Before arriving in Lima, I had heard conflicting views on the city – some loved it, others hated it (but isn’t that how it always is?!). Though Lima is the capital and largest city in Peru, it is often skipped over, or just a transfer point to get to Cusco. After spending three days there, while I can say it isn’t my favorite South American city (in fact, it didn’t even feel like I was in South America), I think it’s definitely worthy of a few days to visit.
Lima – the city of good food, quirky art, and sunny parks. See the best things (in my humble opinion) to do for a few days in Lima.
how to spend a few days in lima
appreciate the photography of Mario Testino
There is no shortage of museums in Lima, but the most impressive is MATE. Located in Barranco is a collection dedicated to one of the most famous fashion photographers, Testino, as well as art by up and coming young Peruvian artists. Here you’ll find photos of celebrities (Kate Moss, Justin Bieber, etc), stunning photos of indigenous Peruvians, as well as iconic photos of Princess Diana.
watch a sunset from the cliffs
One of the most beautiful places in Lima is the cliffs all along the shoreline. Come sunset, everyone will be sitting at a coastal park taking in the changing sky.
make a friend in parque kennedy
If you know me, you know I am not the biggest fan of cats. But with that comes the curse that all cats of course love me. However, Parque Kennedy is the perfect place to relax, people watch, and maybe cuddle with a cat or two (AND, enjoy the free wifi!)
eat the best bread in peru
Any bread I had eaten in South America (and believe me, I had eaten A LOT of bread) felt like with each bite, along with some flour and yeast, I was eating a cup of sugar. After two months, I was craving some reallllll bread. Enter El Pan de la Chola. Finally – good bread! Wait in line, order a sandwich and coffee, and dig in.
walk along the streets of barranco appreciating the street art
Barranco is sort of the hipster neighborhood of Lima. You could spend an entire afternoon strolling the streets taking in the street art and graffiti.
drink good coffee
South America is a big producer of coffee, but like I mentioned, it’s hard to find a good cup. An exception to that was the foodie city of Lima where there are plentiful coffee shops. My favorite spot was La Bodega Verde. Located near the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, you can enjoy your coffee in a lovely outdoor courtyard area.
shop till ya drop
There are no shortage of shopping opportunities in Lima, but my favorite place to explore was La Feria located in Barranco (I spent a lot of time in Barranco). Open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can shop quirky items, listen to live music, all while chowing down on some food.
enjoy new year’s!
Okay, maybe you won’t plan your entire trip to Lima for New Year’s… but I happened to be here for the holiday and it was great. In the days leading up to it, florists will be selling yellow flowers, and vendors will have yellow underwear on their stalls. Should you want happiness and luck in the new year, be sure to wear yellow! After drinking pisco sours, we headed down to the beach to watch the fireworks being set off along the entire coastline (which went on all night long).
What did I miss? What are your favorite spots in Lima?
