My favourite things to do in Lima as a tourist (in 2026)

Lima is a city that often gets overlooked. Most travellers treat it as a stopover on the way to Cusco and Machu Picchu, spending a night or two before heading straight to the mountains.

But after my trip to Santiago de Chile, another city that’s often written off as just a layover, I’d learnt that so-called stopover cities can actually surprise you. And with Lima’s food scene getting so much hype, I knew I had to give it a proper chance.

I wanted to find out whether Lima was worth visiting in its own right, not just as a pit stop. As a foodie, I was pleasantly surprised. Plus, there were some great discoveries along the way, with beautiful views and charming neighbourhoods.

Is Lima my favourite big city in South America? No, and it is quite far from the top spot, but is it worth sticking around there for longer than a day or two? I’d say so!

Here are my favourite things to do in Lima, Peru, whether you’re passing through for a couple of days or staying for longer.

Explore the neighbourhoods

Lima is a huge city, but as a tourist, you’ll probably spend most of your time in three main areas. Each has its own feel, and they’re all worth exploring.

• Miraflores is where you’ll find most tourists and many hotels. It’s the most polished part of the city, with clifftop views over the Pacific, lovely parks, and loads of restaurants and cafés. It’s easy to get around from here, with the historical centre above and Barranco below.
• Barranco is the bohemian neighbourhood just south of Miraflores. It’s full of colourful street art – if you like this kind of thing, set aside a couple of hours to wander the side streets here. It’s also where you’ll find some of Lima’s best bars and live music spots (like La Noche de Barranco).
• The historic centre (Centro Histórico) is a completely different vibe with grand colonial architecture and impressive plazas. The Plaza de Armas is a great starting point, but it’s also worth wandering over to Chinatown (Barrio Chino). Historical centres are often a little grittier, but are worth a visit during the day.

Make sure to walk the Malecón, the clifftop path that runs along the coast. It’s a beautiful walk with incredible views of the Pacific, and it connects Miraflores to Barranco, so you can easily stroll between the two neighbourhoods.

Get surf lessons (or go swimming)

I’m not a surfer myself, but friends of mine have taken lessons here and loved it. There are loads of surf schools along the coast in Miraflores, and plenty of affordable beginner lessons on offer. If it’s something you’ve ever wanted to try, Lima is a great place to give it a go.

Most of the coastline is really only suitable for surfing, but there is a small beach where people swim too. Just don’t expect tropical temperatures; the Pacific here is on the cool side.

Visit the cat park (Parque Kennedy)

I’d seen a review mentioning that there were loads of cats living in a park near my hotel, and I didn’t quite believe it. Until I got there and saw hundreds of them, just lounging around the park, completely at home in the park.

The cats are all looked after by the local community, who feed and care for them, and they’re all up for adoption too. They’re really friendly, and some of them will even come over for a cuddle.

I ended up coming back here a lot during my trip for some much-needed cat cuddles!

Check out the local markets

Lima has some brilliant markets, particularly when it comes to fresh produce. Peru’s variety of fruits and vegetables is honestly incredible, and the markets are where you really get to see it.

For local fruits and veggies:

• Mercado No. 2 Surquillo is the most accessible option for tourists with plenty of colourful fruit and veg stalls. No. 1 was recommended to me, but this has closed down. That being said, you can still find a few stalls from it located outside.
• Bioferia de Miraflores is an organic market that runs on Saturdays. It’s a relaxed set-up with plenty of veggie-friendly stalls.

For clothes and gifts:

• La Feria Unión de Barranco is a small outdoor market with touristy gift stuff, but it also has a live band and a great vegan dessert stall.
• Polvos Azules is a huge indoor market full of clothes and tech. It’s chaotic but worth a look if you fancy some cheap clothes, football shirts, or tech!

Go fine dining

Lima is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. At the time of writing, the city has several entries on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, including Maido at no. 1 and Mérito at no. 26.

The produce in Peru is insane, with over 4000 varieties of potato. A lot of the local fine dining really shows this off.

I got the chance to eat at Mérito, which was insanely good. I’ve written more about this, including what I ate, in my food guide to Lima.

Side note for my fellow vegan readers: Many of these restaurants offer vegan tasting menus if you request one when booking, which is how I got to experience Mérito for myself.

Visit the museums

Lima has a great variety of museums and art galleries, covering everything from ancient civilisations to Peru’s recent history. Here are some of the top recommended museums and galleries:

• The Catacombs at San Francisco: Underground tunnels beneath a stunning colonial monastery in the historic centre.
• LUM, Place of Memory: A moving museum covering Peru’s internal conflict in the 1980s and 90s.
• MAC, Museum of Contemporary Art: Modern and contemporary art in a beautiful Barranco location.
• MALI, Museo de Arte de Lima: Peru’s most important art museum, spanning 3,000 years of history.
• Museo Larco: Pre-Columbian treasures in a gorgeous restored mansion, plus the famous erotic pottery.
• Huaca Pucllana: An ancient adobe pyramid right in the middle of Miraflores.

Things to do near Lima

If you are hoping to explore outside of Lima during your trip to Peru, you can also consider day tours to nearby places. There are loads of options, including sandboarding at the Huacachina oasis to multi-day treks to Machu Picchu. Here are some of the most popular options:

Where to stay in Lima?

I stayed at the nhow Lima hotel in Miraflores, and it was an incredible experience. The whole place is designed around Peruvian art and culture. It is very fun and colourful.

The rooms are gorgeous, and up on the rooftop, there’s a pool with a bar and stunning views over the city and the nearby mountains. They also have a great gym if you want to keep active during your trip.

The location is ideal too, right in the heart of Miraflores and just a short walk from Kennedy Park (and all those cats). It makes a great base for exploring the city, with Barranco and the historic centre both easy to reach.

Book your stay at nhow Lima