Many visitors treat Lima as a stopover: As soon as they arrive, they immediately head out to see Peru’s ancient wonders, like Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. But the City of Kings is a worthwhile destination on its own! Here, you can immerse yourself in Peruvian culture, sample world-class cuisine, and learn about Peru’s many ancient civilizations.

While it’s true that Lima is enormous, congested, and frequently smoggy, it’s also known for walkable neighborhoods, a vibrant nightlife, coastal views, and a surfable beach. Read on for tips on the best things to do, eat and see in Lima, Peru.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Peru

1. Without insurance, you’ll have to pay your own medical bills. In Peru, “specialized medical care can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and you are expected to pay in full at the time of discharge,” says the U.S. Department of State.¹ Some healthcare providers require payment up front. If you suffer a serious illness or injury while traveling, a travel insurance plan with emergency medical benefits and emergency transportation benefits can reimburse or advance payment for the cost of covered medical care.
2. Insurance can help if your trip is unexpectedly disrupted. Recently, protests and strikes have been taking place with greater frequency in Peru because of widespread discontent with government policies and poverty.² Strikes can be a covered reason for trip interruption or travel delay benefits; civil disorder (unless it rises to the level of political risk) can also be a covered reason for trip delay.
3. Travel insurance can assist you if you’re the victim of a crime. While the touristy areas of Lima are generally considered safe, the U.S. Department of State reports that crime is a widespread problem in Peru. Pick-pocketing, hotel room burglaries, and robbery (often while traveling in taxicabs) are the most common crimes.³ If you should become the victim of a crime, contact 24-hour assistance! We can help you make a police report and replace stolen documents, and your baggage benefits can reimburse covered losses.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Peru

1. OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan for international vacations. It includes generous emergency medical benefits as well as trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, baggage benefits and more. Kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents)!
2. AllTrips Premier is a top choice for anyone who’s planning multiple trips, as it covers every trip you take in 365 days. Choose one of four benefit levels for trip cancellation/interruption and travel with perfect peace of mind.
3. OneTrip Emergency Medical is an economical choice for international travelers with few pre-paid trip costs. You get up to $50,000 in emergency medical benefits, up to $250,000 in trip cancellation/interruption benefits, baggage and travel delay benefits, and more.

See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Lima 

1. Cycle along El Malecón. One of Lima’s most delightful features is a paved walkway that stretches for almost six miles along cliffs overlooking the coast. It’s a popular place to walk, but renting bikes or taking a guided cycling tour will allow you to see more and also explore the adjacent neighborhood of Miraflores.
2. Visit the fountains of the Parque de la Reserva. This historic park in central Lima is home to the Circuito Mágico de Agua (Magic Water Circuit): a sequence of 13 illuminated, ever-changing fountains. Go in the evening to catch one of the shows, with lights and water movements choreographed to music.
3. Take a peek at provocative pottery. The Museo Larco has a vast collection of pre-Columbian art and artifacts, but many visitors’ favorite is the Erotic Gallery. Sculptural ceramics depict diverse representations of the nude body and sexuality, inspired by the concept of tinkuy: “the generative meeting of opposite and complementary forces.”

3 of the best boutique hotels in Lima

You may never want to leave the Quinta Miraflores Boutique Hotel. Occupying a charming Spanish Colonial building in Miraflores, this hotel offers beautiful rooms furnished with antiques, some of which have balconies overlooking the garden. Walk to restaurants, shops and the beach.

Atemporal is something different: a 6-room hotel that makes you feel as if you’ve stepped out of time. It occupies a 1940s Peruvian Tudor that has been updated with modern amenities and art. Enjoy the daily à-la-carte breakfast, tea station, candlelit garden, house bicycles, and complimentary snacks and drinks.

If you have 5-star tastes and a 2-star budget, then we have a fantastic Lima hotel for you: Neo Hotel Boutique. This 12-room gem in the San Isidro neighborhood earns rave reviews for clean, bright rooms, an inviting rooftop bar, and its gracious staff. Best of all, you can snag a room for under $50 per night (depending on the season).

3 of the best restaurants in Lima

The national dish of Peru is ceviche—fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice, onion, spicy chiles and salt. One of the most popular spots for ceviche in Lima is La Canta Rana (“the singing frog”) in Barranco, a cozy, flag-bedecked pub. Try the ceviche mixto, which lets you taste a little of everything, with a pisco sour to wash it down.

For fine dining that you won’t soon forget, head to Huaca Pucllana, an upscale Peruvian restaurant with amazing views of ancient pyramids. The menu offers creative takes on traditional cuisine, such as anticuchos (skewered beef hearts), tiradito (thinly sliced raw fish) in smoked leche de tigre sauce, and ají de gallina, a spicy chicken stew.

When in Lima, you absolutely must visit Barrio Chino (the city’s Chinatown) to try some chifa. The arrival of Chinese laborers in the mid-1800s resulted in the creation of a new fusion cuisine: traditional Peruvian ingredients plus Cantonese staples such as soy sauce, ginger, and noodles. Try Chun Koc Sen, a local favorite for arroz chaufa (fried rice) and taypa (wok-fried pork, chicken and vegetables).

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