Lima is the main gateway to the many amazing sights in Peru, with most international flights entering either through Lima. Aside from a few interesting monuments and historic sites, the city itself isn’t very appealing. If you must stay a day or two, detailed below are some highlights that are worth checking out and can be done in a day. Most people limit their stay to an overnight in Lima, only partaking in the first 2 items below. With all the highlights Peru has to offer, who wants to spend their valuable vacation time in a big noisy city?!

Here are the main neighborhoods and the highlights you can find in each.

Central Lima

If you only have one day for sightseeing, Central Lima is a good place to start. Beginning at the Plaza de Armas, you can visit the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palacio de Gobierno, the president’s residence. Also nearby is the La Catedral de Lima, the original cathedral that holds the remains of Francisco Pizarro, the conquestador who defeated the Incas and took Lima for Spain.

Miraflores

This neighborhood is known for its plethora of award-winning restaurants that have given Lima an international name in haute cuisine. The neighborhood also has lovely parks, luxury hotels, and an air of being an upscale locale. Cebicheria Don Beta at Jose Galvez 667 has excellent seafood and ceviche. Also worth checking out are the superb Swiss pastries at the famous La Tiendecita Blanca, a Miraflores landmark for over fifty years. There are also several charming hotels in the area such as Hotel Antigua Miraflores at Av Grau 350 and Hotel las Americas at Alfredo Benavides 415.

Barranco

After a nice meal in Miraflores, Barranco is the best place to go for a nightcap or to go out on the town and see some live music. The clubs usually get going around 11pm and go strong until dawn. There are dozens of bars and clubs in the neighborhood. Try La Noche (Av Bolognesi 307), a tri-level bar that plays a variety of dance music, or check out the international retro music at Sargento Pimienta at Bolognesi 755.

East Lima

This area has several important museums, including Museo de la Nacion, which has exhibits of prehistoric civilizations. For classic car aficionados, the Automobile Museum has 64 antique cars on display, which were donated by millionaire Jorge Nicolini.

For more information on Lima please visit Peru Travel Guide.