Lima

Sights

• Historic Centre – Plaza Mayor, the cathedral and colonial balconies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• San Francisco Monastery – A baroque monastery with a library and catacombs.
• Miraflores – A clifftop promenade (malecón) above the Pacific, with paragliders.
• Barranco – An artists' district with colonial villas, murals and bars.
• Huaca Pucllana – A pre-Inca adobe pyramid in the middle of Miraflores.
• Museo Larco – Pre-Columbian ceramics and gold jewellery in a mansion.

Food & nightlife

• Ceviche – Raw fish in lime with chilli – traditionally eaten at lunchtime.
• Lomo Saltado – Wok-fried beef with onions, tomatoes and chips.
• Nikkei cuisine – Japanese-Peruvian fusion – Lima is considered a gourmet capital.
• Pisco Sour – The national cocktail of pisco, lime and egg white.

Day trips

• Paracas and the Ballestas Islands – A boat trip to sea lions, penguins and seabirds.
• Huacachina – An oasis among giant dunes, with sandboarding.
• Nazca Lines – Giant geoglyphs in the desert, best seen from a light aircraft.
• Pachacámac – A vast pre-Inca temple complex south of the city.

Good to know

When to go

December–April

Getting around

Ride-hailing apps and taxis are easiest, plus the Metropolitano rapid bus. From roughly June to October a grey coastal mist often covers the city.

Tipping

Around 10% is customary in restaurants.

Power

Plug type A/C, 220 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Peruvian Sol (PEN)

Plan your trip to Lima together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Peru

• Cusco