Quick Answer
Lima is Peru's coastal capital and one of the world's top food cities (Central, Maido, Astrid y Gaston are all in the World's 50 Best). It's the entry point for Machu Picchu via Cusco. Hotels start from $70/night. December through April is the warmer dry season; May through November is gray and cool but better for Andean travel.
Explore Lima in Detail
Find Hotels in Lima
Hotel listings for Lima are currently being updated.
Top Tours in Lima
Lima Historic Center and San Francisco Catacombs
Walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Plaza Mayor, Government Palace changing of the guard, the Cathedral, and the San Francisco Monastery catacombs with a guide.
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Lima Food Tour with Ceviche Class
Visit a market for ingredients, then a hands-on ceviche class with a local chef. Includes anticuchos, causa, and pisco sour preparation.
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Ballestas Islands and Paracas Day Trip
Long day trip south to Paracas for the Ballestas Islands boat tour (sea lions, Humboldt penguins, the Candelabra geoglyph) and the Paracas Reserve.
Book This Tour →Top Things to Do in Lima
The experiences travelers come back to Lima for, year after year.
Itineraries for Lima
Day-by-day plans built by travelers who actually went.
Lima in 3 Days
The essential first-time itinerary — the must-sees you came for, plus the local moments you came home talking about.
Lima for Couples
Quiet mornings, slow dinners, and the views the brochures don't show. Built for two.
Lima with Kids
Activities everyone enjoys, restaurants that welcome little ones, and downtime built into the plan.
Getting Around Lima
Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore Lima at your own pace. Compare rates from all major suppliers in one search.
Best Time to Visit Lima
Best months to visit Lima: April–June and September–October offer mild weather and fewer crowds. July–August is peak season. December–February is coldest but cheapest.
Why Visit Lima?
Lima is the city most Machu Picchu travelers transit through and then realize they should have given another day to. The food scene alone justifies the stop, and the colonial center is one of the best-preserved in South America.
The historic center (Centro Historico) is a UNESCO site with the Plaza Mayor anchoring the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima (Pizarro is buried in a crystal coffin inside), and the Archbishop’s Palace. The Monastery of San Francisco’s underground catacombs hold an estimated 25,000 skeletons of colonial-era Limenos. Miraflores is the modern upscale neighborhood where most tourists actually stay, with the Larcomar oceanfront cliff mall, Parque Kennedy, and Huaca Pucllana (a pre-Inca adobe pyramid in the middle of the residential streets). Barranco is the bohemian artist neighborhood with painted streets, the Bridge of Sighs, and the city’s best craft cocktail scene. Pueblo Libre holds the Larco Museum, with one of the world’s best pre-Columbian collections (and a famous erotic ceramic gallery). The food scene is the actual reason Lima travelers fly in early. Central is the world-renowned tasting menu (book three months ahead). Maido does Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese fusion). Astrid y Gaston is the classic original. Ceviche at La Mar or Pescados Capitales is the lunch ritual. Anticuchos (grilled beef heart) at any street stall. Pisco sours at Hotel Bolivar’s bar (where Hemingway and Welles drank). Beyond the city, the Ballestas Islands (mini-Galapagos with sea lions and penguins, 3 hours south) and Paracas reserve are great long day trips.
Frequently Asked Questions — Lima
How much do hotels in Lima cost?
Hostels start at $15/night for private rooms. 3-star hotels run $70-$140. 4-star hotels are $140-$280. Luxury 5-star hotels like Belmond Miraflores Park, Hotel B, or JW Marriott are $300-$700/night.
When is the best time to visit Lima?
December through April is summer in Lima, warmer (75-85F) with sunshine. May through November is the gray season (la garua) with constant cloud cover and 60-70F. The city rarely sees rain. Time your Lima visit around your Andes trip (Cusco/Machu Picchu is best May-October).
How many days do I need in Lima?
Two days for Lima itself, including a major tasting menu reservation and the historic center. Most travelers spend 1-2 nights at the start or end of a Machu Picchu trip. Three days lets you add Ballestas or Pachacamac ruins.
Is Lima safe for tourists?
Lima requires standard South American precautions. Stay in Miraflores, Barranco, or San Isidro. Avoid the central historic district at night. Pickpocketing and motorbike snatch theft are the main risks. Use Uber instead of street taxis. Solo female travel is comfortable with awareness.
What area should I stay in?
Miraflores for first-timers who want safe, walkable streets near the ocean and most tourist amenities. Barranco for hipper bohemian neighborhood feel and the best craft cocktails. San Isidro for upscale business hotels. Avoid hotels in the historic center for overnight stays.
How do I get around Lima?
Uber and Cabify are the standard for tourists, with rides usually $3-10. The Metropolitano bus system covers the main north-south corridor. Walking is fine within Miraflores and Barranco. Taxi prices to/from the airport should be agreed in advance ($25-40).
What food should I try in Lima?
Ceviche at La Mar (run by Gaston Acurio), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef) at Tanta, causa rellena (cold mashed potato terrine) at any restaurant, anticuchos at Anticucheria Grimanesa Vargas, tiraditos at Maido, and a tasting menu at Central if you can get a reservation. Pisco sour at Hotel Bolivar.