Lima is the capital of Peru and if you’re going anywhere else in the country you will likely fly into the close by international airport. We had plans to be in Cusco to hike to Machu Picchu which left us with only a few days to explore the city of Lima. Even with just a few days there is plenty to check out before rushing off to other destinations. Here is how to spend 2 days in Lima, Peru and how we fit it all in with a short amount of time.
Situated along the Pacific Ocean, Lima is a large, bustling city but boasts beautiful views of the ocean. In this post we’ll go through logistics such as transportation to and from the airport and the best areas to stay in along with how to spend 2 days in Lima.
Getting To and From the Airport
The most reliable yet still cost effective way for travelers to get to and from the airport is the Airport Express Lima. It is a bus system that runs to and from the airport and to several popular destinations in the city. It is the easiest/safest option as the area immediately outside of the airport is not the safest. You can book a ticket online and then if your flight or arrangements change you can get on any one of the buses for that day. They advertise plenty of room for baggage and wifi on board making it a very comfortable ride. It is 25 Soles (8 USD) one way or 48 Soles (15 USD) roundtrip.
- We took the Airport Express Lima from Miraflores to Lima Airport when leaving Lima. We used the stop finder on their website to find the closest one to our hotel, bought tickets on the bus and easily got to the airport! The bus was clean and we had plenty of room for the ride.
However, when we arrived at the airport coming to Lima it was about 11:30 pm because our flight was delayed. The last Airport Express Lima bus had just left by the time we made it through customs. So we called a taxi using one of the official taxi operators within the airport. You have to be careful with taxis from the airport and with it being so late at night with all of our stuff we didn’t want to risk it! It cost us 60 Soles (about 19 USD) to go from the airport to Miraflores.
- There are other taxi operators outside of the airport that might be cheaper but just be careful and definitely agree on a price beforehand so there are no surprises! Taxis in Peru DO NOT use meters so you need to negotiate a price before you leave.
Travel Truth: Usually we would have opted to take public transportation but had read it’s not the best option for travelers with baggage especially late at night because it requires transfers.
5 Transportation Tips for South America
Where to Stay in Lima
The most popular neighborhood for visitors to stay in when visiting Lima is Miraflores. It is located south of the Centro Historico or historic center of Lima. You will find plenty of hotel and accommodation options in whatever budget you are looking for. This neighborhood also has many restaurants and bars as well as easy access to the ocean!
- We found a private room in a budget hostel for 98 Soles a night (about 30 USD) that was very close to Parque Kennedy.
Continuing further south is the neighborhood of Barranco which is another option if you’re looking for a little more flair. Known as the trendy or cool neighborhood of Lima, Barranco also boasts all kinds of restaurants as well as photographic streets to wander through.
Day 1:
Spend Time in Parque Kennedy & Parque Central de Miraflores
Parque Kennedy is a large park centrally located within Miraflores. We stayed right by it and found it to be a really good location to get to other nearby things we wanted to do. You will quickly notice the large population of cats within the park. From what we’ve read the park has taken on the cat population and its become part of the parks reputation. Don’t worry if you’re not a cat lover they mostly just keep to themselves.
Around Parque Kennedy you will find lots of options for restaurants, cafes, as well as some familiar options such as Burger King, McDonalds and Pizza Hut. At night there is a small market of souvenir items that you can walk through. Even late at night there were always lots of people walking around and sitting enjoying the park.
Parque Kennedy connects to Parque Central de Miraflores but you will often read about Parque Kennedy when looking for bus stops and as a meeting point.
Travel Truth: Inside the park there are a few street food vendors. One of them selling traditional sandwiches, sweet treats and one selling picarones. Picarones are like fried donuts in a sauce that tasted a lot like maple syrup. They were delicious and we definitely recommend trying them! For 6 Soles you get a serving of 5 donuts which is just under 2 USD.
Wander Through the Streets of Miraflores
Miraflores is the neighborhood you will most likely stay in. You will find plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. You could easily spend a few hours wandering around Miraflores getting a feel for the neighborhood and all it has to offer.
In Miraflores you can stroll through the Indian Market or Mercado 1 if you’re looking for a market experience. You can try Parasailing over the Miraflores Boardwalk and the Pacific Ocean or if you’re feeling less adventurous check out one of the city’s museums. Especially if you’re not staying in this neighborhood, we definitely would suggest taking a walk through!
Enjoy El Parque del Amor
Along the Miraflores Boardwalk is El Parque del Amor or Love Park. You will know you’re there by the large statue called “el beso” or the kiss. The statue is of two people kissing and is well known. There’s a pathway with mosaic tile walls that hugs the coastline. The mosaic walls are beautiful and are thought to have been designed with Gaudi as inspiration. The entire park is a great spot to take pictures!
We walked from Parque Kennedy to Parque del Amor and then continued walking south along the Miraflores Boardwalk. We found this was very easy to navigate and also very beautiful. Don’t forget to look up! A popular activity in the area is paragliding so you’ll see many of them if you hang around Parque del Amor for a while.
Have the Chicharron at La Lucha Sangucheria
La Lucha Sangucheria is a sandwich restaurant located off of Parque Central de Miraflores. There are a few different locations around Lima but this one was right by our hotel. We stopped and had a Chicharron sandwich. Chicharron is a Peruvian sandwich with grilled pork, sweet potato slices and an onion relish on a fluffy bun. That along with a container of really good fries cost about 21 Soles or about 6 USD. There are also a million options for juices that you will see a lot of people ordering. For an inexpensive lunch or dinner this is a really delicious option!
Read More: How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Lima, Peru? Budget Breakdown
Day 2:
Explore El Centro Historico
We dedicated day 2 to exploring the Centro Historico or historic center of Lima. The Centro Historico is not considered as safe as other parts of the city such as Miraflores which is why we chose not to stay there. It’s about a 30-45 minute drive or about 1 hour using the bus. The public transportation in Lima is not the best and navigating the bus system (like any city) can be challenging so we chose to go on a free walking tour with Lima By Walking. The meet up point was a hostel called Piriwana which is right off of Parque Kennedy in Miraflores. Together we used el Metropolitano which is essentially their version of a subway. It utilizes buses but they have a designated lane on the highway so they don’t deal with traffic. It costs 2.5 soles for a 1 way ride.
Plaza de Armas
This is the large square that hosts the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, Palace of the Union as well as other important buildings. The yellow buildings on one side with the opulence of the palace and the architecture of the cathedral make it worth seeing! The fountain in the middle is the oldest and most historically significant symbol within the main square. There are many things to see in this square so definitely make your way over there. If you get there in the morning you can catch the changing of the guards ceremony in front of the Government Palace.
Above the palace on a clear day you can spot Cerro San Cristobal which is the hill with the colorful houses and a large cross on the top. You can take a taxi up the top but it’s not a place to be by yourself especially at night so plan ahead!
Take some time to walk through the colorful streets of the Centro Historico. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes if you’re looking to take a break.
Marvel at the Street Art in Barranco
Barranco is a neighborhood like Miraflores within the city of Lima. Barranco is considered the bohemian or artsy neighborhood and is definitely worth checking out! Walk through Barranco and marvel at all the colors as you will find many impressive murals. Some of the best bars and coffee shops are considered to be in Barranco so if you’re looking for a spot to stop, Barranco is a good choice! There is a metropolitano stop in Barranco so you can head over there right after you leave the historic center.
Walk across La Puente de Los Suspiros or the Bridge of Sighs. It is a beautiful bridge in the heart of Barranco and supposedly if you’re able to cross the entire bridge without breathing your wish will come true. If you take the stairs down from the bridge and continue walking you will find a bridge that has been painted to showcase an enormous mural!
Walk down the Miraflores Boardwalk
The Miracon or Miraflores Boardwalk is the pathway that runs along the ocean giving you amazing views as the coast zigs in and out. If you do one thing on this list we would say you have to check out the boardwalk! Even on a foggy day the contrast of the greenery, brown cliffside and blue ocean is beautiful. The pathway is wide and well lit and we felt very safe even later at night. You can actually take the boardwalk farther south towards Barranco depending on how long of a walk you want to do.
- We walked along the Miraflores Boardwalk from Barranco to Miraflores in about 40 minutes. It is totally doable and way more scenic than getting on a crowded bus!
Have you been to Lima? Let us know!
And you are off!
Nice post. Have a great adventure to Machu Picchu!