One Day in Lima Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide

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Where to Stay in Lima (Miraflores)

I spent two nights at the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores as I flew into Lima the night before and spent one full day in the city. This is a 5-star premium hotel in Miraflores, Lima, Peru.

Not only does this hotel have a fantastic location in Miraflores, but it offers very spacious rooms. My room was quite large and included a desk, mini fridge, small seating area, large closet and free Wi-Fi.

The bathroom is very large as well with a bathtub/shower and tons of counter space. I also love how the room had some traditional Inca decorations on the wall to make you truly feel like you've staying in Peru.

Enjoy a massive buffet breakfast with hot and cold items, plus local and Western dishes. This hotel is very well known for its excellent breakfast buffet. Puku Puku Cafe is attached to the hotel, which is where you'll find the best coffee.

There's also a spa, a swimming pool, and room service for a more luxurious stay. Book your stay at Casa Andina Premium Miraflores

One Day in Lima Itinerary: Miraflores

Let's spend the first half of the day in Miraflores. It's easy to walk right from the hotel to every attraction and restaurant I've listed below.

We'll return to Miraflores at the end of the day. Not only did I return to the hotel, but I spent the evening in Miraflores, too. It's a fabulous bookend for our day in Lima, Peru.

Breakfast at Milenaria Cafe

If you decide not to opt for a breakfast at your hotel, start your day off right with breakfast at Milenaria Cafe. It's a specialty coffee and brunch restaurant with seating both indoors and outdoors.

I opted for a seat on their little outdoor patio and ordered an iced latte and an acai smoothie bowl. The acai bowl was topped with bananas, strawberries and blueberries. I also had some peanut butter and nuts on the side to add to the bowl.

It's a nutritious and tasty way to start the day. Plus, I loved the natural earthy vibes of the decor and the presentation of the food.

Parque del Amor (Love Park)

Parque del Amor, also known as the Alberto Andrade Carmona Park, is Lima's famous Love Park. It's a public park located on the Cisneros boardwalk high up on the edge of the cliffs.

There are some stunning views overlooking the Lima coastline and the Pacific Ocean. What could be a more perfect place for soaking up romantic views at a park dedicated to love?

This is a park dedicated to lovers and romance, and it was named by National Geographic as one of the top 50 romantic destinations in the world.

As you walk into the park, there's a massive statue at the end of a lengthy path. This sculpture is called "El Beso" (The Kiss). It was made by artist Victor Delfín and the statue showcases two lovers kissing romantically.

The entire park is surrounded by decorated mosaic walls and benches featuring romantic poetry and phrases devoted to love in both Spanish and Quechua.

Walk the Malecón de Miraflores

The Cisneros boardwalk is also home to the Malecón de Miraflores, a boardwalk with fantastic views as you walk. From the Love Park, continue walking down the boardwalk to the Malecon for even more amazing scenery.

Coffee Break at Puku Puku La Paz

If you didn't grab a coffee first thing in the morning from your hotel (Casa Andina Premium Miraflores), head over to Puku Puku for a coffee break. Puku Puku is a popular coffee chain with multiple locations throughout Lima and Peru.

First, the coffee is incredible. Rich and flavorful, Puku Puku's coffee is listed as one of the 100 best in the world.

The cafe itself is very warm and inviting with plenty of seating. I love the colorful murals of Peruvian landscapes and colorful pom-poms hanging from the ceiling.

It's a great spot to rest your legs and sample a great cup of coffee before continuing on with this Lima one day itinerary. I also bought some of their coffee beans to bring back home with me. You can buy them now and then stash them up in your room before venturing out.

Optional: Lunch at Samsara

If you're looking to have an earlier lunch, stop by Samsara in Miraflores. If you're not hungry, I've listed a second lunch option at the Larco Museum later in the day.

Samsara is a vegan restaurant with Peruvian cuisine gone plant-based. There are murals splashed across the walls and a whole refrigerated case full of desserts.

I ordered the pesto pasta topped with crispy chicken, and my friend got a trio of seafood dishes, including a vegan ceviche. While the food took a little while to arrive, it was worth the wait.

One Day in Lima Itinerary: Historic Center

Next, we're off to Lima's historic city center, Centro Histórico. While I walked to every attraction in Miraflores without difficulty, I had to reach Centro Histórico by car.

Unfortunately, the public transportation system in Lima is not very good. Most people will use Uber to get around if they aren't part of an organized tour.

Be prepared for traffic congestion throughout the day and give yourself enough time to get from place to place. Pack your patience!

San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs

Our first stop in Centro Histórico is the San Francisco Convent Museum and Catacombs (Museo Convento San Francisco y Catacumbas), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This church and monastery was built by the Franciscan order in 1774, and it took them 100 years to build it. This is a preserved and beautiful example of colonial architecture.

The library in the monastery has a huge collection of 20,000 books, including the first dictionary edited by the Royal Spanish Academy and a complete world atlas.

While the interior and exterior architecture of the church, its rooms and the courtyard are stunning, this museum and property is most known for the underground catacombs. This is a collection of thousands of human bones.

Like in many catacombs, the bones are organized in an orderly and respectful fashion. The same bone type may be gathered together in a display, or the bones might be artfully arranged into patterns and designs.

You must take a guided tour in order to visit. Tours are 45 minutes to 1 hour long and available in English and Spanish. You can book a tour upon arrival.

Photos and videos are not allowed on the tour. I had permission to take photos and videos in advance, so the photos you see here are mine.

Lima Main Square (Plaza de Armas)

From the San Francisco Convent Museum, go for a walk through the city streets until you reach Plaza de Armas. Also known as Plaza Mayor, this is the main square in Lima.

Lima was founded in Plaza de Armas in 1535, and it's the oldest square in Lima. There are many historic buildings surrounding the main plaza with a huge fountain right in the middle of it.

Some of the structures surrounding Plaza de Armas include the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipale Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Palacio de la Union.

While it's not possible to visit or tour around some of these government buildings, you can admire the exterior architecture. This is also a lively meeting place, so it's a great spot to people watch.

One Day in Lima Itinerary: Larco Museum

If you visit one museum in Lima, consider the Larco Museum. It's home to 5000 years of ancient Peruvian pre-Columbian history. The Larco Museum highlights the connections between ancient civilizations and the natural world in ancient Peru.

Their permanent exhibits contain an impressive amount of objects and artifacts, like an elaborate collection of jewelry by rulers of pre-Columbian Peru. The museum examines the art of indigenous cultures, like the Inca, Nazca, Chancay, Vicus and many more.

There's also an Erotic Gallery with a major collection of pre-Columbian erotic art. This is the world's largest collection of erotic ceramics and gives insight into ancient Peruvian sexuality.

Optional: Lunch at Cafe Museo Larco

If you didn't go for lunch earlier at Samsara, stop for a bite to eat at the Cafe Museo Larco. It's right at the same property as the Larco Museum.

This cafe restaurant serves Peruvian and international cuisine in a bright and spacious setting. The patio is gorgeous and surrounded by colorful blooms. They have a vegan and gluten-free menu, too!

An Evening in Miraflores

After a day in Lima wandering around the historic center, Larco Museum and Miraflores, we're back in Miraflores for the evening. Freshen up at the hotel before venturing out for dinner.

And...I hope you love cats!

Kennedy Park (Lima Cat Park)

Parque Kennedy, also known as Parque Central, is a public park Miraflores district. It extends into a second park, Parque 7 de Junio (7th of June Park), but it all feels like one giant greenspace.

Not only is this a pretty park filled with tall trees, flowers and sculptures, it's home to tons and tons of cats. Unofficially, Kennedy Park is known as the Cat Park of Lima.

If you're feeling concerned for these stray cats, please know that they are well cared for by a group of volunteers. There are cat houses and food dishes around the park.

The cats are also spayed and neutered to control the population, and they also receive regular vet visits.

The cats at the Lima cat park are very friendly and curious. Many will approach you for some attention. I also saw many cats sleeping under the trees or in the flower beds. Please don't disturb ones that are resting.

Dinner at Seitan Urban Bistro

Seitan Urban Bistro is a vegan restaurant in Lima with both international and French-inspired Peruvian cuisine. There's an extensive menu of ceviche, burgers, bowls, salads, desserts and of course, seitan dishes.

I was craving a chicken burger and this one was crunchy, flavorful and delicious. I believe it was made from seitan. We also ordered desserts: chocolate cake and passionfruit cheesecake. Yum!

Cat Café de LuhhoCoons

If you haven't fully received your cat fix, head over to one of two cat cafes in Miraflores: Cat Cafe de LuhhoCoons or Gatú Cat Café. I went to Cat Cafe de LuhhoCoons as it was really close to my hotel.

Plus, I didn't mind that this cat cafe existed mainly so we can see the cats and not for an elaborate food and drink menu. I was full after dinner and didn't need any dessert.

This cat cafe is home to Maine Coon cats (and a couple of other breeds). These gentle giants are so cute and lovable. You can tell that these cats are well cared for and loved.

This isn't so much a cafe as there are only two beverages available: coffee and hot chocolate from a machine. There aren't any desserts or food items.

I really enjoyed my visit with the cats. They liked receiving pets and were overall pretty friendly, especially if you had some treats on hand (the cat cafe provides some cat treats for a small fee).

More Things to Do in Lima, Peru

If you find yourself with more time, or you'd rather swap out an activity I've listed above for another one, here are some more things to do in Lima:

• Huaca Pucllana (the remains of an ancient step pyramid plus a museum)
• Magic Water Circuit / Circuito Mágico del Agua (largest public water fountain in the world that lights up at night)
• Explore the Barranco District (street art, vegan restaurants, coffee, art galleries)

Hopefully I've convinced you that Lima isn't simply a stopover before going to Cusco or Machu Picchu, but a wonderful city to explore and experience.

What are you most looking forward to doing in Lima? Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!