Peru · City Guide
Lima
Lima is one of South America's great and most underrated capitals, a city of extraordinary culinary creativity that has been named home of the world's best restaurant multiple times, combined with magnificent Spanish colonial architecture in the UNESCO listed historic centre, outstanding pre-Columbian collections at the Larco Museum, vibrant Miraflores and Barranco neighbourhoods and a coastal setting above dramatic Pacific cliffs that provides spectacular sunset views.
Elect's take
"Lima is the food destination I would choose above any other in South America and rivals the world's finest cities for culinary quality. The combination of the extraordinary restaurant scene, the Larco Museum and the beautiful Pacific coastal setting creates a city of remarkable depth."
The restaurant scene in Lima is simply extraordinary, regularly producing what are considered the best restaurants in the world in Virgilio Martínez's Central and the Molfino group. The culinary tradition draws on Peru's extraordinary biodiversity of ingredients across coast, highlands and jungle. The Larco Museum houses the finest private collection of pre-Columbian art in the world, 45,000 ceramics of extraordinary quality in a beautiful 18th century vice-regal mansion. The historic centre with the magnificent Plaza Mayor, Cathedral and Santo Domingo monastery is outstanding. Miraflores provides excellent contemporary restaurants and the beautiful Larcomar clifftop shopping and dining complex above the Pacific.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Lima Cuisine
Home to the world's best restaurants including Central and the finest Peruvian culinary tradition.
Larco Museum
The world's finest private pre-Columbian collection in a beautiful vice-regal mansion.
Historic Centre
A UNESCO listed colonial centre with the magnificent Plaza Mayor and Cathedral.
Pacific Cliffs
Spectacular clifftop scenery in Miraflores with outstanding sunset views over the Pacific.
Barranco
Lima's most bohemian neighbourhood of galleries, restaurants and the beautiful Bridge of Sighs.
Surquillo Market
Lima's outstanding food market showcasing Peru's extraordinary biodiversity of ingredients.
