Location: Lima
Top Things to do in Lima
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Lima, Lima Region
Lima, founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, is a fascinating city and a treasure trove of history. Explore ancient Incan archeological sites, or stroll through the elegant cathedrals and opulent palaces dating from Spanish colonial times. Downtown Lima is crowded, but you'll enjoy exploring the city's neighborhoods—especially the beachfront areas, which have great shopping and dining and fabulous hotels.
Restaurants in Lima
1. Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,120 reviews
Once considered the heart of old Lima, this grand plaza features many important architectural monuments and buildings including a magnificent bronze fountain dating from 1650, the Archbishop's Palace with its elegant balconies and the Government Palace dating from 1924.
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Remember, everything started here ... On January 18, 1535, Spanish "Conquistador" Francisco Pizarro founded the City of Lima and, right at this very site, designated where the "Plaza de Armas" (or "Plaza Mayor") would be built! Just amazing! The other buildings came some time after, being built and rebuilt along the centuries up to their todays' features - the "Catedral de Lima", the "Parroquia del Sagrario and the central water fountain (all from the 17th century); the "Palacio Arzobispal", the "Palacio de Gobierno", the "Palacio Municipal de Lima" and the "Palacio de la Unión" (all dating the 20th century) constitute the city's focal point. You are just about to visit the very heart of Lima, its beautiful historic center, locally known as "Cercado de Lima". Take your time and stroll along, enjoy the views, the lovely manicured gardens and lawns, the "Changing of the Guard" at noon in front of the "Palacio de Gobierno" and visit the interior of all buildings that allow so! And as a curiosity, Peru's independence from Spain was proclaimed right here in 1821! Don't forget your camera! Enjoy!
2. Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,418 reviews
Built by Dominican friars in 1549, this Church and Monastery contains the tombs of Santa Martin de Porres and Peru's other famous saint, Santa Rosa de Lima.
Reviewed By 816maksimm
We have visited a tower of the monastery with a private guide working for donation. There is a collection of church bells of different centuries in there, and the view from the tower gives an opportunity to take great panoramas of the Lima!
3. Museo Convento San Francisco y Catacumbas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,337 reviews
This church and monastery of St. Francis (circa 1674) is known for its catacombs that contain the remains of more than 70,000 people and a magnificent library that houses thousands of antique texts.
Reviewed By eval682 - Boston, United States
I sold my sons on a visit to this church by telling them about the bones they'd be able to see in the catacombs. I don't think they were disappointed! Of equal interest to my husband and me, however, was the beautiful church, with woodwork and murals, the open courtyard/cloister, and its rich history through multiple earthquakes. Definitely worth a visit. Tours are conducted in English and Spanish. We arrived just as a Spanish group was getting started, so we waited 15 minutes for the next tour in English.
4. Miraflores
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,580 reviews
This beachfront residential district features many of Lima's excellent shops, restaurants, nightspots and first class hotels.
Reviewed By 2017aajaa
Miraflores is a wonderful part of Peru filled with wonderful restaurants and parks to see! Highly recommend visiting Love Park, the Mall on the Cliff, and Kennedy Park, all areas within walking distance. There’s also mutiple markets in the area that sell beautiful souvenirs as well.
5. San Isidro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,036 reviews
Elegant and charming residential neighborhood located north of Lima features neo-classic architecture, cobblestone streets, excellent dining, good shopping and the Huaca Hallamarma, a restored pre-Inca pyramid that now serves as a small museum of Indian artifacts.
Reviewed By Chinapjs - Washington DC, United States
Half of the foreign embassies are located here and some of Lima's best restaurants and sports clubs. One of the tonier neighborhoods to live in. One of South America's oldest golf clubs is located right in the middle plus two famous churches, a museum or two and a great park full of hundred year old and older Oliver Trees.
6. Huaca Pucllana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,333 reviews
Built by millions of adobe bricks, these ruins once served as an administrative center and a pre-Inca ceremonial site dedicated to the God Pachacamac.
Reviewed By alanlid - Oxford, United Kingdom
Smack in built-up Lima, within easy walking distance of the centre of Miraflores (where visitors often stay), this is a remarkable archaeological site: a vast brick pyramid - and outlying courtyards - built of adobe and, thanks to its ingenious 'bookshelf' design, still standing after some 1700 years, despite earthquakes. The tour involves a bit of modest (safe) climbing and takes about an hour; our guide, Jorge, was very good, and explained the sequence of cultures who inhabited the site, how they worked, what they grew and ate (by way of illustration, there is a small garden and some domestic animals - guinea pigs, vicuña, etc. - which will appeal to the kids). Very interesting, unless you're averse to old sites of this kind, The restaurant is meant to be very good, though not cheap; we resisted the temptation.
7. Pachacamac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,591 reviews
Located only 31 kilometers from Lima, these ancient ruins are all that remain of an important religious center that was constructed more than 1,000 years before the Inca Empire.
Reviewed By skyejack - Malvern, Australia
The Pachacamac ruins cover a very large site 31 k south of Lima where a town for 20,000 people was built in 700 AD, pre Inca era. It is a sandy desert with several amazing excavations including a rebuilt house of the chosen women, a granary story of huge proportions, a burial site and a sun temple for adoration of the Sun God. Next door but not part of the site is a Private Hacienda with a 1st class Paso Horse stud.
8. San Pedro Church (Iglesia de San Pedro)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 485 reviews
Built by the Jesuits in 1638, this ornate church features baroque altars decorated in gold leaf, several colonial paintings and La Abuelita, the oldest bell in Peru.
Reviewed By RandyRoss - Ridgetown, Canada
We visited the San Pedro Church on our walking tour of historic downtown Lima, booked on the Holland America ship Volendam. This is a beautiful church and certainly worth seeing. There is so much history in this city.
9. Caral Peru
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 759 reviews
La Zona Arqueológica Caral, Unidad Ejecutora 003 - Ministerio de Cultura, es responsable de las actividades de investigación, conservación y difusión de los valores sociales y culturales de Caral, la Civilización más antigua de América. Y es la encargada de preservar el importante patrimonio arqueológico de la Civilización Caral para beneficio de las poblaciones actuales y del futuro.
Reviewed By janicesT6635NA
This is a site increasing in it's popularity due to it's historical significance. Dating back to before the Egyptian Pyramids, we were told the local town people from Caral (which the site is named after) are involved in the excavation and take pride in the Caral Ruins. It was a full day, with a four hour ride from Lima, but a visit worth the trip for anyone interested in ancient history.
10. Church and Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 598 reviews
Located on the city's Main Square or Plaza Mayor, this cathedral was built in 1564 by architect Jeronimo de Aliaga and features an ivory baroque chapel of La Inmaculada and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, known as the "conquistador of Peru."
