Where to Stay in Lima, Peru: The Best Areas & Accommodations (2021)

Lima is the capital city of Peru. All international flights must first land in Lima before going anywhere else in the country. Since all flights first stop in Lima, most tourists decide to spend at least a day exploring the city before heading to another destination in Peru. Tourists spend time in Lima for its great food scene, beaches, nightlife, museums, and more. Lima is massive—boasting a population of 9 million people and 43 districts. Of the 43 districts, only a handful are ideal for tourists to stay in due to convenience and safety.

I’ve lived in Lima part-time for two years and in that time, I’ve had the chance to experience living in every major borough that’s recommended for tourists. This article provides a run-down of where to stay in Lima, Peru. This includes the best districts for tourists in Lima, as well as recommendations of some of the best accommodations to book in the city.

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The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Lima

Lima, Peru is a massive city. It might be hard to figure out where to Stay in Lima without ever having been there before. Luckily, there are three boroughs located near one another that are great for tourists. They are Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro. Each section is safe, accessible, and near the hotspots that you’ll want to check out during your trip.

Here’s a map displaying where the best neighborhoods to stay in Lima are located, for visual reference:

Miraflores: Best All-Around Neighborhood

Miraflores is the #1 recommended neighborhood for tourists to stay in Lima. There are a lot of great hotels, hostels, and AirBNB’s to choose from in the area.

The district is on the beach and accommodations in the area either have a beach view or are within walking distance of the beach. Beyond the beach, tourist attractions and activities are all accessible from Miraflores.

In addition to its accessibility, there are a lot of good restaurants, bars, and shops in the neighborhood.

Miraflores is a very safe neighborhood in Lima, Peru — which is another reason that tourists like to stay there.

Barranco: Best Place for Art Lovers

Located next to Miraflores, Barranco is another great section to consider staying in when visiting Lima, Peru. Barranco is less geared towards tourism. It’s an area that locals go-to for great food, nightlife, art museums, and shops. Barranco is also located next to the beach, which is a nice perk of the neighborhood.

San Isidro: Best Place to Live Like a Local

San Isidro is a neighborhood in Lima, Peru that a lot of locals live in. There are also a lot of office buildings in the area. This is where tourists may want to stay for a more local feel. It’s a residential area with some great parks, stores, and restaurants.

The downside of staying in this area is that visitors will have to take public transportation to visit any of the tourist hot-spots in Lima. That said, it’s a very safe neighborhood and one might find cheaper accommodation here. It’s not as geared towards tourism as Barranco & Miraflores.

The Historic Center: Visit but Don't Stay There

Some travel resources will tell you that the Historic Center is a good place to stay in Lima, Peru. This is not true. The Historic Center is very far away from neighborhoods that you’ll want to spend a lot of time in (Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro). It’s best to stay in another neighborhood that’s more centrally located and take a day-trip to the Historic Center to see the sights. The historic center is cool and definitely worth visiting, but not a great neighborhood to book your accommodation in.

Besides being far away from a lot of the stuff you’ll want to see, the Historic Center is less safe than the other boroughs in Lima, as the rate of petty theft is higher in the Historic Center.

How to Find Accomodation in Lima, Peru

There are a few ways to find good accommodation in Lima, Peru. The best resources for this are:

Booking.com: The best resource for finding/booking hotels & hostels in Lima, Peru.
Hostelworld.com: A great resource for finding hostels in Lima, Peru. I like to look at this site and compare it to the cost on Booking.com.
AirBNB.com: A good way to find accommodation in Lima, Peru with a bit more space than a hotel or hostel.

Included below are some of the best hotels & hostels to stay at in Lima, Peru. To locate the best AirBNB to say in, go to the website directly and search for your specific requirements. You’ll be able to very quickly see what the best Airbnb’s are for your needs and can view all of the user reviews direct on the site.

The Best Hotels in Lima, Peru

Hotel	Address	About	Book
JW Marriott Hotel Lima	Malecon De La Reserva 615, Miraflores	This is the most luxurious hotel that you can stay at in Lima, Peru. If you want white-glove service, this is your hotel. It's located on the beach and central to all tourist activities in Miraflores. Stay here for an easy, comfortable, and luxurious trip.	Click here to book the JW Marriott Hotel on Booking.com
AC Hotel by Marriott	Malecón de la Reserva 729 Miraflores	This hotel is on the high-end range of budgets in Lima. It's located on the beach in Miraflores. Safe, comfortable, ideal for families, couples, and business travelers. Offers strong wi-fi, gym, and an airport shuttle if needed.	Click here to book the AC Hotel by Marriott on Booking.com
Casa Republica Barranco Boutique Hotel	Avenida Saenz Peña 208, Barranco	This is an adorable and high-end hotel located in Barranco -- one of the most beautiful areas of Lima, Peru. The hotel is located near the beach and offers perks that no other hotel in Lima offers -- such as bike rentals. There's also a great in-house bar at the hotel.	Click here to book Casa Republica on Booking.com
Hotel B	Jirón Sáenz Peña 204, Barranco	Hotel B is one of the most authentic hotels that you can stay at in Lima, Peru. Located in Barranco - the place feels more like a large home than a hotel. They offer many perks, including a daily afternoon tea on the property restaurant.	Click here to book Hotel B on Booking.com
Country Club Lima	Eucaliptos 590, San Isidro	This is a great hotel to stay in if you're looking to stay in San Isidro. It's located near the business area of San Isidro -- where many of the buildings are, so it's ideal for business travelers. There's a golf course near the property and a great in-house restaurant.	Click here to book Country Club Lima on Booking.com
The Westin Lima Hotel	Calle Las Begonias 450, San Isidro	This hotel is located in the heart of San Isidro. It's ideal for business travelers and families. There's a hotel pool. The views from the hotel are excellent.	Click here to book the Westin Lima on Booking.com

The Best Hostels in Lima, Peru

Hotel	Address	About	Book
Pariwana Hostel Lima	Miraflores, Av. José Larco 189	This hostel offers accommodation in the heart of Miraflores—conveniently located near many attractions and within walking distance of the beach. It's known as the party hostel in Lima, and a lot of people—both tourists and locals -- go there to party. This is a good hostel for backpackers in Lima and solo travelers looking to network.	Click here to book Pariwana Hostel on Booking.com
Selina Lima	Calle Alcanfores 465, Miraflores	Selina Hostel in Miraflores, Lima is the best hostel for digital nomads and solo travelers in Lima, Peru. The hotel offers excellent and comfortable accommodations. Guests can work and network in an on-site coworking space and an in-house cafe.	Click here to book Selina Lima on Booking.com
The Point Hostels Lima	Malecón Junin 300, Cercado de Lima , Barranco	This hostel is located in the heart of Barranco. It's the best hostel for backpackers in Lima, Peru. There's always a great community of travelers here that guests can connect with. The hostel is within walking distance of some of Lima's best restaurants, bars, and shops.	Click here to book The Point Hostels Lima on Hostelworld.com
Barranco Backpackers Inn	Malecon Castilla 260, Barranco	You'll feel more like you're staying in a home than a hostel here. The accommodation is warm and comfortable and the staff is very helpful. There's a constant rotation of travelers here. It's a great spot for backpackers to connect.	Click here to book Barranco Backpackers Inn on Hostelworld.com

Enjoy Your Trip!

Now that you have an understanding of where to stay in Lima, Peru, I hope you are able to book accommodation that will give you the best experience possible in the city. Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro are all great neighborhoods with great, safe, convenient, and comfortable accommodations to sift through.

Click here to view & share a quick reference guide containing information from this post regarding where to stay in Lima, Peru.