Lima is a vast coastal capital, and it rewards a little planning. Most visitors base themselves in Miraflores or Barranco, which are safe, walkable and full of restaurants, and make short trips to the historic centre, the museums and the sites on the edge of the city. Here is how to organise a first visit.
How many days
Three days is a comfortable minimum. Spend one in Miraflores and Barranco, with the cliff-top Malecón, the Parque del Amor and an evening at the Bridge of Sighs. Spend a second on culture, combining the Historic Centre and the San Francisco catacombs with the Larco Museum. Use a third for a food tour or cooking class, plus Huaca Pucllana. Add a fourth day for Pachacamac, or a long day for the Paracas and Ballestas Islands trip. If you are flying on to Cusco, a night or two in Lima before or after is easy to fit in.
What to book ahead
Food experiences and day trips are the ones to reserve. The gourmet food tour and the Peruvian cooking class run on fixed morning start times with small groups, and the cooking class is listed as non-refundable, so book only when your dates are firm. The Paracas day trip is a very early start, with a 5:30 am pickup and a late return, so reserve it for a day when you have nothing else planned. The catacombs are sold as a guided walking tour, and a skip-the-line ticket for the Larco Museum saves queuing. Walking the Malecón, Barranco and the Plaza Mayor needs no booking.
Getting around
In Miraflores and Barranco, walk or cycle the cliff-top paths. For everything else, use licensed taxis or ride apps, which are inexpensive by international standards and the simplest option after dark. The Metropolitano bus serves Barranco, but taxis are usually easier for visitors. Traffic is heavy at peak hours, so allow extra time for the airport, which is a long drive from the seaside districts. Many tours include hotel pickup from Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, which saves time.
Where the headline sights fit
The historic centre and the San Francisco convent form one half-day outing, best in the morning. The Larco Museum is in Pueblo Libre, a short taxi ride from either district, and works well after the centre or on a separate afternoon. Huaca Pucllana is in the middle of Miraflores and can be combined with a food tour, and note that it is closed on Tuesdays according to the Viator listing. Pachacamac and Paracas are the two excursions that take you out of the city, and both are easiest on a tour with hotel pickup. Pachacamac is a half-day trip, while Paracas takes the whole day, so do not schedule anything else around it.
Weather and seasons
Lima is a desert city with a cool, grey winter, roughly June to October, when a coastal mist called the garua hides the sun. Summer, from December to March, is warmer and sunnier, which is best for the beach and the Malecón. Bring a light jacket in any season because the sea breeze can feel chilly in the evening.
Staying safe
Miraflores and Barranco are the most comfortable districts for visitors, but take normal precautions. Keep phones and cameras out of sight, avoid quiet streets late at night, use licensed taxis, and be especially careful with bags in the busy historic centre.
A sample plan
Day one: Miraflores Malecón, Parque del Amor and dinner in Barranco. Day two: the Historic Centre, the catacombs and the Larco Museum. Day three: the food tour or cooking class and Huaca Pucllana. Day four: Pachacamac or the Paracas trip. See our where to stay guide for hotels across Miraflores and Barranco.
