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Peru

Lima

Pacific cliffs, layered history and serious food

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: April–June and September–October
Airports: LIM

Lima at a glance

Lima stretches from the Historic Centre to Pacific cliff-top neighbourhoods such as Miraflores and Barranco. Allow for traffic, group sights by district and make meals part of the plan.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitApril–June and September–October

AirportsLIM

Budget travelBudgets depend mainly on accommodation and season, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a quote.

These months are usually more comfortable than high summer, though conditions may still be rainy or hot.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Airport Express Lima

A direct bus to the Miraflores stops; the time depends on traffic

Fare quoted when bookingTransport

Must-see sights

Historic Centre

Plaza de Armas

Monastery of San Francisco

Sights

One-day itinerary

Morning: Walk Lima's Historic Centre — Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Monastery of San Francisco and its catacombs.
Lunch: Eat ceviche and tiradito at a traditional cevichería in Miraflores near Parque Kennedy.
Afternoon: Stroll along the Malecón clifftop promenade in Miraflores, watching paragliders soar over the Pacific.
Evening: Head to Barranco neighbourhood for pisco sours at a bar on the Bridge of Sighs and dinner at a huarique.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

Historic Centre
Centro Histórico
A compact historic core. Combine Plaza de Armas with the Monastery of San Francisco; Miraflores still needs its own half-day.
Best for
Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and San Francisco
Miraflores
The cliff-top neighbourhood of the Malecón and Parque Kennedy. Useful for cevicherías and evening meals; Barranco is a separate outing.
Best for
Cliff-top walks, ceviche and a practical base
Barranco
A neighbourhood of murals, galleries and pisco sours on the Bridge of Sighs. Pair with the Larco Museum rather than rushing the Historic Centre the same morning.
Best for
Murals, the Bridge of Sighs and evening bars
Pueblo Libre
Useful when the Larco Museum is the afternoon plan. Miraflores and the Historic Centre remain separate journeys.
Best for
The Larco Museum and a quieter stay

Approximate budget

Mid-range
Varies by season
per day, per person
Costs vary mainly with accommodation and dining choices.

Airports

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

LIM
Jorge Chávez International Airport
25 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

LIM

Airport Express LimaLIMThe airport's own bus connects the terminal with four stops in Miraflores: Marriott across from Larcomar, the Tourist Information Centre on Av. Larco, Parque Kennedy and Hotel Boulevard. The boarding desk is on level 1 of the airport and online booking is available.
A direct bus to the Miraflores stops; the time depends on traffic
Fare quoted when booking
Details
The airport's own bus connects the terminal with four stops in Miraflores: Marriott across from Larcomar, the Tourist Information Centre on Av. Larco, Parque Kennedy and Hotel Boulevard. The boarding desk is on level 1 of the airport and online booking is available.
AeroDirecto (ATU public bus)LIMA public service run under the ATU transport authority with five routes: Centro, Sur, Norte, Quilca and Ventanilla. The stop is on level 2 of the airport. The service was introduced for the new terminal, so confirm current routes and stops on the ATU website before relying on it.
Allow extra time, including any transfers
Standard public-transport fare
Details
A public service run under the ATU transport authority with five routes: Centro, Sur, Norte, Quilca and Ventanilla. The stop is on level 2 of the airport. The service was introduced for the new terminal, so confirm current routes and stops on the ATU website before relying on it.
Formal airport taxiLIMUse formal taxis from the designated pick-up area and agree the fare before getting in. Taxi access to the airport is through Av. Morales Duárez.
A road journey to Miraflores; the time depends on traffic
Fare agreed before the journey
Details
Use formal taxis from the designated pick-up area and agree the fare before getting in. Taxi access to the airport is through Av. Morales Duárez.

Getting around

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

Metro, bus and tramUse official transport information and validate tickets where required. Group the Historic Centre, Miraflores and Barranco by district; traffic eats time.
Times vary by route and traffic
Local fare
Details
Use official transport information and validate tickets where required. Group the Historic Centre, Miraflores and Barranco by district; traffic eats time.

Places to visit near Lima

Travel times are approximate and depend on traffic and timetables.

Culture
Pachacamac
Distance
Approximately 40 km
Travel time
Approximately 1–2 h
Best transport
taxi or organised tour
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Pachacamac.
Pachacamac is a half- or full-day outing from Lima, best reached by taxi or organised tour.
Culture and history, approximately 40 km away
Half or full day
- History and culture
- Reached by taxi or organised tour
Culture
Callao Monumental
Distance
Approximately 15 km
Travel time
Approximately 45–90 min
Best transport
organised tour or taxi
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Callao Monumental.
Callao Monumental is a half- or full-day outing from Lima, best reached by organised tour or taxi.
Culture and history, approximately 15 km away
Half or full day
- History and culture
- Reached by organised tour or taxi
Culture
Caral
Distance
Approximately 180 km
Travel time
Approximately 3–4 h
Best transport
organised tour
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Caral.
Caral is a half- or full-day outing from Lima, best reached by organised tour.
Culture and history, approximately 180 km away
Half or full day
- History and culture
- Reached by organised tour
Nature
Lunahuaná
Distance
Approximately 180 km
Travel time
Approximately 3–4 h
Best transport
coach or car
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Lunahuaná.
Lunahuaná is a half- or full-day outing from Lima, best reached by coach or car.
Nature and scenery, approximately 180 km away
Half or full day
- Natural scenery
- Reached by coach or car
Nature
Paracas and Ballestas Islands
Distance
Approximately 260 km
Travel time
Approximately 3.5–4.5 h
Best transport
coach or organised tour
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Paracas and Ballestas Islands.
Paracas and Ballestas Islands is a half- or full-day outing from Lima, best reached by coach or organised tour.
Nature and scenery, approximately 260 km away
Half or full day
- Natural scenery
- Reached by coach or organised tour

More ideas

Pachacamac
Pachacamac is another excursion from Lima, reached by taxi or organised tour.
Distance
Approximately 40 km
Travel time
Approximately 1–2 h
Best transport
taxi or organised tour
Callao Monumental
Callao Monumental is another excursion from Lima, reached by organised tour or taxi.
Distance
Approximately 15 km
Travel time
Approximately 45–90 min
Best transport
organised tour or taxi
Caral
Caral is another excursion from Lima, reached by organised tour.
Distance
Approximately 180 km
Travel time
Approximately 3–4 h
Best transport
organised tour

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Lima at a glance

Quick information

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Must-see sights

One-day itinerary

Best areas to stay

Historic Centre

Miraflores

Barranco

Pueblo Libre

Approximate budget