21 Best Things to Do On Your Next Trip To Lima

21 Best Things to Do in Lima |  Of all the places to visit in Peru, Lima has to be somewhere near the top of your list – if only because you’ll definitely be passing through its airport. But it’s well worth a stopover, particularly as there is a wealth of things to do in Lima, Peru’s capital city.

Join us as we run through the top 21 Lima tourist attractions that will allow you to experience this multifaceted city from all angles, starting with its elegant colonial heart and even older Inca ruins, and moving through to its modern side, full of delicious cuisine and unmissable nightlife.    Continue to read: 21 Best Things to Do On Your Next Trip To Lima.

21 Best Things to Do in Lima

1. Explore Lima’s picturesque heart in the Plaza Mayor

This is where it all began: Plaza Mayor, in the city’s old center. It’s not hard to notice that the buildings surrounding the square are pretty old. The Cathedral was built in the 18th century, although the original building here dates back to 1535. For a truly ancient building, Casa de Aliaga, a block north, also dates from that year and is considered the oldest colonial mansion on the continent. It is still a private residence, but you can book a guided tour to see its impressive interior.

2. Blush over erotic pottery at the stupendous Museo Larco

Known as the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera (or the Museo Larco if you’re not into tongue-twisters), this museum is packed quite literally to the rafters; it has 45,000 artifacts in total. Its pre-Columbian exhibits, including an entire erotic section, are guaranteed to leave you blushing.  The museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has an excellent on-site restaurant.

3. Explore the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Arqueología e Historia del Perú

Again, you’ll be struggling to say the name of this museum after a pisco sour or two, but this museum has an impressive collection of mummies from across different Peruvian cultures, which may or may not leave you struggling to get to sleep later that night! The museum, located in the Pueblo Libre district, has recently updated its galleries to provide a more interactive experience.

4. Meet Lima’s oldest residents at the catacombs of the Iglesia San Francisco

It sounds a little morbid, but the tour of the catacombs beneath the San Francisco church and convent is truly fascinating, particularly as they contain the bones of around 70,000 dead bodies. The convent’s library is also a must-see, housing thousands of antique texts.

5. Throw yourself off a cliff on the coast

Coastal Lima is a popular spot for paragliding, particularly in the evenings, where you can admire a watery sunset as you soar above the city.

While the experience lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, the view of the Costa Verde highway snaking along the cliffs below is unbeatable. The main Parapuerto is located at Parque Raimondi in Miraflores.

6. Wander through Barranco’s mansion-flanked streets

Barranco’s bar season might be the reason this trendy neighborhood has caught travelers’ attention and ranks as one of Lima’s main tourist attractions, but did you know that it’s also home to streets filled with slightly crumbling 20th-century mansions along Avenida Sáenz Peña, which only adds to the quirky atmosphere here. Make sure to cross the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) for a classic Barranco experience.

7. Step Back in Time at Museo Pedro de Osma

Right in the heart of Barranco, this stunning century-old mansion feels like a hidden oasis. It’s home to one of Peru’s most impressive private collections of colonial art, but honestly, the building itself is just as much of a draw. With its marble statues and lush, quiet gardens, it’s the perfect spot to escape the city’s buzz for a bit and soak up some of Lima’s rich artistic history in a super relaxed setting.

8. Cuddle some cats in Parque Kennedy

Right at the center of the Miraflore neighborhood, Parque Kennedy is the site of a great handicraft market in the evenings, but it’s probably better known as the home of thousands of stray cats, most of whom were kicked out by their owners and have ended up living here. Luckily, a local charity takes care of them, and most are adorably friendly and will crawl onto your lap for a cuddle.

9. Discover Peru’s world-class dining scene

Dining at a fancy restaurant has got to rank as one of the top things to do in Lima. It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that international dining critics have been raving over Peruvian cuisine for a long while now, and it only takes booking a meal at Astrid and Gaston or Central to understand why. Central and Maido consistently rank among the best in the world; be sure to book your table at least 3 to 4 months in advance. It won’t be a cheap night, but to experience innovative food that draws heavily on the country’s unique agricultural heritage, there’s no better way. Alternatively, take a culinary tour of Lima to really get your teeth into the local food.

10. Dine on Peru’s most mouth-watering ceviche

Ok, so there’s a school of thought that the freshest, tastiest ceviche (fish cooked in lemon juice) you’ll find is actually further north along the coast. But the options in Lima come pretty close. Punta Azul is an affordable chain of restaurants specializing in the dish, while Chez Wong is more expensive (and exclusive – make sure you book) but reputedly the best ceviche in the city.

11. Sup on the city’s favorite spirit, pisco

It’s no secret that the Peruvians love their national cocktail, the pisco sour. And you probably will too; so head over to the Museo de Pisco, half a block from the Plaza de Armas, for a proper introduction to the drink. They have around 100 types of piscos on offer, plus a whole host of different cocktails featuring the spirit. Live folkloric and jazz music are also pretty much guaranteed.

The historic Antigua Taberna Queirolo in Pueblo Libre is another legendary spot to experience an authentic 19th-century tavern vibe while sipping a traditional Chilcano.

12. Party at a peña in Barranco

If you don’t know what a peña is, then this definitely has to join your list of what to do in Lima. A peña is a traditional bar, where dancing to traditional, folkloric music is how you pass the night. The best are in Barranco and the surrounding neighborhoods; give it an hour or so and a couple of drinks, and you’ll be up and dancing with the best of them. Don Porfirio is one of the most authentic places to see Afro-Peruvian music, usually on Friday nights.

13. Stop in Chinatown for a chifa

Lima has a sizeable Chinese population, who are responsible for the creation of the cuisine chifa. It’s basically a Peruvian spin on traditional Chinese dishes and rather tasty at that, and you’ll find the best restaurants in the heart of the Chinese quarter, Barrio Chino.

14. Make chocolate at ChocoMuseo

You might not know it, but there are parts of the Amazon jungle where cacao is grown. Find out more about this bean and the tradition of making chocolate across Latin America at ChocoMuseo, where you can also join a chocolate-making class for some real hands-on action and an unmissable thing to do in Lima.

15. Take a stroll along the Miraflores malecón

Miraflores borders the ocean directly and has a long promenade known as the Malecón. Along with panoramic views of the coast, this pedestrianized walkway offers convenient spots to take a break, the prettiest of which is the mosaic-decorated Parque de Amor (Park of Lovers) with its famous The Kiss statue.

16. Enjoy the light show at the Circuito Mágico del Agua

For pure nighttime entertainment, nothing beats the Circuito Mágico del Agua in Parque de la Reserva. Twelve fountains are made to dance to music with an accompanying light display, which has been modernized with 3D projections, making this a wonderful place to spend an enjoyable hour before heading out for dinner.

17. Surf on Lima’s best beaches

You’ll be surprised by how close the surf is to the city, with the best beaches in Lima for surfing at Waikiki and Makaha Miraflores, both of which are great for beginners. Just remember you’ll want a wetsuit as the Humboldt Current means the water’s always on the fresh side.

18. Travel through 3,000 years of history in the Museo de Arte

If you’re a fan of history, don’t miss the exceptional MALI museum, which manages the quite impressive feat of covering 3,000 years of art in one old colonial mansion, with important artifacts from pre-Hispanic cultures and paintings from the Cuzquena school of art.

19. Learn about ancient textiles at the Museo Amano

Set in the Miraflores district, this museum houses an extensive private collection of textiles that narrate Peru’s important history of weaving and span thousands of years of ancient Peruvian cultures, including the Chancay and pre-Inca eras.

20. Visit Miraflores’ oldest landmark: the Huaca Pucllana

It’s a bit surprising, but one of Lima’s top tourist attractions is actually an old Inca ruin, which sits right in the middle of Miraflores. The Huaca Pucllana was built around 700 AD, and the ruined walls of this once-important temple give a sense of what ancient Lima might have looked like before the Spanish arrived. The site now features a world-class restaurant where you can dine directly beside the illuminated adobe pyramid at night.

21. Learn Spanish in Lima

21 Best Things to Do in Lima? There’s no better way of preparing yourself for a trip around Peru than getting to grips with the local lingo.  Even better still, learning at a Spanish language school in the capital allows you plenty of time to see the rest of Lima’s top tourist attractions at the same time as studying. Many schools now offer walking tours to help you practice your conversational skills in real-world settings.

Ready for a trip to Peru now? We hope you enjoyed: 21 Best Things to Do On Your Next Trip To Lima.

Feel free to contact us if you want any help planning your trip to Peru!

(we updated this article in March 2026)

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Wat te doen in Lima: 21 top attracties