How Many Days Do You Need in Lima, Peru?
Lima is often called South America’s food capital, with several famous Michelin Star restaurants, but it is so much more than that and an underrated stop in Peru in my opinion. The centre if full of history and culture and the seaside a vibrant hub of activity where you can even learn to surf. So how many days should you spend in Lima?
This blog may contain affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
How many days should you spend in Lima?
You can see the main sights in Lima in 2 days, 3 if you want to check out some museums or the Catacombs.
When I travelled to Peru, I met a ton of travellers who only spent a day in Lima as they were on their way to other parts of Peru. While Peru certainly has many other amazing places you should visit, I was always a bit sad to see Lima go this underappreciated.
Barranco and Miraflores are very vibrant tourist hubs by the sea, with amazing restaurants, fantastic tours and plenty of nightlife. The centre on the other hand is full of history and culture, plus some amazing markets that you should explore on a food tour!
If you are planning to do some day trips such as Huacachina (highly recommend) and Palomino Island, you may want to add additional days to your base 2-3 days in Lima.
What to see if you only have one night in Lima:
While I would recommend to spend more time in Lima, it is possible to see the main things with only one night here.
Highlights for me included a food tour of Central Market, El Malecón in Miraflores, Lima’s Scenic Cliff Top Walkway and the view of Cerro San Cristobal.
Check out my full guide to 36 hours in Lima here.
Where to stay in Lima?
You will notice that all the hostels and hotels I am going to recommend are either in Miraflores or Barranco. While there are other areas that are fine to stay in too, I felt safest in these two and they are where the majority of tourists stay. They are also both beautiful and must-visit areas in Lima, so it is worth staying there.
Check out my full Lima accommodation guide here.
Best hostels in Lima for backpackers:
Best hotels in Lima:
How to get to Lima from the airport?
Lima is Peru’s only international airport so you will likely start your journey here at Jorge Chavez International Airport. There are several ways to get into the city centre:
- Taxi can actually be very affordable but pickup is outside the airport gates. InDrive is the cheapest – I managed to get from Miraflores to the airport for just 23 Soles ($6.50). You will need cash for it though, which you can get at the airport. Pickup and drop-off will be around here.
- There are a few shuttles that go to the tourist area Miraflores at set times. Airport Express and Quick Llama are both good options for 15-20 Soles.
- I wouldn’t recommend public transport from the airport as it is quite complicated and will be difficult with a lot of luggage.
Check out my full airport guide for Lima here.
Hi, I'm Bell
My blog is here to show you that there isn’t one correct way to travel the world. Together, we can figure out what that means for you. Learn more about me here!
Latest from the blog:
Travel Off Script contains affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
