City of surprises: Why Lima rewards visitors who linger for longer
I take a deep breath before stepping on to the Bridge of Sighs in Lima’s bohemian quarter of Barranco. As tradition goes, if I hold it until I reach the other side, my wish will be granted. It’s a short distance, but a feat that feels amusingly high stakes – and a fitting ritual in a city that is richly storied and wonderfully quirky.
Typically, it’s the city’s celebrated culinary scene that often captures visitors’ attention. “There are as many restaurants in Lima as there are books in a library,” says our Abercrombie & Kent guide, Rodrigo Zanabria. Indeed, the prospect of snagging a coveted seat at one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants – four of which call the city home – is difficult to resist. Yet it quickly becomes clear that there’s far more to persuade clients to extend their stay in Peru’s eclectic capital.
Lima is a city of contrasts. Honking traffic and high-rise buildings surround ancient ruins – quite literally in the case of Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca pyramid marooned within a traffic circle. World-famous restaurants rub shoulders with hole-in-the-wall eateries serving pan con chicharrón (fried pork sandwiches), washed down with bottles of neon-yellow Inca Kola. Visitors drift between neighbourhoods splashed with street art and Unesco-listed districts lined with historic colonial-era architecture.
One thing’s for sure: those who take the time to explore Lima will be delightfully surprised.
Why sell it
A destination blessed with beguiling natural wonders, namely in the Andes and the Amazon, Peru’s appeal is on the rise. In 2025, the country welcomed some 66,000 arrivals from the UK, marking a 15% increase compared with 2024. Lima often serves as a gateway to exploring Peru’s headline attractions, but there’s plenty to make a compelling case for adding a few nights in the capital to a wider itinerary.
The city’s culinary scene could be justification alone, but between pisco sours and tasting menus, Lima offers a fascinating window into Peru’s layered cultural heritage.
Indigenous traditions blend with Spanish colonial influence, the country’s roots in the African slave trade and waves of migrants from China, Japan and Europe – all of which have shaped the city’s cuisine, architecture and culture.
There are no direct flights from the UK, but the best services are operated by British Airways and Iberia, each with a stop in Madrid.
What’s new
Lima’s hotel scene continues to expand, welcoming InterContinental Real Lima Miraflores last June, home to 321 sleek rooms and suites towering above the coastline. Meliá Hotels is also due to open its first luxury property in Peru this July. The Meliá Collection Lima will roll out a two-phase launch with 61 rooms available initially, followed by a further 45 in 2027.
When to go
You don’t visit Lima for its weather. While the city enjoys balmy temperatures, blue skies and sunshine from December to March, by May a blanket of fog, known as garœa, settles over its coastal cliffs and neighbourhoods – earning the city its nickname Lima la Gris, or Grey City.
The best approach is to plan around your clients’ wider Peru itinerary. If timing allows, January 18 sees the city come alive with concerts, parades and traditional performances in celebration of the founding of Lima by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Culinary enthusiasts may also enjoy the annual Mistura Food Festival in September, when stalls serving freshly prepared Peruvian classics line the streets.
Where to stay
Hotels in Lima are as varied and full of character as the city itself, spanning polished international addresses to intimate boutique boltholes.
Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel remains one of the capital’s standout properties, housing 89 elegant suites, a heated rooftop pool and serene spa, which uses products sourced from the Peruvian Amazon. The hotel’s cosmopolitan restaurant, Tragaluz, echoes the vibrancy of its surrounding district, with art-splashed walls and a menu that fuses Peru’s abundant cultural influences.
In neighbouring Barranco, Relais & Châteaux member Hotel B feels more like an art collector’s private residence than a place to stay. Set in a beautifully restored Belle Époque mansion, its corridors double as a gallery space for contemporary Peruvian art, while knitted llamas perched on each bed offer a playful welcome. Plans are underway to add 10 rooms and a spa by 2027.
For clients seeking a more intimate abode, high-end Peruvian hotel brand Andean has two outposts in Lima, both of which can be booked for exclusive use. Located in the quieter, residential area of Miraflores, Atemporal features six rooms, a cosy lounge and a veranda, while sister property Fausto offers five rooms alongside a rooftop terrace and courtyard. A small team are on hand to prepare breakfast and tend to guests’ needs, and there are fully stocked ‘help-yourself’ kitchens and bars.
What to see
There are many sides to Lima – 43 distinct districts in fact – each revealing a different facet of the city’s bountiful personality. But for clients with limited time, there’s a handful that should be top of the list.
With colourful murals gracing every facade and pop-up craft markets strung between contemporary galleries, the artistic quarter of Barranco hums with creativity. Up the coast, clifftop parks and polished boulevards overlook the Pacific in Miraflores, while nearby San Isidro offers leafy streets, chic boutiques and a blissfully slower pace.
History surfaces in unexpected ways: pre-Inca pyramids Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Huallamarca – which pre date Machu Picchu – feel wonderfully incongruous within the modern city, rising dramatically from bustling neighbourhoods. At the former, visitors can even dine beside the illuminated ruins at the on-site restaurant.
Elsewhere, Lima’s 500-year-old historic heart centres on Plaza Mayor, where the city was founded and Peru declared independence in 1821. The square is framed by landmarks including the ornate Cathedral of Lima and imposing San Francisco Convent, famed for its labyrinthine catacombs that lie beneath the city’s streets.
What to do
In a vast city such as Lima, guided experiences are invaluable for providing a deeper insight in a short space of time. Under the expert guidance of Abercrombie & Kent’s Rodrigo, I learn about the country’s diverse coffee and cacao industry during a private tasting at El Cacaotal, and master the art of preparing Peru’s signature pisco sour in a cocktail masterclass hosted at Hotel B.
The operator can also arrange a tour of Lima’s Callao district, where guests will visit a clutch of art galleries and embark on the Graffiti Route to see more than 60 murals by urban artists. Art enthusiasts should also visit the Museo de Arte de Lima, housing 17,000 historic works, as well as the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima, which features a range of abstract collections.
Where to dine
For many visitors, Lima is nothing short of a culinary pilgrimage. The city’s dining scene reflects centuries of cultural influences, creating a melting pot of delicious fusion cuisines.
The bustling streets of Barrio Chino (Chinatown) are home to hundreds of authentic family-run CantonesePeruvian chifas. For an upscale take, recommend Gastón Acurio’s long-standing Madam Tusan.
In Barranco, Isolina champions hearty Afro-Peruvian home cooking, serving generous plates of cassava croquettes and braised beef tongue on corn tostadas.
But it’s Lima’s roster of entrants on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list that have propelled the city onto the global culinary stage. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura’s 16-year-old venue Maido snagged the top spot last year, offering a refined take on Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine. Nearby, Kjolle, by chef Pía León, ranks ninth on the list (its sister venue, Central, stormed to number one in 2023 for its innovative 17-course tasting menu).
Elsewhere, Peruvian and Venezuelan venue Mérito by chef Juan Luis Martínez earned 26th place, while chef Jaime Pesaque’s Mayta checked in at 39.
Book it: Abercrombie & Kent offers an 11-day tailor-made Peru itinerary including Lima, Machu Picchu and the Amazon from £11,695 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes all flights, private transfers, sightseeing and B&B accommodation.
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Local low-down
Abercrombie & Kent’s Lima-based guide Rodrigo Zanabria reveals his must-do experiences.
Mercado Santa Cruz: To understand Lima’s daily rhythms, a visit to a neighbourhood market is essential. Here, a purchase often comes with a small extra gift known as a yapa. At the recently renovated Mercado Santa Cruz, locals queue at Asados Héctor for the beloved butifarra, a classic limeña sandwich that often sells out long before the end of the day.
Casa Liébana: Behind the doors of a private home in Barranco lies one of Lima’s most remarkable collections of Peruvian folk art. Jaime Liébana spent more than 50 years building an archive of masks, ceramics, sculptures and textiles. Visits are guided by one of his sons, offering an intimate glimpse into a lifetime devoted to preserving Peru’s artistic traditions.
Museo Amano: Founded in 1964 by Japanese collector Yoshitaro Amano, this discreet museum in Miraflores houses one of the world’s most important collections of pre‑Colombian textiles.
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