Lima Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget mealPEN 15.00≈ $4.42
- Mid-range mealPEN 50.00≈ $14.72
- CappuccinoPEN 8.00≈ $2.36
- Domestic beerPEN 12.00≈ $3.53
- Taxi (per km)PEN 2.00≈ $0.59
- Public transport ticketPEN 2.50≈ $0.74
- Museum entryPEN 35.00≈ $10.31
- Mid-range hotel (night)PEN 350.00≈ $103.06
Food & Drink
- CentralContemporary Peruvian · $$$$
Virgilio Martínez's restaurant built around Peru's ecosystems by altitude, consistently ranked among the world's best.
- MaidoNikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) · $$$$
Mitsuharu Tsumura's Nikkei restaurant blending Japanese and Peruvian techniques, famous for its multi-course tasting menu.
- La Mar CebicheriaSeafood/Peruvian · $$$
Gastón Acurio's high-energy cevicheria in Miraflores, known for its classic ceviche and tiraditos at communal bar seating.
- El MercadoSeafood/Peruvian · $$$
Rafael Osterling's seafood restaurant built around a lively market-style setting, known for its causas and rice dishes.
- PanchitaPeruvian · $$$
Gastón Acurio's anticuchería focused on Peruvian grilled classics like anticuchos and pork belly.
- Isolina Taberna PeruanaCriollo Peruvian · $$$
Restaurant in Barranco reviving old-school criollo home cooking with generous shared plates.
- AmazAmazonian Peruvian · $$$
Restaurant showcasing Amazonian ingredients rarely seen elsewhere in Lima, from jungle fish to native fruits.
- Ayahuasca
Cocktail bar and lounge in a restored Barranco mansion, one of the neighborhood's most photographed nightlife spots.
- Santos Bar
Long-running bar in Barranco near the Puente de los Suspiros, popular with a young crowd for drinks and live DJs.
Culture & History
- Museo Larco
Museum in an 18th-century vice-royal building famous for its pre-Columbian ceramics and its dedicated erotic pottery gallery.
- Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI)
The city's main fine arts museum, spanning 3,000 years of Peruvian art from pre-Columbian to contemporary.
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest state museum, holding key pieces documenting the country's pre-Inca and Inca civilizations.
- Huaca Pucllana
Adobe and clay pyramid ruin from the Lima culture (c. 500 AD) standing in the middle of the Miraflores district, with an on-site restaurant overlooking the ruins.
- Cineplanet Alcazar
Popular multiplex cinema in Miraflores near Parque Kennedy showing current releases.
- Fiestas Patrias (Peruvian Independence Day)
National Independence Day celebrations with parades, fireworks, and flag displays across the city.
- Verano en Barranco
Summer cultural program in the bohemian Barranco district with outdoor concerts, art walks, and film screenings.
Nature & Outdoors
- Playa Waikiki
Miraflores surf beach below the malecón, popular with longboard surfers and one of Lima's most consistent breaks.
- Playas de Asia
String of upscale beach resorts and clubs south of Lima, a popular summer weekend escape for residents.
Active & Fun
- Bodytech San Isidro
Large gym chain location in the financial district with full equipment and classes.