Lima

South America's gastronomic capital, with a World Heritage colonial old town, the Miraflores sea cliffs and the Barranco arts district.

Lima is the capital of Peru, set in desert on the Pacific coast, with the Rímac River running through the city. It is the gateway for almost every trip to Peru. There are four main areas to explore. In the north, the Historic Center (a World Heritage Site since 1991) is home to the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Convent of San Francisco, the Convent of Santo Domingo and colonial carved-wood balconies, next to Chinatown and the Central Market. To the south along the coast, Miraflores is the top choice for visitor accommodation, with the clifftop trail, Parque del Amor, Larcomar and the paragliding launch point all in a row. Further south, Barranco is the arts and nightlife district. To the west, the port of Callao has old-town murals and boats to the Palomino Islands to see sea lions, and 30 km south of the city are the ruins of Pachacamac. Lima is known as the "gastronomic capital of South America"; restaurants on the World's 50 Best list, such as Central and Maido, need reservations 1–2 months ahead, and ordinary cevicherías and chifa restaurants are excellent too. Climate: it barely rains all year; December to April is sunny summer, while from May to November the city is shrouded in sea fog, gray and chilly but dry. Getting there: the airport is about 1 hour from Miraflores, so use an official taxi or a ride-hailing app; taxis in the city are cheap, and the express bus links the old town and Barranco. Chinese citizens with a valid US, Canadian, UK, Australian or Schengen visa can enter visa-free (check the latest policy). We suggest 2–3 days. Notes: avoid lingering on secluded streets in the old town and Callao at night, and keep your phone out of sight. For the Paracas bird islands and the Huacachina oasis, see the "Paracas · Huacachina" destination.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries