Lima itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Lima, day by day: the Monastery of San Francisco, the Archbishop's Palace, the cathedral and Plaza Mayor first, then Plaza San Martín, the Magic Water Circuit park, Huaca Pucllana and Larcomar in Miraflores, and the Lomas de Lachay and Pantanos de Villa reserves as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Lima in 1 day
Day 1
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Plaza Mayor, Lima
Main square where Lima was founded in 1535, framed by the Government Palace, cathedral and city hall.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Lima in 2 days
Day 1
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 2
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Lima in 3 days
Day 1
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas Must see
Church housing the Lord of Miracles mural, the focus of Lima's huge October processions.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Day 2
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Barrio Chino Must see
Lima's Chinatown around Jirón Ucayali, with chifa restaurants, shops and the Capón market.
Museum of Italian Art Must see
Small museum in a neoclassical building with Italian paintings and sculpture donated by Lima's Italian community.
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 3
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Larco Museum
Pre-Columbian art museum in an 18th-century mansion, tracing 5,000 years of Peruvian history through ceramics, gold, silver and textiles.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest national museum in Pueblo Libre, with pre-Columbian pottery and textiles and colonial and independence rooms.
Huaca Pucllana Must see
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture in the middle of Miraflores, with guided tours and a restaurant.
Larcomar Must see
Shopping and dining centre built into the Miraflores clifftop, with views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of colourful houses, street art, galleries and bars, home to the Bridge of Sighs and clifftop views.
Lima in 4 days
Day 1
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas Must see
Church housing the Lord of Miracles mural, the focus of Lima's huge October processions.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Day 2
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Barrio Chino Must see
Lima's Chinatown around Jirón Ucayali, with chifa restaurants, shops and the Capón market.
Museum of Italian Art Must see
Small museum in a neoclassical building with Italian paintings and sculpture donated by Lima's Italian community.
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 3
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Larco Museum
Pre-Columbian art museum in an 18th-century mansion, tracing 5,000 years of Peruvian history through ceramics, gold, silver and textiles.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest national museum in Pueblo Libre, with pre-Columbian pottery and textiles and colonial and independence rooms.
Huaca Pucllana Must see
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture in the middle of Miraflores, with guided tours and a restaurant.
Larcomar Must see
Shopping and dining centre built into the Miraflores clifftop, with views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of colourful houses, street art, galleries and bars, home to the Bridge of Sighs and clifftop views.
Day 4
Puruchuco Must see
Inca-period adobe palace and site museum in Ate, east of Lima, known for its mummy bundles.
Pachacamac
Large archaeological site south-east of Lima, with adobe pyramids and temples used for over a thousand years before the Spanish arrived.
Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Must see
Coastal wetlands in Chorrillos with lagoons and boardwalks for birdwatching, home to over 200 bird species.
Lima in 5 days
Day 1
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas Must see
Church housing the Lord of Miracles mural, the focus of Lima's huge October processions.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Day 2
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Barrio Chino Must see
Lima's Chinatown around Jirón Ucayali, with chifa restaurants, shops and the Capón market.
Museum of Italian Art Must see
Small museum in a neoclassical building with Italian paintings and sculpture donated by Lima's Italian community.
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 3
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Larco Museum
Pre-Columbian art museum in an 18th-century mansion, tracing 5,000 years of Peruvian history through ceramics, gold, silver and textiles.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest national museum in Pueblo Libre, with pre-Columbian pottery and textiles and colonial and independence rooms.
Huaca Pucllana Must see
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture in the middle of Miraflores, with guided tours and a restaurant.
Larcomar Must see
Shopping and dining centre built into the Miraflores clifftop, with views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of colourful houses, street art, galleries and bars, home to the Bridge of Sighs and clifftop views.
Day 4
Puruchuco Must see
Inca-period adobe palace and site museum in Ate, east of Lima, known for its mummy bundles.
Pachacamac
Large archaeological site south-east of Lima, with adobe pyramids and temples used for over a thousand years before the Spanish arrived.
Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Must see
Coastal wetlands in Chorrillos with lagoons and boardwalks for birdwatching, home to over 200 bird species.
Day 5
Lomas de Lachay Must see
National reserve about 100 km north of Lima where winter fog creates green hills, with walking trails.
Lima in 6 days
Day 1
Plaza Mayor, Lima
Main square where Lima was founded in 1535, framed by the Government Palace, cathedral and city hall.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas Must see
Church housing the Lord of Miracles mural, the focus of Lima's huge October processions.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Day 2
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Barrio Chino Must see
Lima's Chinatown around Jirón Ucayali, with chifa restaurants, shops and the Capón market.
Museum of Italian Art Must see
Small museum in a neoclassical building with Italian paintings and sculpture donated by Lima's Italian community.
Day 3
Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest national museum in Pueblo Libre, with pre-Columbian pottery and textiles and colonial and independence rooms.
Huaca Pucllana Must see
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture in the middle of Miraflores, with guided tours and a restaurant.
Larcomar Must see
Shopping and dining centre built into the Miraflores clifftop, with views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of colourful houses, street art, galleries and bars, home to the Bridge of Sighs and clifftop views.
Cristo del Pacífico
Large statue of Christ on Morro Solar in Chorrillos, overlooking the bay of Lima.
Day 4
Puruchuco Must see
Inca-period adobe palace and site museum in Ate, east of Lima, known for its mummy bundles.
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 5
Larco Museum
Pre-Columbian art museum in an 18th-century mansion, tracing 5,000 years of Peruvian history through ceramics, gold, silver and textiles.
Day 6
Lomas de Lachay Must see
National reserve about 100 km north of Lima where winter fog creates green hills, with walking trails.
Lima in 7 days
Day 1
Plaza Mayor, Lima
Main square where Lima was founded in 1535, framed by the Government Palace, cathedral and city hall.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas Must see
Church housing the Lord of Miracles mural, the focus of Lima's huge October processions.
Government Palace
Presidential palace on the north side of the Plaza Mayor; watch the changing of the guard ceremony at midday in front of its gates.
Cathedral of Lima Must see
Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor holding the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, with a museum of religious art.
Archbishop's Palace of Lima Must see
Neo-colonial palace beside the cathedral with carved wooden balconies, now a museum of religious art.
Plaza San Martín Must see
Large square from 1921 with a statue of liberator José de San Martín, surrounded by early twentieth-century buildings.
Day 2
Casa de Osambela Must see
Colonial mansion with five carved wooden balconies, one of the tallest houses in old Lima.
Municipal Palace of Lima Must see
City hall on the Plaza Mayor with neo-colonial balconies; guided visits show its halls and art gallery.
Monastery of San Francisco, Lima Must see
Baroque church and convent known for its library, tiled cloisters and the catacombs beneath; guided tours only.
Plaza Bolivar Must see
Square in front of the Congress building with a statue of Simón Bolívar, beside the Inquisition Museum.
Barrio Chino Must see
Lima's Chinatown around Jirón Ucayali, with chifa restaurants, shops and the Capón market.
Museum of Italian Art Must see
Small museum in a neoclassical building with Italian paintings and sculpture donated by Lima's Italian community.
Day 3
Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú
Peru's oldest national museum in Pueblo Libre, with pre-Columbian pottery and textiles and colonial and independence rooms.
Larcomar Must see
Shopping and dining centre built into the Miraflores clifftop, with views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Bohemian seaside district of colourful houses, street art, galleries and bars, home to the Bridge of Sighs and clifftop views.
Cristo del Pacífico
Large statue of Christ on Morro Solar in Chorrillos, overlooking the bay of Lima.
Day 4
Larco Museum
Pre-Columbian art museum in an 18th-century mansion, tracing 5,000 years of Peruvian history through ceramics, gold, silver and textiles.
Huaca Pucllana Must see
Adobe pyramid of the Lima culture in the middle of Miraflores, with guided tours and a restaurant.
El Campo de Marte Must see
Large park in Jesús María with lawns, sports areas and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Day 5
Puruchuco Must see
Inca-period adobe palace and site museum in Ate, east of Lima, known for its mummy bundles.
MALI – Lima Art Museum
Art museum in the Palacio de la Exposición, with ceramics, textiles and paintings spanning nearly 3,000 years of Peruvian art.
Park of the Exposition Must see
Historic park in Santa Beatriz with gardens, a Byzantine-style pavilion and the Museo de Arte de Lima.
Park of the Reserve Must see
Park with the Magic Water Circuit, a set of illuminated fountains and an evening light and music show.
Day 6
Lomas de Lachay Must see
National reserve about 100 km north of Lima where winter fog creates green hills, with walking trails.
Day 7
Pachacamac
Large archaeological site south-east of Lima, with adobe pyramids and temples used for over a thousand years before the Spanish arrived.
Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge Must see
Coastal wetlands in Chorrillos with lagoons and boardwalks for birdwatching, home to over 200 bird species.
Watch: Lima in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Lima
December to April is the sunny summer season, with warm days and the best beach weather. From June to October a grey coastal fog, the garúa, covers the city most days, though it almost never rains. Lima is a good stop at any time, but it is busiest in July and August with travellers on their way to Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Lima on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Lima on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Lima on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Lima with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Peru from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Lima with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Lima
- Use official apps such as Uber or Cabify, or registered taxis, rather than hailing cars in the street.
- The Metropolitano bus runs on its own lane between the historic centre, Miraflores and Barranco and avoids heavy traffic.
- The Magic Water Circuit in Parque de la Reserva opens from about 15:00 to 22:30, closed on Mondays; the light shows start after dark.
- Huaca Pucllana is closed on Tuesdays and visited only by guided tour; Puruchuco is closed on Mondays.
- Lima's coast is grey and damp from June to October; that same mist turns the Lomas de Lachay green, best from August to October.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Archbishop's Palace of Lima: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Barranco: tadekk, CC BY 2.0
- Barrio Chino: Miguel Angel Chong, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Casa de Osambela: Gatodemichi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of Lima: Miguel Francisco Rueda Ñañez, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cristo del Pacífico: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0
- El Campo de Marte: Jorgito03, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Government Palace: User:Pedro Felipe, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Huaca Pucllana: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0
- Larco Museum: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Larcomar: Latin America For Less, CC BY 2.0
- Lomas de Lachay: Christian Cruzado, CC BY 2.0
- MALI – Lima Art Museum: Museo de Arte de Lima, Public domain
- Monastery of San Francisco, Lima: Christof46, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Municipal Palace of Lima: Avodrocc, CC BY 2.0
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú: Ibrehaut, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum of Italian Art: Dgop1990, Public domain
- Pachacamac: Apollo⠀, CC BY 2.0
- Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge: Jeffreyroth, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Park of the Exposition: Martintoy, CC BY 3.0
- Park of the Reserve: Felipe Restrpo Acosta, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza Bolivar: No machine-readable author provided. Manuel González Olaechea assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plaza Mayor, Lima: David Felipe Ruiz Hoyos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza San Martín: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Puruchuco: AgainErick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas: Gatodemichi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
