Lima

South America’s food capital, on cliffs above the Pacific.

Lima has become one of the world’s great food destinations, from ceviche at a beach shack to tasting menus that top global rankings. Its colonial centre is UNESCO-listed, and the clifftop parks of Miraflores look out over the Pacific surf.

Best time to visit: December to April for sunny summer days. Language: Spanish. Currency: Peruvian sol (PEN).

Did you know?

Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the “City of Kings”.
Its restaurant Central was named the best restaurant in the world in 2023.
Lima’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Things to do in Lima

Cathedral of Lima (Cathedral, free): The Cathedral Basilica of Lima, commonly known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Lima, Peru.
Government Palace (Palace): The Government Palace, also known as the House of Pizarro, is the seat of the executive branch of the Peruvian government, and the official residence of the president of Peru.
Plaza Mayor, Lima (Square, free): The Plaza Mayor, also known as the Plaza de Armas, is the main public square of the historic centre of the city of Lima, Peru.
El Paraíso (Archaeological site): El Paraíso or Chuquitanta are the moderns names of a Late Preceramic archaeological site located in the Chillón Valley on the central coast of Peru.
Puruchuco (Archaeological site): Puruchuco is an archaeological site in Peru that was an administrative center of the Inca period, located in the Ate District, in Lima.
National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru (Museum): The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru is the largest and oldest museum in Peru, housed at the Palacio de la Magdalena, located in the main square of Pueblo Libre, a district of Lima, Peru.
Huaca Pucllana (Archaeological site): Huaca Pucllana, or Huaca Juliana, is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima, Peru, built from seven staggered platforms.
Museum of Italian Art (Art museum): The Museum of Italian Art is a public museum in Lima, Peru.
Lima Art Museum (Art museum): The Lima Art Museum is an art museum in Lima, Peru.
Monastery of San Francisco (Church, free): The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco is a Catholic church building located in the Historic Centre of Lima, Peru.
St. Peter's Church (Church, free): The Basilica and Convent of Saint Peter, formerly known as Basilica of Saint Paul after the school of the same name, is a Catholic church located in the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
Plaza San Martín (Square, free): San Martín Square is one of the most representative public spaces of the city of Lima, Peru.
Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World (Museum): The Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World, also known simply as the Gold Museum of Peru is a Peruvian archaeology and war museum located in the neighbourhood of Monterrico, Santiago de Surco, Lima.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Church, free): The Basilica and Priory of Nuestra Señora de la Merced is a Roman Catholic church located in Lima, Peru.
Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo (Church, free): The Basilica and Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary, commonly known as the Convent of Santo Domingo, is a Catholic religious complex located in the city of Lima, Peru.
Mosque of Lima (Mosque, free): The Mosque of Lima, also known as the Mosque of Magdalena del Mar, is a mosque in Lima, Peru.
La Marina Lighthouse (Lighthouse, free): La Marina Lighthouse is an active lighthouse set in parkland on high cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, in the Miraflores district of Lima, the capital of Peru.
Lima Peru Temple (Church, free): The Lima Peru Temple is the 38th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in La Molina, Lima Province, Peru.
Morro Solar (Monument, free): Morro Solar is a headland in Chorrillos District, Lima, Peru.
Plaza Dos de Mayo (Square, free): The Dos de Mayo Square, known as the Óvalo de la Reina until 1866, is a public square located in Lima, Peru.
Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima (Church, free): The Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima, also known as Santa Rosa de los Padres, is a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima.
St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba (Cathedral, free): The Cathedral of St.
Plaza Bolívar (Square, free): Bolívar Square, also known as Congress Square or Inquisition Square, is a public square located at the second block of Abancay Avenue, in the neighbourhood of Barrios Altos in Lima, Peru.
Teatro Municipal (Theatre): The Municipal Theatre of Lima, inaugurated as the Teatro Forero, is a theatre and concert hall in the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
Church of San Agustín, Lima (Church, free): The Basilica and Convent of San Agustín is a Catholic temple located at the junction of the fourth block of Jirón Camaná with the second block of Jirón Ica, a few blocks from the main square of the city of Lima, forming
Museo del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (History museum): The Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, known also as the BCRP Museum or simply Central Museum, is an archaeological, numismatic and artistic museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, located at the corners of
El Campo de Marte (Park, free): The Campo de Marte, also known as the Plaza de la Revolución, is a public park in Jesús María District, Lima, Peru.
Park of the Exhibition (Park, free): The Park of the Exhibition, known between 1999 and 2004 as the Grand Park of Lima, is a park located in the neighbourhood of Santa Beatriz, itself part of the buffer zone of the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
Jardín botánico de Plantas Medicinales de Lima (Botanic garden): The Medicinal Botanical Garden of Lima is a botanical garden for medicinal plants in Jesús María District, Lima, Peru.
Museum of the Nation (History museum): The Museum of the Nation was a public art and history museum in San Borja District, Lima, Peru.
Huaca Huallamarca (Archaeological site): Huaca Huallamarca, also formerly known as Huaca Pan de Azúcar, is an archaeological site located in the district of San Isidro, in the city of Lima, the capital of Peru.
Parque Central de Miraflores (Park, free): Miraflores Central Park, commonly known as Kennedy Park, is a public park located in Miraflores, Lima, Peru.
Alberto Andrade Carmona Park (Park, free): Alberto Andrade Carmona Park, better known as Love Park, is a public park in Lima, Peru.
Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Lima (Memorial, free): The Monument to the Unknown Soldier is a memorial located on a plain on the slopes of the northern side of Morro Solar in the district of Chorrillos, in Lima, Peru.
Plaza Francia (Square, free): The Plaza de Francia, also known by its former name, Plazoleta de la Recoleta, is a public square in the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
Bolognesi Square (Square, free): The Plaza Bolognesi is a roundabout located in the Lima District and the Breña District, in the capital of Peru.
Sagrario Metropolitano de Lima (Church, free): The Church of the Sanctuary is a Catholic church in Lima, Peru.
Parque de la Muralla (Park, free): The Park of the Wall is a public park located in the central district of Lima, Peru.
Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso (Museum): The Museum of Congress and the Inquisition, also known as the Monumental Museum of the Inquisition and Congress, is a museum located at the former headquarters of the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in the
Teatro Peruano Japonés (Theatre): The Teatro Peruano Japonés is a theatre in Lima, Peru.
Castillo Rospigliosi (Palace): Rospigliosi Castle is a castle and museum in the neighbourhood of Santa Beatriz in Lima District, Lima, Peru.
Parque Próceres de la independencia (Park, free): Heroes of Independence Park, originally known as Matamula Forest, is a public park next to Salaverry Avenue in Jesús María District, Lima.
Cerro San Cristóbal (Hill, free): San Cristóbal Hill is a hill in Lima, Peru.
Gran Teatro Nacional (Opera house): The Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú is a multi-purpose theatre and concert hall in Lima, Peru.
Parque de las Leyendas (Park): The Park of Legends, formally the Dr.
Parque El Olivar (Park, free, hidden gem): Bosque el Olivar is a public park located in the neighbourhood of the same name in San Isidro District, Lima, Peru.
Sharon Synagogue (Synagogue, hidden gem): The Sinagoga Sharón is an orthodox synagogue in San Isidro District, Lima.
Parque Reducto No. 2 (Park, free, hidden gem): Redoubt No.
MAC Lima (Museum, hidden gem): The Museum of Contemporary Art of Lima is a contemporary art museum in Barranco District, Lima, Peru.
La Herradura (Beach, free, hidden gem): La Herradura is a beach located in the Chorrillos District of Lima, Peru.
Teatro Manuel Ascencio Segura (Theatre, hidden gem): The Teatro Manuel Ascencio Segura is a theatre and concert hall located in the Jirón Huancavelica of Lima, Peru.
Teatro Colón (Theatre, hidden gem): The Colón Theatre is a historical building and former theatre located next to the San Martín Plaza, part of the historic centre of Lima.
Edificio Rímac (Palace, hidden gem): The Rímac Building, also known as the Roosevelt House, is a building located in the centre of the city of Lima, Peru.
Plazoleta de La Merced (Square, free, hidden gem): The Plazoleta de la Merced, also known as the Plazuela de la Merced, is a public square located in front of the Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, at the fifth block of the Jirón de la Unión and its int
Sagrados Corazones - Recoleta (Church, free, hidden gem): The Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, also known as the Iglesia de la Recoleta, is a Catholic church in the Plaza Francia in the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
Plaza Ramón Castilla (Square, free, hidden gem): Ramón Castilla Square, formerly known as Union Square, is a public square in the historic centre of Lima, Peru.
San Sebastián (Church, free, hidden gem): St.
Jesús, María y José (Church, free, hidden gem): The Church of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is a Catholic church and monastery in Lima, Peru, located in the corner of Moquegua and Camaná streets.
Museo Electoral y de La Democracia (Museum, hidden gem): The Museum of Elections and Democracy is a museum opened in 2005 and located in the headquarters of the National Jury of Elections, itself located next to Nicolás de Piérola Avenue in the historic centre of Lima.
Museo Nacional de la Cultura Peruana (Museum, hidden gem): The National Museum of Peruvian Culture, formerly the National Archaeology Museum, is a museum dedicated to Peruvian culture in Lima, Peru.
Cajamarquilla (Archaeological site): The Cajamarquilla archaeological site is located 25 km inland from the coastal city of Lima, Peru; in the Jicamarca Valley, 6 km north of the Rímac River.
Garagay (Archaeological site): Cultural heritage site in Lima, Peru.
Museo Pedro de Osma (Art museum): Art museum in Lima, Peru.
Paseo de Aguas (Park, free): The Paseo de Aguas is a promenade located in Jirón Madera of Rímac District, Lima, Peru.
Palacio Veneciano (Palace, hidden gem): The Venetian Palace, also known as the Casa Concha or Casa Concha Astete, was a palace in the historic centre of Lima District.
Park of the Reserve (Park, free, hidden gem): The Parque de la Reserva is a park located in downtown Lima, in Peru.
equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar (Monument, free, hidden gem): Statue in Lima, Peru.
National Afro-Peruvian Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The National Afro-Peruvian Museum is a museum dedicated to the acquisition, preservation and exhibition of objects related to the history of African descendants in Peru.
Alameda de los Descalzos (Park, free, hidden gem): The Alameda de los Descalzos is an alameda located in Rímac District, Lima, Peru.
Museo de Arqueología y Antropología (Museum, hidden gem): The Casona of the National University of San Marcos, also known as the Cultural Centre of San Marcos, which operates in the building, is a large Spanish colonial building that hosts the cultural centre of the National Un

Where to eat and drink in Lima

Central, Barranco: Named the world’s best restaurant in 2023.
Maido, Miraflores: Nikkei: Japanese-Peruvian tasting menus.
La Mar, Miraflores: Gastón Acurio’s cevichería, lunch only.
Isolina, Barranco: Hearty home-style Peruvian cooking.
Mater, Lima: Pía León’s new place, part restaurant, part night out.

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Plan a trip to Lima