At Lima, two main dimensions: gastronomy and culture.
Gastronomy — book 1-2 months ahead top restaurants. Central (Virgilio Martínez, world #1 in 2023, Barranco): 17-course Mater menu by Peru altitudes, €250-400/person, iconic experience. Maido (Mitsuharu Tsumura, Miraflores, world top 10): nikkei cuisine (Peruvian-Japanese), tasting menu €200-350. Kjolle (Pía León, Barranco, world top 30): contemporary Peruvian cuisine, €150-250. More accessible: Astrid y Gastón (Gaston Acurio, San Isidro, €150-250), Mayta (Jaime Pesaque, Miraflores, €100-180), Mérito. For ceviche: La Mar (Gaston Acurio, Miraflores, lunch only, €40-60), Pescados Capitales (Miraflores, €35-50), El Mercado (Rafael Osterling). For street anticuchos: Grimanesa Vargas (iconic, Miraflores, €5-10/skewer). For chifa (Chinese-Peruvian): Madam Tusan. Pisco sour bars: Carnaval (world top 50, Miraflores), Lady Bee, Ayahuasca (Barranco, in colonial house).
Culture — UNESCO 1991 historic centre: Plaza Mayor, 1535 cathedral (Pizarro tomb), presidential palace, San Francisco monastery (catacombs 70,000 bones + ancient library, PEN 15), Torre Tagle palace (baroque facade), Casa de Aliaga (1535, oldest inhabited house in the Americas, visit on reservation), Convento Santo Domingo (Santa Rosa de Lima tomb). Larco Museum (Pueblo Libre, PEN 30, 3h, absolute must-see — pre-Columbian collection 45,000 pieces, gardens, café-restaurant). Lima Art Museum (MALI) (Parque de la Exposición, 18th-21st century Peruvian art). Central Bank Museum (BCR) (pre-Columbian ceramics, free). Larco Museum junior (Pachacámac, 30 km south of Lima, half day).
Miraflores quarter: Kennedy Park (lively centre, churros vendors, painters, cats — emblem), Larcomar (cliffside shopping centre above Pacific, view, restaurants), Huaca Pucllana (pre-Inca pyramid, PEN 15, 45 min guided visit, gourmet restaurant at foot), Parque del Amor (lovers park on cliff, Víctor Delfín statues, Pacific views at sunset), Costa Verde (descent to beach on foot or by bus, 100 m cliff).
Barranco quarter: Puente de los Suspiros (colorful colonial bridge, romantic in evening), MATE (Mario Testino museum, PEN 25), Bajada de Baños (pedestrian street descending to beach), art galleries (Lucia de la Puente, Wu Galería), street art (murals throughout the area), restaurants and bars in evening.
Excursions from Lima. Pachacámac (pre-Inca archaeological site 30 km south, €30-40/person half day). Caral (oldest city in the Americas, 3,000 BC, 200 km north, full day €80-120). Circuito Mágico del Agua (illuminated fountain park, evening, PEN 8-10, at Parque de la Reserva). Miraflores-Barranco bicycle tour (€30-50/person, 3-4h, along Costa Verde). Lima Gourmet Tour (guided gastronomic tour, tastings, €50-80/person, 3-4h).
Read also
- Lima and the Pacific coast — The complete region: Lima, Paracas, Ica/Huacachina, Nazca.
- Ica and Huacachina — The Peruvian desert oasis and sandboarding, 4h30 south of Lima.
- Peru — Complete country guide: visa, currency, regions, best time to visit.
- Cusco and Machu Picchu — The absolute must-see — to combine with Lima for Peru minimum 10 days.