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Peru’s capital city is Lima. This bustling city on the water is the perfect addition to any trip to the highlands or Machu Picchu. Here, you’ll be able to explore the history of the Peruvian people and experience some of the best food in the world. 48 hours in Lima is actually the perfect amount of time to visit many neighborhoods, enjoy lots of food, and still have time to explore more of Peru.
Through this post, we will take you to our favorite spots in Lima and share some of the best restaurants to check out. Lima boasts some of the world’s best restaurants, such as Panchita. You will need reservations to eat there. We will also answer some questions about how to get to Peru and how to get around, but for more details, be sure to check our post about the critical things to know before going to Peru (such as the water cleanliness issues)!
48 Hours in Lima: Itinerary
For this trip, we will assume that you arrived the day before and will, therefore, have a full 48 hours in Lima.
Day 1: Miraflores & Barranco
Breakfast: Milimétrica Coffee
Peru is known for many things. When it comes to food, coffee and chocolate are at the forefront of my mind. So, while of course we will be having lomo saltado, potatoes, and ceviche for breakfast, we must have some Peruvian Coffee. We suggest Milimétrica Coffee to get some amazing single-origin Peruvian coffee. They also offer some yummy breakfast options.
Most of our 48-hour stay in Lima consisted of eating breakfast at the hotel but stopping for coffee at coffee shops. Stay away from cold coffee. The ice may have been made with contaminated water. Opt for a warm latte or cappuccino. At Milimétrica Coffee, we also had incredible drinking chocolate.
Huaca Pucllana
From breakfast, we will walk to Huaca Pucllana. It is a historical pyramid built by the Lima People, an empire that preceded the Incas by several hundred years. Be sure to walk through Parque Kennedy on your way there to see all the cats and their little cat houses. This park is central to life in Miraflores.
A guide will take you through the whole site. Learn all about how it was built and the history of the Lima people. There is a little museum to check out while you wait for your tour to start. There are tours in English and Spanish. Additionally, Huaca Pucllana offers nighttime tours and shows as well, which could be a fun option.
Are you interested in a private tour of the two most famous and popular museums in Lima? Check out this tour!
ChocoMuseo: Bean to Bar Workshop
From Huca Pullcana, we walk down to the ChocoMuseo in the Inca Market. If you have extra time, this is an excellent market to get some haggling going and buy some wonderful and unique Peruvian souvenirs. The Bean to Bar workshop was probably my favorite thing in Lima.
At the museum, you’ll make your own chocolates to take home. Not only will you go home with your own chocolates, but you’ll also learn how to make chocolate from the beans. Your group will learn how cocoa pods are harvested, fermented, and dried. From there, your group takes over to roast, peel, and grind the beans to cocoa powder. Here, you’ll make two traditional drinking chocolates. A must-do for all chocolate lovers!
Get your tickets for this workshop here! They have three classes a day: 10 am, 12:30 pm, and 3 pm.
Lunch: Siete Sopas
After all that walking and chocolate tasting, you’ll need a hearty lunch! Siete Sopas is a popular local chain. It serves soups as well as other traditional Peruvian meals. Our favorites include lomo saltado and arroz chaufa. Remember to ask for bottled water and no ice.
Parque Del Amor & Costa Verde
We can’t go to a city on the water and then not see the Pacific Ocean! From lunch, we walk (or Uber) to the Parque Del Amor. Otherwise known as “love park,” this park is dedicated to love of all sorts. If you’re lucky, during your 48 hours in Lima, you might see a couple taking their wedding photos here. Residents of Miraflores designed and made the mosaic benches. You’ll also likely experience pushy street vendors trying to sell you locks for the love railing there. Don’t feel bad about saying no.
Now you have a choice! You can take the stairs down and head to the beach. Warning here: you’ll need to take the stairs back. The beaches of Lima are all rocks, not sandy, which makes them less enjoyable, but they’re great for surfing if you want to do that. Otherwise, we will stay above the cliffs and follow the path (known as Costa Verde) to Barranco.
Make a Wish on the Puente De Suspiros
Once you get to the Puente de Suspiros (or wishing bridge), it’s time to make a wish. Before crossing the bridge, think of your wish. When you’re ready, hold your breath and walk across the bridge while thinking of your wish. Good luck, and I hope it comes true!
After the bridge, it’s the perfect time to get a little snack (check out El Cacaotal for more chocolate or coffee) and explore Barranco. There is a large main park that is nice to sit for a spell. If you’d like to check out more artisanal items, go to Artesanías Las Pallas.
Traditional Dance Show and Dinner
Now, something Larry and I love doing when we travel is going to a traditional dance show with dinner. It is such a fun way to experience the culture. We did the Tango in Buenos Aires and River dancing in Ireland, so naturally, we had to check out the traditional dances of Peru. This show is a great option because it showcases five different Peruvian dances from different parts of Peru. It is a great show for your 48 hours in Lima.
We recommend the VIP option in order to get dinner included with the show. Otherwise, you can purchase dinner and drinks during the show if you wish. It is also essential to know that there may be some audience participation. We weren’t prepared for this, but the host actively engaged audience members from various countries in a demonstration of “international traditional dances.” While we got out of participating, if you’re the only representative of your country, it might be harder to get out of it.
Get your tickets for the dinner and show here!
Day 2: Centro Historico
Breakfast is up to you! May we recommend H-elarte or Panea? From here, take an Uber or taxi to the Main Plaza of Lima or Plaza Mayor. Please note that depending on the time of day, this trip can take upwards of an hour. Traffic in Lima is HORRIBLE.
Plaza Mayor Walking Tour
At Plaza Mayor, there are many different historical sites of Lima. Here, you’ll find the Presidential Palace, the Lima Cathedral, and the Catacombs of San Fransisco. One of our favorite parts was seeing all the pristine wooden balconies throughout this area. The balconies are impeccably preserved. This is in part due to the great weather in Lima. This Tour will get you to see all these major highlights leaving, only a couple things for you to explore on your own. While it is not necessary to do the tour, it’s nice to know what you’re looking at.
Get your walking tour tickets here!
Lunch At Cordano Restaurant
One of the oldest still operational restaurants in Lima is in the historic district. Open since 1905, this restaurant is steeped in Peruvian history. Check out the restaurant and stay for lunch. Here, we tried chicha morada for the first time.
San Francisco Catacombs
If you choose to do the walking tour above, you’ve already seen the Catacombs under the San Francisco church and monastery. If you haven’t done the tour, then definitely check it out. It is the oldest catacombs in South America. It is both creepy and cool. The tour will give you lots of information about the history of Lima.
I recommend heading to the other churches in the area for those who have already done this tour. During your 48 hours in Lima, you can really enjoy some gorgeous churches. Nearby, you have Basilica de Santa Rosa de Lima, Iglesia Las Nazarenas, Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, Basílica de la Veracruz, and Shrine of Our Lady of Solitude. There is genuinely so much to explore in this area.
Plaza San Martin
From Plaza Mayor and all its history, we walk down to Plaza San Martin. This plaza is the start of a number of parks and green spaces before the Parque de la Reserva. As you walk down Jiron de la Union, you’ll see a giant courthouse, a mall, a statue of Miguel Grau, and the Lima Art Museum. If you have time, pop into the art museum to see local Peruvian art.
Dinner at Casa Tambo
Between Plaza San Martin and Parque de la Reserva is Casa Tambo. Another historic restaurant in the historic district of Peru. This popular restaurant has beautifully painted walls and ceilings, which make the dining experience completely unique. Of course, this is a Peruvian restaurant, so get some traditional Peruvian food!
Magic Water Circuit (Circuito Mágico del Agua) in the Parque de la Reserva
To top off the busy day, we walked down to Parque de la Reserva to see the magic water circuit. This is an impressive park with many water fountains. Three times a night, the main water fountain in the middle performs a magic show. The show details the history of Peru through water, video, and music.
The other water fountains can be interactive as well. There is one you can walk through like a tunnel. A couple are essentially splash pads for children and adults alike. They also have a fun Lima sign for pictures. As a large park, there is so much to explore, and they seem to always have a fair or festival going on. From here, you can take an Uber back to the hotel or to one of the many great bars for a nightcap!
Extra Time? Check Out These Fun Activities
Explore Chinatown
For a more off-the-beaten-path view of Lima, head to Chinatown. This area is very, very packed and incredibly chaotic. You’ll want to exercise caution since pick-pocketing is very easy in packed areas. If you’re easily overwhelmed, I’d avoid this area. Now, that being said, Chinatown in Lima is very cool.
There is a huge archway to welcome you and tons and tons of street vendors. If you’re interested in eating in Chinatown, check the menu ahead of time and use Google Translate before heading to the restaurant to understand the options. It can be very overwhelming to see the giant menus and not understand what any of the food is. Walking through Lima’s Chinatown is definitely an adventure.
El Cacaotal
For all chocolate lovers, El Cacaotal is sort of a “chocolate library.” Tucked away in Barranco, this chocolate/coffee shop is perfect for tasting the different chocolates Peru offers. Here, they walk you through the taste of the chocolates according to the region in Peru where the cocoa beans came from. It is so impressive to see the wall of chocolates from Peru. While we couldn’t buy them all, we brought a selection home.
Check Out Larcomar
Along the Costa Verde is Larcomar. This outdoor mall has lots of shopping if you’re in need of anything. Additionally, you’ll find incredible views of the Pacific Ocean here. So if you find yourself with extra time during your 48 hours in Lima, we suggest exploring the mall and maybe buying some stuff. For food, we recommend eating at Tanta. Check out Prune (my favorite leather purse brand from Argentina). But if shopping isn’t your thing, it is an excellent spot to take a bathroom break and take a break off your feet.
Visit the Larco Museum
To better understand Peru and its 30 different people, head to the Larco Museum. This archeological treasure will show you the impressive history of Peru and Lima. Here, you’ll experience Peru’s pre-Columbian and Spanish expansion and learn about all the societies that came before the Incas. It is a great experience and isn’t far from the local zoo and botanical gardens.
Mercado Nº 1 de Surquillo
If you are like us, you like to explore local markets. While I am known for spending time going through supermarkets everywhere we travel, the local farmer’s markets are even better. That is were Mercado Nº 1 de Surquillo comes in. They are indoor/outdoor farmers markets. They sell just about everything. Here, you can see the unique fruits that Peru offers, like lucuma and chirimoya.
Exercise caution as well. Whole dead chickens and chunks of beef are for sale. They are not refrigerated. Do not buy them. Also, do not buy any liquids or eat any raw fish. Remember the water in Peru can be contaminated. It is not worth the risk. The fruits and vegetables can be fine if you wash them with bottled water.
Take a Peruvian Cooking Class
A fun way to enjoy Lima’s food is to make your own! Head over to a cooking class and learn how to make your very own ceviche! They even teach you how to make pisco sours. It is such a fun addition to any 48 hours in Lima. Plus, you can talk to a local to find out about even more fun places to explore. That really makes it a win-win. Once you finish the class, you will eat your food! Then, you bring that expertise home to show off to friends.
Not interested in a cooking class? Maybe you’d rather have the cooking done for you in this amazing private group Food Tour of Lima!
Walking Tour from Miraflores to Barranco
Another great walking tour option is to take one from Miraflores to Barranco. Instead of figuring out the route yourself, let someone else do it! Both these neighborhoods are the best of Lima. They have plenty of restaurants, bars, and activities. On day 1 of 48 hours in Lima, I recommend walking along the Costa Verde to see both neighborhoods, but a tour makes it so much easier. As part of our trip, we did this tour, and we learned so much about Lima because of it.
Shop in the Inca Artisanal Mall
Looking to buy artisanal souvenirs? Well, Peru has TONS. The Inca Mall is a mall full of local artisans. You can haggle for the best price and bring home many wonderful goodies. We had so much fun getting lost through the maze of artisans.
Carry some Peruvian Soles for this purpose, as they’ll get you a better deal than credit cards. Also, be sure to shop around, as several stores might offer what you want for better prices. Throughout Lima, you’ll see many different artisanal goodies. The main one I would avoid is silver jewelry. Chances are very high that it’s fake, and you are getting scammed. While Peru is cheaper than the US, remember, ‘if it’s too good to be true, it isn’t true.’
Things to Know About Spending 48 Hours in Lima
How To Get To Lima?
Flying is your best bet. Peru is a large country, and it is not the most friendly country for driving. I would not recommend trying to drive from Cusco or anywhere to Lima. There is also no robust train system. You can take a bus, but that could take over 20 hours, depending on where you’re coming from. So, the best bet is to fly to Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. For the initial landing, I also recommend getting a hotel shuttle to pick you up as opposed to picking up a taxi curbside. This allows you to know how much it’ll cost beforehand and avoids the possibility of getting scammed.
How To Get Around Lima?
PRO TIP: If you are taking a taxi use the Cabify app rather than flagging one on the street especially if you don’t speak Spanish. You will likely be scammed as a tourist and end up paying more if you flag a taxi down. Additionally, taxis will drive around with their hazard lights on and honking their horns to let you know that they are available to take a passenger so don’t be alarmed if you’re being honked at a lot.
Where To Stay In Lima?
Wrap-Up: 48 Hours In Lima
Lima is a vibrant city with plenty to fill for 48 hours. There isn’t a ton to do outside of this, but luckily, it can be a stopover to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Peru has so much to offer, and starting in Lima is a great place to start getting situated in Peru. From chocolate to coffee to many colorful crafts, there is so much to see and do in Lima.
