City trip Lima

At a glance

When is the best time to visit?

Lima has a unique climate: a desert city on the Pacific Ocean cooled by the cold Humboldt Current. It barely ever rains, but in the cooler months (June to November) a thick sea mist known as la garua often hangs over the city.

Sunny and warm is from December to March (24 to 29 degrees Celsius), the high season for the beach and outdoor activities. For a combination with Machu Picchu (dry season in the Andes), choose June to August. May and September are excellent transition months with fewer crowds and lower prices.

Best neighbourhoods in Lima

• Miraflores The modern, safe district high on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Parque del Amor, Larcomar shopping mall and most hotels and restaurants for tourists. Ideal as a base.
• Barranco The bohemian arts quarter: colourful colonial houses, street art, live music on Sundays and the famous Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs). Walking distance from Miraflores, perfect for afternoons and evenings.
• San Isidro A green business district with the Bosque El Olivar (olive grove), top hotels and the finest fine-dining restaurants in the city. Quiet and upscale, but few tourist sights.
• Centro Historico UNESCO World Heritage with the Plaza Mayor, the cathedral, San Francisco monastery and the historic Barrio Chino. Visit during the day with a guide; less recommended at night.

Top 5 sights in Lima

• Museo Larco Peru's finest pre-Columbian museum: 45,000 artefacts in an 18th-century palazzo in Pueblo Libre. Includes the legendary erotic art vault. Entry S/50 (approximately EUR 12); book online at mlarco.org. Open daily 09:00 to 22:00.
• Huaca Pucllana A 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid in the middle of Miraflores, literally surrounded by apartment blocks. Every guided tour (included in the S/15 entry fee, approximately EUR 3.50) lasts about 45 minutes. Evening visits Wednesday to Sunday from 19:00 to 22:00 are especially atmospheric with floodlighting.
• MALI - Museo de Arte de Lima The city's art museum in the Parque de la Exposicion shows Peruvian art from pre-Hispanic to contemporary. Entry S/40 (approximately EUR 9.50); free on Thursday afternoons. Open late on the last Friday of each month.
• Barranco and the Bridge of Sighs A free walk through Lima's most charming neighbourhood: the Puente de los Suspiros over a ravine, the Bajada de Banos towards the coast, street art and local musicians on Sunday afternoons. Canta Rana restaurant a few streets away serves fresh ceviche.
• Circuito Magico del Agua The world's largest illuminated fountain complex (Guinness Record) in the Parque de la Reserva. Entry just S/4 (approximately EUR 1); children under 5 and seniors 65+ free. Open daily 15:00 to 22:00; the light show starts at sunset.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands to Lima

KLM flies daily non-stop from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Lima Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) in about 12 hours 30 minutes. Return tickets average around EUR 875 in the low season (November to December) and approximately EUR 1,217 on average.

Air France also flies direct via codeshare; with a stopover via Panama (Copa Airlines), Madrid (Iberia) or Paris, tickets can sometimes be found for around EUR 696. November is the cheapest month.

From the airport to Miraflores (11 km, 45 to 70 minutes depending on traffic): the official taxi from the desk in arrivals costs S/60 to 75 (approximately EUR 14 to 22).

Cheaper and more comfortable: the Airport Express Lima bus (S/15, approximately EUR 3.50) with Wi-Fi and luggage space runs directly to stops in Miraflores. Uber, Cabify and DiDi also work from the app; book before arrival. The public Metropolitano bus costs S/3.20 per trip.

Lima as gastronomic capital: what to eat

Lima is consistently voted the world's best gastronomic destination. The menu ranges from heavy street food for EUR 2 to restaurants on the 50 Best Restaurants list.

Ceviche at a local cevicheria costs S/25 to 40; the same dish at the renowned La Mar costs S/60 to 90. The daily set lunch (menu del dia including soup, main course and juice) is available everywhere in local neighbourhoods for S/10 to 15 (approximately EUR 2.50 to 3.50).

Lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), aji de gallina (chicken in yellow chilli sauce) and cau cau (tripe stew with mint) are the national classics. Vegans and vegetarians are also very well catered for in Lima.

Insider tip: chifa in the Barrio Chino

Lima has the largest Chinese community in South America (outside Brazil). 19th-century contract workers from China fused their cuisine with Peruvian ingredients to create the entirely unique culinary style known as chifa.

In the Barrio Chino in Lima Centro you will find all-you-can-eat chifa buffets for S/20 to 35 (approximately EUR 5 to 8). Arroz chaufa (fried rice) and lomo saltado are the most famous dishes of this fusion: almost all Limenians consider them 100% Peruvian. Most travel blogs overlook this secret.