Lima defies pretty much every idea you might have about a tropical capital. Nearly 10 million people live here in one of the driest deserts on the planet. It basically doesn’t rain, but thanks to high humidity—around 85% most of the year—and a thick marine fog called la garúa, the city often feels damp. Despite being in the tropics, Lima only gets around 1,230 hours of sunshine a year, which is far less than cities at similar latitudes that get more than 4,000 hours.
You’ll see black vultures circling overhead—they’re not just part of the landscape. Some have even been outfitted with GoPro cameras to help track illegal waste dumping. Beyond the climate quirks, Lima is known for its food and history. Here’s a round up of the very best things to do in Lima.
The Larco Museum is genuinely worth setting aside a few hours for. Housed in a grand old mansion with quiet gardens, it holds a massive collection of pre-Columbian art—ceramics, gold, textiles, and more—some of it going back thousands of years.
What’s nice is how clearly everything’s laid out. Even if you don’t know much about ancient Peru, it’s easy to follow the timeline and understand how different cultures shaped the region.
There’s also a well-known gallery dedicated to erotic Moche pottery, which kids tend to find hilarious and adults often find fascinating. After you’ve wandered through the exhibits, the garden café is a good place to sit for a bit—especially if the flowers are in bloom.
Plaza Mayor is the oldest part of Lima and still feels like the center of things. It’s where the city was officially founded back in the 1500s, and the square is surrounded by some of the most important colonial-era buildings: the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace.
It’s a big open square with palm trees, a bronze fountain, and a mix of people passing through—locals, tourists, street performers, and vendors selling snacks or crafts. If you're there around noon, you can catch the changing of the guard at the palace, which draws a small crowd most days.
Visiting Huaca Pucllana at night is one of the best things to do in Lima. This 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid, built by the Lima Culture between 200 and 700 CE, sits right in the middle of Miraflores, surrounded by high-rises and city lights.
After dark, the site is lit in a way that highlights the textures and shape of the ruins. Guided evening tours explain the site's significance, including its ceremonial use and the human sacrifices that once took place here.
If your days are packed, this is an easy add-on in the evening. It’s quieter than the daytime visits, and the lighting really changes how you experience the space. There’s also a restaurant next to the ruins where you can sit outside and have a meal while looking directly at the pyramid. If you're not sure how to fit all of these great activities into one trip, be sure to see our guide to how many days you need in Lima.
The Gran Hotel Bolivar is where to go in Lima to get a drink — it’s a little window into Lima’s past. Right on Plaza San Martín, this hotel has been around since the 1920s and still carries that early 20th-century feel, with heavy wood furniture, stained glass celings, and a bar that’s seen a lot over the decades.
Bar Inglés, tucked inside, is where the “Catedral” was born — a big version of the classic Pisco Sour. They still make it the traditional way, and the bartenders know what they’re doing.
It’s a great choice if you want to experience a piece of Lima history without needing a full tour. You can stop in before heading out to explore the historic center. To learn more about hotels of the country, see our guide to where to stay in Peru.
Barranco’s Puente de los Suspiros isn’t a long walk, but it’s full of character. Built in 1876, this small wooden bridge stretches across a ravine that leads out to the sea. Local tradition says if you can hold your breath while crossing it for the first time, your wish will come true.
It’s a nice little walk, especially in the evening when the bridge and nearby buildings are lit up. There are usually musicians around and people hanging out on the steps or chatting near the cafés.
It’s not far from the main square, so you can easily combine it with dinner or drinks in the neighborhood. The area around the bridge has small restaurants, bars, and galleries, and it’s easy to spend a couple of hours wandering around.
If you're after more serious walks, be sure to see our guide to the best hikes in Peru.
The Monastery of San Francisco is one of Lima’s most iconic colonial-era buildings. Built in the late 18th century, its yellow façade stands out in the historic center. Inside, there’s an old library stacked with rare religious texts and paintings, including a Peruvian take on the Last Supper—with guinea pig on the plate.
The most talked-about part, though, is beneath the church. The catacombs were rediscovered in the 1940s and contain the bones of around 25,000 people. They’re arranged in geometric patterns, which is unsettling but also fascinating.
Guided tours are available in several languages. It’s one of the best things to do in Lima for anyone into history, architecture, or the more macabre side of city heritage. That said, the tight underground spaces aren’t ideal for anyone with claustrophobia or young kids.
A Peña Criolla is a good way to experience Peru’s traditional coastal music in a relaxed setting. These shows focus on música criolla, which blends African, Indigenous, and European influences. They’re usually held in small venues where local musicians and dancers perform up close.
The music is lively, with percussion, guitars, and strong vocals. Dancers in traditional outfits often perform the marinera or festejo, and the energy in the room tends to be infectious—there’s usually some clapping or crowd participation.
Food and drinks are usually part of the night, with pisco-based cocktails and regional dishes on the menu. It’s a fun, interactive experience that doesn’t require you to understand the language—the music does most of the talking. Shows are generally family-friendly, though they can go late into the evening.
If you’ve got a free morning or afternoon, a boat ride to the Palomino Islands is a nice break from the city. Boats leave from the port of Callao and take you out to a rocky island chain where sea lions, penguins, and seabirds live undisturbed.
The highlight for many is swimming near the sea lions. You’ll wear a wetsuit—since the Humboldt Current keeps the water chilly—and jump in while these curious animals dart around you. It’s completely optional though, and there’s plenty to see even if you stay on the boat.
The whole trip usually takes about 2 to 3 hours. This is one of the best things to do in Lima to see the local nature or if you’re traveling with older kids.
Lima’s street food is a big part of daily life—quick, flavorful, and tied to tradition. You’ll find small carts and market stalls serving things like anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers), picarones (fried sweet potato donuts with syrup), and butifarra sandwiches layered with ham and salsa criolla. If you're near the coast, fresh ceviche isn’t hard to come by either.
Surquillo Market and the coastal neighborhood of Chorrillos are two areas where you’ll find a wide range of street food in one place, without breaking the bank.
If you’ve walked the Miraflores cliffs and thought, “I wonder what this looks like from above,” you can actually find out. Tandem paragliding here gives you a bird’s-eye view of Lima’s coastline—green parks, cliffs, the ocean, and high-rises all in one sweeping glide. It’s a short flight, usually 10–15 minutes depending on the wind, and you don’t need experience since a professional pilot does the flying.
It’s a good pick if you’re up for something a little different but not too extreme. Sunset is especially nice—everything below turns gold. As long as you’re okay with heights and don’t have any health restrictions, it’s pretty doable, even for older travelers or teens. It's one of the best things to do in Peru.
Surquillo Market isn’t fancy, but that’s the point. This is a place where people come to shop, eat, and stock up for the week. You’ll see piles of fruits you might not have ever tasted, huge bundles of herbs, fresh seafood, and chili pastes in every shade of red.
Chefs shop here for a reason—it’s all fresh, and there’s a lot you won’t find in more tourist-friendly markets. You can try fruits like lucuma or chirimoya, and there’s usually someone making ceviche right there on the spot.
It’s worth going early in the day when things are at their liveliest. If you’re curious, the vendors are usually happy to chat, especially if you ask about their ingredients. Even if you’re not a foodie, it’s a great way to see what everyday Lima looks like beyond the restaurants.
Lima’s Barrio Chino is a small neighborhood right behind the Central Market, and it’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
It started with Chinese immigration in the mid-1800s and grew into a compact area that still holds onto that heritage. Walk through the red arch on Calle Capón and you’ll find a dense mix of shops, herbal medicine stands, Chinese temples, and small restaurants packed with locals.
This is where chifa—Chinese-Peruvian food—got its start. You’ll see dishes like lomo saltado and arroz chaufa on just about every menu, and this is a good place to try them.
The neighborhood is especially lively around lunchtime, and even more so during the Lunar New Year, when there are performances and fireworks. It’s a short walk, but an interesting one.
About 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Lima, Pachacamac is an easy day trip if you’re curious about pre-Inca history. The site was a major ceremonial center for over a thousand years, used by several different cultures, including the Lima, Wari, Ychma, and eventually the Inca. It’s a big, open complex in the desert.
Some of the main structures include the Temple of the Sun and the Painted Temple, and archaeologists recently uncovered a large cemetery that adds more context to how this place was used. There’s a small museum near the entrance with ceramics and textiles that help round out the visit.
Go early if you can—it gets hot—and bring water and comfortable shoes. It’s quiet and open, and makes for a good contrast to the pace of the city. This is easily one of the best things to do in Lima if you’re willing to explore outside the city lines.
During the day, Parque Kennedy is a green patch in the middle of Miraflores, known mostly for the colony of cats that live there. But in the evening, the park shifts. It becomes more of a gathering place—with artists showing their work, musicians playing live sets, and food vendors setting up around the edges.
It’s casual, but there’s a lot going on. You can grab a snack like anticuchos or picarones, listen to some music, and wander through the crowd. The surrounding streets are full of cafés and restaurants, so it’s a good place to start or end your night.
It’s centrally located and easy to get to, especially if you’re staying in Miraflores. If you’re looking for something that gives you a feel for everyday life in Lima, it’s worth stopping by. If you want to take a trip from Lima to more remote nature, see our guide to Peru's national parks.
The Museum of Art of Lima (MALI) is a good place to get a sense of Peru’s long and varied history through art.
It’s set inside a 19th-century building that used to host major exhibitions, and now houses thousands of pieces—everything from pre-Columbian ceramics and textiles to colonial paintings and more recent works by artists like Fernando de Szyszlo and Tilsa Tsuchiya.
The layout is easy to follow, and most displays include explanations in both Spanish and English. If you're someone who likes to move through a museum at your own pace, this one’s manageable without being overwhelming.
There’s a courtyard where you can sit and take a break, and the rotating exhibits can be worth checking out too. Families with kids tend to appreciate the interactive spaces (see our guide to Peru with kids).
Agua Dulce is the kind of beach where locals go to hang out. On summer weekends, it fills up with families, food vendors, and music. There’s a lot going on—ceviche, skewers of anticucho, sweet fried picarones—and people bring umbrellas, chairs, even speakers. It’s very much a social scene.
Right next to it, Playa Los Pavos has a different energy. It's known for its surf, and you’ll usually see people out in the water with boards. If you’re curious about trying it, you can usually find someone giving lessons nearby. Both beaches are easy to reach, and if you go during the week, things tend to be quieter. If you want to travel further, be sure to see our guide to the best beaches in Peru.
Casa Aliaga is one of those places that doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you're inside, it’s a different story. The house has been in the same family since the 1500s—passed down through nearly 30 generations—and it’s still lived in today. It’s located just off the main square, so it’s easy to visit if you’re already in the historic center.
A guided tour takes you through the rooms, which are filled with family portraits, carved ceilings, antique furniture, and a courtyard with tiled floors. You’ll hear stories about how the house has changed over time, from colonial days through Peru’s republican period and beyond. It feels more personal than a typical museum, and you get a sense of how the city’s elite once lived—and how some still do.
Sonia Cevicheria, Lima
Barranco is Lima’s artsy, laid-back district—and one of the best places to go out for dinner if you want good food with some character. It’s a neighborhood full of old colonial buildings and ocean views, and it really comes alive in the evening. You’ll find everything here from no-frills cevicherías run by local families to creative kitchens experimenting with Nikkei and Amazonian ingredients.
The vibe is casual but stylish. Some places have live music or small art installations, and it’s not uncommon to young people llingering over drinks or dancing between courses. It’s a good pick whether you’re out with friends, on a date, or just hungry after exploring the city.
Between dinner and dessert, you can walk across the Puente de los Suspiros or pop into a gallery or two—many of them stay open late.
written by
Dre Roelandt
updated 26.05.2025
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