How many days in Lima?
When traveling to Peru, how many days in Lima do you need?
The capital of Peru, Lima is an exciting city full of culture and bustle.
Known for its cuisine, which ranks among the best in the world, the city is also home to many hip areas and interesting sights too.
How many days in Lima?
In this guide, we’ll look at why you should visit Lima, how many days are needed here, the best time to visit and much more.
Is Lima worth visiting?
First, let’s take a look at some of the best reasons why you should visit Lima.
- Delicious Cuisine – We’ve already mentioned it, but the food here really is something special. Home to the must-try Ceviche, as well as other Peruvian staples such as Papa a la Huancaina and Lomo Saltado, this is the best place to try them. You can also vary your experience by eating at an authentic local comedor, or going to a more upscale fusion restaurant.
- Oceanfront Views – Lima is right on Peru’s long Pacific Coast, and it stretches for more than 15km along the sprawling capital. The Costa Verde (as it’s known as) is full of beaches, chic spots and is also perfect for surfing with its endless, consistent waves rolling in. Just be sure to wear a wet suit since the waters here can get chilly, to say the least.
- Some Bizarre Attractions – How often can you say you’ve spent the day in a park petting dozens of cats? Just head to Parque Kennedy. Or how about weaving through spine-tingling catacombs, home to over 25,000 human skeletal remains? If that’s your thing, then visit El Convento de San Francisco with this awesome day tour. In Lima, this is all possible, and some more too!
How many days to spend in Lima
Our recommendation for any travelers heading to Lima is to spend a minimum of 3 days here.
Usually, this city is skipped to visit other areas of Peru, and we can’t lie, they probably have more going for them attraction-wise.
However, Lima still has some worthy gems of its own, and 3 days will feel just right in the capital.
Is Lima safe?
The capital can really vary when it comes to safety. There are some parts like Barranco that are very tourist-friendly, and other parts within Callao which, to say the least, aren’t the best for a night-time stroll.
The overall safest areas to stay within Lima are either in Miraflores or Barranco or within certain areas of the Centro Histórico (with the latter you’ll want to research as it can vary – however it’s worth it as most attractions are nearby).
Here are some of our top safety tips for Lima:
- Do some thorough research about the current safe areas of the city, and where best to avoid (these are always changing).
- Leave valuables like your passport and expensive jewelry at home when exploring the city.
- It’s much safer to use taxi apps like InDriver or Uber in Lima, than hailing a cab in the street.
Also, get the correct travel insurance that will cover you in South America.
How to get to Lima from the Airport?
The airport of Jorge Chavez is located within the district of Callao, which is in northern Lima. You’ll quickly realise just how big the capital is, since it can take hours to drive from one end across to the other.
If heading to Miraflores or Barranco (in the south), then the best option is to take a taxi within the airport, which shouldn’t be more than 50 Soles (they’ll try and rip you off; if they quote you a higher price just decline and ask someone else).
We highly recommend this private transfer to Miraflores, which is best for those who want everything organised in advance of their arrival.
If heading to the Centro Historico, you can also take a taxi, which costs around 40 Soles. Otherwise, for the travelers who want to really save, you can leave the airport and at the exit immediately turn right.
Along the street (with some food stands) many buses will pass, and you just need to ask which one can drop you off at the Centro Historico (a one-way will only cost you 3 Soles!).
Best time to visit Lima?
Overall, the best time to visit Lima is within the summer season, which runs from December until February.
The climate in Lima is very odd, due to the city being sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. As a result, it virtually never rains here, and the city lives in a perpetual state of grey (sounds depressing we know! George has lived here for while and says it’s not too bad).
What can vary are the temperatures, and the warmest time to visit is in the summer season. Daily averages range from 70-74°F, with highs of up to 80°F and lows of 65°F.
Christmas will be a more expensive time to visit, however aside from the festival of two, most accommodation prices won’t fluctuate too much throughout the year.
How many days in Lima?
This bustling capital is usually skipped by most tourists eager to reach Machu Picchu. However, we really recommend spending some time in this awesome capital. And who knows, you may just fall in love with it too…
In this guide we’ve explored why you should visit Lima, our top safety tips, the best time to visit as well anything else you’ll need to know.
Why not see our backpacking Peru itinerary for more travel advice?
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