Historic Centre of Lima (Centro Historico de Lima)

The Basics

The Plaza de Armas, also known as Plaza Mayor, is a good starting point for a walking tour of the district. The center’s most historically significant landmarks—the Lima Cathedral, the Government Palace (the presidential residence), the Archbishop's Palace, and the Palace of the Union—all cluster around the square. Nearby in Barrio Chino, Lima’s famous Chinatown, restaurants servechifa, a delicious Peruvian-Chinese hybrid cuisine. Other highlights include the Central Market and the Convent of Santo Domingo, whose tower offers a stunning view of the city.

Private and group walking and cycling tours exploring Lima’s historical center offer half-day and full-day options. Some combine visits to various city attractions such as the pre-Columbian site in Miraflores or, farther afield, the Inca settlement Pachacamac. Other tours focus specifically on art, culture, and Lima’s famously dynamic food scene.

How to Get There

The fastest and most direct route to the historical center is to take the Metropolitano Bus, which bypasses traffic on its very own designated lane through the city. From Barranco and Miraflores, take the line going North (Norte)—with several stops along Avenida Bolognesi—to the Jirón de la Unión stop and walk three to four blocks to the plaza.

Trip ideas

An Insider's Guide to Black-Owned Lima

Black business owner Josselyn Solano’s guide to the best of Black-owned Lima.

Must-See Museums in Lima

From the colonial grandeur of the Plaza de Armas to its pre-Columbian huacas (ruins, often tombs), Lima serves up a melting pot of Peruvian culture and history, but the city’s proud heritage is also on display at its many museums. Here are some of the best.

How to Spend 3 Days in Lima

Three full days in Lima afford you time to soak up the city’s atmosphere, see its most famous sights, taste its culinary delights, behold sites of ancient history, and venture out of town and down the coast. Here are a few ways to experience the very best of Lima in three days.

How to Spend 1 Day in Lima

How to Spend 2 Days in Lima

Food Lover's Guide to Lima

Peruvian food showcases a true blend of cuisines—alongside indigenous and Spanish flavors, you’ll find influences from China, Italy, Africa, and Japan. Here are a few dishes and culinary experiences you won’t want to miss during your stay in Lima.

When to Get There

The historical center is popular with tourists, so expect crowds to follow the patterns of high summer season (December to April) and important religious holidays like Easter (March or April) and Carnaval (February). Churches and museums close at 5pm every day except Monday, when they are generally closed. The plaza is particularly lovely in the evenings when warm golden lights illuminate the park and the colonial facades.

Plaza Mayor

The grand Plaza Mayor is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lima. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas here and founded the city in 1535, calling it the “City of Kings.” In celebration of the Spanish victory, he ordered the plaza constructed and completed that same year. By 1821, the tides had turned, as anticolonial rebels chose the square to declare their independence from Spain as the Republic of Peru.

The Basics

Things to Know Before You Go