The Best Tourist Spots in Lima You Need to See
Miraflores, Barranco, the Historic Center and more — a tour through the places that make Lima far more than a layover before Cusco or Paracas.
Lima usually gets treated as a simple layover before Cusco, Paracas, or the jungle — a mistake, because Peru's capital has enough on its own to fill several days. Here's a guide to the places actually worth your time.
Miraflores
The district where most visitors stay: coastal, walkable, with the city's largest concentration of hotels and restaurants. The Malecón boardwalk runs for several kilometers along the cliffs, connecting Parque del Amor, Parque Salazar, and Larcomar, the shopping complex built directly into the cliffside. It also doubles as the most convenient home base for the rest of the city. Full Miraflores guide →
Barranco
10-15 minutes from Miraflores, Barranco is Lima's bohemian, artsy district — mural-covered streets, galleries, the iconic Bridge of Sighs, and the city's best nightlife. Easy to cover in an afternoon combined with Miraflores. The full Barranco route →
Historic Center
25-35 minutes from Miraflores, Lima's Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the San Francisco Convent with its colonial catacombs. Best visited in the morning, before the heat picks up.
Huaca Pucllana
A pre-Inca adobe pyramid right in the middle of Miraflores, over 1,500 years old, surrounded by modern buildings — one of the city's most photographed contrasts. It offers guided tours by day and lights up the ruin at night, with its own on-site restaurant overlooking the site.
Parque del Amor and the Magic Water Circuit
Parque del Amor, right on the Miraflores boardwalk, is a classic sunset viewpoint. The Magic Water Circuit, in Parque de la Reserva, is the largest fountain complex in the world — a different kind of evening plan, with light and water shows.
Pachacámac
About 40 minutes south of Miraflores, the Pachacámac archaeological sanctuary was one of the most important religious centers of pre-Hispanic Peru — adobe pyramids, an on-site museum, and far fewer crowds than the Historic Center.
Each of these places is a short drive from Miraflores — the easiest way to string them together without fighting traffic or working out routes yourself is with a private driver who already knows the city and can adjust the itinerary on the fly.
