Things to do in Lima, Peru
Planning a trip to Lima, Peru in 2025? Whether you’re a first-time traveler or seasoned explorer, Lima is packed with cultural gems, culinary delights, and unforgettable experiences. Oscar and I traveled to Lima for the first time in May 2025 and were completely amazed by it! There was so many things to do and so much to taste! Oh my goodness the food! Lima should be on the list of any traveler!
I have put together a list of the 9 best things to do in Lima Peru is grouped by interest—from food tours (my favorite!) to archaeological sites and ocean excursions. Many include direct booking links for easy reservations, so you can spend more time enjoying and less time planning.
Walking Tours & Historic Exploration
Explore Lima’s fascinating colonial history, charming plazas, and colorful neighborhoods with guided experiences that showcase its architectural and cultural heritage. This is a must to, to get the most out of your visit to Lima Peru.
1. All-Inclusive Day Tour of Lima, Peru (The Best Option!)
- Time: Full Day (8 hours), best enjoyed mid-morning to afternoon
- Cost: From $89
- Location: Pickup from hotels in central Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (4.9/5)
- Overview: Covers major city landmarks, including Plaza Mayor, catacombs, and coastal districts with lunch included. We did this on our first day in Lima and it gave us a great overview of the city!
2. Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups)
- Time: Morning or afternoon
- Cost: From $40
- Location: Centro Histórico de Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)
3. Half-Day Historical District Tour
- Time: Morning or late afternoon
- Cost: From $35
- Location: Historic Downtown Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
Lima Peru Food Tours & Cooking Experiences
Experience the flavors of Lima, ranked as one of the top food cities in the world, through expert-led culinary tours and cooking classes. If you do one tour in Lima, it should be a food tour of some type! The food in Lima is just out of this world! My favorites were the ceviche, chicharron de pescado, Lomo Saltado, tamales, churros, just to name a few 🙂
4. Lima Peru Street Food, Market & Old Eateries Tour in Lima’s Historic Center (Must Do!)
This is a must do food tour. The pictures above are from this exact food tour, I would go back to Lima just for this food tour again! Seriously! LOL
- Time: Evening
- Cost: From $59
- Location: Centro Histórico
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
5. Lima Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour (Barranco District)
- Time: Morning to early afternoon
- Cost: From $89
- Location: Barranco, Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (4.9/5)
6. Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting (Top Rated!)
- Time: Morning
- Cost: From $79
- Location: Miraflores, Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
7. Lima Peru Gourmet Food Tour: Evening Experience
- Time: Evening
- Cost: From $135
- Location: Miraflores & Barranco
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (4.9/5)
Lima’s Archaeological Sites & Ruins
A to your things to do in Lima Peru some of it extraordinary Inca history! Discover Lima’s pre-Columbian roots with guided visits to nearby ancient ruins that reveal Peru’s deep cultural history.
8. Temple of Pachacamac Half-Day Tour
- Time: Morning or afternoon
- Cost: From $45
- Location: 45 minutes from Lima, Villa El Salvador
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)
Nature & Wildlife Adventures, Day Trip!
Engage with Lima’s natural beauty by sea or sand—spot marine wildlife or journey into Peru’s southern desert.
9. Visit the Sea Lions in Palomino Islands Boat Tour
- Time: Morning (when sea is calmest)
- Cost: From $69
- Location: Callao Port
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
10. Paracas & Huacachina Day Trip from Lima (Bonus!)
- Time: All day (starts early ~5AM)
- Cost: From $130
- Location: Pickup from Lima
- Booking: Reserve on Viator
- Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Whether you’re into food, history, beaches, or art, Lima honestly offers a little (or a lot in some cases) of everything! I promise this city will not disappoint! Save this post or share this guide with your travel partner and start planning your trip to Lima, Peru today!
