The perfect Lima 2 day itinerary for first time visitors

Lima is often the city where travellers begin or end adventures in South America. The Peruvian capital was our first stop in a five-month backpacking trip. But it is more just a landing point; this is one of the most historic and culture-rich cities in the world! With only 2 days in Lima, we managed to explore many of the highlights while uncovering some hidden treasures. We’ve also been back since to explore more! In this article, based on our experiences, we share the perfect Lima 2 day itinerary for first-time visitors.

While Lima has a larger city population than the likes of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, its main tourist attractions are concentrated into fairly compact areas. The city is spread across 43 sprawling districts, but this itinerary focuses on the three where you will find many of the top sights and hidden gems: Miraflores, Barranco and Centro Histórico.

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How many days in Lima is enough?

Lima is a huge city with a lot to see and do, and you could spend weeks or even months here without experiencing it fully.

However, if time is limited for you, it’s possible to capture the essence of Lima even if you have as little as 2 or 3 days.

In this 2 day Lima itinerary, we show you how you can see the city’s highlights and get to know its captivating culture in just a flying visit.

Lima 2 day itinerary: what’s included?

Here are the highlights of our 2-day Lima itinerary at-a-glance. Read on below for the full details.

• Day 1, morning: the highlights of Miraflores / trending flavours tour
• Day 1, midday: lunch at a “menú del día” restaurant / Parque Kennedy
• Day 1, afternoon: Barranco bike tour / take the Miraflores Boardwalk along the coast
• Day 1, evening: experience Huaca Pucllana after dusk
• Day 2, morning: Centro Histórico riverfront / city walking tour
• Day 2, midday: the heart of Centro Histórico + Lima street food
• Day 2, afternoon: parks and museums
• Day 2, evening: the famous light show

On both days of the itinerary, we have included alternative options for exploring independently at your own pace, or taking guided tour experiences.

If you’re interested in trying some day trips and excursions outside the city, our selection of the best hikes in Peru features several near Lima. This includes short day walks in nearby nature reserves to more difficult treks inland in the Central Andes.

For an alternative adventure, Lima has one of the best surfing scenes in South America. Check out our Lima surf guide to find out about the best surfing locations and how to book an experience.

Check out our ultimate Peru itinerary for more inspiration

Where to stay for 2 days in Lima

Our complete guide to where to stay in Lima covers all the city’s best neighbourhoods and our recommended accommodation options in each.

If you are visiting Lima on a budget or you’re backpacking through the city, see our article on the best hostels in Lima.

The most popular Lima districts for traveller accommodation are Miraflores and its neighbour Barranco. We based ourselves in Miraflores, where we stayed for 3 nights while exploring Lima in 2 days.

Miraflores is the ideal base for this itinerary, and many of the activities we recommend begin from there. These are our recommended places to stay in Miraflores for different budgets:

• Budget: Pariwana Hostel Lima is a fantastic backpacker hostel with low-cost dorms and private rooms. With a rooftop bar and regular themed social events, it’s a great place to meet and hang out with other travellers.
• Mid-range: Hotel Antigua Miraflores is a gorgeous boutique hotel with hand-crafted furniture and traditional colonial decor. The location is great, on a peaceful block within ten minutes’ walk of Parque Kennedy.
• Splurge: Iberostar Selection Miraflores is one of Lima’s most spectacular hotels, perched close to the coastline with room views of the city and ocean. It also has an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre.

2 days in Lima, day 1: Miraflores and Barranco

Our first day in Lima consists of a foodie walking tour (or independent exploration) in our base, Miraflores, and then a bike tour to Barranco (or walk there along the Miraflores Boardwalk).

Then we suggest having a delicious ceviche dinner in Miraflores before seeing the ruins of Huaca Pucllana at night. Let’s get into it!

Morning: the highlights of Miraflores

Miraflores is a safe and vibrant district, buzzing with bars, shops and markets. A great way to explore it is by taking the Miraflores Trending Flavours half-day walking tour. Beginning at 9:30am and lasting about four hours, you get to explore the district’s fascinating culinary history while also seeing and learning about the history and landmarks.

Lima is world-renowned for its cuisine, and you can get to know the scene on this tour, as well as learning about the local coffee culture.

Exploring Miraflores by foot

If you would rather explore Miraflores at your own pace rather than taking a tour, Mercado Surquillo is a good place to start. This is an enormous local food and supplies market frequented daily by locals. Located a ten-minute walk away from central Miraflores, it’s often overlooked by tourists, but worth a visit even if only to experience the hustle and bustle.

For the complete experience of Mercado Surquillo it may be better to visit in the morning when neighbourhood residents arrive early to vie for the best produce.

From here, cross the main highway and walk a few blocks to Miraflores Indian Market. This place is open throughout the daytime, and is a great spot for local craft and souvenirs.

Walking south from here to central Miraflores you will find many more mazy indoor artisan markets and craft shops. At the heart of Miraflores lies Parque Kennedy, a triangle-shaped greenery that features the Town Hall and Virgen Milagrosa Church.

The park’s gardens, filled with flower arrangements, are often filled with street artists and performers. We stopped here at a small amphitheatre-style stepped circle in the park to watch local dancers and musicians.

A ten-minute walk from Parque Kennedy will take you to the coast and Parque del Amor, the ‘park of love’. Lined with colourful mosaic walls, the park overlooks the Pacific Ocean with glorious views up and down the coast. At its centre stands the conspicuous elevated sculpture of an embracing couple that gives the park its name.

The park is a perfect spot to sit and take in the ocean scenery. Just a few feet away, you can watch paragliders taking off from the cliff edge. We were tempted to have a go ourselves, person, but we decided to move on. Maybe you’ll be more adventurous than us! Paramotor sky tours from Miraflores take about 30 minutes.

Check out this great selection of things to do in Miraflores for more ideas on what to do in this vibrant neighbourhood of Lima.

Midday: lunch in Miraflores

If you took the foodie walking tour in the morning, you might not be hungry for lunch. But if you do need something to eat, there is a lot of choice around Parque Kennedy.

If you’re on the tightest of budgets, Miraflores is also a good place to try one of Peru’s legendary ‘menú’ eateries. During the daytime, these places offer two- or three-course meals for as little as 4 or 5 soles (but typically around 12 soles). These places are undoubtedly hit and miss, but they are a must for a truly local experience. Check out our article about our Peruvian menú restaurants to find out more.

Afternoon: explore the colourful Barranco neighbourhood

Just down the coast from Miraflores lies Barranco, which is a colourful neighbourhood set across oceanside hills, filled with murals, quaint churches and quirky buildings.

In the afternoons, at either 14:45 or 16:00, you can take a Barranco bike tour from Miraflores. This 3-hour tour passes by the Huaca Pucllana ruins in Miraflores before taking in the sights of Barranco.

The tour is excellent value and the timing works out perfectly if you’ve taken the Miraflores trending flavours tour in the morning. The starting point is close to the Indian Market, so you could while away some time shopping there if you arrive a bit early.

Walking to Barranco on the Miraflores Boardwalk

As an alternative to the bike tour, you could take a coastal walk along along the Miraflores Boardwalk, a path stretching some 10 kilometres in total through coastal parks and beaches. The section from Miraflores to Barranco is about 4 kilometres and takes about an hour to walk, beginning at Parque del Amor.

About a kilometre down the coast from Parque del Amor you will reach Larcomar, a multi-level mall and entertainment complex carved into the side of the ocean-facing cliffs. This a good spot for a drink and a comfort break, and maybe a bit of high-end shopping.

From Larcomar, we continued down the scenic Boardwalk to its end-point, Malecón de la Reserva. From here it’s possible to walk to Barranco either by the main streets inland or by continuing along the beaches. We chose the latter.

Exploring Barranco by foot

From the beach by Barranco you can cross a pedestrian bridge and then take a walkway that leads up into the heart of the district. As you ascend the walkway – ‘Bajada de los Baños’ – take a moment to admire the giant mural before reaching Puente de los Suspiros (the ‘bridge of sighs’).

Across the bridge, take a look around the gardens of Plaza Chabuca Granda and Iglesia La Ermita. At the rear side of the church there is a gorgeous ocean viewing point. We were serenaded here by a local Flamenco guitar-playing duo. Perfect!

Back across the bridge, you can make your way to the main square, which is surrounded by colourful buildings with a clear blue fountain pool in the middle. After a stroll through the square’s tiled walkways and greeneries you should be ready for a break, and you can pop into one of the many cafés or bars.

Barranco has a great nightlife scene, the best in Lima in our experience. So you might want to come back here at the very end of the night if you’re looking for a party and have the energy.

To get back to Miraflores from Barranco, if you’re not on the bike tour, to save time, we’d recommend catching a taxi (which should cost about 15 soles). We walked the 3.5km distance but there’s not a huge amount to see and do between. Alternatively, you can take the local bus, ‘Ruta Troncal’, for 2.5 soles a ride using a rechargeable transport card.

Dinner in Miraflores: ceviche!

Back in Miraflores, you can treat yourself to ceviche dinner. A few blocks away from Parque Kennedy we stopped for dinner at Punto Azul, one of the best spots in the city to sample the Peruvian national dish.

Recommended to us by a friend who lives in Lima, this was the best ceviche we had during a month in Peru, and they also do a fantastic causa, another national staple. It was a bit of a treat on our backpacker budget, but well worth it!

Evening: experience Huaca Pucllana after dusk

After sundown, if you still have time after dinner, head back through central Miraflores to visit Huaca Pucllana, the restored ruins of an adobe pyramid some 1,600 years old. The ancient structure is so durable that it has withstood high-magnitude earthquakes that have devastated buildings all over Lima.

While Huaca Pucllana is open for day visits from 9am–5pm, it’s an extra-special experience to take a night tour. It does cost a little extra – general admission is 15 soles during the day, or 17 soles in the evening. Night tours run from 6:45–9pm. Check out the museum website for more info.

The fee includes museum entry and a guided tour, which lasts about 45 minutes. The restored adobe ruins look spectacular when lit up against the Lima night skyline. The site also has a shop and restaurant.

If you’re back late from Barranco, you could always visit Huaca Pucllana before having dinner. True to Lima’s later dining culture, Punto Azul is open until midnight.

2 days in Lima, day 2: Centro Histórico

On day 2 in Lima, we recommend heading to the city’s historical centre, which we did on our own second day in the city. You can the public bus from Miraflores, a 9km journey that takes about an hour. Return tickets are 2.50 soles. If you want to take a taxi, it should cost about 20–25 soles.

Lima city highlights walking tour

If you would like to take a guided tour of the historic tour rather than explore independently, we recommend the Lima city highlights tour. This begins at 9am and lasts about four hours, and it also includes pickup from Miraflores, so you don’t need to make your own way there.

The tour will give you a complere introduction to the top sights of Centro Histórico around Plaza San Martin and Plaza Mayor, as well as the city’s famous catacombs.

If you’d like a more history-themed tour, you could instead take the colonial Lima and Larco Museum tour that runs at the same time, from 9am. In addition to the main sights, this includes the historic house of Casa Aliaga and a trip to one of the world’s most highly rated history museums.

Exploring Centro Histórico on foot

If you prefer to explore at your own pace, then Avenida Wilson, close to the perimeter of Centro Histórico, is an ideal place to start (you can get off the bus here).

From here, head towards the Rímac River. You can stop to see various picturesque churches such as Iglesia San Sebastián and Iglesia de Santa Rosa on the way.

Before emerging onto the riverfront, turn along Jirón Conde de Superunda to Convento Santo Domingo. This magnificent pink church was originally built in the 16^th century, and has undergone various restorations since. Some of Peru’s most storied saints are buried within the church grounds.

From here, continue the short walk to Park La Muralla on the river. The park features a circular sheltered stage; our visit was timed luckily as a local festival was in full swing, with costumed performers delighting the crowds.

You can take the chance to visit the park’s open air museum, which showcases the relics of ancient buildings.

Further along the riverfront you will find the best viewing spot for Cerro San Cristóbal. The famed hill is one of Lima’s most photographed features, dotted with houses of many colours. We were content with the view from afar, but if you want to see it up close there are tour buses running every 30 minutes from the Plaza Mayor.

Street food tip: Centro Histórico is bustling with street vendors selling sweet snacks such as churros and dulce de leche pastries. For only 1 or 2 soles a pop, it’s well worth indulging. We did!

Walking back into the old town from the park you will soon reach the striking yellow walls of Monasterio de San Francisco. The sight of birds swirling around overhead is a mesmering one! The monastery’s catacombs are one of Lima’s most popular attractions. The 15 soles entry fee grants access to the bony remains within, and a library of antique texts. A guided tour is included.

Plaza Mayor, the main square of Centro Histórico, is just a couple of blocks away from here. The grass centre of the plaza provides a great view of Lima’s two most iconic buildings: Palacio de Gobierno and La Catedral de Lima. You can take a look inside the cathedral’s museum, with an entrance beginning at 10 soles.

Heading out of the historic centre, make a stop at Palacio Torre Tagle, one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish baroque architecture in the city. Now a government building, access is restricted, but it’s possible to enter the lower grounds and take some photographs.

The last architecture-spotting stop of our self-guided tour is Congreso de la República at Plaza Bolivar. The imposing white building is the meeting place of Peru’s legislative-power-wielding congress.

Afternoon/evening: parks, museums and the famous light show

A couple of kilometres south of the historical centre are the parks and gardens of Plaza Grau and Parque de los Museos. The extensive grounds feature several museums and galleries, the centrepiece of which is the Museum of Art of Lima (MALI). The park is the ideal stop-off on your return to Miraflores, situated right next to the main route for return buses.

There are a few restaurants around the parks where you can grab dinner, or try one of Peru’s chifa restaurants (Peruvian and Chinese fusion) before leaving Centro Histórico.

Further south towards Miraflores along Avenida Arequipa is the unmistakable El Circuito Mágico del Agua. Its famous water fountains are clearly visible from the main road. After sunset the fountains are illuminated in a spectacular light and water show, which is well worth the 4 soles entry fee. The show runs from Tuesday to Sunday at 7:15pm, 8:15pm and 9:15pm.

Alternative afternoon activity: street food tour

If you feel you’ve done enough regular sightseeing for one day, instead of hitting the parks and museums you could try a Lima street food experience. This covers the main landmarks of Centro Historico as well as a tour of street food highlights in the area and food tastings in the city’s oldest taverns.

Dinner at Latin America’s best restaurant?

Back in Miraflores, you have the opportunity to dine at Maido, a restaurant that sits at the top of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Two things to know first: one, you need to book well in advance, and two, it isn’t cheap! But this would be a once-in-a-lifetime meal to end your trip to Lima with a bang.

If you don’t want to stretch your budget that far, another excellent little restaurant we tried in Miraflores is El Rincón de Bigote, where we had a delicious ceviche at a reasonable price.

Further reading on Peru

• G Adventures Inca Trail experience | why it’s worth it
• Hiking the Inca Trail: a complete guide for first-timers
• Inca Trail packing list: 30 things to take
• Huacachina travel guide: the Peruvian desert oasis
• Visiting Iquitos: the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon
• Flying over the Nazca Lines: a complete guide
• Best things to do in Cusco, Peru
• Colca Canyon trek: an up and down experience

If you have any questions about our itinerary for Lima in 2 days, let us know in the comments below.

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