25 Best Things to Do in Lima, Peru You Shouldn’t Miss

Plaza Mayor of Lima is the perfect starting point for exploring the city’s historic center.

If it is your first time in Lima, start with the city’s historic heart.

Plaza Mayor, also called Plaza de Armas, is surrounded by some of the most recognizable buildings in the historic center, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Government Palace.

The square gives you a useful introduction to Lima’s colonial character before you start wandering through the surrounding streets.

Explore Lima’s historic center on foot, from Plaza Mayor and colonial streets to historic churches and charming architectural details.

One of my favorite ways to approach a new destination is on foot.

Lima’s historic center is particularly suited to this because many important sights are relatively close together.

A walking tour can take you through Plaza Mayor, colonial streets, churches, historic mansions, Jirón de la Unión, and other landmarks without constantly jumping into taxis or buses.

You also get something that a checklist of attractions cannot provide: a feeling for the city.

Look up occasionally from the map. Pay attention to balconies, doorways, old facades, plazas, and the small details between the famous attractions.

Monastery of San Francisco in Lima, showcasing its colonial architecture, historic catacombs, and library.

The Monastery of San Francisco is one of the historic center’s most famous sights.

The building is known for its religious architecture, library, artwork, and underground catacombs.

The catacombs are what many visitors remember most. They were used as burial grounds during the colonial period, making the visit very different from simply walking through another historic church.

If you enjoy places where history feels tangible rather than something you only read about on a sign, put this near the top of your Lima itinerary.

Explore the historic Convent of Santo Domingo in Lima’s colonial center.

Another historic religious complex worth visiting is Santo Domingo.

It has a long connection with Lima’s religious and colonial history and offers another opportunity to see the architecture and interiors of the historic center.

I would group Santo Domingo with Plaza Mayor and San Francisco rather than treating each as a separate trip across the city.

A lively walk through the historic streets of central Lima.

Jirón de la Unión is one of the historic center’s best-known pedestrian streets.

It connects Plaza Mayor with Plaza San Martín and passes through a busy part of central Lima.

This is less about checking off one monument and more about experiencing the city at street level.

Walk slowly, look into shops and historic buildings, and let yourself get distracted by the surrounding streets.

Some of my favorite travel memories have come from exactly this kind of unplanned wandering rather than from the attraction I originally set out to see.

Huaca Pucllana reveals Lima’s ancient history alongside its modern cityscape.

One of the things that makes Lima fascinating is how ancient history exists right alongside a modern city.

Huaca Pucllana is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Miraflores, built largely from adobe.

The large ceremonial structure can look almost surreal with modern buildings surrounding it.

It is a good reminder that Lima’s story did not begin with the colonial period.

Exploring Peru’s ancient cultures through the remarkable collection at Museo Larco.

For a deeper look at Peru’s ancient cultures, visit Museo Larco.

The museum houses an extensive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and is one of the most frequently recommended cultural experiences in Lima.

This is particularly useful if you are planning to visit other archaeological sites during your Peru trip because it gives you additional historical context.

You do not have to be a serious museum person to enjoy it. Give yourself a couple of hours, take your time, and focus on the objects and stories that interest you most.

Explore Barranco’s colorful streets, vibrant murals, cafés, galleries, and relaxed atmosphere.

If the historic center shows you Lima’s colonial side, Barranco shows you a very different personality.

Barranco is known for its colorful streets, art, galleries, cafés, restaurants, bars, and relaxed atmosphere.

This is a neighborhood where I would intentionally leave some time unplanned.

The best part of Barranco is not necessarily one single attraction. It is the atmosphere created by all those little experiences together.

Walking across the historic Puente de los Suspiros in Barranco, Lima.

Inside Barranco, make your way to Puente de los Suspiros, or the Bridge of Sighs.

The wooden bridge has become one of Barranco’s recognizable landmarks and is surrounded by streets that are easy to explore on foot.

Rather than visiting only for the bridge, use it as the center of a longer Barranco walk.

Exploring the colorful street art and creative streets of Barranco, Lima.

Barranco is one of the best places in Lima to slow down and simply look around.

Murals and colorful artwork appear throughout the neighborhood, giving the streets a completely different feel from the formal architecture of the historic center.

A scenic sunset walk along the Malecón de Miraflores overlooking the Pacific.

For ocean views, head to the Malecón de Miraflores.

The coastal walkway stretches along the cliffs above the Pacific and is ideal for walking, taking photographs, watching the sunset, or simply getting some fresh air.

This is one of those Lima experiences that does not require an entrance ticket or complicated planning.

Just go for a walk.

Parque del Amor offers colorful mosaics, coastal views, and a beautiful sunset setting in Miraflores, Lima.

Located along the Miraflores coastline, Parque del Amor, or Love Park, is one of the area’s most recognizable spots.

The park features colorful mosaics, ocean views, and a large sculpture at its center.

Come during the late afternoon if you want to combine it with a walk along the Malecón.

Miraflores Lighthouse and the scenic coastal parks along Lima’s cliffs.

The Faro de la Marina, or Miraflores Lighthouse, is another easy stop along the coastal area.

You do not need to spend hours here.

The real experience is walking through the parks and viewpoints along the cliffs, stopping whenever the scenery catches your attention.

Exploring Kennedy Park in Miraflores, one of Lima’s liveliest neighborhood spaces.

Parque Kennedy is one of Miraflores’ liveliest public spaces.

It is surrounded by restaurants, cafés, shops, and busy streets, making it an easy place to include in a neighborhood walk.

The park is also famous among visitors for its resident cats.

Larcomar offers shopping, dining, and beautiful Pacific Ocean views along the Miraflores coastline.

Built into the cliffs overlooking the Pacific, Larcomar combines shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and ocean views.

Even if shopping is not high on your list, the location makes it worth considering.

It works particularly well as part of a longer afternoon around Miraflores.

Paragliding above Lima’s dramatic Miraflores coastline with sweeping Pacific Ocean views.

If you want something more adventurous, look into paragliding in Miraflores.

The coastal cliffs provide a dramatic setting for a flight over the Pacific-facing part of the city.

Surfing along Lima’s Pacific coastline with the city’s cliffs and skyline in the background.

Lima might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think about surfing, but its Pacific coastline makes water sports a natural part of the city’s outdoor culture.

Beginners can look for lessons, while experienced surfers can explore the area’s established surf spots.

Explore Lima’s coastline by bicycle through Miraflores and Barranco.

Another good way to experience Miraflores and Barranco is by bicycle.

Cycling lets you cover more ground than walking without turning the day into a series of taxi rides.

You can combine coastal parks, viewpoints, neighborhoods, and food stops into one outing.

It is also a nice option if you have already spent several days sightseeing on foot and want to change the pace.

Taste your way through Lima with ceviche, lomo saltado, causa, anticuchos, ají de gallina, and picarones.

You cannot talk about the best things to do in Lima without talking about food.

You can explore the food scene through restaurants, markets, food tours, or simply by trying local dishes wherever you happen to be.

I would not try to turn every meal into a high-end dining experience. Some of the fun is finding a busy local spot and ordering something you have never tried before.

Exploring Lima’s lively local markets for fresh produce, food, and everyday Peruvian culture.

Markets are another way to experience Lima beyond the major tourist attractions.

Depending on where you stay, you can find fresh produce, snacks, local ingredients, prepared food, and everyday items.

Markets can be crowded and chaotic, but that is part of what makes them interesting.

Try a classic Pisco Sour and experience a taste of Peru’s cocktail culture.

You cannot leave Peru without at least considering a Pisco Sour.

The classic cocktail combines pisco with lime juice, sweetener, egg white, and bitters.

If you do not drink alcohol, there is no reason to force it. Lima has plenty of food and cultural experiences that do not involve drinking.

Experience Lima after dark with dinner, nightlife, coastal views, and relaxed evening walks.

Lima changes character in the evening.

Barranco is a natural choice if you want restaurants, bars, music, and a more artistic atmosphere.

Miraflores also has plenty of evening options, from restaurants and cafés to nightlife.

The Magic Water Circuit comes alive with colorful fountains, lights, and nighttime projections.

The Magic Water Circuit, located in Parque de la Reserva, is one of Lima’s most recognizable evening attractions.

The complex features thirteen fountains using water, music, lighting, and projections to create nighttime displays.

This is one of those attractions that works particularly well after a day of museums and walking.

Explore the ancient ruins of Pachacamac, a fascinating archaeological site outside Lima, Peru.

If ancient history interests you, consider a trip to Pachacamac.

The archaeological complex sits outside central Lima and contains remains from several periods of Peru’s pre-Hispanic history.

It is a useful addition to your itinerary if Huaca Pucllana leaves you wanting more archaeological sites.

Explore the wildlife of Paracas and the desert adventures of Huacachina on a memorable day trip.

If you have extra time in Lima, one of the most popular ways to extend your trip is by heading south toward Paracas and Huacachina.

Paracas is known for its coastal scenery and wildlife excursions, while Huacachina is an oasis surrounded by large desert dunes.

This is a much bigger outing than simply visiting another Lima neighborhood, so plan accordingly.