How to Spend One Day in Lima, Peru

October 2, 2025
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If you only have a limited amount of time in Lima, this is the ideal one-day itinerary for you. From a historical centre to incredible food to surfing, this guide ensures you hit all the main spots in just one day.

When I was travelling Peru, I entered the country via bus over the Bolivian border. This meant, that I didn’t reach Lima until about 3 weeks into my Peru journey, after having seen Machu Picchu, Cusco, Arequipa and more.

Over those 3 weeks, I had heard some very varied comments about Lima. Many people said it wasn’t worh more than a day and they found it “boring”, so my expectations were pretty low when I finally arrived there via nightbus from Cusco.

However, the city really surprised me positively. There was so much to explore, a ton of history to learn about, incredible food and beautiful coastlines – what more could you want!

So while I would recommend spending more than a day in Lima if you can, if you are short on time, this is the perfect itinerary to see as much of this incredible city as possible:

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How to get to Lima?

If you are arriving into Peru to start your adventure of ancient Inka cities and stunning natural landscapes, you will likely be landing at Lima Airport. It is the only international airport in Peru.

Lima Airport to City Centre

The best way to get from the airport to the city centre is either by taxi (inDrive or Uber) or by Shuttle (Airport Express or Quick Llama). It isn’t safe to use public transport from the airport in Lima and both of the other options are super affordable!

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.

Best hostels in Lima for backpackers:

Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Barranco
Pariwana Hostel Lima
Hostel Prada
The Secret Garden Hostel

Best hotels in Lima:

$ Belma Boutique Bed and Breakfast
$$ Hotel Antigua Miraflores
$$$ Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel

One Day Lima Itinerary

Here is everything I would see and do if I only had 24 hours in Lima:

Start with a free walking tour of Lima Downtown

A downtown walking tour is the perfect way to start exploring Lima as it will help you gain your bearings while also teaching you a ton about the city’s culture and people. Lima has quite a few “free” walking tours where you tip at the end, I did this one.

It starts at the famous Gran Hotel Bolivar where the first Pisco Sour was supposedly served and then heads to the Plaza de Armas, Lima’s main square. The tour hit all the main sights in that central area of Lima and even finished with a Pisco Sour taste test.

One of my favourite parts was the view of Cerro San Cristobal, the famous colourful houses. A word of caution though – never visit that part of Lima on your own. You’re better off admiring it from a distance. This will all be explained on the walking tour though, hence why it is such a great way to get to know Lima.

The tour finishes near Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima, underneath which are some of the oldest catacombs in South America. I’d recommend visiting if you have some extra time.

Eat your way through Central Market

Now that you have gotten your bearings of the city and know some of its history, it’s time to explore what Lima is so famous for: the food. One of the best places to do that is at the Central Market, which is a hall filled with stands selling local delicacies, from ceviche to tropical fruits to Cuy (Guinea Pig unfortunately).

Bring cash as most stands won’t accept card and try some new things, it really is worth it.

I personally did a food tour through the market and other areas of Lima, which was an amazing experience but you likely won’t have time if you only have a day in Lima. It is still a great experience to wander the market yourself though!

Spend the afternoon discovering Miraflores and Barranco

Miraflores and Barranco are the two touristy areas of Lima, which I would recommend staying in. They also have a ton of things to do and explore, such as the El Malecón in Miraflores, Lima’s Scenic Cliff Top Walkway.

It goes through several neighbourhoods, including Barranco, and boasts stunning seaside views. Check out Parque del Amor along the way, which is visibly inspired by Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain.

Miraflores has many other things to explore, such as Parque Kennedy, the pre-Incan Huaca Pucllana Ruins and Inka Market for souvenirs. If you have spare time, you could even try your hand at surfing. Miraflores is home to countless surf schools, perfect for beginners.

Barranco on the other hand is super lively, with incredible street art, art galleries and restaurants. It’s a trendy neighbourhood of Lima and a great place to finish your day.

Make sure to check out different art galleries such as Jade Rivera as well as the Bridge of Sighs. Legend has it that if you cross the bridge thinking of something you want to achieve and hold your breath the entire time, it will come true. Beware though – the bridge feels much longer than it looks.

Is one day in Lima enough?

While I would recommend at least two days in Lima personally (check out my 36 hour itinerary), I do think you can see the main sights of the city in just one day.

That being said, Lima has some of the most incredible tours of any city I’ve visited, including the historic centre tour, Barranco street art tour, Food tour and more. It’s hard to fit them all in one day, so if you have more time, book that additional day 🙂

What is Lima best known for?

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.