Lima

Where the desert meets the Pacific, and the best gastronomy in the world is enjoyed every day.

Most travelers land in Lima only long enough to catch a connection to Cusco. That is the mistake we correct first. Built on cliffs above the Pacific, Lima holds four thousand years of history inside a single city: pre-Inca adobe pyramids standing between glass towers, a colonial center of carved wooden balconies still ringing with cathedral bells, and a table that has made this the culinary capital of Latin America. Give it two full days before you head for the Andes, and it will change how you understand the rest of the country.

Highlights

Historic Center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988
Pre-Inca huacas standing inside the modern city, among them Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Huallamarca
The Miraflores Malecon, a clifftop boardwalk running the length of the Pacific coast
Barranco, the bohemian district of murals, art galleries and the Bridge of Sighs
A food scene anchored by Peru's global rise in gastronomy, from cevicherias to tasting-menu destinations

Best time to visit

December through April is Lima's summer, warm and mostly clear. May through November brings the 'garua', overcast coastal cloud cover typical of a desert city on a cold current; temperatures stay mild but skies rarely clear. Lima can be visited any month of the year.

Getting there

Jorge Chavez International Airport, Callao. Most international flights from the United States arrive here, and it is the standard starting and ending point for a Peru itinerary.

Hotels in Lima

SOUMA Hotel Lima – The Pacific in view, a few blocks from the Miraflores cliffs.
AC Hotel by Marriott Lima Miraflores – Clean lines above the Pacific cliff.
Fairfield by Marriott Lima Miraflores – A modern Marriott-brand hotel on a quiet inner-Miraflores block, with a rooftop terrace overlooking El Reducto Park.
ibis Budget Lima Miraflores – A practical, economical base in Miraflores, a short walk from Parque Kennedy, Larcomar and the sea.
Pullman Lima Miraflores – A checkerboard facade, ocean views and the Ambra rooftop bar, six minutes from Larcomar.
Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima City – A rooftop sky bar between San Isidro and the sea.
Radisson RED Miraflores – Pop-art murals, a rooftop terrace and a games studio, a ten-minute walk from Parque Kennedy.
INNSiDE by Melia Lima Miraflores – An art gallery, a rooftop terrace and shared bikes, six minutes from Parque Kennedy.
NM Lima Hotel – A 4-star business hotel with a rooftop terrace, a library and free parking in San Isidro's financial district.
The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center – Lima's largest convention center, with Westin's Heavenly Bed and the Heavenly Spa in San Isidro's financial district.
Novotel Lima San Isidro – A renovated Accor hotel next to Camino Real, with a heated pool, spa and Lienzo restaurant, near Parque El Olivar.
Sonesta Hotel El Olivar – A low-rise 134-room hotel facing Lima's historic olive grove, with Peruvian cuisine and a sushi bar.
Delfines Hotel & Convention Center – Golf-course views and 14 event spaces in the heart of San Isidro's financial district.
BTH Hotel - Boutique Concept – A full-service spa, 131 rooms and event spaces for up to 300 guests in Córpac, near the Lima Convention Center.
AKU Hotels – A 36-room design hotel with a rooftop terrace, one minute from Parque El Olivar.
El Golf Hotel Boutique – A boutique hotel with a pool terrace and fireplace lounge on a quiet street in San Isidro.

Tours in Lima

Historic Center of Lima City Tour – Where Lima began, still standing.
Miraflores, San Isidro & Barranco – The coast, the money, and the murals, in one afternoon.
Market Visit & Ceviche Class at La Rosa Nautica – Shop the market, make your own ceviche, then lunch at La Rosa Nautica.
Huaca Pucllana & Larco Museum – A pre-Inca pyramid in the middle of the city, then the gold that came after it.
Full Day Paracas, Ica & Huacachina – Islands, wine, and dunes, all outside Lima in one long day.
Pachacamac Archaeological Sanctuary – An entire pre-Inca pilgrimage city, thirty minutes from Miraflores.
Paragliding Flight over Costa Verde – Ten minutes airborne over Lima's cliffs and the Pacific.
Bike Tour: Costa Verde & Barranco – The coastline by bike, from the Malecon to Barranco.
Callao Islands & Swim with Sea Lions (Catamaran) – Swimming with wild sea lions aboard a catamaran, a half hour from the port of Callao.
Callao Islands & Swim with Sea Lions (Speedboat) – A fast, open speedboat ride from Callao to swim with wild sea lions -- quicker and closer to the water than the catamaran option.
Barranco by Night, Dinner & Folkloric Show – A folkloric dinner show in Barranco, with the Bridge of Sighs lit up after dark.
Lima by Night: Magic Water Circuit – The world's largest fountain complex, lit up after dark.
Peruvian Paso Horse Show with Lunch or Dinner (Surco) – Peru's national horse, dancing the marinera.
Peruvian Paso Horse Show with Lunch or Dinner (Mamacona) – Peru's national horse, dancing the marinera.
Bike Tour: City Route – The same operator, a different side of Lima: streets instead of shoreline.

Restaurants in Lima

Astrid & Gaston – The flagship that put Peru on the world's culinary map.
La Mar Cebicheria – The ceviche the whole trip gets measured against.
Panchita – Grilled anticuchos and criollo classics, no fine-dining formality.
Ache – Peruvian-Japanese fusion from one of Lima's original Nikkei innovators.
El Bolivariano – Sunday buffet institution, and Lima's Best Classic Restaurant of 2025.
El Senorio de Sulco – Peruvian iconography on the walls, and the sea right outside.
La Bistecca Pasta-Grill – A generous pasta-and-grill buffet with live cooking stations in San Isidro.
Madam Tusan – Gaston Acurio elevates the Peruvian-Chinese corner restaurant into a destination.
Fiesta Restaurant Gourmet – Four decades of northern Peruvian cuisine, ranked among Latin America's best.
Ayahuasca Restobar – Pisco cocktails and Peruvian bites inside a restored 19th-century Barranco mansion.
La Rosa Nautica – Dinner on a pier over the Pacific, since 1983.
Mangos Restobar – Larcomar's most popular table, with a sunset ocean view and a menu built for sharing.
La Vista Restaurante – The JW Marriott Lima's restaurant, with a buffet of Peruvian and international dishes and views of the Bay of Miraflores.
Cala Restaurante & Lounge – A beachfront lounge on the Circuito de Playas, best known for its ocean view at golden hour.
El Parque D'Onofrio – A classic Lima ice cream name, with a café and restaurant facing Parque Kennedy.
Tarboush – A highly rated Turkish kitchen facing Parque Kennedy, with kebabs, mezze and falafel.
Mamma Lola – A family-style Italian trattoria near Parque Kennedy, with house-made pasta and a pizza oven since 2000.
Cafe del Museo (Museo Larco) – Lunch inside an 18th-century vice-regal mansion, among the bougainvillea.
Cabos Restaurante del Puerto – Seafood by the port, right in front of the Real Felipe fortress.
Chaxras – A countryside table on the edge of the Pachacamac sanctuary.
Maido – Named the World's Best Restaurant, 2025.
Central Restaurante – #1 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.
Kjolle – Chef Pia Leon's own restaurant, winner of the Art of Hospitality Award 2025.
Cosme Restaurante y Bar – 2025's Highest Climber on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.
La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla – Lima's favorite sanguchería: wood-fired turkey, crackling chicharrón and a fruit bar, facing Parque Kennedy.
Siete Sopas Kennedy – 24-hour Peruvian soups, a local favorite near Parque Kennedy.
Eden Bar Lima – One of Miraflores' most popular bars for a night out, near Parque Kennedy.
La Noche de Barranco – Barranco's classic live-music venue, two floors of concerts most nights.
Al Toke Pez – Featured on Netflix's Street Food: Latin America.
Juanito de Barranco – Barranco's oldest bar, original decor and live bolero music.
Restaurante Javier – A relaxed Barranco restaurant with ocean views, same-day seafood and grill, on Bajada de los Baños.
Isolina Taberna Peruana – Legendary criollo portions, built for sharing.
Titi – Three years running, Lima's top chifa.
Osaka – Peru's Nikkei restaurant with the best atmosphere.
Kasa 2REIS – Lima's best huarique -- the local kind of hidden gem.
El Chinito – The sandwich Lima built a ritual around.
Mayta – Chef Jaime Pesaque's tasting-menu destination, ranked among the world's best.
El Charrua – A wood-fired Uruguayan-style steakhouse, first in Summum's 2026 grill list.
Le Coq – Lima's top pick for world cuisines, in a French bistro.
Troppo – Lima's top-rated Italian kitchen.
Sapiens – Open-flame cooking, Lima's best in the category.
Primos Chicken Bar – Peru's everyday national dish, Summum's 2025 pick.
Amador Rooftop – Panoramic San Isidro views and a signature cocktail list.
El Pan de la Chola – A relaxed brunch and coffee stop, Summum's top cafe-restaurant.
Sienna Bakery – French-Peruvian pastry, ranked #2 in Summum's 2026 pastry list.
Big Boy Burgers – Lima's top-rated burger spot.
Restaurante Huaca Pucllana – Contemporary Peruvian cooking on a terrace facing a 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid.

Transfers in Lima

Attractions in Lima

Larcomar – An open-air mall built into the cliff face, with the Pacific as its view.
Parque Kennedy (Parque Central de Miraflores) – Miraflores' central square, best known for its resident cats and weekend crafts market.
Malecon de Miraflores – The clifftop boardwalk that runs the length of Miraflores, with the Pacific below.
Parque del Amor (Love Park) – A clifftop park built around a giant sculpture of an embracing couple, facing the sunset.
Parque El Olivar – A centuries-old olive grove turned public park, in the middle of Lima's financial district.
Premios Summum: Peru's Top Restaurant Awards – Peru's restaurant awards, with the 2026 winners and finalists by category.
Plaza Mayor and Cathedral of Lima – The square where Lima began: the Cathedral, the Government Palace and carved wooden balconies around a bronze fountain.
Larco Museum – Thousands of years of ancient Peru in a whitewashed vice-regal mansion with bougainvillea gardens.
Pachacamac – The great oracle and pilgrimage site of the Peruvian coast, with adobe pyramids and a Pacific view.
Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) – Barranco's romantic wooden footbridge, the gateway to the district's cafes, street art and sea views.

Festivals in Lima

Senor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) – Lima turns purple for the world's largest Catholic procession
Fiestas Patrias (Peru Independence Day) – Peru's biggest national holiday, with parades, fireworks, and free events across Lima
Mistura – Peru's food festival that put regional cuisine on the world stage, and how to plan around its 2026 edition.
Peru Mucho Gusto (Lima edition) – Peru's state-backed gastronomic fair showcasing all 25 regions in one place
The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards – For the first time in South America, Lima hosts The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards on November 4, 2026.