Stroll through historic downtown’s Plaza Mayor, catch the changing of the guard outside Palacio del Gobierno (formerly the site of Pizarros’ house) and shop on the pedestrian-only Jirón de la Unión street.
San Isidro
Upscale hotels like the Country Club Lima, restaurants, and skyscraping apartments pack this modern financial district. Also here: the Bosque Olivar (Olive Forest), named for its 500-year old olive trees.
Callao
Home to Lima’s airport and South America’s most modern harbor, Callao is the go-to place for ceviche, military museums, and sunsets. It’s also the starting point for trips to San Lorenzo Island.
Miraflores/Larco Mar
Lima’s business and shopping hub boasts the best accommodations, plus trendy bars, restaurants, cinemas, and nightclubs.
Monterrico
Although mainly residential, Monterrico’s highlights include the Hipódromo de Monterrico race course, the Caminos del Inca shopping mall, and the newly vamped Jockey Club of Peru.
Barranco
This former beachfront resort is now a tiny Bohemian gem lined by mansions and teeming with artists who frequent the bars, clubs, and cafes of happening Carrion Street.
Rimac
It may be run down, but the intrepid will find some alluring sites in Rimac, including the Plaza de Acho bullring and some of the best Peruvian nightclubs.
San Miguel
Shoppers come to peruse one of the area’s oldest Indian markets on Avenida la Marina and the Plaza San Miguel mall; animal-lovers head straight to the Parque de las Leyendas zoo.
Santa Beatriz
This residential area is where you’ll find Parque de la Reserva, Lima’s answer to Central Park, plus Peru’s soccer stadium, Estadio Nacional, where teams like Alianza and Cristal play every weekend.
Pueblo Libre
Residents in Pueblo Libre (literally, “Free People”) are known for their nationalistic response during past wars of independence against both Chile and Spain. The area also houses some of Lima’s finest museums.
