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Lima, the “City of Kings”, is often perceived as a simple stopover before heading off to Cusco or Machu Picchu. At first I thought this was normal, but frankly, it’s a mistake! The Peruvian capital is an interesting city, with a world-renowned gastronomy, some pretty neighborhoods and a unique energy between the Pacific and the Cordillera. But where to sleep in Lima to make the most of it, and above all to avoid ending up in neighborhoods that suck a little? because yes, Lima isn’t exactly a safe city. That’s why we’re going to concentrate on the 3/4 neighborhoods where you’ll be safe.
Oh, generally speaking, you should be careful in Lima at night. Even if you’re going to Miraflores, don’t walk outside for too long, especially alone in the street.
You don’t necessarily need to book far in advance. Prices don’t skyrocket at the last minute, and few hotels are fully booked. So if you’re planning your stay in Peru at the last minute, you can book late!
The good news is that the tourist areas are concentrated in the south of the city – Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro – which makes getting around fairly straightforward. The historic center is well worth a visit during the day, but the question of accommodation arises in a different way. I’ll explain it all below!
A selection of the best hotels in Lima
It’s not about pushing the most luxurious hotels on you, but the most popular, the most interesting, the ones (in all price ranges) that travelers love in Lima, all over the city. So chances are you’ll find something you like here!
📍 Miraflores · a few streets from the Malecón
Contemporary hotel with colourful design, a few streets from the Miraflores Malecón. Recent rooms, a rooftop and a gym, at a rate that stays very reasonable for Lima.
- Location 9.6 and staff 9.3, from 2,428 reviews
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.2, recent rooms
- Value for money 8.8, the best in its range
From 70 € / night
📍 San Isidro · business district, near El Olivar
Modern tower in the San Isidro business district, with a rooftop pool, gym and restaurant. The El Olivar olive grove is just a few minutes away on foot.
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.6, staff 9.5
- Rooftop pool and bar, views over San Isidro
- Value for money 9.0, rare at this level
From 170 € / night
📍 Barranco · Republican-era villa near the Bridge of Sighs
Small, carefully restored Republican-era villa with nine rooms, a stone's throw from the Bridge of Sighs. Patio, roof terrace and breakfast served in the inner garden.
- Location 9.9: the highest score in the whole article
- Cleanliness 9.7 and comfort 9.6, only nine rooms
- Only 83 reviews: a very thin sample
From 171 € / night
📍 Barranco · Belle Époque mansion, gallery district
A 1914 Belle Époque mansion turned hotel-museum, right in Barranco's gallery district. Contemporary art hanging everywhere, a cocktail bar and a roof terrace.
- Location 9.5 and comfort 9.3 in a listed building
- Contemporary art collection hanging throughout the hotel
- Value for money 8.3, and only 158 reviews
From 270 € / night
📍 Miraflores · colonial house in the heart of the district
Colonial house converted into a charming boutique hotel in the heart of Miraflores, with a leafy patio, period furniture and breakfast included. It's been a classic of the district for decades.
- Staff 9.8: the best welcome in the whole article
- Value for money 9.3 from over two thousand reviews
- Colonial patio, period furniture, breakfast included
From 80 € / night
📍 Barranco · Republican-era mansion in the heart of the district
Restored Republican-era mansion turned boutique hotel in the centre of Barranco, with a patio, pool and cocktail bar. The district's bars, galleries and restaurants are all within walking distance.
- Location 9.7 and staff 9.5, its strong points
- Comfort 9.4, patio and pool in a listed house
- Value for money 8.6, fair for a boutique hotel
From 180 € / night
📍 San Isidro · 1927 building, facing the golf course
Grand 1927 hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, facing the San Isidro golf course. Collection of colonial paintings, an English bar and a heated outdoor pool.
- Comfort 9.5 and cleanliness 9.4 in a historic building
- Collection of colonial paintings on loan from a museum
- Location 9.1: out of the way, far from the Miraflores bars
From 250 € / night
📍 Miraflores · facing the ocean, on the Malecón
Belmond luxury hotel facing the Pacific, on the Miraflores Malecón. Heated rooftop pool, spa, panoramic restaurant and corner suites looking straight out over the ocean.
- Staff, cleanliness and comfort all three at 9.4
- Rooftop pool and spa, head-on ocean views
- Value for money 8.3 for six hundred and fifty euros
From 650 € / night
Staying in Miraflores, the most interesting option
I almost always stay in Miraflores when I come to Lima (which is about once a year). Because the hotel offer is very interesting, not particularly expensive, but it’s also the quietest district in Lima. You can take a leisurely stroll here, even at night.
Miraflores is the tourist heart of Lima. And with good reason: it’s got it all. Hotels for every budget, world-class restaurants (several in the top 50 World’s Best Restaurants!), the Malecón that runs along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific, the Larcomar shopping mall suspended over the ocean… Frankly, if this is your first visit to Lima, you can’t go wrong with Miraflores.
The district revolves around Parque Kennedy, which is (very) lively at all hours, with its craftsmen, lounging cats and cool cafés all around. Just be careful with your bags, tie them to the tables 😀
The Huaca Pucllana, a 1,500-year-old pyramid right in the middle of the district, is one of the most unusual sights you’ll ever see.
- I’ll list a few below, but if you’re looking for a nice, inexpensive B&B, then I highly recommend El Patio Miraflores!
Benefits
- Excellent security, ideal for first-time travellers to Peru
- Wide choice of accommodation to suit all budgets
- Exceptional gastronomy at your fingertips
- Malecón promenade overlooking the Pacific Ocean
- Easy access to Barranco (10 min. walk) and San Isidro
- Lively neighborhood near Kennedy Square
Disadvantages
- Tourist district, less local authenticity
- Can be a little expensive compared to other neighborhoods
- Traffic can be heavy on main arteries
- Not near the Centro Historico
📍 Miraflores · on Avenida Larco, right in the centre
Well-run chain hotel on Avenida Larco, the main artery of Miraflores. Breakfast included, a roof terrace, and the whole district on foot from the front door.
- Location 9.8: the highest score of the Miraflores bunch
- Staff 9.5 and value for money 9.0
- Over two thousand reviews for seventy euros
From 70 € / night
📍 Miraflores · a few streets from the Malecón
Contemporary hotel with colourful design, a few streets from the Miraflores Malecón. Recent rooms, a rooftop and a gym, at a rate that stays very reasonable for Lima.
- Location 9.6 and staff 9.3, from 2,428 reviews
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.2, recent rooms
- Value for money 8.8, the best in its range
From 70 € / night
📍 Miraflores · a stone's throw from Kennedy Park
IHG design hotel a stone's throw from Kennedy Park, with a panoramic terrace, pool and Peruvian restaurant. Contemporary rooms and careful soundproofing despite a very lively neighbourhood.
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.6, staff 9.4
- Rooftop with pool, Peruvian restaurant on site
- Value for money 8.7 from seventeen hundred reviews
From 130 € / night
📍 Miraflores · facing Larcomar and the Pacific
Glass tower standing right opposite Larcomar and the Pacific, with an indoor pool, spa and rooms with picture windows looking straight out over the ocean and the cliffs.
- Location 9.7 and cleanliness 9.6, head-on ocean views
- Indoor pool, spa and fully equipped gym
- Value for money 8.4, the weak spot in the reviews
From 250 € / night
📍 Miraflores · blue house on a quiet street
Blue guesthouse on a quiet street in Miraflores, run by a team the reviews mention absolutely non-stop. Patio, shared kitchen and homemade breakfast included.
- Staff 9.9: the best welcome score in the article
- Value for money 9.4 for forty euros a night
- Location 9.7, quiet but ten minutes from the park
From 40 € / night
📍 Miraflores · colonial house in the heart of the district
Colonial house converted into a charming boutique hotel in the heart of Miraflores, with a leafy patio, period furniture and breakfast included. It's been a classic of the district for decades.
- Staff 9.8: the best welcome in the whole article
- Value for money 9.3 from over two thousand reviews
- Colonial patio, period furniture, breakfast included
From 80 € / night
📍 Miraflores · near the Malecón and Larcomar
NH design hotel near the Malecón, with a terrace, pool and unapologetically contemporary decor. The upper-floor rooms look out over the ocean and the paragliders drifting past.
- Comfort 9.8 and cleanliness 9.7, the best of the bunch
- Rooftop with pool and views of the Pacific
- Value for money 9.1 for a hundred and thirty euros
From 130 € / night
📍 Miraflores · close to Kennedy Park
Large Accor hotel close to Kennedy Park, with a heated outdoor pool, spa and gym. Spacious rooms and a buffet breakfast depending on the rate you book.
- Comfort 9.4 and cleanliness 9.3, location 9.5
- Heated outdoor pool, spa and gym
- Value for money 8.4, the weak spot in the reviews
From 160 € / night
Find a hotel in Barranco, Lima’s bohemian and creative district
Barranco is a favorite destination for many travelers who visit it. Formerly a seaside neighborhood for Lima’s wealthy families in the late 19th century, it has been transformed into a haven for artists, art galleries, wine bars, vegan cafes, and street art on every corner. The atmosphere is ultra-relaxed, and Peruvians flock here on weekends to socialize and party.
The Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), the Bajada de Baños leading down to the sea, the MAC Lima (Museum of Contemporary Art)—Barranco is full of charming walks. It’s also one of the best neighborhoods to eat ceviche with your feet in the water at sunset. Go on, you get the picture!
Be aware, however, that the neighborhood tends to change a bit, especially at night. To avoid less safe areas, stay around the Municipal Park, Bajada de Baños, and Pedro de Osma Avenue. It’s best to avoid staying east of Avenida Francisco Bolognesi, especially at night.
Advantages
- Unique artistic and bohemian atmosphere in Lima
- Excellent bars, seafood restaurants, and nightlife
- Calle de los Suspiros (Street of Sighs) and seaside promenades
- Relatively safe neighborhood that is pleasant to walk around
- Easy connection to Miraflores (15 min walk or 5 min taxi ride)
Disadvantages
- A little further from the historic center
- Can be noisy on weekends
- Fewer high-end hotels than in Miraflores
- Don’t stray too far from the tourist center of the neighborhood
📍 Barranco · on Avenida Grau, near the main square
Small two-star on Avenida Grau, a few minutes from Barranco's main square. Airport shuttle available, restaurant on site, and the lowest rate in Barranco.
- Thirty euros a night right in Barranco
- Airport shuttle and tour desk on site
- Booking doesn't publish its detailed sub-scores
From 30 € / night
📍 Barranco · old house in the heart of the district
Hostel set in a large old house in the heart of Barranco, with a bar, pool, terrace and a daily programme of activities. Dorms and private rooms all under the same roof.
- Staff 9.4 and location 9.5, from almost two thousand reviews
- Bar, pool and organised activities every day
- Dorms and private rooms, very social vibe
From 60 € / night
📍 Barranco · Republican-era villa near the Bridge of Sighs
Small, carefully restored Republican-era villa with nine rooms, a stone's throw from the Bridge of Sighs. Patio, roof terrace and breakfast served in the inner garden.
- Location 9.9: the highest score in the whole article
- Cleanliness 9.7 and comfort 9.6, only nine rooms
- Only 83 reviews: a very thin sample
From 171 € / night
📍 Barranco · Belle Époque mansion, gallery district
A 1914 Belle Époque mansion turned hotel-museum, right in Barranco's gallery district. Contemporary art hanging everywhere, a cocktail bar and a roof terrace.
- Location 9.5 and comfort 9.3 in a listed building
- Contemporary art collection hanging throughout the hotel
- Value for money 8.3, and only 158 reviews
From 270 € / night
Where to stay in San Isidro, the neighborhood of understated elegance
San Isidro is Lima’s financial and diplomatic district. With its tree-lined avenues, luxurious residences, designer boutiques, embassies and historic country club, this is clearly Lima’s chic and discreet neighborhood. It’s the perfect choice for business travelers or those seeking calm and premium comfort without the touristy feel of Miraflores.
The Larco Museum, with its extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian art, is nearby. The Bosque El Olivar, a small wood of century-old olive trees in the middle of the neighborhood, offers unexpected and relaxing walks.
It’s a super-convenient and pleasant neighborhood, but surprisingly I never really got hooked. Mainly because I love strolling along the Miraflores waterfront. However, it’s pretty close to everything, so it’s great for getting around!
Benefits
- Extremely safe and quiet neighbourhood
- Luxury hotels among the best in Lima
- Close to Miraflores (10-15 min. walk)
- Larco Museum and Bosque El Olivar nearby
- Ideal for business travellers
Disadvantages
- Less ambience and local life than Miraflores or Barranco
- Few budget options
- Residential neighborhood, very (too) quiet at night
📍 San Isidro · facing the El Olivar olive grove
Hotel facing the El Olivar olive grove, the most beautiful park in San Isidro, with a rooftop pool and restaurant. Quiet residential area with a reputation for being safe.
- Staff 9.4 and location 9.5, from 1,638 reviews
- Rooftop pool, facing El Olivar park
- Value for money 8.9 for ninety euros
From 90 € / night
📍 San Isidro · business district, near El Olivar
Modern tower in the San Isidro business district, with a rooftop pool, gym and restaurant. The El Olivar olive grove is just a few minutes away on foot.
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.6, staff 9.5
- Rooftop pool and bar, views over San Isidro
- Value for money 9.0, rare at this level
From 170 € / night
📍 San Isidro · the tallest tower in Lima
The tallest tower in Lima, right in San Isidro, with an indoor pool, spa and convention centre. The upper-floor rooms look out over the whole city and the coast.
- Cleanliness and comfort at 9.7, facilities 9.5
- Indoor pool, full spa and several restaurants
- Location 9.3: business district, not the liveliest
From 220 € / night
📍 San Isidro · 1927 building, facing the golf course
Grand 1927 hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, facing the San Isidro golf course. Collection of colonial paintings, an English bar and a heated outdoor pool.
- Comfort 9.5 and cleanliness 9.4 in a historic building
- Collection of colonial paintings on loan from a museum
- Location 9.1: out of the way, far from the Miraflores bars
From 250 € / night
Staying in Lima’s Historic Centre, UNESCO at your fingertips
The Cercado de Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is absolutely fascinating during the day. The Plaza de Armas with its baroque cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno, the convents of San Francisco and their catacombs, the sculpted colonial balconies – the architecture is breathtaking.
But… and it’s important to make this clear: the historic center is not the best option for sleeping. During the day, with tourists and locals alike, the atmosphere is lively and interesting. But as soon as the shop gates close in the evening, the area empties out and can become less safe. If you want to sleep there, you have to stay in the guarded area between the gates. In the evening, it’s really nice and safe (there are police everywhere). And the historic center is really pretty at night.
After that, it changes year after year. I’d say the “relatively safe” perimeter is gradually expanding.
If you decide to sleep there anyway (the proximity of the sites is a real advantage), choose hotels with good ratings, take cabs home at night, and avoid areas outside the main historic perimeter.
Well, I must admit that the number of quality hotels here is quite small!
Benefits
- Total immersion in UNESCO-listed colonial architecture
- Direct access on foot to the Plaza de Armas, cathedral and convents
- Cheaper accommodation options than Miraflores
Disadvantages
- Reduced security at night when shops close outside the guarded area
- Quality of accommodation more uneven
- Quality bars and restaurants in the hypercentre
- Significant daytime noise (vendors, traffic, horns)
📍 Historic centre · Avenida Garcilaso de la Vega
Hostel set in a 1900 mansion designed by Gustave Eiffel's studio, on the wide Avenida Garcilaso de la Vega. Dorms, a bar, a terrace and organised evenings all year round.
- Value for money 9.0 and staff 9.1
- 1900 mansion, spacious dorms and common areas
- Booking no longer publishes an overall score for this place
From 25 € / night
📍 Central Lima · within walking distance of the museums
Budget place in central Lima, within walking distance of the museums and colonial churches. Basic rooms, staff praised in the reviews, but facilities considered clearly dated.
- Location 9.2 and staff 8.8, its only strong points
- Facilities 7.7 and comfort 7.9, the lowest in the article
- Thirty-five euros a night, at that price, near the centre
From 35 € / night
📍 Central Lima · close to the colonial sights
Simple, well-run hotel in central Lima, within walking distance of the main colonial sights. Plain rooms, staff highly praised in the reviews, and a genuinely low rate.
- Staff 9.2 and location 9.1, from 1,590 reviews
- Sixty euros a night, a stone's throw from the colonial sights
- Facilities 8.5: plain, no unnecessary extras
From 60 € / night
📍 Historic centre · near Plaza San Martín
Large tower in the historic centre, near Plaza San Martín, with a pool, gym and several restaurants. Handy for exploring all of colonial Lima on foot.
- Location 8.7, walking distance from Plaza San Martín
- Pool, gym and restaurants on site
- Facilities 8.2 and value for money 8.1, dated
From 70 € / night
Neighborhoods to avoid
Lima is a generally accessible city for travelers, but some neighborhoods have a high crime rate and are of no interest to tourists. It’s a good idea to be aware of these areas so you don’t end up there by mistake, especially if you’re taking a cab or public transport.
Areas to avoid are Callao (even around the airport), La Victoria, El Agustino, Rimac, San Juan de Lurigancho and Villa El Salvador. In these areas, there is a real risk of snatching and mugging, even in the middle of the day. These are popular residential neighborhoods with no sites to visit, and frankly, no reason to go there as a tourist. I ventured into Rimac a bit by accident and almost regretted it (and got yelled at by Madame afterwards).
The good news is that the areas you’re interested in – Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro and the historic center during the day – are well marked out and safe if you keep to your usual reflexes: no display of expensive camera gear, phone tucked away in your pocket, and cabs booked via app (Uber, Cabify, InDriver) rather than hailed on the street.
Hostels and budget accommodation
Lima has some excellent hostels, often housed in beautifully renovated colonial houses. Whether you’re looking for a dormitory to meet travelers or an economical private room, here are the addresses that are definitely worth a visit.
📍 Historic centre · Avenida Garcilaso de la Vega
Hostel set in a 1900 mansion designed by Gustave Eiffel's studio, on the wide Avenida Garcilaso de la Vega. Dorms, a bar, a terrace and organised evenings all year round.
- Value for money 9.0 and staff 9.1
- 1900 mansion, spacious dorms and common areas
- Booking no longer publishes an overall score for this place
From 25 € / night
📍 Miraflores · quiet street, close to Kennedy Park
Miraflores guesthouse on a quiet street, a few minutes' walk from Kennedy Park. Breakfast included, a patio, and a team the reviews mention every single time.
- Staff 9.4 and location 9.6, from 2,740 reviews
- Value for money 8.9 for forty euros a night
- Facilities 8.6: a guesthouse, not a hotel
From 40 € / night
📍 Miraflores · near El Reducto Park
Standard Ibis near El Reducto Park, in the quiet part of Miraflores. Rooms identical to every Ibis in the world, clean and soundproofed, without the slightest surprise.
- Location 9.2 and staff 9.0, from 1,565 reviews
- Forty-five euros a night right in Miraflores
- Facilities 8.6: the bare essentials, nothing more
From 45 € / night
📍 Barranco · old house in the heart of the district
Hostel set in a large old house in the heart of Barranco, with a bar, pool, terrace and a daily programme of activities. Dorms and private rooms all under the same roof.
- Staff 9.4 and location 9.5, from almost two thousand reviews
- Bar, pool and organised activities every day
- Dorms and private rooms, very social vibe
From 60 € / night
Staying next to Lima Jorge Chavez airport
If you have an early morning flight, stopover or overnight transit, sleeping near Jorge Chávez International Airport can be a really good idea. It saves you having to cross Lima at 4am by cab, and frankly, with the traffic jams of the Peruvian capital, even a trip from Miraflores can take 45 minutes to an hour depending on the time.
The catch is that the airport is in Callao, a district I strongly advise against walking or exploring. But don’t worry: there’s absolutely no need to leave the immediate perimeter of the airport. Convenient overnight hotels are either directly connected to the terminal, or two minutes away by free shuttle bus – no reason to stick your nose out.
📍 Callao · pods inside the terminal
Sleeping pods and showers right inside the terminal, charged by the hour or by the night. For an overnight connection, definitely not for a proper stay.
- Location 9.4: literally in the terminal
- Pods and showers, hourly rates available
- Value for money 7.2, the lowest in the article
From 50 € / night
📍 Callao · a few minutes from the airport
Holiday Inn a few minutes from the airport, with a shuttle, restaurant and soundproofed rooms. It has the best score of the four airport options, for the lowest rate.
- Staff 9.5 and comfort 9.5, from 3,394 reviews
- Eighty-five euros, the cheapest of the four
- Location 8.4: shuttle required, not in the terminal
From 85 € / night
📍 Callao · opposite the old terminal
The group's original airport hotel, opposite the old terminal, with a pool, restaurant and shuttle. More than six thousand reviews make it the most visited in the whole article.
- Cleanliness and comfort at 8.9, staff 8.8
- Six thousand two hundred reviews, the most solid sample
- Location 7.9: from the new terminal, it's a long way
From 150 € / night
📍 Callao · inside the new airport terminal
Five-star hotel inside the new terminal at Jorge Chávez airport, with an indoor pool, spa and sauna. You walk from your room to check-in without ever going outside.
- Nine point two from over sixteen hundred reviews
- In the terminal: no transfer, no taxi
- Indoor pool, spa and sauna on site
From 200 € / night
In conclusion, which district of Lima should you choose to sleep in?
- First stay in Lima → Miraflores without hesitation. Safe, convenient, it’s all there.
- You want atmosphere and authenticity → Barranco is a guaranteed favorite.
- Business traveler or quiet retreat → San Isidro, for its calm and luxury hotels.
- Colonial history buff → Historic center by day, but take the cab back at night!
- Small budget → Miraflores and Barranco hostels offer excellent value for money.
Whatever your address, Lima has gastronomic, cultural and visual surprises in store that few South American capitals can match. Buen provecho and buen viaje!
Some other blog resources about Lima and Peru
I spend quite a bit of time in Peru thanks to Madame and, although at first I had some pretty strong preconceptions about Lima, I’m finally taking the time to visit it (definitely stop by the Museo Larco!), so I’ve written up a few things that might interest you:
- What to see in Lima – I’ve listed the capital’s coolest and most interesting places here
- Visiting Cusco – there’s so much to see in this fabulous city, I’ve listed it all for you!
- What to do in Arequipa and the surrounding area – perhaps my favourite city in Peru! The region is incredible and so beautiful.
- Visit Chachapoyas – a little-known empire on the Amazonas border, surprising and magnificent!
- Visit Machu Picchu – I’ve put together all the information you need to visit this place, really, don’t miss out!
- Preparing your trip to Peru – a general article with all the information you need.
- The most beautiful places in Peru – it was hard to choose, but here are my favourites!
And then discover all my articles on Peru! there are 30 of them!
