Travelers often skip Lima to head to Machu Picchu or Lake Titicaca, but we hope you don’t make that mistake. Lima is a wonderful city full of culture, history, and delicious restaurants. From the beautiful Miraflores (where all the tourists hang out) to the night life in Barranco, Lima has something special for everyone.
Travelers looking to experience the performing arts can enjoy word-class options including opera, ballet, and symphony. If you love theater, head to the Museo de la Nacion or the Teatro Segura. Another great spot to check out is the Teatro Canout. If you love film and art, then you can explore the Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamerico.
If you’d like to explore grand architecture, then check out the Monasterio de San Francisco, which is a gorgeous church in the center of the city. Underneath the church is a complicated web of catacombs; though you won’t be able to take any pictures inside of the catacombs, you’ll never forget the human bones that you see! Other museums we highly recommend are the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Arqueologia de Historia del Peru, and el Museo Larco.
In addition, check out the pre-Inca pyramid called Huaca Huallamarca located right in the heart of San Isidro. The pyramid is an important archeological structure and remains very well preserved.
Miraflores is near the ocean in the southern part of Lima and is a hot tourist destination. This area is all about beautiful coastal views, shopping, and famous restaurants.
The area has a huge market called Mercado de Indio where tourists can purchase a wide variety of art, jewelry, and pottery – perfect for souvenirs. For travelers looking to experience some history, check out the Huaca Pucllana Pyramid, which is built on top of 7 massive platforms. The pyramid dates back to 400 AD. It’s quite neat to see the ancient pyramid with the backdrop of the modern city.
Jazz lovers will enjoy that Miraflores has a lot of live music locations. You can hear live music at a variety of venues including Satchmo and Jazz Zone. A pena is a unique type of Afro-Peruvian music where exuberant singing and dance is involved. In Miraflores, many people go to Caballero de Fina Estampa to listen to this unforgettable kind of music.
Larco Mar is a famous shopping area in Miraflores that is really popular with tourists. As it is next to the ocean, there are amazing views. In addition to a variety of high-end stores, it also has museums, a movie theater, bowling, and surprisingly even US chain restaurants like TGI Fridays and Chili’s – it’s like you never left your country!
There are 1800 miles of coastline in Peru. The best beaches in Lima include Miraflores, Barranco, and Chorrillos. Keep in mind, Peru is in the southern hemisphere, so the summers run from December to April. Surfing is popular because the beaches tend to get big waves. In addition, these areas have bars, restaurants, and beautiful sunsets. Often locals recommend the beaches that are south of the city and have lots of nightlife.
One of the most famous restaurants in Lima is La Mar, which is lead by famed chef Gaston Acurio. Food and Wine magazine rates La Mar as one of the best restaurants in Lima and is considered to be the best spot for ceviche and many different types of cured fish. Other restaurant recommendations include Astrid Y Gaston, which is a restaurant that specializes in authentic Peruvian dishes. Another recommendation for dining is El Rincon Que No Conoces, which is famous for African and Spanish Creole cooking.
Special events and festivals are constantly taking place throughout the year and the array of restaurants to select from in Lima will seem never-ending. Clearly, you won’t easily run out of things to do during your trip to this diverse city.
