2 Days in Lima Itinerary + Map
TL;DR
If you’re wondering how to make the most of just 2 days in Lima Peru, our itinerary takes you from colonial plazas to ancient pyramids without missing a beat.
Planning a trip to Peru often raises one big question: how long to spend in Lima? Many travellers rush through the capital, eager to head to Cusco and Machu Picchu, but by doing so, they miss the layers of history, food, and culture that make this city so fascinating. If you’ve only got a short window, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to see the best of Lima in 2 days without feeling rushed.
That’s where this guide comes in. We know the pain of trying to piece together a packed schedule in an unfamiliar city – especially one as sprawling as Lima – so we’ve done the planning for you. Drawing from experience, we’ve mapped out a 2 day Lima itinerary that balances the highlights: colonial plazas, buzzing neighbourhoods, sea views for days, and even ancient pyramids tucked between modern buildings.
This blog is for curious travellers who want to maximise their time in Lima while still moving at a relaxed, enjoyable pace. If that sounds like you, stick around – we’ll walk you through exactly how to spend your precious time.
Two Days in Lima Itinerary
Lima Peru Itinerary Map
Day 1 – Free Walking Tour & Centro Historico
Morning – Free Walking Tour
We probably sound like a broken record by now, but we just love a free walking tour. In Lima, we chose this Tour of Lima's Historic Center and can fully recommend it.
This is what we recommend you do (with or without a tour): Start at the San Martín Square and wander down Jirón de la Unión. Along the way, pass landmarks like the Church of La Merced. Reach the heart of the city – the Plaza de Armas – surrounded by the Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace, and Government Palace.
From there, continue past the Post and Telegraph Office to the Church of Santo Domingo.
Our tour also led us across the Rimac River to the Virgen Del Rosario Church, the smallest church in Peru, but our guide told us that it’s not safe to visit alone.
We finished just in time to catch the changing of the guards at the Plaza de Armas at 11:45 a.m..
Afternoon – Centro Historico & Museums
Use your afternoon to stroll around the centro historico a bit more. Our highlight was a tour through the catacombs of the Monastery of San Francisco (in which you are not allowed to take pictures).
We also did some shopping at Jirón de la Unión and visited some of the smaller free museums like the Casa O'Higgins, with cultural and artistic exhibitions, or the Museo Central of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, an archaeological, numismatic, and artistic museum.
Afterwards, we headed back to our accommodation to enjoy our rooftop pool, but if you’d like to visit more museums outside of the centro historico, here are two that come highly recommended:
- Archaeology: Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera
- Art: Museo de Arte de Lima
Day 2 – Barranco & Miraflores
Morning – Barranco
As our accommodation was perfectly located between Barranco and Miraflores, we put on our walking shoes and started exploring.
We started in Barranco, where all of the main sights are located around a rather small area:
- Plaza Barranco with the Parroquia La Santisima Cruz and the beautiful Biblioteca Municipal.
- The Bridge of Sighs and the Bajada de los Baños with loads of street art and galleries (don’t miss the Galería Jade Rivera), as well as a lovely viewpoint at the end.
- La Feria Unión de Barranco for souvenir shopping, as well as food and drinks.
Afternoon – Miraflores
Larcomar is a great first stop in Miraflores. It’s an (outdoor) mall with loads of shopping and food options. As we decided to walk here, we rested for a bit, enjoying an ice-cold drink with a sea view.
Afterwards, we headed further along the Miraflores Malecon, along sights like Love Park with its art installations and paragliders, as well as the La Marina Lighthouse.
Your next stop in Miraflores will be Kennedy Park, which is mostly famous for its many cats. In case you're one of those people who prefer architecture to cats, you can check out the Parroquia La Virgen Milagrosa and the Miraflores City Hall right next to the park.
We decided to walk to our last stop of the day, the Huaca Pucllana ruins. If you opt to do so, we can recommend Calle Berlin (not only because we live in Berlin but also because of its gastronomic offer) as well as the tree-lined Avenida José Pardo.
Huaca Pucllana is an ancient ruin that still stands in the middle of modern Lima. This massive adobe and clay pyramid, built between 200–700 AD, once served as a ceremonial and administrative hub for the Lima Culture. With its seven staggered platforms, ritual pits for offerings, and remains of sacred tombs, Huaca Pucllana is a powerful reminder of the civilisations that thrived here long before the Spanish arrived.
Where We Stayed in Lima
Don’t judge us, but we splurged quite a bit for our standards in Lima. After all, we came here directly after spending a couple of nights on a cargo ship on the Amazon River and some more nights in the Amazon Rainforest.
We opted to stay at a Brand New Apartment in Barranco (or Departamento de Estreno en Barranco). We used this place as a bit of a break from long-term travel. We relaxed at the rooftop pool and cooked our own meals in our kitchen – there’s a supermarket in the same building. The location is amazing as it’s within walking distance to both Barranco and Miraflores.
Overall, this place is great whether you're planning a longer or a shorter stay.
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