Lima, known as the City of Kings and the country’s capital, can feel overwhelming given its size, the amount of activities to do, amazing places to eat, and history to learn. With so much information, it’s hard to know what to do in Lima, Peru. That’s where TTLT, your travel expert, comes in!

Christiana, our all-inclusive trips to Peru tour host, has been living in Peru for the last 10 years - 3 of those in Lima - and she’s here to share three great ways to experience the city in one day. Pick one itinerary and stick to it, or create your own perfect day by choosing activities from each option.

What to do in Lima, Peru: For the Historian

Morning + Lunch: Historic Center + Larco Museum + onsite restaurant

Head to downtown Lima and get a feel for the colonial historical center. Visit the two main squares, Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, and then take a tour of the San Francisco Convent and Catacombs. The catacombs house the bones of over 25,000 individuals and are considered the largest in the entire continent and also the best preserved (only surpassed by the catacombs in Paris).

Once you’ve toured the center, take a taxi to Museo Larco, considered one of the best museums in the whole country. The Larco Museum tells the story of 5,000 years of Peruvian history and culture and has over 30,000 archaeological pieces. Tickets to the museum can be purchased on the Museum website.

Head to the on-site restaurant and enjoy a delicious lunch on the terrace in the gardens.

Afternoon + Dinner

Option 1: Huaca Pucllana ruins + onsite restaurant

If you’d like to continue exploring ancient history, head to Miraflores and tour the Huaca Pucllana ruins, pre columbian ruins that were constructed around 400 AD, 1000 years earlier than the Incan civilization. Tickets must be reserved in advance on the Huaca Pucllana website and then paid in person upon arrival. We suggest choosing the 4:00 pm English-speaking tour so that you can head straight to the onsite restaurant when the tour finishes around 5:15 pm.

Enjoy some drinks and delicious food on the terrace overlooking the ruins. Insider tip - the fried yuca empanadas and goat cheese cheesecake are excellent choices.

Option 2: Lugar de la Memoria Museum + ocean view dinner at Larcomar

If you prefer to learn more about Peru’s recent history, check out the Lugar de la Memoria (LUM) Museum, or The Place of Memory, Tolerance and Social Inclusion, often referred to as the Terrorism Museum. LUM tells the story of the government’s struggle against the Shining Path terrorist group that tried to take over in the 1980s and ‘90s. The photos you see, the history you learn, and the stories you hear from survivors who are still living today are very impactful.

After the museum, take a short taxi ride to Larcomar and enjoy the rest of the late afternoon and evening with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. At Larcomar you’ll find many restaurants to choose from. Tanta is a great place to try many of the classic Peruvian dishes, such as lomo saltado, ají de gallina, arroz con chancho, and ceviche. Mangos has delicious drinks - you must try the Mango Sour Catedral - and a great open-air patio. We recommend getting a reservation since both spots are popular, especially during sunset.

What to do in Lima, Peru: For the Adventurer

Morning + Lunch: Explore Lima by Bike

Bike along the Malecón, which follows the coastline, and around Miraflores and Barranco, two of the most popular neighborhoods. You can either rent a bike from CityBike and explore on your own, or you can take a bike tour with Bike Tours of Lima. Either way, make sure you’re well protected from the sun during the summer months (December - March) and pack plenty of water.

For lunch, try some of Lima’s spectacular seafood at Al Toke Pez, a small hole-in-the-wall that is now well-known for its ceviche, deep-fried calamari, arroz con mariscos (seafood rice), and leche de tigre (tiger’s milk). It’s just a counter that seats up to 10, so be prepared to order something to go and find a park close by to enjoy your meal if you don’t want to wait for a seat.

Afternoon + Dinner: Surfing + Paragliding + Dinner by the ocean

After lunch, head down to the Costa Verde, the coastline, and ride the waves. If you already know how to surf, you can rent a board and wetsuit. If it’s your first time, there are many surf instructors available to teach you.

Note: depending on the tide, it may be better to surf in the morning and bike in the afternoon. Check the tide tables or with a surf instructor before making your plans.

Once you’ve dried off, take to the skies and enjoy a birds-eye view of the city and coastline. You can do so either by paragliding from the Malecón or paratriking from the Costa Verde. You can find numerous paratriking operators in the Magdalena area. The flights are about 10 minutes and include a GoPro recording of your ride. Insider Tip: A long sleeve shirt, pants, and sunglasses make the paratriking experience more comfortable.

After your flight, head south down the Costa Verde and have dinner at Rustica by the ocean, or take a short taxi ride up to Larcomar and enjoy the view from Tanta or Mangos.

What to do in Lima, Peru: For the Foodie

Morning + Lunch: Food Tour + Tastings

Don’t have a big breakfast this morning, since you’ll have 5 hours of tasting all Peru has to offer on a food tour with Lima Gourmet. During the tour, you’ll explore Barranco, Lima’s bohemian neighborhood full of amazing coffee, visit a local market and try exotic fruits, taste your way through the close-by Miraflores neighborhood, and much more.

Afternoon + Dinner: Coffee + Dessert in Barranco + Tasting Menu at a World’s 50 Best Restaurant

After the food tour, head back to Barranco and have an afternoon coffee at Ciclos Cafe while touring the second floor which houses their “chocolate library” (a great place to stock up on chocolate gifts!). If you’re craving a sweet treat, head to the ice cream shop next to Ciclos, Helado de Lima, choose your favorite flavor, and then walk off the calories by exploring the artsy neighborhood on your own.

For dinner, settle in for a multi-course, multi-hour tasting menu at one of Lima’s many gourmet restaurants and prepare to have your foodie dreams come true. Three of San Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants are in Lima - Central (#2), Maido, (#11), and Mayta (#32) - and as you can imagine, reservations are highly coveted, so make sure you book yours well in advance (preferably as soon as they become available). You can read more about the best restaurants in Lima. Spoiler alert: Maido has stolen our heart.

For more on Peru travel, don’t miss…

9 Day Itinerary in Peru
Peru Packing List
Tipping in Peru: How much to tip in Peru

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