Lima Travel Guide: What to Do & 5 Amazing Places to Eat

We felt safe walking around Miraflores and Barranco during the day and had no issues in Lima. I would still take the usual city precautions here. Keep your bag close, be aware of your surroundings when using your phone and avoid walking alone at night or through quiet streets.

If you are taking a taxi from the airport, I would use Uber rather than jumping in any taxi. The FCDO flags street crime even in tourist areas like Miraflores and Barranco, so check the latest Peru travel advice before you go.

If you are short on time, I would look at flights from Quito to Lima. We were coming from Cuenca and wanted to head straight to Lima once we got into Peru, so we took a bus to Huaquillas, crossed at the official immigration checkpoint and took a taxi to Tumbes Airport to fly to Lima.

If you are considering the land crossing, check the latest FCDO advice for Ecuador and the current border information before booking, as both can change. I go into more detail about our crossing and the bus option in my 4 Week Peru Itinerary.

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1. See the cats at Kennedy Park

If you love cats as much as I do, make a stop at Kennedy Park in Miraflores. We walked over from our hostel and found cats napping in the flowerbeds like they owned the place (which they basically do lol). It is an easy stop to add before or after breakfast if you are staying in Miraflores.

Cats resting among red and white flowers in Kennedy Park, Miraflores, Lima

2. Wander around Barranco

We spent part of the day wandering around Barranco, popping into little shops and stopping for lunch. If you are only in Lima for a short stop like we were, I would give yourself a couple of hours here so you can look around and have lunch without rushing.

3. Make time for the food

I could have stayed in Lima for a week just to eat lol. Between the veggie sushi, the pastries I went back for seconds on and the crepe I probably should have shared, the food ended up being my favourite part of Lima. I have put all the places we tried and what I would order again in the Where to Eat in Lima section below.

This Lima travel guide covers all the best places I ate while in Lima. This restaurant was my favourite and I ordered three plates of vegan sushi rolls with different toppings at Asianica in Lima.

A selection of pastries at Pan Atelier in Lima

If You Have More Time in Lima

A few places I did not get to on this trip but would look at next time:

Walk the Malecon in Miraflores. Follow the clifftop path for views over the Pacific and stop at Parque del Amor along the way.
See the Bridge of Sighs in Barranco. It is an easy stop to add while you are already wandering around the neighbourhood.
Visit Huaca Pucllana. If you fancy a bit of history, there is an ancient adobe pyramid right in Miraflores.

Where to Eat in Lima

No Lima travel guide would be complete without talking about the food. Lima’s café scene was 10/10. Between the coffee, the pastries and the veggie sushi I am still thinking about, I could have stayed a week just to eat lol. These are the places we tried and what I would go back for.

1. Asianica

This was my favourite dinner in Lima. I usually think of fish when I think of sushi, so I was a bit wary when I realised it was all veggie. We ordered a few different sushi rolls, bao buns and a noodle dish and it was all soooo good. I would honestly go back every day if I could.

2. Demo

If you are wandering around Barranco, go to Demo for the pastries. I had a whole lunch here and still ordered two pastries lol. Lunch was a salad though, so that is called balance.

3. Pan Atelier

This was probably my favourite coffee in Lima. I got the yoghurt and granola because I fancied something fresh after all the pastries. I would go back just for the coffee.

4. Helarte

If you have a sweet tooth like me, I went here purely for the crepes. You can choose your own toppings and mine was massive. I probably could have shared it tbh.

5. Miku Sushi & Pub

We also tried Miku for sushi and thought it was really reasonably priced. I enjoyed it, but if I only had time for one sushi dinner in Lima, I would go back to Asianica.

vegan bao buns served at Asianica in Lima

Where to Stay in Lima

We stayed in Miraflores and I would stay in this area again. We could go out for breakfast near the hostel and Kennedy Park was close by.

Budget: Pariwana Hostel Lima – This is where we stayed and I would book it again. It was social, the location was great and our private room felt more like a three-star hotel room. I would pick it if you want to meet people and still have your own space.
Mid-range: Hotel Límade – I would look at Hotel Límade if you want your own hotel room right by Kennedy Park. The rooms have private bathrooms and air conditioning, and you can book a room with a balcony if you fancy one.
Luxury: SOUMA Hotel Lima – If you fancy a splurge, I would look at SOUMA. It is right by the Malecon in Miraflores and has a spa and a rooftop pool overlooking the Pacific. I would go for a drink on the rooftop at sunset.

MORE TRAVEL INSPO

What is Next?

Lima Travel Guide: What We Did, Where We Ate and Where We Stayed

Woman wearing a decorated blue hat and embroidered skirt holding a baby llama beside a white alpaca in Arequipa

The Ultimate 4 Week Peru Itinerary: Machu Picchu, Huayhuash & More

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Where to Next in Peru?

If Lima is your first stop in Peru, I have put our full route together so you can see where we went next and how long we spent in each place.

We took the overnight bus from Lima to Huaraz to hike the Huayhuash Trek, then headed south through Paracas, Huacachina and Arequipa before making our way to Cusco and Machu Picchu. I have included how we got between each stop, where we stayed and what I would do differently if I did the trip again.

Read my Ultimate 4 Week Peru Itinerary

Where to next?

I am always planning my next trip and sharing everything I learn along the way. If you would like to follow my travels through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. From places I loved to the things I would probably do differently next time, I share honest travel advice to help you plan your own adventures. I would love to have you along for the journey.

Lima Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat & Where to Stay (2026 Guide)

1. See the cats at Kennedy Park

2. Wander around Barranco

3. Make time for the food

If You Have More Time in Lima