LIMA, PERU

Michael_sgrant
1 day ago
5 min read

Visit this cultural melting pot of a city; Lima, the capital of Peru, as I show you all the things to see and do...

Lima, the capital of Peru. Immerse yourself in Lima's lively atmosphere and discover its most iconic monuments by exploring the beautiful historic centre. Walk through the streets of the Peruvian capital with a local guide and visit its most emblematic monuments! Head to San Martin Square, walk along the most famous street of the historical centre, Jiron de la Union, to enjoy the beautiful architecture of Lima and its most iconic monuments. Visit its most impressive monuments, such as Plaza de Armas, the Governmental Palace and the Cathedral of Lima. Learn all about the history of this capital city founded by the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Discover the importance of Peruvian cuisine in this melting pot of a city! Explore with me as I show you the things not to be missed in Lima, uncovering its rich history…

Plaza Mayor:

Head over to the Plaza Mayor, the main square in Lima and surround yourself in Peruvian culture. In this square you will be able to find the Catedral de Lima as well as the Palacio de Gobierno de la República del Perú. The cathedral you can enter for €15. On the way to Plaza Mayor make sure you stop at the Church of La Merced. Lima’s central square is located in the heart of historic Lima and bordered by some of the most famous and beautiful buildings in the city. Starting with Government Palace (Presidential Palace) on the north side of the square and moving clockwise around the square there is Casa del Oidor, former house of colonial magistrates; the Archbishop’s Palace (1924), headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima; Lima Cathedral; two yellow buildings on the south side flank the narrow Pasaje Olaya; Palace of the Union, dating back to 1942 and the Municipal Palace or City Hall on the western side.

Miraflores:

Probably one of the most safest places in the city, and probably where most tourists tend to stay in Lima, Miraflores is a great place to go whether you decide to stay there or not. Its towers on the high cliffs looking over the Pacific Ocean make the Miraflores area easily recognisable! The Miraflores neighbourhood is one of the most interesting places to go in Lima. It is popular for shopping, dining and nightlife. There are both traditional and modern influences in Miraflores which has a trendy and charming character. The neighbourhood overlooks the Pacific Ocean; it is connected to the city centre by the express highway...

Gran Hotel Bolivar:

One of the most famous drinks in Peru, the Pisco Sour, was originally created here at the Gran Hotel Bolivar, and now even today you can go to the lounge and order yourself your very own one to try! Entrance into the hotel is free but a Pisco Sour here will cost you around €8. Throughout the years, the Gran Hotel Bolivar has seen many famous faces from presidents to actors including: Robert “Bobby” Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway, Charles de Gaulle, Walter Elias Disney, Julio Iglesias, Richard Nixon, the Rolling Stones, and many more. Inside the hotel you can find a Ford T20 car; it was the first model in the world to be built by mass production, considered to be a revolution in the automotive world. Fun fact: in the Gran Hotel Bolivar are the first two elevators that worked in Peru.

(Left) Gran Hotel Bolivar, (Centre) List of numerous celebrities who have stayed at the hotel, (Right) The original Pisco

Basílica, Catacombs y Convento de San Francisco de Lima:

The Convent and Church of San Francisco is one of the most beautiful and important religious sites in the city. The museum (Museo del Convento de San Francisco de Asis de Lima) is part of the site. One of the highlights of the site is the catacombs, a network of underground passages beneath the church. The underground burial site holds the bones of more than 30 thousand people. Enter here for less than €5 per person and join a guided tour as they explain all about the Convento de San Francisco and its Catacombs. But before you head down into the abyss, make sure you don’t miss out in seeing the library! For more information visit: San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs

(Left) Library, (Centre) Convento de San Francisco de Lima, (Right) Catacombs

Huaca Pucllana:

In the middle of the city you can find 2 archaeological sites: Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Hullamarca. I visited the former, Huaca Pucllana which is the remains of an ancient pyramid dating back to 200-700 AD. The pyramid has a stepped shape, made up of seven platforms. What is now Plaza Hutan Pata (the Great Square) was the base of the first platform, currently non-existent due to modern predation. In it, remains of several young woman sacrificed and offered during the architectural renovation process were found. Tickets cost about €3.50 per person and you can buy them there, there’s no need to book in advance – check out Museo de Sitio Pucllana | Museos for more…

Museo Larco:

The Museo Larco offers you a chance to see all different kinds of discoveries and artifacts from Peru across many different eras and locations. Entrance to the museum costs about €10 per person. The Larco Museum has the most extensive collection of Peru silver and gold item used by leaders of pre-Columbian Peru. You can see crowns, clothing, masks, precious stones, nose accessories and wrought gold. Perhaps the best known of the museum’s galleries holds erotic pottery. Once you are finished, make sure you head down the slope to the Erotic Pottery gallery, this may have been the best part of the museum ;)

For more information head over to Museo Larco – Tesoros del antiguo Perú

Barranco:

Another safe and nice neighbourhood is an area called Barranco, not far from Miraflores. Waith its colourful artwork and graffiti everywhere, good vibes last all day long here. If you’re feeling peckish, stop over the El Chinito; an authentic restaurant started up from the 1950s and still going! Try the Sanguish de Chicharron and also a Chicha Morrada (let me know if you like it, I didn’t haha! All of that costs about €7 each – super cheap!

FOOD!

I can’t talk about Lima (or Peru in that matter) without talking about food. Peru is a culinary expert when it comes to great taste. And in actual fact, as of 2025, Lima has the world’s Number 1 best rated restaurant: Maida. Here’s a list of my recommendations on places to go and what food to try:

Astrid y Gaston
Astrid y Gastón | Cocina Peruana Contemporánea
Avenida Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro 15073, Peru
Republica Del Pisco
República del Pisco
Calle Bolívar 215, Miraflores 15074, Peru
El Chinito
elchinito.com.pe
Avenida Almte. Miguel Grau 302, Barranco 15063, Peru
Hotel Bolivar
Avenida Nicolás de Piérola 865, Lima 15001, Peru
Choco Museo (Not a restaurant as such but a great place to buy and try original Peruvian chocolate – even 100% chocolate!)
ChocoMuseo – Make it. Taste it. Understand it
Calle Jirón Carabaya 191, Lima 15001, Peru