Whilst Machu Picchu remains the reason why many people choose to come to Peru, it is in fact Lima that is one of the best places to visit in Peru, with many top-rated things to see and do here. In this article, we’ll cover 6 of the very best things to do in Lima, and why each is simply unmissable when travelling here. We’ve also looked at some of our best tips, including what to eat and when is the best time to visit Lima.
This is a guest post by Dan and George from Backpacking Latin America
Why Visit Lima?
Lima is one of the most popular cities to visit in Peru. Bursting with culture, the capital is a must-see for any travel itinerary to this stunning Andean nation. There are plenty of things to do in Lima, which range from exploring trendy neighbourhoods and admiring beautiful sceneries, to visiting one of the most comprehensive Incan artefact museums in South America.

The Best Time to Visit Lima
The summer season is often the most popular time to visit, which runs from November until April. This time of year has warmer temperatures, with daily averages of between 68-75°F. February is usually the hottest month of the year with an average of 75°F, and highs of up to 81°F.
Visiting during the winter season is also good as it’s less touristy and will mean more affordable accommodation prices. Temperatures are cooler with a daily average of between 63-68°F, which whilst fine during the day, tends to get quite chilly heading into the night. August on record is the coolest month, with a daily average of 63°F and lows of 59°F.
Regardless of the time of year you visit, precipitation is very rare and will probably not affect your plans here. There’s virtually none during the summer, and in winter only August (4 Days) and September (5 Days) tend to get any rainfall at all!
That said, if you are planning to visit other places in Peru then bear in mind that places like the Amazon and Cusco have different climates from Lima, so you will need to adjust your Peru itinerary to suit every destination you want to visit. The best compromise is probably to visit Peru in the shoulder season, around October and November for a combination of good weather throughout the country, and decent prices!

Want More Peru Travel Ideas?
Check out these blog posts for your Peru vacation inspiration, or click here to read all my Peru blog posts.The Best Things to do in Lima
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the very best things to do in Lima, as well as give our best tips from our experience in the city to get the most out of a trip to the dynamic capital of Peru. Here’s our pick for the best things to do in Lima Peru!
Hit the Beach Along the Costa Verde
This beautiful stretch of coastline wraps around Lima from Callao in the north down to Chorrillos and further south. The most notable gems to see here are the prominent cliffs that hang over the coast in Miraflores. If you head south from Parque Kennedy (about a 10-minute walk) you’ll reach the long malecón and the impressive views from above the hills.
If you are backpacking Peru then getting to the ocean should be somewhere on your list. There are over 20 beaches along Costa Verde, making it one of the busiest stretches of beach in Peru. Los Yuyos beach in Barranco has calm waters, making it a good place to swim and for those learning to surf. La Herradura beach is located a little further south in Chorrilos, and has some of the best sea views.
For those who love adventure sports, here you can take part in a Paragliding tour where you’ll get a stunning birds-eye view of Lima and its coastline. These are pretty frequent and if walking along the malecón you’ll notice several paragliders flying overhead.
Another popular activity to do in the Costa Verde is surfing, with the endless rolls of waves making it a great way to spend the day. Of course, since it’s the Pacific the water will be a bit chilly; but just chuck on a wetsuit and you’ll be good to go!

The Covent and Catacombs of San Francisco
This church and its catacombs are one of the best experiences you can have in the capital. If you love dark tourism, then read on to learn about the creepy catacombs which sit beneath the church, which have a chilling yet fascinating past.
The San Francisco Church is one of the most beautiful architectural gems you can visit in Lima, with its Baroque style architecture and elaborate display of paintings located throughout the church. One of the most impressive features is its library, which with over 25,000 books (which range from history and literature to theology) is one of the most complete in the World.
Located underneath the San Francisco church are the catacombs. This maze of tunnels and passages is the second largest in the world, only to that of the catacombs in Paris. It’s estimated that well over 25,000 human remains were buried here, and you can see many skeletons and skulls dotted throughout the complex.
Only two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, this gem is very easy to get to if staying in the Historic Centre of Lima. If you are staying in Miraflores or further south, then you arrive by catching a colectivo to the city centre and then walking the rest of the way.

Barranco
This bohemian district is arguably the most popular for a stay in Lima. Known for its romantic plazas and boardwalks, Barranco is one of the best spots for taking photos.
Some of the best areas to bring your camera include the Municipal Park, the Bridge of Sighs, and The Mirador that you’ll find at the end of the bridge. In fact, all three of these are located neatly close to each other, so can all be visited relatively quickly and easily.
Barranco is also a great place to see street art. Head along the Avenida Pedro de Osma as well as to Jirón 2 de Mayo to see some cool graffiti and artwork.
For those who love sandy beaches, then you’ll want to head to this district as it’s the only place where you can find one in the city. There are lots of restaurants and vendors on the beach selling fresh fish.
If flying into Lima, Barranco is around an hour south of the airport. Whilst you can take a taxi, these can be very expensive costing around $30-40. Just outside the airport, you can find the local colectivos, which whilst take longer, will only cost $1-2 for the trip.

Museo Larco
Founded in 1926, this ancient history museum has the most comprehensive collection of ancient Peruvian art and findings in the World. In our opinion, it’s the best museum to visit in Lima, and an absolute must for history buffs.
This museum is great as it is structured so you can travel through 5000 years of Peru’s ancient history, and see its development chronologically. Among the collection are some of the finest pre-Columbian pieces made from gold and silver, as well as a Human Sacrifice Room, which includes many objects that were presented during sacrifices.
Museo Larco is also well-known for its Erotic Art Gallery, which displays one of the most comprehensive collections of sexual representations of Ancient Peru. Many of the artefacts and scenes depict gods and an eye-opening look into how sexuality was viewed during these times.
Another great addition that is open for viewing is its storage room. Here you can find over 45,000 findings and pieces which you can get up and close with.
Museo Larco is located in the Pueblo Libre district, and can easily be reached by using public buses from Miraflores. The entry price to the museum is 35 soles per adult.

La Plaza de Armas
The heart of the historical center, Lima’s Plaza de Armas is one of the busiest and most popular areas to visit in the capital.
Every city in Peru has a Plaza de Armas, which is a square usually with a fountain and perfectly shaped gardens, as well as many important government and historical buildings dotted around. It’s one of the best places to take a stroll and watch life in Peru move around you.
The Plaza de Armas is also full of impressive colonial architecture, making it one of the best photo ops areas in the capital. Here you can see the Government Palace, which sits at the north end of the plaza. Built in 1535, it serves as the home for the current president, and although it’s difficult to arrange a visit inside, it’s great to watch the guards change at around midday.
Some of the other buildings you’ll be able to glimpse at include the Cathedral of Lima, Municipal Palace, Casa del Oidor, and the Archbishop’s Palace of Lima.

Morro Solar
With a height of 251m, this hill rises up over the rest of Lima and has some incredible views of the capital and its bay.
Located in the southern province of Chorrillos, you can first get here by taking a taxi to the bottom of the hill. Although you can drive up, we recommend waking as you’ll see many monuments and statues along the way that details a previous war and other important dates.
One of the best things to see here is the giant cross, which is visible from as far as Miraflores where it illuminates at night-time. There are also other religious monuments that include the shrine of the Virgin Mary.
As well as this, there are war memorial statues that commemorate the battle that took place here where Peruvians fended off an attack from Chile.
Here you can find a statue of Miguel Iglesias who is considered the national hero of Peru, as well as the status of the Unknown Soldier, which stands 22 metres tall, depicting a Peruvian soldier holding the national flag.
Another interesting thing to see here is the Museo Planetario y Observatorio. The first astronomical observation center was built in Peru, here you can see into the skies with its modern digital projection system, as well as visit the museum which holds many archaeological artefacts as well as marine fossils.

Enjoy the Food in Lima
When heading to the capital, we first recommend trying out all the spectacular Peruvian foods that are on offer here! Known to many as the upcoming culinary capital of the world, Peru has lots of great dishes to try such as Lomo Saltado, Papa a la Huancaina as well as of course the legendary Ceviche.
Whenever we’re in Lima we always head to Calle de los Pinos in Miraflores. There are three local restaurants here that serve these dishes and more, all for a very affordable price (we’re talking two large and filling dishes for $3 USD!).
To get this great rate, you’ll want to ask for the Menu Ejecutivo, which is served both in the afternoon and evening, although the afternoon tends to have more options.

And that’s all for our guide for visiting Lima! We hope you’ll enjoy your time in Peru and in the fabulous city of Lima. Let us know how you get on!
About the Authors
Dan and George are two seasoned backpackers with extensive knowledge of Latin America who write no-nonsense backpacking guides on Backpacking Latin America for people looking to travel deeper when exploring Central and South America. You can also find them on Instagram.