Peru
How much does a trip to Lima cost?
Plan €1582 for 7 nights in Lima, return flight from London included, or €810 travelling cheap. On the ground that works out at €144 per person per day.
Lima - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.
- From
- €46/day
- vs. London
- 64%
- Best month
- Jan
Your trip to Lima
Set the length, the number of travellers and the comfort level: the figures recompute here.
€1,582
per person, flight included
- on the ground
- €1,008
- flight from London
- €574
- per person per day, on the ground
- €144
InstantTripCost estimate
Full 7-night budget breakdown
Per-person estimate including flights from London, split across the six expense categories.
per person · Comfort
| Category | Budget | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | €488 | €574 | €861 |
| Hotel | €63 | €329 | €574 |
| Food | €168 | €378 | €945 |
| Transport | €56 | €126 | €315 |
| Activities | €21 | €98 | €378 |
| Misc | €14 | €77 | €266 |
| 7-night total | €810 | €1582 | €3339 |
Flight from London (annual median).
Unit prices
comfort
Enough to check the total yourself, line by line, at the comfort level you picked.
- €8
- Breakfast
- €15
- Lunch
- €31
- Dinner
- €6
- City ride
- €14
- Site admission
- €144
- A full day
Orders of magnitude derived from our measured ranges, not surveyed venue by venue. Prices vary by neighbourhood and season.
Why go
Why visit Lima
Lima stands out as a remarkably affordable destination for international travelers, with 9.9M inhabitants and an urban character that reveals itself in a matter of days.
Lima is one of the rare destinations whose winter average stays above 18 °C, making it a credible escape during the grayest European months.
Real budget
What a trip to Lima actually costs
Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €9 per night, a well-rated 3-star around €47, and 4 to 5-star around €82. Food: around €8 a day eating local, €18 mixing canteens and restaurants, €45 if you sit down for dinner every evening.
Local transport: roughly €8 a day on public transit, €18 adding a few taxi rides. Activities: about €18 a day at a normal sightseeing pace, €45 if you stack paid entries and day trips.
On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Lima trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.
Seasonality
When to go and what it costs
The best price-weather compromise is January: temperatures in the 18-25 °C sweet spot, crowds still manageable, and airfares near the annual median. If budget is the priority, November delivers the cheapest flight of the year (€542 round-trip from London in median), at the cost of generally less pleasant weather.
Money saving
How to cut the Lima budget
The single most profitable lever in Lima is the date. A shoulder-season departure saves 10-20 % on airfare, often more on the hotel. Booking timing comes next: the 6-to-8-weeks-out window consistently beats both last-minute and booking a year ahead for hotel rates.
On lodging, moving 1 or 2 metro stops out of the hyper-center often halves the bill at equal comfort, with no real commute penalty. As for activities, one standout experience per day is enough. Stacking 3 or 4 paid tickets daily inflates the budget without making the trip noticeably better.
Practical info
Language, currency, and logistics in Lima
Language: Quechua, Aymara, Spanish, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: Sol (S/) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.
The three tiers
What a budget traveller, a comfort traveller and a premium traveller typically spend.
Budget
€41
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €9
- Meal
- €8
- Transit / day
- €8
Comfort
€119
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €47
- Meal
- €18
- Transit / day
- €18
Luxury
€262
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €82
- Meal
- €45
- Transit / day
- €45
Weather & best time to visit
Average temperatures and conditions by month in Lima.
Best month to visitJanuary
Where to sleep in Lima
The hotels we measured
Accommodation picks by price range.
Maypa Lima Airport
guesthouse, decent (7.2/10) from 241 reviews.
Tupac Lima Airport
Hostel, decent (7.8/10) from 581 reviews.
Inkawasi Miraflores Hostel
guesthouse, decent (7.8/10) from 921 reviews.
Hospedaje Dajoka's
guesthouse, well rated (8/10) from 37 reviews.
Amara Hotel
Hotel, decent (7.8/10) from 478 reviews.
Royal Garden Hotel
Hotel, well rated (8.4/10) from 467 reviews.
Apartamento estándar en Lima Centro
Hotel, well rated (8.1/10) from 196 reviews.
La Casa del Viajero
guesthouse, very well rated (8.5/10) from 555 reviews.
Hotel Boulevard
Hotel, well rated (8.4/10) from 2,194 reviews.
All observed hotels in Lima
24 properties, nightly rate for a 2-night stay arriving 15 October 2026.
| Hotel | Category | Rating | From / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maypa Lima Airport | Budget | ★ 7.2 | €6 |
| Tupac Lima Airport | Budget | ★ 7.8 | €7 |
| Inkawasi Miraflores Hostel | Budget | ★ 7.8 | €8 |
| 1900 Backpacker's Hostel | Budget | ★ 8.5 | €8 |
| Kurmi Hostel Lima Airport | Budget | ★ 8.2 | €8 |
| Casa Águila y Cóndor Miraflores | Budget | ★ 8.1 | €8 |
| Quinoa Backpackers Hostel | Budget | ★ 9 | €8 |
| Hostal Jara | Budget | ★ 6.9 | €8 |
| Hospedaje Dajoka's | Mid-range | ★ 8 | €25 |
| Apartamento estándar en Lima Centro | Luxury | ★ 8.1 | €25 |
| Amara Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 7.8 | €26 |
| Royal Garden Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.4 | €30 |
| NAIA Hotel Miraflores | Mid-range | ★ 8.4 | €30 |
| Hotel Boutique Candamo | Mid-range | ★ 7.5 | €33 |
| Hotel María Luisa | Mid-range | ★ 8.3 | €39 |
| San Miguel Awanka Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.4 | €43 |
| Hotel Lexus | Mid-range | ★ 8.3 | €44 |
| La Casa del Viajero | Luxury | ★ 8.5 | €52 |
| Hotel Boulevard | Luxury | ★ 8.4 | €55 |
| SeaCoast Hotel MiraPark Miraflores | Luxury | ★ 0 | €56 |
| Sonesta Hotel El Olivar | Luxury | ★ 8.9 | €61 |
| Vacation Escape - Elegant Barranco Stay near Beach & Art | Luxury | ★ 9.7 | €65 |
| Miraflores Colon Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.6 | €66 |
| Radisson RED Miraflores | Luxury | ★ 8.8 | €70 |
Things to do in Lima
Recommended activities and tours.
Historic Centre of Lima
The Historic Centre of Lima (Spanish: Centro histórico de Lima) is the historic city centre of the city of Lima, the capital of Peru. Located in the city's districts of Lima and Rímac, both in the Rímac Valley, it consists of two areas: the first is the Monumental Zone established by the Peruvian government in 1972, and the second one - contained within the first one - is the World Heritage Site established by UNESCO in 1988, whose buildings are marked with the organisation's black-and-white shield.
Historic district
Larco Museum
The Larco Museum (officially known as Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum, in Spanish: Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera) is a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art, located in the Pueblo Libre district of Lima, Peru. The museum is housed in an 18th-century vice-royal building.
Notable place
Plaza Mayor, Lima
The Plaza Mayor (English: Town square), also known as the Plaza de Armas, is the main public square of the historic centre of the city of Lima, Peru. It dates back to the foundation of the city by Francisco Pizarro on 18 January 1535.
Square
National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru
The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú, MNAAHP) is the largest and oldest museum in Peru, housed at the Palacio de la Magdalena, located in the main square of Pueblo Libre, a district of Lima, Peru. The museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts spanning the entire history of human occupation in what is now Peru.
Museum
Q677387
Huaca Pucllana, or Huaca Juliana, is a great adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima, Peru, built from seven staggered platforms. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of the Lima Culture, a society which developed in the Peruvian Central Coast between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD.
Archaeological site
Lima Art Museum
The Lima Art Museum (Museo de Arte de Lima, MALI) is an art museum in Lima, Peru. The museum is located in the Palacio de la Exposición.
Art museum
Monastery of San Francisco
The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco (Spanish: Basílica y Convento de San Francisco) is a Catholic church building located in the Historic Centre of Lima, Peru. The church, together with the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude (Spanish: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad) and the Church of the Virgin of the Miracle (Spanish: Iglesia de la Virgen del Milagro), forms a religious monumental complex surrounded by Amazonas, Áncash and Lampa streets, as well as Abancay Avenue.
Church
Plaza San Martín
San Martín Square (Spanish: Plaza San Martín) is one of the most representative public spaces of the city of Lima, Peru. It is located at the ninth block of Colmena avenue, within the Historic Centre of Lima which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 by UNESCO.
Square
Garagay
cultural heritage site in Lima, Peru
Archaeological site
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Merced
The Basilica and Priory of Nuestra Señora de la Merced is a Roman Catholic church located in Lima, Peru. It was designed in the Baroque style known as Churrigueresque.
Church
Places referenced on Wikidata. Admission prices vary by season - check each venue's official site.
Paying less in Lima
What moves the needle
What each decision takes off the €1518 total, strongest lever first.
- − €686
Travel cheap rather than mid-range
Hostel or entry-level hotel, local canteens, public transport. Accommodation is where the gap opens up.
- − €288
Stay five nights instead of seven
Two fewer nights also removes two days of meals, transport and sightseeing.
- − €164
Travel as a pair
The room is shared, nothing else is. Travellers themselves name this as the strongest lever.
Differences computed from our own measurements, for a 7-night mid-range stay, excluding flights.
FAQ
FAQ - Lima
- How much should I budget for a trip to Lima?
- For a 7-day trip to Lima, expect roughly €810 - €3339 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
- When is the best time to visit Lima?
- The best value is in January, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
- How do I get around in Lima?
- Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
- How can I do Lima on a budget?
- For a cheap trip to Lima, target around €46 - €144 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
- What's the budget for a weekend in Lima?
- For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Lima, plan around €572 - €942 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
- Is Lima an expensive or affordable destination?
- At 51 % of our reference index, Lima ranks among the most affordable destinations we track. In practice, a daily budget about 49 % below the average destination we track.
- How many days do you need in Lima?
- Plan 4 days for the essentials. A full week lets you add the surroundings without rushing, for roughly €432 more per person. Beyond ten days the cost grows linearly: each extra night adds about €144, lodging and daily spending included.
- Do you need a car in Lima?
- Our estimates assume public transport, which covers the centre and its near surroundings. Rental, fuel, parking and tolls are not included: if your route leaves the served area, add them as a separate line.
- How much cash should you bring to Lima?
- Bring €50 to €100 for the first days, until you see where cards work. When paying or withdrawing, decline the conversion into your home currency that terminals offer: it applies its own rate, consistently worse than your bank's.
At a glance
Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data
- Population
- 9.9M
- Area
- 2,672 km²
- Elevation
- 154 m
- Language
- Quechua, Aymara, Spanish
- Currency
- S/
- Time zone
- Q5390
- Founded
- 1535
- Avg. July temp.
- 17°
- Avg. Jan. temp.
- 22°
- Rainy days / year
- 25
inhabitants
Sol
15° - 19°
20° - 24°
About
Lima in brief
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Jurisdictionally, the metropolis extends mainly within the province of Lima and in a smaller portion, to the west, within the Constitutional Province of Callao, where the seaport and the Jorge Chávez Airport are located. Both provinces have had regional autonomy since 2002.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Keep exploring
Similar budget
Destinations at a similar price
Cost index close to Lima.