City Rating: Lima
Population: 8’900’000
Date of visit: May 2018
Attractions & sights: 2/5
Nightlife: 4/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 3/5
Low budget factor: 4/5
Total: 👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Lima is the entry and exit point of most who travel to Peru. Considering all the great places travellers can visit in Peru, Lima is certainly not a must see city, but not a bad place for one or two days.
Where to stay:
Miraflores is the most touristy place in Peru’s capital and also the safest area. It’s a lively area where you can walk at night without any problems (be careful anyway). Taking a hotel near Kennedy Park is probably the best option.
The Good:
Lima might be overlooked by many, but it’s not a bad city. Miraflores is a nice but also touristy neighbourhood. However, it’s the most lively area in the city. There are numerous good hotels that don’t cost a fortune.
Miraflores is also a great quarter for nightlife. There are many restaurants, bars and nightclubs, where you can get your Pisco Sour. Pizza Alley is a famous alley near Kennedy Park. You won’t find it on Google Maps, but you certainly find it when walking to the Southern end of the park. The nightlife is also the reason that Lima get its 3/5-rating. If this city wouldn’t be that lively at night, I’d give a 2/5.
Barranco is another colourful neighbourhood, which is worth a visit. It’s a five minute ride from Miraflores (a bit more during rush hour) or a 1 hour walk.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Lima is big. That means it takes some time to get from A to B. For example, a ride from Miraflores to the historical centre takes 35 minutes and even more during rush hour. However, Uber is pretty cheap and the better option than taxis.
Surprisingly, Lima – as one of the largest Southamerican cities – doesn’t offer many sights and attractions. Plaza de Armas is the most famous sight, but honestly, the main squares in Arequipa and Cusco are similar.
Given the fact that 20% of the people in Lima live in poverty, petty crime is not uncommon. Nevertheless, I would call the city safe in the touristy areas such as Miraflores. Take care around Plaza de Armas, this area gets dodgy after sunset. Beware of criminal taxi drivers too and use organised taxis or Uber.
An overall rating of 3/5 is quite generous for Lima. As there are much better things to do in Peru, I would recommend not loose a lot of time in the huge capital.
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