Lima is the capital of Peru and for that reason alone, you might be tempted to budget several days in the city. It’s the largest city in Peru and there are plenty of things to do, but Lima is not the only city you should visit on your trip.
So, in this post, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about visiting Peru’s capital, including answering the question of how many days you should spend in Lima.
What to Do in Lima, Peru
Before we talk about how many days you need in Lima, Peru, we should first talk about what you should do on your visit. I think getting an overview can really help travelers decide how many days they need to budget for their own itinerary. Every traveler is different and has different priorities, so do some research and decide what looks interesting and decide how many days you’ll need to see the city.
Miraflores
Likely, you’re going to stay in Miraflores on your trip to Lima since this is where most tourists stay on their visits to Lima (I’ll cover more advice about where to stay later in this post). Within Miraflores, you have plenty of shopping, but in my opinion, the best thing to do is to walk the malecon along the ocean. Along the way, you’ll pass through parks. Parque de Amor is my favorite for its mosaic benches that remind me of Barcelona.
At the edge of Miraflores, you’ll also find an Inca Ruin. I’ll admit that since I visited Lima at the end of my trip to Peru, I was burnt out on Incan Ruins, but from the outside it looked impressive. If you want to learn more, you can visit Huaca Pucllana.
Barranco
Barranco is right next to Miraflores and it offers a similar experience, though it’s still different enough to justify visiting both Miraflores and Barranco. Barranco is colorful and some of the street art in this neighborhood is gorgeous. You’ll also find shops and lots of restaurants. The malecon continues from Miraflores to Barranco, making walking from these two neighborhoods a very nice experience.
Historic Center
The last area of the city that I want to mention is the Historic Center. Here’s where you’ll find Plaza Mayor (Lima’s Main Square) and so many churches. The architecture is great and it can be interesting to just walk around and take everything in, though I recommend a walking tour to get the most out of your visit.
Day Trips from Lima, Peru
If you find yourself with extra time in Lima, there’s two day trips that you should know about, though they’ll often be combined into one excursion.
The first is Paracas, which sits right on the water. The two big attractions are the Las Ballestas Islands which give you the opportunity to view some animals (like penguins and sea lions) at a distance. Nearby is the Paracas National Reserve which offers some unique scenery.
Slightly further away is Huacachina, a small oasis in the desert. The highlight is a desert tour which typically involves dune buggies, sand boarding, and sunsets.
It’s totally possible to visit Paracas and Huacachina on a day trip from Lima, but I’d highly suggest taking an organized day trip. There are frequent buses, but the buses can be long (it’s nearly four hours to Paracas) so a tour company can help make the best use of your time. Just be aware that it’s going to be a very long day trip. One trip that I saw advertised departed Lima at 5:30 am and didn’t return until 11:00 pm.
For both Paracas and Huacachina, I’d recommend spending the night if possible. But, if you’re really crunched for time, you can do it as a day trip.
How Many Days Do You Need in Lima Peru?
So given all of that, how long do you need in Lima, Peru? Obviously, the answer will be different for each person since every traveler has their own preferences. That said, nearly every traveler will either start or end their trip in Lima. It’s the major airport in the country, so you’ll likely pass through here at some point.
Here’s my recommendations.
If you have one week or less in Peru, limit your time in Lima. At most, I’d recommend spending just one day in Lima, but in actuality, I think you could skip the city altogether. Try to focus your time in other, more exciting destinations, like Cusco or Arequipa.
If you have 7 to 10 days in Lima, budget one day in Lima. You can spend the morning in the historic center of Lima and spend your afternoon in the parks and along the malecon in Miraflores.
If you have two weeks or more in Lima, you can spend two days in Lima. Split your time and spend one day in Lima’s historic center and another day in Miraflores and nearby Barranco neighborhood so you can feel a little less rushed on a longer itinerary.
Other Things to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Trip
The other important thing to keep in mind is the rest of your trip. If you’re planning to stop overnight in either Paracas or Huacachina, you need less time in Lima. These are the top day trips from Lima, but if you can, I’d recommend spending the night. It’s nearly four hours to Paracas and it’s even further to Huacachina.
Unless you have two weeks or more, I don’t think you’d be missing out by skipping Paracas and Huacachina. The sites are Cusco and Arequipa are just better in my opinion.
What I Did in Lima, Peru
So I’ve given you all of my advice, but what did I do on my trip to Peru. I spent four nights in Peru. I had a whole month in Peru and by the time I reached Lima, I needed some time to decompress and prepare for the final leg of my trip. I still went out and saw some of the top sights of Lima, but I don’t think I would have missed out much on the city by trimming my time down to two nights.
How to Get Around Lima, Peru
If you’re staying in Miraflores, it’s pretty easy to just walk everywhere. The big issue is if you want to visit Lima’s historic center. It is way too far to walk so you’ll either way to take a taxi or the bus.
Taxis and Ubers can be easier, but they can get stuck in traffic, making these options less ideal during certain times of the day.
The transmilenio bus has its own dedicated bus lane making it easy to zip across the city. For most travelers, you’ll just need to worry about using line C to get from Miraflores to the Historic Center. The issue is actually paying for the bus.
You’ll need a card which costs 4.5 soles and then you’ll have to load that card with journeys. Each journey is 3.2 soles. The good news is that you can share a card within a group (though each person has to pay for their own journey). The bad news is if you just need one (or even two rides), it’s annoying to pick up a card.
When I went to the historic center, I took a guided walking tour. Our guide met us in Miraflores and we paid him to use his bus card to get to the Historic Center. On the return journey, I approached a man who was loading his card at the bus stop and asked if he could tap me through. I gave him cash, he loaded it onto his card, and tapped me into the station. This is not ideal, but when you just need one ride and are traveling solo, it’s the most cost effective option.
How to Get from the Airport to the City Center in Lima, Peru
There are two ways to reach Lima’s airport (code LIM). The first is by taxi. This is the most expensive option, but if you’re traveling as a couple or small group, this may be the most efficient option.
For budget travelers, there is an Airport Express bus that connects Miraflores with the Lima Airport. It costs just 20 soles and can be a much more budget friendly option for solo travelers. There are four pick ups within Miraflores, so find the spot that works best for you.
Where to Stay in Lima, Peru
Most tourists will stay in Miraflores. This area has a much better reputation for safety. It’s where I stayed and where I would recommend to anyone who’s visiting Lima for the first time. The only downside is that it takes at least 30 minutes to reach the historic center.
Could you stay in the historic center of Lima? Yes, but it’s important to note that this area doesn’t have the best reputation. Especially at night, it can be more dangerous.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad I stopped in Lima, but I’ll admit that it’s not my favorite stop in Peru. If you don’t have a lot of time in Peru, I think it’s better to prioritize other destinations within the country (like Cusco and Arequipa). If you have a few weeks, then absolutely budget a little time in Lima, but realize you will probably need less time than you think.
