Lima sprawls for miles, so where you sleep shapes your trip. For most visitors the choice is between Miraflores, the polished seaside district with parks, restaurants and ocean views, and Barranco, the artistic neighbourhood a short distance south. Here is how to choose, with the five hotels we feature.
Miraflores for first-timers
If this is your first visit, Miraflores is the easiest base. You can walk to the clifftop Malecón, Parque Kennedy and Larcomar, Huaca Pucllana is close, and most tours pick up from hotels here. The trade-off is that it is busier and more urban than Barranco, with traffic on the main avenues.
Splurge: Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
On the Malecón de la Reserva, it has 87 rooms and suites, a heated rooftop pool, a spa and three dining venues, with rooms overlooking the Pacific. It is the choice for couples and special trips, and it is about a fifteen-minute walk to Barranco. The hotel notes that facade renovations are under way, so ask about works when you book.
Barranco for atmosphere
Barranco is where to stay if you prefer character to convenience. Hotel B is a restored 1914 mansion at Avenida Sáenz Peña 204 with art throughout, a rooftop, a library and a courtyard patio. The Bridge of Sighs, the galleries and the restaurants are on foot, and Miraflores is a short taxi ride. Barranco is livelier at weekends, so request a quiet room if you need one.
Mid-range in Miraflores
Casa Andina Premium Miraflores is a 148-room tower in the centre of the district, with an indoor heated pool, a gym, a sauna and a steam room, and two restaurants. It suits first-time visitors and families who want facilities and predictability. Antigua Miraflores Hotel, on Avenida Grau, is a smaller 65-room alternative with a garden, a rooftop terrace and a free breakfast, about seven minutes on foot from Parque Kennedy. It is the better value if you prefer something quieter and more traditional.
Budget: Pariwana Hostel Lima
On Avenida José Larco in Miraflores, Pariwana offers dorms, pods and private rooms, with a bar and a rooftop terrace. It is a social choice for backpackers and solo travellers, and the staff can help arrange tours. The listing is labelled adults only, so check the policy if you travel with children.
What about the historic centre?
A few travellers choose a base near the Plaza Mayor to be close to the colonial sights, but we recommend Miraflores or Barranco for a first visit because the evening scene, the food and the sense of ease are better, and the centre is a short taxi ride away for a morning outing.
A quick way to choose
Pick Miraflores Park for a luxury stay with ocean views, Hotel B for style and nightlife in Barranco, Casa Andina Premium for facilities in a central position, Antigua Miraflores for value and a free breakfast, and Pariwana for a lively budget bed. Wherever you stay, plan for taxis in the evening, and book your food tour, cooking class and Paracas trip with pickup from your hotel zone.
