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district of Peru
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South America > Peru > Central Coast (Peru) > Lima > Lima/Central Lima

Central Lima, Peru comprises the districts of Lima (Cercado), Breña, Jesús María, Lince, La Victoria, San Luis, El Agustino and Rímac.

Get in

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Map
Map of Lima/Central Lima

Get around

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Lima Metro

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In Central Lima, Line 1 of the Metro has 5 stations. It runs every day from 06:00 to 23:00. You must purchase a rechargeable card for S/5.00 to use the service and each trip costs S/1.50.

StationDistrictLocation
ArriolaLa VictoriaAv. Aviación / Ca. 25 de Diciembre (near Óvalo Arriola)
GamarraLa VictoriaAv. Aviación / Jr. Hipólito Unanue
Miguel GrauLima Cercado / El AgustinoAv. Miguel Grau / Av. Nicolás Ayllón
El ÁngelEl AgustinoAv. Locumba S/N - Cementerio El Ángel
Presbítero MaestroLima CercadoMuseo de Sitio Cementerio Presbítero Maestro

Lima Cercado

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  • 1 Congreso de la Republica, Plaza Bolívar, Av. Abancay s/n, ☏ +51 1 311 7777. The main seat of the Congress of the Republic of Peru. Completed in 1908. Legislative Palace of Peru (Q5201385) on Wikidata Legislative Palace (Peru) on Wikipedia 
  • Correo Central, Pasaje Piura, next to the Palacio de Gobierno. Glass-covered shopping arcade. A 19th-century copy of one in Brussels. 
San Fernando Faculty of Medicine
  • 2 Facultad de Medicina "San Fernando" (San Fernando Faculty of Medicine), Av. Grau between Huanta and Cangallo. Part of the National University of San Marcos, the building requires ID for entry. There is a botanical garden at the rear, and some nice old buildings. (updated Dec 2017)
  • Gran Biblioteca Pública de Lima, Av. Abancay Cdra. 4. 
  • Hotel Bolivar, Plaza San Martín. Visited by the likes of John Wayne and Orson Welles in times gone by. 
  • El Molino de Santa Clara, Jr. Ancash. 
  • Portada China. 
  • 3 Quinta Heeren, Cuadra 12 del Jr. Junín. 
  • Teatro Felipe Pardo y Aliaga, cuadra 4 del Jr. Apurímac. 
  • Teatro Municipal, Jr. Ica. 
  • Teatro Segura, Huancavelica 261. 

Churches and convents

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  • 4 Convento de San Francisco (Museo del Convento de San Francisco de Asis de Lima, The Franciscan Monastery or Catacombs), Plaza San Francisco, ☏ +51 1 426 7377. Daily 09:30-17:45. Fans of colonial churches will be pleased with the architecture of this well-known church in downtown Lima. However, the more compelling reasons to visit this cathedral include underground catacombs featuring over 25,000 real human skeletons (buried between the late 16th and early 19th centuries) arranged in artistic patterns, and also a beautiful library with mysterious, oversized books and spiral staircases in Harry Potteresque form. Monastery of San Francisco (Q2404214) on Wikidata Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, Lima on Wikipedia 
  • 5 Catedral de Lima, Plaza de Armas, ☏ +51 1 427 9647. M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-13:00. Construction began in 1535 and completed in 1649. It is dedicated to St John, Apostle and Evangelist. Cathedral of Lima (Q2446793) on Wikidata Lima Metropolitan Cathedral on Wikipedia 
  • Convento de Santa Clara, Jr. Huanuco. 
  • 6 Convento de los Descalzos (Convento de los Padres Franciscanos Descalzos). Tourists have access by the museum entrance. 
  • Convento de Santo Domingo, Corner of Jr. Conde de Superunda and Camana, ☏ +51 1 427 6792. M-Sa 09:00-13:00, 15:00-18:00; Su 09:00-13:00. 
  • Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima, ☏ +51 14251279. 

Cultural centers

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Houses and palaces

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  • Casa Aliaga, Jirón de la Unión 224, ☏ +51 1 427 7736, . 
  • Casa Barbieri, Jr. Callao at Rufino Torrico. 
  • Casa Goyeneche (Casa de Rada), Jr. Ucayali. 
  • Casa Negreiros, Jr. Azángaro 532. 
  • Casa del Oidor, Corner of Jr. Junin and Jr. Carabaya. 
  • Casa Osambela, Jr. Conde de Superunda 298. 
  • Casa Pilatos, Jr. Ancash 390. 
  • Casa la Riva, Jr. Ica 426. 
  • Casa de las Trece Monedas, Jr. Ancash 536. 
  • La Casa Nacional de Moneda, Corner of Jr. Junin and Paruro, ☏ +51 1 613 2000. 
  • 7 Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza Mayor, ☏ +51 1 311 3908. M-Th 08:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00. The changing of the guard at 11:45 can be seen from the Plaza Mayor. 
  • 8 Palacio de Justicia, Av. Paseo de la República. 
  • Palacio Municipal, Jr. Cailloma 125, ☏ +51 1 427 0958. M-F 09:00-15:00, Sa 09:00-14:00. 
  • Palacio Arzobispal, Plaza de Armas, ☏ +51 1 427 5790. M-Sa 09:00-17:00. Roman Catholic diocese headquarters. 
  • 9 Palacio de Torre Tagle, Jr. Ucayali 363. 

Museums and art galleries

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  • Casa de la Gastronomía (El Museo de la Casa de la Gastronomía Peruana), Jr. Conde de Superunda, one block north west of the government palace (plaza de armas) (Antiguo Palacio de Correos de Lima (the old post office)). Th-Su 09:00-17:00. 
  • 10 Casa Museo Jose Carlos Mariategui, Washington near Plaza Jorge Chavez. 
  • Casa Museo Miguel Grau, Jr. Huancavelica 172, ☏ +51 1 428 5012. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. 
  • Galeria Juan Pardo Heeren, Jr. Cusco 446. 
  • Galeria Pancho Fierro, Pasaje Santa Rosa 114. 
  • Galería ICPNA San Miguel, Av. La Marina 2469. 
  • 11 Museo Andres del Castillo, Corner Jiron de la Union and ?. 
  • Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Nicolás de Piérola 1222 (Centro Cultural de la UNMSM), ☏ +51 1 619 7000 ext 5216. (updated Dec 2017)
  • Museo Arqueológico Josefina Ramos de Cox del Instituto Riva Agüero (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú), Jr. de La Unión Nº 554, ☏ +51 1 427-4961, +51 1 626-2000. Tu-Sa 10:00-19:30 and Su 11:00-17:00. A small collection of archaeological artifacts from sites around Lima. 
  • 12 Museo de Arte Italiano, Parque Juana Larco De Dammert. Paseo de la República 250. S/4. 
  • 13 Museo de Arte de Lima, Paseo Colón 125, Parque de Lima. Tu-Su 10:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, closed Mondays, 1 May, Easter Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 Dec, 31 Dec and 1 Jan. Has permanent and temporary exhibits of Peruvian art, covering pre-Hispanic, colonial, republican and modern art. General entry S/30, children below 8 years free. 
  • Museo de Arte de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Nicolás de Piérola 1222 (Centro Cultural de la UNMSM), ☏ +51 1 619 7000 ext 5214. (updated Dec 2017)
  • Museo de Arte y Tradiciones Populares (Instituto Riva Agüero), Jirón Camaná 459, ☏ +51 1 626 6600. M-F 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-19:00. An interesting collection of popular arts, including masks and costumes from current festivities in the Andean region. The Institute is housed in a very old colonial townhouse. One of few of its kind open to the public. Adults S/2, students and children S/1. 
  • 14 Museo del Banco Central de Reserva, Jr. Ucayali 271 (corner of Jr. Lampa and Ica), ☏ +51 1 613 2000. Tu-Sa 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. A representative sample of Peruvian art of all time, from millenary times to the 21st century: archeology, traditional folk art and republican painting rooms. The beautiful former central bank building was completed in 1929. Free. (updated Nov 2021)
  • Museo del Banco de Crédito del Perú (Sala Numismática y Sala de Acuarelas Pancho Fierro), Corner Jr. Lampa y Ucayali, ☏ +51 1 349 0606 ext 2210. 
  • Museo del Banco Wiese, Jr. Cusco 245. 
  • Museo del Cementario Presbitero Matias Maestro, Jr. Ancash, cuadra 17 (4a puerta), ☏ +51 1 385 2117, +51 1385 2084, +51 1 427 3798 (Night tours). Daily 08:30-17:00. Adults S/5, students S/3, children S/2. 
  • Museo del Cerebro (Brain Museum), Jr. Ancash 1271, ☏ +51 1 411 7768. M-Sa 08:00-12:30. The only museum about brains in Latin America. 
  • 15 Museo de los Combatientes de Arica, Corner of Conde de Superunda and Cailloma. 
  • Museo del Convento de San Francisco, Pza. San Francisco, Jirón Ancash, ☏ +51 1 427 1381, +51 1 426 7377. 
  • 16 Museo de los Descalzos (Museo del Convento de los Descalzos, Museum of the Barefoot Friars), Calle Manco Cápac 202-A, Alameda de los Descalzos, ☏ +51 1 481 0441. Daily 09:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00. Adults S/7, seniors and students S/3, children S/2. 
  • 17 Museo de la Cultura Peruana, Av. Alfonso Ugarte 650, corner of Sanchez Pinillos. M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-14:00. 
  • Museo Grafico del Diario - El Peruano. 
  • Museo del Hospital Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, Jirón Ancash 1271, ☏ +51 1 328 1473, +51 1 328 0505. 
  • 18 Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso, Jr. Junín 548, opposite Plaza Bolivar, ☏ +51 1 311 7777, . Daily 09:00-17:00. 
  • 19 Museo Metropolitano de Lima, Parque de Lima, Corner 28 de Julio and Garcilaso de la Vega. This museum has an immersive exhibit about the history of Lima from independence to the present. 8 S for adults. 
  • 20 Museo Militar (Centro de Estudios Historicos Militares), Parque Juana Larco De Dammert, 9 De Diciembre. M-Th. 
  • Museo Municipal del Teatro, Teatro Segura, Jirón Huancavelica 240, ☏ +51 1 426 7206. 
  • 21 Museo Nacional Afroperuano, Simon Rodrigez, opposite Plaza Bolivar. 
  • 22 Museo Postal y Filatélico del Perú, Pasaje Piura, next to the Palacio de Gobierno, ☏ +51 1 426 7264. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. 
  • 23 Museo de Sitio del Parque de la Muralla, Parque de la Muralla, Jr. Amazonas cdra. 1, on the south bank of Rio Rímac, just west of the Abancay Avenue bridge. Daily 09:00-21:00. 
  • Museo Universitario de la Universidad Nacional Federico Villareal, Jr. Cañete 697 esquina con Nicolás de Piérola, ☏ +51 1 425 1725. 
  • Sala de Exposiciones en el Colegio Real. 

Parks

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  • 24 Parque de la Exposicion (Parque de Lima), Bordered by the avenidas Paseo Colón, Garcilaso de la Vega, Paseo de la República y 28 de Julio, Santa Beatriz. W-Su. Features a large fountain, Japanese gardens, Teatro La Cabana. Museo Metropolitano de Lima is in the south east corner and Museo de Arte de Lima is in the north of the park. 
  • 25 Parque Juana Larco De Dammert, Bordered by Garcilaso de la Vega, Paseo de la República and 9 De Diciembre. Features a fountain and is home to the Museo Militar and the Museo de Arte Italiano. 
Fountains at the Circuito Mágico Del Agua.
  • 26 Parque de la Reserva (Circuito Magico del Agua), Bordered by Paseo de la República, Sanchez Cerro, Arequipa and Madre de Dios with Petit Thouars running right through the middle, ☏ +51 1 427 1993, +51 1 427 1021. W-Su closes 23:00, light shows at 19:15, 20:15, 21:30, 22:30. Re-opened on July 27, 2007, with 13 fountains and a Guinness World Record for the highest public fountain at over 80m tall. Best time to go is right at sunset and stay till dark to see all the lights in full effect in each one of the fountains. The laser show at the Fuente de la Fantasia fountain lasts about 30 minutes. S/4. 
The Parque Universitario is located in front of the National University of San Marco's cultural center.
  • 27 Parque Universitario, Intersection of Abancay and Nicolás de Piérola. Features three monuments and a clock tower. There is some street art across the street from the southeast corner of the park. 
  • 28 Parque de la Muralla. 
  • 29 Alameda Chabuca Granda. 
  • 30 Alameda de los Descalzos. 
  • 31 Paseo de Aguas. 
  • Paseo de Nuestros Heroes Navales. 

Plazas

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  • 32 Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas). This is the main square of downtown Lima. In the Spanish tradition, it's bordered in four sides by Government/Presidential Palace or Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace, the Municipalidad or City Hall, and assorted businesses. Plaza Mayor, Lima (Q2536763) on Wikidata Plaza Mayor, Lima on Wikipedia 
  • 33 Plaza Bolivar, Corner of Abancay and Junin. 
  • 34 Plaza Bolognesi (Plaza Francisco Bolognesi). A large round park with a statue in the center, surrounded by curved buildings. A few blocks west of Parque de la Exposición. 
  • Plaza Carrion, Corner Av. Grau and Huanuco. 
  • 35 Plaza Dos de Mayo. A large round park with a statue in the center, surrounded by curved buildings. Similar to Plaza Bolognesi. 
  • 36 Plaza Francia, Corner of Villaran and Camana, next to Iglesia de Recoleta. 
  • 37 Plaza Italia, Corner of Huanta and Junin. 
  • 38 Plaza Peru, next to the Palacio de Gobierno, adjoining the north corner of Plaza Mayor. 
  • 39 Plaza San Martín, 9th block of Jirón de la Unión. A beautiful plaza in the historical district of Lima. A walk along Jirón de la Unión will take you to the Plaza de Armas and past many historical buildings. 

Jesús María

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Breña

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  • Museo Andrés Avelino Cáceres, Avenida República de Portugal 258 - Breña, ☏ +51 1 423 5884. 
  • Museo Multidisciplinario del Colegio La Salle, Av. Arica 601 - Breña, ☏ +51 1 424 5750. W-Su 10:00-14:00, Th Sa 10:00-17:00. Natural history. Adults S/3, students S/2, children S/1. 


La Victoria

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Gamarra is a fantastic area to shop for a bargain. It's a busy area with street side shops. It doesn't have the security or the price tags of the modern shopping malls. Take only essentials and exercise caution in Gamarra.

  • 1 Polvos Azules, Av. Paseo de la República esq. Jr. Garcíaa Naranjo - La Victoria. A crazy indoor market. Buy cheap clothes, CDs, DVDs, software, games, shoes, backpacks, spirits or perfumes. Most things are counterfeit, but nevertheless of good quality. There are several similar markets in, or near, central Lima. 

Lima Cercado

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Jesús María

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Breña

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  • La Rambla Breña, Av. Brasil cuadra 6 (6 blocks from the Plaza Bolognesi.). 09:00-23:00. Plaza Vea, Ripley, Paris, Promart, Cineplanet, shops. 

Lima Cercado

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Breña

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  • El Rinconcito de Chela, Jr. Chamaya 1208, Breña, ☏ +51 1 423 0748. Seafood 

Jesús María

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La Victoria

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  • 1 Huanca Huasi, Av. Javier Prado Este 1405, Urb. Santa Catalina, La Victoria, ☏ +51 1 225 3654. Traditional Peruvian food. 
  • Trattoria El Italiano, Jr. Enrique León García S/N Urb. Santa Catalina - La Victoria. Delicious Italian food. 

More

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  • Norkys, Jirón de la Unión 748, Cercado de Lima, ☏ +51 1 4285763. Chicken, chips, salad, steak, desserts, delivery. 
  • Roky's, Jirón de la Unión 800, Cercado de Lima, ☏ +51 1 613 5000. Roast chicken, chips, salad, steak, desserts, delivery. 
  • Rústica, Civic Center, CC Real Plaza, Garcilaso de la Vega 1337 (in Real Plaza Centro Cívico), ☏ +51 1 3442920. Pizzas, pastas, chicken, grilled meat, buffets. 

Drink

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Around the Plaza Mayor, you can find some nice bars. Around Plaza San Martin you can find "El Directorio", "De Grot" and "Mao Bar", which are small rock pubs occasionally hosting shows from local bands and low-priced beer, when compared to similar places in Barranco or Miraflores.

Sleep

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Lima Cercado

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  • 1900 Backpackers Hostel, Av. Garcilazo de la Vega 1588, ☏ +51 1 424 3358, . Check-out: 12:00. It's the only hostel in the Historic Center and in front of the Museum of Art. It is in a fantastic colonial mansion. It blends the comfort of new amenities and services with the old charm of colonial architecture. It's clean and with English speaking and well-educated staff which is really helpful in a city where not many people speak English. dorms from S/26. 
  • 1 Gran Hotel Bolivar, Jr. De La Union 958, Centro Histórico (at the Plaza San Martin, 650 m from Plaza de Armas). The cocktail Pisco Saur was invented here. Royalty stayed here, and the Rolling Stones had to leave for bad behavior. Gran Hotel Bolivar Lima (Q20995355) on Wikidata Gran Hotel Bolivar on Wikipedia 
  • Hotel Continental, Jr. Puno 196 Centro Histórico, ☏ +51 1 205 6200, . Looks nice, in central Lima. Single about S/100, double about S/140. 
  • Hotel España, Corner of Ancash and Azangaro (across from San Francisco Convent), ☏ +51 1 428 5546. Traditional hotel with wide range of accommodation options. Lots of rooms including dorms starting at 18 soles/night, although prices for all rooms have almost doubled in the past year. Internet cafe and travel help on site. Rooms a bit outdated at times but decorated with paintings, a minimal amount of furniture and the occasional Greek statue. This family run hotel/hostel is full of greenery and generally has guests from all over the world. The restaurant serves only breakfast which can be inconvenient if you want to sit anywhere outside your room after 11:00. The crowd of guests is a great mix of different cultures and backgrounds. It can get a bit noisy with traffic around the downtown area and the constant bird noise from the two parrots who live in the rooftop courtyard. The wifi is unreliable and only reaches a few rooms. 
  • Hotel Mandarin, Av. Petit Thouars 1301 esq. Teodoro Cárdenas, Urb. Santa Beatriz, . A large, very good value hotel located in the Santa Beatriz neighborhood, near to the water fountain park. One block from Arequipa, the boulevard that runs between downtown and San Isidro/Miraflores. A large supermarket, cinemas, bars and restaurants are a few blocks away. Clean, modern rooms with cable TV, WiFi, etc available for S/40. 

Jesús María

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Breña

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  • El Sol, Av. Rep. de Portugal 169-171, Breña (Two blocks from Plaza Bolognesi). Clean, modern rooms with cable TV and WiFi. S/35. 

La Victoria

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Connect

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Emergencies

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  • Emergency (Central de Emergencias), ☏ 105. 
  • Security (Central de Serenazgo), ☏ 318 5050 (domestic), 3185055 (domestic), 3185491 (domestic), toll-free: 0800-1227-0 (from public telephone). 
  • Fire (Compañía de Bomberos), ☏ 116. 
This district travel guide to Central Lima is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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