The capital city of Peru, Lima is home to 8.5 million people. It’s a coastal city, located on the West coast of South America but directly South from the East Coast of the United States (They share a time zone. This makes the city incredibly easy to travel to, with many direct flights from the US. I flew Jet Blue from Fort Lauderdale straight to Peru, which was only a 5.5 hour flight).
Lima is home to a world-class food scene, gorgeous Spanish-inspired architecture, and some of the absolute friendliest people. There are so many fun things to do in Lima. While Machu Picchu is the destination most people travel to Peru to see, Lima is worth the trip.
Fun things to do in Lima, Peru
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Where to stay – Aloft Lima Miraflores
I stayed at the Aloft Lima Miraflores. When visiting Lima, I highly recommend staying in the Miraflores District. It’s beautiful, it’s safe, and the area is close to the water. Aloft is a new hotel in the Miraflores district and is fun, funky, and full of personality. Featuring local artists throughout the hotel, there is something cool to see around every turn. I especially loved the murals in the elevator.
Aloft Hotel is a Marriott hotel, which means you can earn points while you travel abroad, and they have amenities you’re used to, like a 120-volt plug (aka the American voltage) in each of their rooms. The beds are comfy, there’s a fabulous pool, and their breakfast buffet is delicious. Highly recommended!
Where to explore – Miraflores
I love Miraflores. To me it felt like a mix between Mexico and SoCal. There are restaurants and cafes on every corner, a great shopping mall, and lots of sites to see. I wandered around aimlessly for half a day and visited churches, walked through parks, and browsed the art stalls. It was such a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Where to explore – Barranco District
I took a bike tour through the Barranco District and fell in love with this artsy area. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so romantic. I swear I saw three different couples making out on park benches. There’s music playing in the streets and groups of people congregating and just enjoying being together.
Where to go – MATE Museum
The MATE Museum, featuring the works of famed celebrity photographer (and Peruvian!) Mario Testino, is a definite must-see. Located in the Barranco District, the museum is architecturally beautiful and filled with some of his most famous photographs.
I loved seeing his up close and personal take on Princess Diana. He was the last photographer to do a photo session with her. My very favorite exhibit was the Inca people he photographed in traditional Incan garb in Cusco, Peru. The photos were breathtaking.
Where to go – Huaca Pucllana Ruins
Miraflores has Inca ruins located right in town. Since I was going to Machu Picchu later in the trip, I skipped paying admission and checking them out more closely, but I love that you can walk around the outside of the Huaca Pucllana ruins that were built over 10,000 years ago.
Where to eat – Maido
Before traveling to Peru, I had no idea that Lima was such a food destination. It has the 6th, 7th, and 39th best restaurants in the world. I didn’t have a reservation, but knew I had to visit one of them on my trip.
I ended up walking to Maido in Miraflores, the 7th best restaurant in the world, and taking my chances on getting a seat at the bar. I had to wait for maybe 40 minutes, but ended up waiting with an Australian shaman who was backpacking through Peru. He ended up getting seated next to me and we had a fascinating conversation about his travels through Peru, his experiences with ayahuasca, and the power of numerology. Just by knowing my birthdate he was able to tell me some incredibly personal things about myself. It was crazy.
Maido was totally worth the wait for the food. A Peruvian-Japanese fusion, it was some of the best food I’ve ever had. Legitimately every dish was delicious. They were easily able to accommodate a vegetarian meal request, and thanks to a favorable currency exchange (currently $3.3 Sol to $1 USD), an appetizer, entree, dessert, and two drinks only cost me $60 after tip. You can’t beat it!
Where to eat – WXYZ Bar
Located in the lobby of the Aloft hotel, the WXYZ Bar is the kind of place you want to cozy up and stay a while. The food is really good, the drinks are refreshing, and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. I spent a few hours getting to know the other writers on the trip here and it made for such a fun night.
Questions of the Day: Have you been to Lima before? What about the city do you think you would enjoy the most?
Thanks to Marriott for sponsoring this post!
Glad I stumbled upon this. Thanks for featuring the hotel as well. Any other hotels on your list? That you can recommend?
This was the only hotel I stayed at in Lima so the only one I can personally recommend. There was a JW Marriott right by the ocean that looked fantastic but I didn’t stay there.
You took some great pictures. Looks like you had a great time.
So many places to explore, sights to see and delicious food to enjoy! Peru sure looks like a fun place for a vacation. Thank you for sharing your photos. It was a lovely virtual tour you provided me today.
I have wanted to go to Peru for such a long time and your post makes it even more so. Looks like you had a great time in Lima!
Woah! I’d love to visit this place and try the food you featured here!
I was in Lima last year and enjoyed my stay in Miraflores as well. There are so many good food there. Thank you for sharing your trip; bring me back so many good memories.
Wonderful hotel, great food, lovely city and some truly great pictures. Would love to visit. A very refreshing post. Loved it.
A loft hotels are definitely always beautiful!
Your photos are so so beautiful! They make me want to visit so much! Especially the beautiful hotel and yummy looking food
I would love to visit Peru one day. Lima has been on my bucket list for a while, but I haven’t been able to make it happen yet.
I have always wanted to visit lima. There r many things to do there.
Do you know I have never thought about going to Lima or Peru even, but it sounds like somewhere I would actually love to go! What an amazing place to visit with so much to do.
I think it would be so amazing to see Peru. Thanks for sharing all these great tips!
These pictures are amazing. This looks like a wonderful place to spend your vacation. Thank you for sharing.
I would surely include Lima to my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Lima sounds like an amazing place, the food and drinks look so good, im a foodie so i always look at that first
I like the look of Lima and good to know it’s safe too. I want to visit. It’s good to know when a place is around the water as that is my favorite kind of destination. I also like the dessert presentation; it is so mouth watering 😀 You have captured nice shots.
Thanks for the tons of pictures. I would like to visit Peru as well one day.
I hope to visit one day. My daughter will be there this summer to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
I’ve heard Peru is beautiful, and you pretty much just proved that also!
Wow, what a wonderful place this is. Me and my whole family will actually be taking a family vacation there this year.
I love to travel and will have to put Lima Peru on the list of places to go!
The views alone have me sold!
Peru has such a rich and amazing culture. It is definitely on my list to travel!
Lima looks like an awesome city to visit. Peru has a lot to offer the world!
Such a wonderful place in Peru I would love to visit this place someday awesome photos!
Wow, Lima looks stunning! Have always heard great things about Peru, would love to make it to Lima someday!
Lima has already been on my travel list. This article just helps confirm my decision ?
Wow looks beautiful. I love all your photos. Lima wasn’t on my list but now I think it should be.
Wow, looks like such an amazing place to visit! I need to put in on my travel bucket list for sure.
we are planning to visit peru soon. thanks for making our task easier with your post 🙂
The food looks fantastic! I really want to try everything and enjoy the gastronomic scene. So good!
I’ve never considered Peru until now, thanks for the I inspo!