Lima: The capital of Peru

You deserve to know this incredible destination, which brings together much of our country’s history in its historic center, which houses more than 600 important monuments; and comprises some of the best restaurants in the world offering the best Peruvian gastronomy experience; in addition to delivering the best adventures in the Pacific Ocean.

This guarantees the city the most beautiful landscapes on this horizon. There’s no way to regret spending a few days in this fascinating destination to prepare yourself for the other adventures that await you in Peru. The country’s capital is worth exploring from the mainland to the skies above Lima. We bet you are already curious about what to do there!

With this in mind and the importance of reinforcing the relevance of this city for tourism and to complement your adventure, we have prepared this article to be a small guide to introduce the main tourist attractions of the Peruvian capital. You will love to know a little more about this destination. Let’s go!


Lima’s history

For history lovers like us, Lima city, also called “The City of kings” offers the best museums in traditional spaces or the open. You choose! Walking around the city is already a cultural-historical experience, as there are numerous archaeological sites not only on the outskirts of the city but also inside Lima, besides other aspects that refer to the historical events that the Peruvian capital contextualized.

In addition, it is very interesting to note that some of the streets and neighborhoods of Lima are named after cities in Spain, which characterizes the strengthening of the Spanish Crown during the process of colonization of South America. In terms of the Hispanic period, Lima preserves its history in several buildings and heritage sites that offer visitors a glimpse of that time.

The Historic Center of Lima is the best place to appreciate this aspect and proof of this is its recognition as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In addition, in this region are also the main squares of the Peruvian capital, with incredible scenery to have great moments.

But if you are the type who loves to visit museums, there are some very interesting options to visit in the city: the Larco Museum, which has a collection of thousands of artistic and archaeological pieces that belonged to different civilizations of ancient Peru.

The Gold Museum has an extensive collection of gold and silver objects, as well as weapons from different parts of the world; and, finally, the National Museum of Archeology of Peru is the first museum of the State in Lima, where you can immerse yourself in the pre-Hispanic history of the country. In addition to these, discover other museums in Lima and be enchanted by Peruvian history!


Miraflores

The Miraflores District is the main district of Lima and is the most frequented by tourists since it is a modern neighborhood, that comprises a wide variety of hotels – including 5-star hotels, shops, restaurants, parks, gardens, beaches, and much more. In other words, this is a large tourist and commercial center that offers all the necessary infrastructure for you to spend the best moments of your trip through Lima.

This is certainly a great neighborhood to stay in and stay close to the main attractions, being able to enjoy them with all comfort and safety. Here you will find places to walk, passing through wonderful green areas, in addition to finding clean places and organized streets.

Strolling through the region’s main park, Parque Central de Miraflores or Parque Kennedy, as it is also known, you will find great stores and bookstores, as well as delicious restaurants and cafes to try the famous ceviche, which is a trademark of Peruvian coastal cuisine. , and also taste a refreshing pisco sour, the flagship of our drinks.

To complement the whole experience, you can cross the entire Miraflores on a bike tour along the Malecón de Miraflores, which is the promenade that surrounds the beach, so you will have the best views and memories to keep forever in your memory!


Barranco

The bohemian Barranco district was once the place that concentrated the summer residences of part of the elite of Peru’s society, however, over the years the region has been transformed. Today, the old, colonial, and colorful mansions house hotels, restaurants, and bars that appeal to all individuals who visit the neighborhood.

The interesting thing is that passing through the cliffs, is the Pacific Ocean, which forms very different beaches from the ones we usually know, which are usually surrounded by sand, while in Barranco they are surrounded by rocks, but offer incredible views to observe by the sea. This district is extremely charming, making it perfect for a night out.

El “puente de los suspiro” in Barranco is a must in Lima.

It has numerous bars and clubs for all tastes, including some that have performances of typical Peruvian dances. There, it is also possible to stroll through Parque Ingles, where the English and German immigrants who inhabited this region used to live.  If you are looking for museums in Barranco there is the Museo Pedro de Osma, which shows Peruvian art in the time of Spanish conquistadors.

This museum was founded by Pedro and Angelica de Osma Gildemeister in 1987. Also, for couples in love, it’s a great chance to enjoy a stroll through Puente de Los Suspiros, which is one of the postcards of this famous district. It was built and inaugurated in 1876 to unite all the corners of the neighborhood, which was growing at that time, and which today is even more charming at night.


San Isidro

San Isidro district is also one of the most visited by travelers who choose to spend a few days in Lima, which is a great place to visit and contemplate green areas. In this neighborhood, you can find El Olivar Park, which is full of trees, with ten hectares of green areas and a lake in the middle of it.

In addition, visiting the various 4 and 5-star hotels around San Isidro is the financial district, where it is possible to find the highest buildings, high-quality restaurants, and some of the most important embassies. This is a very interesting neighborhood to compose your itinerary through Lima!


Cercado de Lima

Finally, “Cercado de Lima”, or Lima district is where the Government Palace is located, which has been renovated a few times and today houses rooms known for their large receptions for ambassadors and government ministers.  It is a colonial-style building with very luxurious features, in the French Renaissance style of the last century.

Following the line of colonial-style buildings, architecture lovers and those who like to appreciate it cannot fail to visit the Palácio da Torre Tagle, a luxurious mansion that preserves the traditional details of the 17th century in its construction. A true work of art!

In addition, visiting the various churches, convents, and museums in this neighborhood is also a must for their history and architecture, with the Convent of San Francisco, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Church of San Pedro being the main and famous constructions, which were started throughout from the 1500s. Also, the museo de arte de Lima.


Gastronomic Capital of Latin America

Closing with a flourish the aspect that makes Lima an incredible destination is the impeccable gastronomic experience! Peruvian cuisine is always on the rise and has great restaurant options. Only in Lima, there are 3 of the 50 best restaurants in the world and they are certainly places worth visiting and tasting the delicacies that are served.

Our food is the best in the world!

Talking about them, we have the Maido Restaurant which has a mixture of oriental cuisine, Japanese cuisine, and Peruvian, which harmonize perfectly. At Astrid y Gastón you will find dishes prepared with seasonings and ingredients produced in the restaurant’s sustainable garden. At the Central Restaurant, you can enjoy a memorable tasting with well-prepared meals with a variety of exotic flavors.

Leaving Lima without having tasted one of these delights is a waste! So don’t miss the opportunity to take the time to have an amazing experience at one of these restaurants and enjoy the wonderful feeling of this world-renowned cuisine.


Would you like to know a little more about Lima? Know that there are many other things to do in this amazing destination and many other cities in Peru. So be sure to check out our Lima travel packages to get to know and be inspired for your travels.


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