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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Alex Robinson

Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro – audacious conqueror of the Inca Empire – Lima was the capital of most of Spanish South America for nearly 300 years. The affairs of an empire were once managed from its narrow, low-slung streets, but today the city’s colonial heart is choked with traffic and soot.  

However, to understand Peruvian history, this 500-year-old grid is a must-see, housing extravagant baroque churches, historic buildings, the presidential palace and the cathedral. Elsewhere, there are fascinating museums dedicated to Peru’s history.

What to see and do

Don’t miss the cathedral where Pizarro is buried, San Francisco church with its bone-filled catacombs, the filigree-carved balconies of Torre Tagle mansion and the opulent, rococo archbishop’s palace.

The best museums sit in the colonial centre. They include MALI, a Lima Art gallery, with 7,000 pre-Columbian and Spanish pieces, all housed in a beautiful art nouveau building set in gardens. The Gold Museum has glittering artifacts from the country’s principal ancient civilisations.

After sightseeing, be sure to experience Lima’s world-class dining scene. The city has some of the finest restaurants in the world, serving up a virtuoso fusion of unique national ingredients with Asian and European techniques. You’ll need to book ahead for the best restaurants.

Gold Museum

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

A golden sculpture of a face, with gemstones

One of the world’s largest collections of pre-Colombian Peruvian gold, more than 7,000 artefacts, includes items from Inca, Sican and Moche culture. The museum also houses an extensive collection of weapons from around the world, dating back to the 13th century. Open daily.

Adult price: £6

Best for ages 13+

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Larco Museum

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

The exterior of the museum, with red-leaved plants and a Peruvian flag

The city’s most prestigious and encyclopedic art museum, with a vast permanent collection spanning three millennia of Peruvian art.

Adult price: £7

Best for ages 18+

Lima Cathedral

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

The exterior of the Roman Catholic style cathedral

A temple to Spanish power, this huge, imposing cathedral houses the remains of Pizarro, Conqueror of the Incas.

Adult price: £6

Best for ages 18+

Lima Art Museum

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

Exterior of the museum building

Peru’s national art collection, with over 7,000 pieces dating from pre-Columbian times to the present day, showcased in a stately palace.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 13+

Mercado No1 de Surquillo

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

Customers buying vegetables at the market

Lima’s food market packed with exotic fruit, vegetables and medicinal plants. It’s also a good spot to sample street food – simple ceviche and Butifarra pulled-pork sandwiches.

Best for ages 13+

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Saint Francis Monastery

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

The pastel yellow exterior of the monastery, with birds gathering in front

A UNESCO World Heritage listed Spanish-colonial monastery, dating back to 1674, with striking baroque architecture and bone-filled catacombs. The convent’s library possesses over 25,000 antique texts, including the first-ever Spanish dictionary and a Holy Bible edition from 1572.

Adult price: £3

Best for ages 18+

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Lima’s best food & drink

Lima, Lima Region, Peru

Close up of a ceviche dish

Lima is one of the best places to eat out in the world – with an astonishing restaurant scene and the finest chefs in South America.

Adult price: £35

Best for ages 18+

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: 1 day

Getting there & doing it

The central district is easy enough to explore independently on foot since most of the important sights lie within a few blocks of the main square. The inner suburb museums are easily visited by cab, or you can take an organised day tour that visits all the key sights.

Evening activities are limited since historic buildings (and many restaurants) only operate during the day. Note that some churches also close for a short period after midday mass.

The security situation has improved dramatically in downtown Lima over the last decade but pickpocketing is still a problem, especially in crowded public areas.

When to do it

May to November Lima is blanketed in thick Garua sea mist, when everything looks grey and damp and temperatures can drop to 8°C. Visit November to April when the sun breaks through and temperatures peak at around 30°C.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Private transfers from Lima Airport or to Lima Airport

Lima

Private transfers from Lima Airport or to Lima Airport
Exclusive service, full equipment vehicles for all capacities, professional drivers, security and punctuality, live a comfortable trip.

Price: $14

Rating 4.36 / 5 [125 ratings]

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Lima Airport Arrival Transfer

Lima

Lima Airport Arrival Transfer
Arrive in Lima stress-free and make the most of your time in Peru by pre-booking your arrival airport transfer. Enjoy a smooth and stress-free journey from Lima airport to your hotel, lodging or home. Skip all the long taxi lines and travel from Jorge Chavez International Airport without a worry! This transfer is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Price: $20

Rating 4.61 / 5 [239 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Lima Airport Departure Transfer

Lima

Lima Airport Departure Transfer
Travel from your Lima hotel to Jorge Chavez International Airport worry-free and without a hassle. These shared transfers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Transfer is available from Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco, Downtown, Magdalena, San Miguel, Jesus Maria areas.

Price: $20

Rating 4.61 / 5 [89 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Visits and Tours to the Historic Center Lima and Miraflores

Lima

Visits and Tours to the Historic Center Lima and Miraflores
Lima is a city with a lot of history and a number of tourist attractions. You will enjoy with us this beautiful tour with our bilingual guide and our tourist transport to learn about the fascinating history and culture of the city of kings.

Price: $28

Rating 4.33 / 5 [12 ratings]

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Great Bike Tour in Lima

Lima

Great Bike Tour in Lima
We can customize your trip according on what you would like to see. During these 3 hours we can go to so many places where not many visitor would visit. I can be your personal photographer if you want me to take sick pictures while we are riding.

Price: $31

Rating 4.9 / 5 [20 ratings]

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Transfers from / to Lima airport

Lima

Transfers from / to Lima airport
Family company, Quality with experience for 20 years, new, clean and punctual units, tour guides in English and Italian, bilingual drivers in English, Italian and Portuguese.

Price: $32

Rating 4.78 / 5 [23 ratings]

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Lima City Walking Tour with Pick-up & Drop Off Small Group

Lima

Lima City Walking Tour with Pick-up & Drop Off Small Group
Discover the city of Lima known as the "City of Kings"! We will visit the highlights of the Historic Center of Lima such as the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Lima, the Monastery of San Francisco with its incredible Catacombs and other historical places that make this unique experience full of culture, history and memorable memories. In addition, you should know that our company mission is to support our nonprofit sister organization, Reciprocity NGO. With the profits from our tours, Reciprocity NGO is able to implement social projects that improve the quality of life for the communities living below the poverty line.

Price: $40

Rating 4.92 / 5 [431 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Half-Day Lima City Sightseeing, Cathedral & Santo Domingo Convent

Lima

Half-Day Lima City Sightseeing, Cathedral & Santo Domingo Convent
Enjoy a complete tour of the beautiful cultural town of Lima, also know as the City of Kings. You’ll see classic historical sights, colonial and Inca influenced architecture, residential neighborhoods, beautiful shrines and churches and incredible panoramic seascapes. You'll be able to see Lima through the eyes of a local and feel at home for the rest of your stay in Peru!

Price: $44

Rating 4.28 / 5 [473 ratings]

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Bohemian & Colorful Lima: Barranco and Callao City tour

Lima

Bohemian & Colorful Lima: Barranco and Callao City tour
Start this colorful afternoon from your hotel. First thing to do is drive to “El Callao”. Callao is a place full of art and history; Walk around old streets rejuvenated by colorful murals and urban art. After many pictures visit the “Fugaz” art gallery, where you will find different kinds of art expositions like photography, paintings, sculpture, etc. Continuing with this cultural ride around Lima is time to take the highway next to the Pacific ocean and drive to Barranco. On the way, we can share some stories from Peru and the city or maybe talk about any topic you are interested in. Barranco is one of the most colorful places in Lima and is known as the Bohemian district. Also, this section of the tour includes the visit to Jade Rivera exhibition. He is a muralist whose technique and style are determined by his personal experiences and his perspective of the environment in which he lives. After Barranco, we will take you back to your hotel.

Price: $50

Rating 4.81 / 5 [22 ratings]

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Lima Private Walking Tour

Lima

Lima Private Walking Tour
Enjoy a private walking tour of the city of Lima and see its main landmarks and attractions. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you will discover the best places in the city and learn its historical and cultural background.

Price: $68

Rating 4.90 / 5 [52 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Lima Full-Day Experience: Pachacamac, Historic Downtown and Magic Water Circuit

Lima

Lima Full-Day Experience: Pachacamac, Historic Downtown and Magic Water Circuit
Visit and experience the most important sites and attractions of the city of Lima on a full day tour. Drive through Pantanos de Villa, visit Pachacamac, a Pre-Inca archaeological complex; have lunch in Barranco, the bohemian district of the city. Finally, visit downtown Lima, the Convent of San Francisco with its catacombs and the Magic Water Circuit Park. Your tour includes a professional guide and lunch.

Price: $154

Rating 4.92 / 5 [52 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Highlights of Lima - Private Half Day Tour

Lima

Highlights of Lima - Private Half Day Tour
For the traveler who only has a few hours to spare, this tour, coined "The Perfect Snapshot of Lima" by previous guests, covers it all. Compare and contrast colonial Lima, with the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. Have fun perusing the bohemian seaside town of Barranco. From high above the Pacific Ocean you will look down upon the iconic "Green Coast" as it boasts both contemporary city life with rudimentary shanty towns; you won't believe how much ground we will cover in just five short hours. If you would like to grab some lunch on the go, featuring traditional Peruvian style sandwiches and exotic juices, just let your guide know. It may be that little extra add-in that makes your half day or lay over tour just perfect!

Price: $189

Rating 4.85 / 5 [28 ratings]

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Peru

Peru

Peru

A land of spectacular deserts, high mountains and rainforests that teem with wildlife, Peru is also home to an array of dramatically situated pre-Colombian ruins, including Machu Picchu.