Lima Sightseeing: Plaza Mayor to Barranco

November 5, 2026

Lima’s sights fall into three groups: the colonial Historic Centre, the clifftop districts of Miraflores and Barranco, and the pre-Inca sites around the city. The Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits about 10 km inland from the coast. Prices are in soles (S/).

The Historic Centre

The Plaza Mayor is Lima’s founding square, laid out by Francisco Pizarro on 18 January 1535. The Cathedral stands on the east side and the Government Palace on the north. A changing of the guard takes place at the palace around midday, so check the time on the day. Go in daylight and stay on the main pedestrian streets.

The Basilica and Convento de San Francisco has a Baroque church and a library, and the catacombs below are visited on a guided tour. They hold the burials of colonial Lima, and a quiet manner suits them. Fees and photography rules vary between sources, so ask at the desk.

Casa de Aliaga, at Jiron de la Union 224, is a family house open only by booking and with a guide. One guide lists daily hours from 9:30 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30.

Bar Cordano, on Jiron Ancash 202 beside the Government Palace, is a historic bar that is open to the public. A guide lists Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00 and Sunday until 16:00.

The pretty streets of the centre are fine by day. The UK government notes that Lima’s historic centre is a common site for protests, which can close roads, so check the news before you go.

Miraflores and Barranco

Parque del Amor on the Miraflores clifftop has mosaic walls and the sculpture El Beso by Victor Delfin. The nearby Malecon runs along the cliff, and Larcomar is built into the rock face. Beach access is by ramps and a footbridge, not by climbing down the cliff.

In Barranco, the Puente de los Suspiros is a wooden footbridge from the 19th century, and the Bajada de Banos leads down to the sea. The Museo Pedro de Osma, at Pedro de Osma 421, holds vice-regal art.

Pre-Inca sites

Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores is an adobe pyramid of the Lima culture, visited with a guide. A 2024 press report gave day visits Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 to 17:00 at S/ 15, and evening visits at S/ 17.

Pachacamac, about 31.5 km south, is a large sacred centre with a site museum. Stay on the marked paths.

Museums

Museo Larco is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00, at S/ 50 at the door or S/ 45 online. The LUM memorial museum in Miraflores documents the internal armed conflict of 1980 to 2000, in which about 70,000 Peruvians were killed or disappeared. It is free, opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and calls for a serious visit. See the LUM site .

Cerro San Cristobal

Do not walk up this hill from Rimac, where armed robberies on the approach have been reported. Go only with a licensed operator or a registered taxi, or skip it.

Compare Lima sightseeing tours if you want a guide.