Lima Travelers Recommend

Three full days in Lima afford you plenty of 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.

Day 1: Explore the City

Start your visit in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center of Lima, filled with interesting colonial-era architecture and cultural history. Private and group city sightseeing tours by bus or by foot visit such sights as Exposition Park (Parque de la Exposición), the Palace of Justice (Palacio de Justicia), the Plaza de Armas, and the Monastery of San Francisco. 

Alternatively, travel around the city on a hop-on hop-on sightseeing tour. You can create a personalized itinerary by disembarking at sights of interest and spending as long as you’d like at each.

After exploring the colonial center, head for Lima’s buzzing neighborhoods. Walking and bicycle tours through the bohemian Barranco district take you to see colorful street art and galleries, as well as the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros), a wooden structure spanning the Bajada de los Baños, a stone walkway that runs down to the Pacific. Some Barranco tours are specifically focused on the area’s excellent restaurants.

Day 2: See Ancient Ruins

Around 20 miles south of downtown Lima, Pachacamac Temple makes for an easy half-day excursion. The vast archaeological site dates from AD 200 and is home to temples dedicated to the sun and the moon.

Another option for those with an interest in pre-Columbian history is a full-day tour to Caral, the oldest known city in the Americas. Private and group tours take you three and a half hours north of Lima to discover the well-preserved pyramids and temples of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, believed to have been built in 5,000 BC. Tours typically include lunch.

In the evening, if time allows, get a taste of Lima’s highly rated culinary scene on a food tour. Your options include visiting some of the city’s best restaurants, bar-hopping downtown, or taking a cooking class, which begins with a tour of a local market. 

Day 3: Experience the Peruvian Galapagos

Limeños looking to escape into nature flock to Paracas, an area rich with wildlife, culture, and history about a 3-hour drive south of the capital. Guided full-day tours typically include time for sandboarding and dune-buggy riding around the sand dunes of Huacachina. They also explore the Ballestas Islands, known as the Peruvian Galapagos for their diversity of wildlife, which includes Peruvian boobies, pelicans, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins.

Alternatively, you can combine a cruise around the Ballestas Islands with a flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of huge geoglyphs in the desert that experts believe were created more than 1,000 years ago, on a full-day tour from Lima.

With two days in Lima, you can thoroughly explore its historic center, with its elegant colonial architecture, as well as its colorful neighborhoods—and even have time to venture to the coastal riches and ancient temples beyond. Here’s how to spend a memorable 48 hours in the Peruvian capital.

Day 1: Explore the City

**Morning:**Lima’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center is filled with interesting architecture and cultural history. Private and group sightseeing tours by bus or by foot typically visit such landmarks as the Palace of Justice (Palacio de Justicia), the Plaza de Armas, and the Monastery of San Francisco. If you prefer flexibility, create your own itinerary with a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

**Afternoon:**Bohemian Barranco is known for its colorful street art, unique stores, art galleries, restaurants, and the picturesque wooden Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros). Walking and bicycle tours introduce you to the buzzing neighborhood, and some tours include dishes at a handful of local restaurants. 

**Night:**Sample Lima’s highly rated culinary scene on a food-focused tour. Your options vary from downtown bar crawls and cooking classes (some of which include a local market tour and pisco sour–making lesson) to gourmet tours that include stops at some of the city’s (and the world’s) best restaurants.

Day 2: Nature and Archaeology

**Morning:**Half-day sightseeing cruises to the Palomino Islands, just offshore, leave from Lima and offer the opportunity to get up close to sea lions, as well as seabirds such as pelicans, Humboldt penguins, and Peruvian boobies. Alternatively, head for the ancient Pachacamac Temple, dating from AD 200. Private and group tours typically begin with a scenic drive down the coast before arriving at the site.

**Afternoon:**Taste the delicious diversity of Peru’s thriving cacao industry in a chocolate-making workshop at Lima’s ChocoMuseo. Learn about every step of the process—from roasting the beans and removing the husk to grinding the nibs and refining the paste in a melangeur—and create your very own chocolate with your choice of ingredients.

**Night:**Housed in an 18th-century mansion, the Larco Museum of pre-Columbian art is one of Lima’s most famous cultural attractions. Guided tours allow you to spend an evening exploring the exhibits, including the erotic pottery for which it is famous, before sitting down to an included gourmet dinner.

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.

Lima’s many museums showcase Peruvian culture and history with pride and prestige. Beyond the capital’s other don’t miss cultural attractions, including its pre-Columbian huacas (ruins, often tombs) and the grand Plaza de Armas, here are some of the best museums in which to explore the city’s rich heritage.

Larco Museum (Museo Larco)

The Larco Museum (Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera), one of the city’s most famous, is set in a magnificent 18th-century mansion that today houses a vast assemblage of pre-Columbian artifacts and ancient ceramics, including the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art. Combine your visit to the Larco Museum with a city sightseeing tour, dinner, or a guided visit to the Magic Water Circuit sound and light show within Lima’s Park of the Reserve (Parque de la Reserva).

Osma Museum (Museo Pedro de Osma)

Set in an exquisite beaux-arts mansion, the Osma Museum showcases one of the world’s top collections of colonial furniture, housewares, and silver, with pieces dating back to the 16th century, plus lovely Peruvian paintings from the same time period. Visit the museum as part of a tour through the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco.

Gold of Peru Museum (Museo del Oro)

Among the most mesmerizing museum collections in Lima is the Gold of Peru Museum’s glittering display of pre-Inca and Inca gold, silver, and brass. Some 8,000 pieces highlight Nazca, Icna, Vicus, and Moche cultures. Combine your museum visit with a stop at the nearby Arms of the World Museum (Museo Armas del Mundo). Here you can admire one of the most comprehensive weapons collections in South America, comprising approximately 20,000 weapons from various time periods and regions across the globe.

Lima Art Museum (Museo de Arte de Lima)

Nicknamed MALI, the Lima Art Museum sits within a recently renovated beaux-arts building, and its collection highlights fine art from the pre-Columbian to contemporary periods. The 17,000 pieces represent more than 3,000 years of art history, making it a must-see for art lovers visiting the Peruvian capital.

The Peruvian capital is a sprawling metropolis encompassing ruins from pre-Inca times, a colonial center, and ultramodern shopping malls. If, like many visitors, you’re spending only one day here—possibly on your way to Machu Picchu—and want to see as much as possible in a short time, here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in Lima.

Morning: The Colonial City

The historic center of Lima—UNESCO World Heritage–listed and seat of the Peruvian government—is filled with interesting architecture and cultural history. Private and group city sightseeing tours by bus or by foot typically spend a good deal of time here, visiting sights such as Exposition Park (Parque de la Exposición), the Palace of Justice (Palacio de Justicia), the Plaza de Armas, and the Monastery of San Francisco. Alternatively, travel around the city on a hop-on hop-on sightseeing tour, which allows you to create your own itinerary by disembarking at sights along the route and spending as much time as you like at each.

Afternoon: Vibrant Neighborhoods

Get a more contemporary taste of Lima life by venturing into its buzzing neighborhoods. Walking and bicycle tours through the bohemian Barranco neighborhood introduce visitors to the neighborhood’s colorful street art, galleries, and restaurants—some tours include dishes at a handful of local restaurants. Don’t miss the Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros), a wooden structure spanning the Bajada de los Baños, a stone walkway that runs down to the Pacific. On a visit to Chorillos, you can soak up the energy of the local fish market; tours here typically include local snacks, which you can enjoy on the nearby cliffs.

Night: Food Scene

The food scene in Lima is buzzing—in fact, many people consider it among the world’s best. Find out for yourself by joining a food-focused tour. Your options vary from downtown bar crawls and cooking classes (some of which include a local market tour and pisco sour–making lesson), to gourmet tours that include stops at internationally renowned restaurants. If you are looking for some lively entertainment to accompany your dinner, you have the option of taking a tour that includes a visit to a restaurant that hosts a typical Peruvian folklore show.

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.

Must-Try Dishes

Peru’s national dish, fresh and fiery ceviche, has enjoyed worldwide popularity in recent years, and in Lima, you can sample it at the source. Chinese influence shows up in lomo saltado, a soy-seasoned and stir-fried beef dish served on a mound of rice and french fries. Equally hearty is aji de gallina, shredded chicken in a thick and creamy sauce made of cheese, walnuts, cream, and yellow aji. Any good meat dish needs some potatoes, and in Lima, that means papas a la huancaina. This unusual, delicious side dish features sliced potatoes smothered in tangy cheese sauce and topped with hard-boiled eggs.

Adventurous eaters won’t want to miss cuy (roasted guinea pig) one of the most popular street foods in the Andes region. Another popular food sold by street vendors, anticuchos de corazón, is made from marinated and char-grilled cubes of beef heart. Wash it down with Peru’s national drink, a pisco sour.

Must-Do Experiences

• Hit the pavement to learn more about Lima’s culinary landscape on a walking food tour of neighborhoods like Chorrillos and Barranco.

• Learn to prepare Peruvian dishes during a cooking class led by a chef or local family.

• Dive into downtown Lima’s nightlife scene on a bar crawl.

• Sit down to a 3-course Peruvian meal in the gorgeous gardens of the Larco Museum (Museo Larco).

• Experience the breadth of Peru’s food-and-drink culture, including its own craft beer movement, while biking and boating your way through the city.