with 21st-century entertainment and where Peru’s poor hope to get rich.

The settlement along the Rímac River was once inhabited by Incas and earlier civilizations. After the Spanish founded Lima in 1535, they ruled for over 300 years. Today, nearly a third of Peru’s 30 million residents live in the capital. From the slums on the Cerros (hills) and the colorful colonial mansions, to the Catholic churches with Moorish roofs and Chinatown’s red gate, Lima’s urban sprawl is diverse.

Explore Lima’s colonial past in the central Plaza de Armas. A grand palace with marching guards, an ornate cathedral and a 17th-century fountain define this historic square. Sit on a bench and people-watch or browse nearby souvenir shops for brightly colored souvenirs. Tour the Convento y Museo de San Francisco and its 16th-century catacombs. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage or set out on foot and follow the shopping avenues to the monument-rich Plaza San Martin.

Take a metered taxi to the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera in the Pueblo Libre district to see pre-Columbian art, including Moche ceramics from over 2,200 years ago. For oceanfront entertainment, head south to Lima’s fashionable neighborhoods Miraflores and Barranco. Try Peru’s staple seafood dish ceviche or the alcoholic drink pisco sour.

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

Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport has connections to major global destinations. With daily planes and buses leaving from Lima for the surfing beaches of the Pacific Ocean, the lush Amazon jungle and the snow-capped Andes mountains, this fascinating city is just the start of your Peru adventure.

Where to stay in Lima

Miraflores which includes landscape views, a sunset and general coastal views

Miraflores

Miraflores is known for its popular shops, and you can see some sights in the area like Huaca Pucllana Ruins and Indian Market.

Miraflores
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San Isidro

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 featuring street scenes as well as a large group of people

Barranco

Barranco is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Bridge of Sighs or Barranco Viewpoint.

Barranco
Plaza Mayor which includes flowers and a park

Lima Historic Center

Unique features of Lima Historic Center include the historic sites and shopping. Make a stop by Church and Convent of San Francisco or Government Palace 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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Leuro

While visiting Leuro, you might make a stop by sights like Larco Avenue and Balboa Strip Mall.

Leuro
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
The price is P6,081 per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
P6,081
P6,689 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
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! (3,036 reviews)
"Great hotel by the old airport terminal. Because of lack of infrastructure, it is a bit slow to get to and from the new terminal with the hotel’s shuttle service. The restaurant is one of the best in the Lima area and certainly the best in Callao, and that’s really saying something!"

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2025

Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport
Sheraton Lima Historic Center

Sheraton Lima Historic Center

4 out of 5
Paseo De La Republica 170, Lima, Lima
The price is P4,360 per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
P4,360
P4,796 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
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! (722 reviews)
"The hotel has an excellent location—very convenient for sightseeing, dining, and shopping. The room is very cost-effective. The breakfast was plentiful and satisfying. The only drawback is that the glasses in the room are very dirty, with oil stains and fingerprints on them."

Reviewed on Aug 4, 2025

Sheraton Lima Historic Center
Holiday Inn Lima Miraflores by IHG

Holiday Inn Lima Miraflores by IHG

4 out of 5
Calle Alfonso Ugarte 117, Miraflores, Lima
The price is P6,081 per night from Aug 8 to Aug 9
P6,081
P6,689 total
Aug 8 - Aug 9
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Lima. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (598 reviews)
"Everything was amazing. Staff was very helpful and engaging. Clean comfortable room. Everything was great"

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2025

Holiday Inn Lima Miraflores by IHG
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! (599 reviews)
"Everything was good and great."

Reviewed on Jul 30, 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! (437 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 Jun 21, 2025

Petit Palace Apart Hotel Suites
Wynwood Colon in Miraflores

Wynwood Colon in Miraflores

3 out of 5
380 Calle San Martin, Lima
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Lima. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and balconies. Popular attractions Miraflores Central Park and Larcomar Shopping ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (38 reviews)
"Enjoyed the stay in a very comfortable apartment. Well presented and secure. Plenty of dining options."

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

Wynwood Colon in Miraflores
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.

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