With a name like, City of Kings, Lima has much to live up to. You’d expect the place to be grand, with buildings as opulent and, well, fit for royalty. With its colonial past and modern outlook, art, history, and friendly people, you’ll find, after exploring, that the Peruvian capital is more than fit for a king, queen, prince or princess. It’s open to all.
From Lima’s historic centre to the delights beyond the city limits, you’ll find your emotions, sensations mixing like a glorious cocktail with the colours and flavours found on every street corner. The world’s second driest capital sure knows how to quench your travel thirst.
In and around the city
Whichever way you decide to explore, whether that’s on a hop-on bus tour or independently, there are some fascinating places to visit. Churches with hidden treasures, plazas bristling with life. You’ll also notice a city surrounded by strutting hills and the architecture with its colonial influences. So where should you go? What places of interest should be high on your list? We’ve picked out four key places.
1. Larco Museum: A museum founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco Hoyle. Before you even head inside the foundations of the museum, make for an interesting story. It’s built on a pre-Columbian pyramid from the 7th Century! Once inside, you’ll learn about the development of the cultures before the Inca Empire up to the Hispanic period and beyond. That’s some 5000 years of Peruvian history to unpack and learn about as you wander around.
2. St Martin Square and cathedral: You’re in the historic centre, so take a moment to enjoy the surroundings. There’s the majestic Bolivar Hotel and the Club Nacional. And the Cathedral’s façade is also stunning, as is having a moment within the cathedral walls.
3. Plaza de Armas: It’s a 140-sq-meters and also goes under the name of Plaza Mayor. It’s the very heart of the city. There are significant public buildings around its perimeter, so look out for Moorish-style balconies and colonial style buildings. And be sure to visit the central fountain, as it’s an impressive sight.
4. Love Park in Miraflores: A little romance can go a long way, and where better to capture it than with a sea view. You’ve explored the historic centre, worked your way through the modern side (Parque del Amor), so a stunning view is the perfect result.
Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash
Evenings and beyond
Lima is not just about stunning attractions and interesting neighbourhoods. Lima has a culinary scene well worth exploring and tasting! They’ve perfected their food over hundreds of years, and you’ll more than reap the rewards if you seek it out. After all, many consider Lima to be the gastronomic capital of the Americas.
Whether it’s a restaurant, bar or tavern. Top dishes and their flavours will take you on a culinary journey across the country. Cebiche or pisco sour anticuchos (kebabs), for example. We’ll stop there, before you get hungry at the thought! It all equates to having to explore the textures and flavours this city offers.
Talking of exploring, a trip out of town to immerse in the Peruvian landscape is also a must. There’s a rich ecosystem to explore and places like Pachacamac (an archaeological complex with well-known ruins), makes for the perfect contrast to the structured city.
Lima is a rich, diverse city, with a colonial past brimming with delights to match its top food scene. The City of Kings is more than fit for any visitor looking to explore and immerse themselves in.
