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If you’re planning to visit Peru’s capital city, we couldn’t be more excited for you! Having lived in Lima for a while, we know you’ll fall in love with this bustling metropolis just as we did!
But a city this big can be overwhelming to explore on your own. With so many things to see and do in Lima, where do you even start?! Combine that with safety concerns and the logistics of getting around, and things get a bit complicated.
That’s why Lima city tours are so helpful! With an experienced local guide, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands. So many different tours are available, from typical sightseeing tours to more unique experiences centered around food and drinks. We’ve chosen the best of the best below so that you can have the best time while you’re in Lima!
Quick Pick: Our FAVORITE Tour
If you don’t have time to read the full article, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This half-day cooking class and market tour is our overall top pick!
Not only do you get to make some delicious Peruvian food, but you also get to dive into the local culture and go to the market to buy all of your ingredients. How fun!
This small group personalized experience lasts around 4 hours and costs only $68 USD per person. This includes hotel pick-up, instructions from a local chef, and more food than you can eat! We think this tour is a great deal for the 5-star experience that you get – just read all of the fantastic reviews here!
Book our favorite Lima city tour here and enjoy FREE 24-hour cancellation!
The BEST City Tours in Lima
1. City Bus and Walking Tour
Whenever we get to a new city, we love doing a tour right away to orient ourselves and learn about the city and its culture before we go off exploring on our own.
This half-day bus and walking tour is a great option if you are new to Lima and want an overview of the city’s main areas, attractions, and highlights. Over the course of 4 hours, you will pass by tons of popular spots on the open-air double-decker bus such as the Presidential Palace and Cathedral of Lima – so make sure to have your camera ready!
What we think is really neat, is that this tour includes a 1.5-hour walking tour in Lima’s historic center where you will explore and learn all about Plaza San Martin and Plaza de Armas – just to name a few!
This highly-rated tour only costs $35 USD per person which includes bus transportation, the walking tour, and your entrance ticket to the Museum of Santo Domingo. It departs every day except Mondays at both 9:30 am and 2:30 pm, making it easy to fit into your Peru itinerary. We think every newcomer to Lima should take this tour – believe me, you won’t regret exploring this beautiful city!
Book your spot on this educational city tour here!
2. Lima City Evening Food Tour
Did you know Lima is rated as one of the top culinary destinations in the world?! Yes. That’s right – joining a food tour is a must-do activity while you’re in Lima!
From ceviche to plantains to Lomo Saltado, the food in Lima is diverse and tasty! And the best way to try it all and explore the city while you’re at it is on a food tour!
We went on this evening food tour and it was one of the best things we did in Peru! Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and we ate (and drank) lots of amazing things. Even having been in Lima for so long (we were living there at the time), the food we tried was new to us and the entire tour was exciting.
On this food tour in Lima, we went to three different restaurants and sampled various dishes at each place. One of the restaurants was even overlooking the Huaca Pucllana ruins which was a memorable experience in itself. The tour wasn’t just about trying the food, we also learned a lot about the history of Peru and how the food has come to be. In fact, we also went on a walking tour through the Barranco district to admire the colonial streets and attractions.
This is one of our favorite tours because it not only provides a fantastic experience but also includes everything! All food, drinks, and transportation are included in the $145 USD cost per person, which we think is worth every cent, and so do the hundreds of other people who have given it a 5-star review (read some of them for yourself here!). The tour runs every day except for Sundays with hotel pickups starting around 4 pm and the experience lasting about 5 hours.
Reserve your spot on the evening Lima city food tour here!
Pro Tip: If the evening tour doesn’t fit your schedule, don’t worry! There is a similar tour to the one above that runs during the day instead. It also costs $145 USD and you can check out the detailed itinerary and secure your spot here!
3. Cooking Class and Market Tour
This half-day cooking tour seriously immerses you in Peruvian cuisine! It is perfect for anyone who loves to cook and wants to learn more about Lima’s culinary scene. The whole experience feels authentic, from buying the ingredients at a local market to savoring the meal you cooked.
The tour lasts about four hours and starts with a visit to the local market. Here, you will be taught about some of the food that is unique to Peru – you’ll even get to sample some very interesting fruit – before purchasing all of your ingredients for your meal.
Then, your guide and personal chef will take you to the kitchen to prepare your choice of fish, beef, or vegetarian dishes. When we went, ceviche and Lomo Saltado were on the menu (and they were equally delicious). Our passionate and hilarious chef instructed us the entire time so we never felt lost in the cooking process.
This small-group experience costs $65 USD and operates daily at 8:30 am and 2 pm. It includes roundtrip transportation from your hotel, all necessary cooking equipment (including ingredients bought at the market), snacks while you cook, and the meal you prepare, of course! This was such a fun and unique experience – we still make Lomo Saltado to this day!
Check out the 5-star reviews and book this fun cooking tour here!
Related Read: For even more travel inspiration, check out our roundup of 10 fun things to do in Lima here to pack your days with even more unforgettable experiences!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Fountains and Folkloric Show Evening Lima Tour
Lima has the largest outdoor fountain complex in the entire world! The Magic Water Circuit in Parque de la Reserva is made up of twelve fountains that perform a magical show with lights and music every night from Tuesday to Sunday!
On this particular tour in Lima, not only do you visit this World Record-holding fountain for a water and light show, but you finish the night with a delicious dinner buffet and cultural dance performance (my favorite part!)
I must admit that before I went to this show for myself, I had very low expectations. But the truth is that I was blown away! The food was incredible, and the selection was huge. The dancers were even better though and performed a range of well-rehearsed dances with elaborate costumes and music.
The talent was incredible. They also involved the audience quite a lot which was fun!
This is one of the Lima city tours that many people miss, but shouldn’t! It’s an absolutely amazing way to spend an evening that I would highly recommend! To me, it’s easily one of the best things to do in Lima!
The tour lasts for about 4.5 hours and costs $89 USD. Because it’s an evening tour that starts at 5:30 pm it’s easier to squeeze into your busy day. It only runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and is super popular, so make sure to book in advance so you don’t miss out!
Secure your seat to this dinner and show online here!
5. Miraflores and Barranco Bike Tour
Miraflores and Barranco are the most upper-class and trendy neighborhoods in Lima. For this reason, this is likely where your hotel will be located and where you’ll spend the majority of your time in Lima.
But these neighborhoods aren’t small, and there is a lot to explore including some very incredible views of the ocean.
The best way to cover a lot of ground while getting up close to the attractions is on a bike tour! This bike tour of Lima goes through Miraflores and Barranco for about three hours, hitting all of the best tourist highlights around. You’ll even get to hike up to the summit of El Morro Hill to take in the beautiful panoramic views!
This small-group tour costs less than $31 USD per person and includes all of your equipment and bottled water. It also includes a really knowledgeable guide who will tell you all about the city and answer all of your questions. It runs daily throughout the year and has tons of 5-star reviews that you can read here!
Reserve your spot here and don’t pay a thing until closer to your tour date!
6. Pisco Sour Tasting and City Tour
Pisco is the spirit of Peru! This clear alcohol is most commonly used in Peru’s own cocktail – the Pisco Sour! To me, Pisco Sours are delicious. They are made with lime, so they aren’t too sweet but definitely tasty.
If you like cocktails (like we do!), then you will love Pisco Sours! So if you want to try a Pisco Sour, then why not combine this tasty drink with a city tour?
This small group tour of Lima city will have you visiting some of the top attractions in the city with a guide, but you’ll also stop for Pisco tasting along the way! Not only will you drink the Pisco Sour, but you’ll also get to see a demonstration of how it’s made.
On top of all of that, the tour will visit a variety of highlights around the city including the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site, the Convent Museum of San Francisco, and Plaza Mayor.
This highly-rated tour (check out the great reviews here!) includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, your Pisco Sour, entrance to the San Fransico Museum, and an excellent guide. It costs $45 USD and lasts for about 4 hours, with both morning and afternoon departures available daily.
Book this fun city tour with Pisco tasting here!
Related Read: Only have a few days to explore Lima? Check out our 3-day Lima Itinerary here for the perfect mix of culture, food, and adventure!
Other Activities to do While You’re in Lima
Taking a city tour is one of the best things to do in Lima – but it’s not the only fun activity! There’s plenty more to keep you occupied. Here are a few more ideas for you:
- Take a food tour – Lima is one of the culinary capitals of the world, so you have to go on a food tour! This Peruvian food tour really stood out as one of our favorites. Not only did we try tons of local dishes while exploring the trendy Barranco neighborhood, but we also got to make our own ceviche and Pisco Sour!
- Swim with sea lions – This isn’t the first thing you think of when visiting Lima, but it’s one of my favorite experiences in Peru! Sea lions are such playful creatures and are happy to swim right up alongside you. On this tour, you’ll hop aboard a boat to a sea lion hot spot! You’ll also see penguins and loads of other sea birds.
- Go paragliding – Lima is actually well-known for paragliding. I mean, what better way to see the city?! This tour company offers tandem paragliding right on the Malecon in Miraflores. On a seated paraglider, you’ll take off from the beach and fly high over Lima’s beautiful coastline.
- Visit ancient ruins – Huaca Pucllana is a 1,500-year-old archeological site located right in Lima! It’s one of several stops on this guided bike tour. If you prefer a day trip from Lima, check out the Pachacamac Ruins, an enormous Incan settlement with pyramids, temples, and buildings. To make it easy, this tour of Pachacamac provides round-trip transport plus a knowledgeable guide.
Where to Stay in Lima, Peru
If you’ve already chosen a food tour in Lima, you’ll need a place to stay! Lima is a big city with many accommodation options. However, I definitely have my favorite spots and am happy to share those with you. Keep reading for my top hostels and hotels for each budget range.
Luxury – $$$
JW Marriott Hotel Lima is located in the Miraflores district right behind the Larcomar shopping center, with amazing views of the ocean. The location is perfect! The rooms are luxurious and have everything you’d expect from a Marriott Hotel, including a fitness center, pool, restaurant, and super helpful staff. Guests also rave about the hotel’s breakfast!
Rooms start at around $200 USD, but you can find the best rates on Booking.com.
Mid-range -$$
Larq’a Park Rooms is a beautiful hotel with amazing reviews. The hotel is in a heritage building right next to Parque Kenedy, and the rooms are modern, clean, and comfortable. They have a nice common area where you can enjoy the complimentary continental breakfast. Although we’ve included it as mid-range, it could easily be considered a budget option because rooms start as low as $36 USD. Click here to snag this awesome deal!
Tierra Viva Miraflores Centro is my top pick in Miraflores, Lima. The hotel has a 9.2 on Booking.com, and it’s no wonder since the staff are so attentive and sweet! It’s perfectly located in a quiet and safe area within walking distance of many restaurants, cafes, and shops. Rooms are super clean and come with either a king bed or two singles. Stays here include breakfast and cost only $70 USD per night. You can book your stay at Tierra Viva Miraflores Centro online here.
Budget – $
NAIA Miraflores Lima is a bright, modern hostel in Miraflores with a colorful aesthetic and super clean rooms and bathrooms. It has a nice, easygoing vibe that makes it easy to meet people, and its location in the heart of Miraflores is perfect for exploring cafes, shops, and parks. Prices start at around $12 USD for a bunk and $42 USD for a private room, depending on availability.
You can book NAIA Miraflores Lima on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Pariwana Hostel is the most popular and famous party hostel in Miraflores. It’s the perfect hostel to let loose and meet other travelers. Plus, prices are super reasonable, with dorms costing less than $20 USD and private rooms less than $70 USD.
If you want to party and have fun in Lima, you can book the Pariwana Hostel on Hostelworld. Or, if you’re booking well in advance, you can also do so on Booking.com.
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Thanks for reading!
As you can tell, there is a ton to see in Lima – it’s one of the best places to visit in Peru for a reason! It should come as no surprise that city tours of Lima are so popular! Hopefully, this blog has helped you narrow it down to a few of the best tours for you.
Of course, if you have any questions, leave a comment below!
If you found this blog helpful, I’m sure you’ll like our other blogs about Peru. We lived in Peru for a while, so we have a lot of info to share. Check out some of our favorite blogs below, too:
How to Spend THREE DAYS in Lima, Peru: 3-Day Itinerary
Things to KNOW Before Visiting Machu Picchu