Lima, the capital and largest city of Peru, is a vibrant metropolis located on the country’s Pacific coast. It’s actually the only South American capital city that is located on a coast. Lima is Peru’s cultural, political, and economical center and is home to over 11 million people, making it one of the largest cities in the Americas.
For a lot of people, Lima is just used as a jumping point to fly to Cusco for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. But I really want people to know how amazing this city is and why I think it is worth spending some time here. I spent over a month living in this city and fell in love with it. Here are the best things I think you should do in Lima.
1. Centro Historico
The entire historic center of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is littered with beautiful buildings, cultural monuments, and some of the oldest bars and restaurants in the city. This part of the city is incredibly interesting and exciting to explore with so much history all in one spot.
Some of the most beautiful Spanish Colonial-era cathedrals and palaces line the main square with old mansions up and down the side streets. Start off in the Plaza Mayor (main square) and just start wandering! Go for some street food or check out some of the timeless restaurants and saloons in the area. Definitely check out Bar Cordano which is the oldest restaurant/bar in the city.
NOTE: I would not recommend visiting here at night as it can get a little dodgy after dark. Go during the day when there are more people around and when more things are open. If you still feel unsure about it, there are organized tours available as well. Regardless, this is a must do while in Lima!
2. Eat ALL the Local Cuisine
One of the absolute best things about visiting Peru is eating the local Peruvian food. Where is the best place to try it all? Without a doubt, it is Lima. Peruvian food kind of flies under the radar when it comes to popular cuisine around the globe and people really are missing out. There are so many delicious dishes to try and so many incredible restaurants to try them at. Some of the best restaurants in the world are even located in Lima.
Must try dishes include ceviche, lomo saltado, pollo a la brasa, and causa. As far as where to try them, you really can’t go wrong – they will be delicious at almost every restaurant. Of course there are countless other things that you have to try while here and I will have an entire other post covering everything Peruvian food.
3. Miraflores
Miraflores is the most developed and upscale neighborhood in Lima and was where I called home during my time there. Miraflores is actually where most tourists stay when visiting the city and for good reason. This neighborhood is very safe, modern, offers tons of incredible restaurants, and has absolutely beautiful coastal cliffside parks.
The cliffside parks of Miraflores are a fantastic place to go for a stroll and watch the sunset. Some of the best sunsets I have ever seen in my life are from a small bench in Miraflores that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You must experience at least ONE Miraflores sunset while in Lima.
4. Explore Barranco
Barranco is a district of Lima that is located along the coast next to Miraflores district. This trendy area is most well known for its abundance of beautiful street art. The buildings, walls, and streets here are covered in all kinds of fascinating artwork that is very exciting to check out.
The other great thing about this area is that there are LOADS of wonderful restaurants, bars, and cafes here as well. It is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon – start with a nice lunch, wander around to admire the street art, and transition right into happy hour!
5. Peruvian Cooking or Pisco Class
As I’ve mentioned before, Peruvian food is simply spectacular and some of my favorite in the world. Lima is home to so many amazing restaurants where you can eat this food but why not learn how to make some of it!
Learn how to make dishes like Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, and causa – or learn how to mix up delicious pisco cocktails. There are a ton of different classes to choose from: traditional cooking classes, market tour with cooking class, cocktail & cooking class combos, you name it. Check out the long list of options on Tripadvisor.
6. Peruvian Folkloric Dance Show
Maybe not the most typical thing you would do when visiting a new country/city, but nonetheless, this was a very interesting and entertaining show to witness. A great place to catch a show is at the Brisas del Titicaca Cultural Association in central Lima. The shows here last around 3 hours and features traditional music and dances from all different regions of Peru. The other awesome thing about this place is that it is like a dinner theater so you can order traditional Peruvian dishes to snack on while watching the show. It’s really a great experience and I highly recommend it! Tickets range from 49sol to 85sol ($13-$23).
7. Museums
If museums are your thing, Lima has got you covered with a very wide range of options to explore. Everything from art museums, anthropology & history museums, to chocolate museums! You really can learn a lot about a country and its culture by visiting one of its museums. I wouldn’t necessarily say to do this in place of any of the above activities but if you have some extra time then definitely check some out.
8. Try surfing
Surfing was not something that I personally tried while in Lima but I had a lot of friends who did and it’s easy to see that this is very popular here. Of course you can sign up for lessons if needed but there are plenty of places to just rent a board along the beach also. Note that the water here is very very cold so a wet suit is almost certainly needed.
I really hope you enjoy your time in Lima and your time in Peru! It is one of my favorite cities in one of my favorite countries in the world. If you have any questions at all about the best things to do in Lima, please reach out!
Also check out my post about the best places to visit in Peru here.
