Lima is the largest city in Peru and home to their international airport, which means that a majority of Peru’s tourists visit Lima. Some for just a day and some for a full week, but there are plenty of things to do in Lima to keep you entertained. We spent two full days in Lima and managed to explore all of the best neighborhoods and attractions. Don’t skip Peru’s capital city! Or you’ll miss out on these wonderful things to do in Lima.
Food Tour
Time: 2-3 hours | Cost: $60-150
With Lima being a popular destination for foodies, it’s no wonder that food tours have started to pop up. And they are great! What better way to experience a new culture than with some new food? Most food tours include some corn and potatoes, which are popular products grown on Peruvian farms. Additionally, every food tour includes a taste of the ceviche Peru is famous for.
Cooking Class
Time: half-day | Cost: $50-80 USD
With the Peruvian foodie scene attracting food lovers from around the world, cooking classes have become popular in Lima. Cooking classes are one of the top things to do in Lima because they offer a taste of both food and culture. Classes generally teach you how to cook a few Peruvian dishes, possibly even a potato dish with one of the many Peruvian potato varietals and possibly even a Peruvian pisco drink.
Huaca Pucllana
Time: 1-2 hours | Cost: $5/person
You can’t visit Lima without a trip to Huaca Pucllana. It was one of our favorite things to do in Lima! Huaca Pucllana is a set of ancient ruins that sits in the middle of Lima. And while Machu Picchu gets all the attention, Huaca Pucllana is actually a pre-Incan city created by the Lima people. It was unearthed just a few decades ago after it had been used as a dump for years.
Today, there is a museum on the property that provides tours. You can take daytime or nighttime tours but you must visit with a guided tour. They are offered every hour and last an hour but it was hard to figure out when the English vs. the Spanish tours were, so you may have to wait a bit for your language. It was just wild to me that at any point in the tour you can see both an ancient pyramid and high rises. Also, the tours here were really top notch. They taught us a lot about Peruvian history that I was completely unaware of and that other tours we went on did not explain as well.
Miraflores Tour
Time: 2 hours | Cost: $30-40/person
Strolling or biking through the Miraflores district is a popular activity in Lima. This neighborhood is very active with lots of outdoor spaces. Renting bikes or wandering the streets is a popular way to explore the neighborhood.
Swim With Sea Lions
Time: Full day | Cost: $125/person
Swim with sea lions on a boat ride to the Palomino Islands. Just off the coast of Lima, there are rocky islands with heaps of sea birds that make them home. The shores of these islands team with sea lions. You can take a boat out to the islands and even jump into the water with the sea lions.
Take a Surfing Lesson
Time: 2 hours | Cost: $30/person
Surfing is a popular sport in Lima, specifically near the Miraflores area in the morning. We stayed in that area and it was common to see barefoot people in wetsuit heading out to the beach each morning. However, if you’re not a pro surfer, you still can learn the sport here. With some consistent waves, it’s great for beginners, surf schools operate regularly off the coast of Lima. It’s a great place to try out a new sport!
Barranco Tour
Time: 2 hours | Cost: $25
Barranco is the artsy bohemian neighborhood in Lima. Popular with tourists and expats, this neighborhood is famous for the street art that seems to be on every block. Additionally, this neighborhood is home to several museums, like the contemporary art museum, so it is a popular thing to do in Lima for people with more than a day to visit. Additionally, make sure your tour crosses the bridge of sighs where it is said that wishes will come true if you can hold your breath as you cross the bridge.
Historic Center Tour
Time: 3 hours | Cost: $25/person
Lima’s historic city center is beautifully renovated and a great stop for tourists. With a mix of governmental buildings and tourist attractions, the area is dripping in Spanish style architecture. You can wander the streets yourself or take a guided tour of the area.
Paragliding
Time: 2 hours | Cost: $60/person
The cliffs of Lima are perfect for paragliding. High above the sea with consistent winds, Lima is the perfect spot to try the sport of paragliding. It’s very common to see paragliders jumping from the cliffs along the shore throughout the day. There are several companies that offer lessons or tandem jumps.
Changing of the Guards
Time: 30 minutes | Cost: FREE
The Presidential Palace in the central square in Lima has a daily changing of the guards – just like London. Every day at noon, you can see the military ceremony, complete with band, rifle tossing and plenty of pomp and circumstance. Be at the Plaza de Armas a bit before noon to get a good spot in front of the gate and enjoy this impressive show.
Stroll Through Parks
Time: 30 minutes each | Cost: FREE
Lima has some amazing green spaces. From tree lined boulevards to sprawling parks, Lima seems to be a very outdoorsy city. We were constantly seeing people jogging, walking dogs or meeting up in parks. One of the best parks to visit is the Parque Kennedy. This park is dubbed Cat Park. It’s a super active park with markets, dancing and CATS! Stray cats have made this park a home. As you walk through the park, you’ll see cat houses and cat only spaces. These cats are typically very friendly as they’re used to visitors coming to check on them. Additionally, you’ll find donation boxes in the park that help to pay for cat care and adoption services.
Parque del Amor is another popular park to visit in Lima. This park is located along the Pacific ocean coast and has great cliffside views of Lima. Additionally, the park is decorated with a large sculpture of two lovers embracing and lots of mosaics dedicated to famous lovers.
Visit the Catacombs of San Francisco
Time: 1 hour | Cost: $2/person
The San Francisco church is located close to the historic city center. This church is beautiful and they offer guided tours in English and Spanish throughout the day. Our favorite part of the church was the ancient library which was one of the prettiest libraries we’ve ever seen.
However, the really unique offering is the catacombs under the church. Tours visit the catacombs – the second largest in the world. There are thousands of human remains buried here. This is one of the most unique things to do in Lima. However, there are no photos allowed inside so you’ll have to visit to see for yourself.
See A Water Show
Time: 1 hour | Cost: $2/person
The Parque de la Reserva has a massive water fountain show every night in the Circuito Mágico del Agua. The water show is complete with a narrated story, music and lights. The light show happens three times every night and is a popular thing to do in Lima for families and tourists.
Eat Ceviche
Time: 30 minutes | Cost: $10-$15
Ceviche [top pictured dish] is the most famous Peruvian dish, said to be the best place for ceviche in the world. We haven’t tried everywhere, but Peru definitely has the best ceviche we’ve ever tried. With fresh fish coming daily from the ocean, you won’t find fresher ingredients. Ceviche is raw fish marinated in lime juice, typically with onions and spices. The acidity of the lime juice “cooks” the fish in a way that lands the texture somewhere between cooked fish and sushi. It doesn’t sound good but it’s great – try some. Ceviche in Peru typically comes with corn nuts on the side and sweet potato wedges. In Lima, you’ll find that ceviche comes in a few flavors, including fish, squid, shrimp and mixed seafood.
Visit Pachacamac
Time: half-day | Cost: $60/person
Visiting the Pachacamac ruins just outside of Lima is another popular thing to do in Lima. Located about 45 minutes south of town, the Pachacamac ruins are a site built by the ancient Lima people. You can take a half day tour from town and take a tour of the site.
Eat At A World Renowned Restaurant
Time: 3 hours | Cost: $300+/person
Lima is a popular destination for foodies. And that’s because Lima consistently hosts some of the most popular chefs in the world. From traditional Peruvian cuisine to Asian fusion, you’ll find lots of Michelin star restaurants and restaurants that are on all of the best restaurant lists. However, be aware that this level of restaurant comes with a price tag that is around $300/person. So if you’re looking for a South American discount, you won’t find that here.
Huacachina Day Trip
Time: Full-day | Cost: $80/person
A day trip to Huacachina our absolute favorite thing to do in Lima! It was so much better than we anticipated. Most day trips also include a Ballestas Islands tour, a winery tour or a Nacza lines tour. For the Huacachina portion, be prepared to be amazed. Huacachina is a dessert oasis town. Nestled amongst the towering sand dunes, Huacachina town is built around a small lake.
Exploring the small town is fun but taking a dune buggy ride through the dessert is funner! Tours typically include a dune buggy ride, try to find one with a small 4-person dune buggy instead of the larger tour buggies. With the small dune buggy, you’ll get to go fast through the seemingly endless dunes. Additionally, make sure your tour includes sand boarding. It’s a fun sled-like experience but on the steep dunes. A day trip to Huacachina is almost always a sunny excursion which is a refreshing change from the constant fog of Lima.
Ballestas Islands Day Trip
Time: Full-day | Cost: $80/person
A day trip to the Ballestas Islands is one of the most popular things to do in Lima. Full day tours are most common as the drive time to Paracas is several hours. Once in Paracas, a boat takes you around the Ballestas Islands. You cannot land on the islands themselves. However, from the boat, you see heaps of birds, including penguins and boobies. This is a birders paradise! Additionally, depending on time of year you may also see seals, sea lions, dolphins or whales. Day trips to the Ballestas Islands are either combined with an afternoon in Huacachina or an afternoon visiting Paracas Nature Reserve and nearby wineries.
Is Lima Worth Visiting?
Overall, Lima is a great place to spend a day or two. We loved the city and could definitely see ourselves living there. However, as a tourist destination, we definitely were running out of things to do by day two. So is Lima worth visiting – yes, if you’re already visiting Peru. But we wouldn’t make a special trip just to visit Lima.
We hope this list of our favorite things to do in Lima has helped you to map out your own trip to Lima. If you would like would like any more Peru vacation planning advice, check out all of our Peru posts here.
