neighbourhood
Miraflores boardwalk + Larcomar
Cliffside park + paragliding launch + Larcomar shopping mall built into the cliff. Safest tourist area. Free walking with Pacific Ocean views.
Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM) · Peru
12-Hour Layover in Lima: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 12-hour layover in Lima?
Entry
Visa-free for most Western, EU, US passports up to 90 days. Yellow fever vaccine recommended (required for jungle regions, not Lima itself).
Into town
Airport Express bus (to Miraflores): 60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6).
Time outside
6–8 hours exploring
Times from LIM arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Lima: Where to Go
The sights in Lima worth leaving the airport for.
2Plaza de Armas + Lima Cathedral
UNESCO historic centre + the cathedral with Pizarro's tomb. Free entry to plaza, COP 25 to cathedral. Watch changing of the guard at Government Palace 11:45.
Photo: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
neighbourhood
Barranco bohemian quarter
15-min walk south of Miraflores — Lima's street art + craft beer + restaurants quarter. Best Pisco Sours at Ayahuasca or Vista al Mar.
4Larco Museum (pre-Columbian art)
PEN 35 entry. World-class pre-Columbian collection in an 18th-century colonial mansion. Easily 2 hours.
Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Itinerary ideas for Lima
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
12 hours
You are here12 hours in Lima
6–8 hours exploring
Insider tip
LIM is 11km from Miraflores — Airport Express bus is the cheapest reliable option but slow (60-90 min). Uber is much faster + safer than street taxis for tourists. Lima traffic 07:30-09:30 + 17:30-19:30 can extend journeys significantly.
Into Lima
Getting to Lima City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Express bus (to Miraflores) | PEN 25 (€6) | 60–90 min |
| Taxi (official Aeropuerto Taxi) | PEN 60–90 (€15–22) | 40–70 min |
| Uber / Cabify | PEN 45–70 (€11–17) | 40–70 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Lima
Ceviche at Chez Wong (Lima's most-famous, lunch only, no signs out front, ring the bell). Pisco Sour at Ayahuasca (bar in colonial mansion). Anticuchos (beef heart skewers) at street stalls.
12 hours in Lima
12-Hour Itinerary
1
0–60 min
Clear passport control and head into Lima
Take Airport Express bus (to Miraflores) (60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6)).
2
1–4 hrs
Miraflores boardwalk + Larcomar
Cliffside park + paragliding launch + Larcomar shopping mall built into the cliff. Safest tourist area. Free walking with Pacific Ocean views.
3
4–6 hrs
Plaza de Armas + Lima Cathedral
UNESCO historic centre + the cathedral with Pizarro's tomb. Free entry to plaza, COP 25 to cathedral. Watch changing of the guard at Government Palace 11:45.
4
6–8 hrs
Eat like a local
Ceviche at Chez Wong (Lima's most-famous, lunch only, no signs out front, ring the bell). Pisco Sour at Ayahuasca (bar in colonial mansion). Anticuchos (beef heart skewers) at street stalls.
5
8–10 hrs
Barranco bohemian quarter
15-min walk south of Miraflores — Lima's street art + craft beer + restaurants quarter. Best Pisco Sours at Ayahuasca or Vista al Mar.
6
10–12 hrs
Back to Jorge Chávez Airport
Head back to Jorge Chávez Airport by Airport Express bus (to Miraflores) (60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6)). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 12-hour layover in Lima?
Visa-free for most Western, EU, US passports up to 90 days. Yellow fever vaccine recommended (required for jungle regions, not Lima itself). Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 12 hours enough to leave Jorge Chávez Airport?
6–8 hours exploring. Getting into Lima by Airport Express bus (to Miraflores) takes 60–90 min each way.
How do I get from Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima centre?
Airport Express bus (to Miraflores): 60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6). Taxi (official Aeropuerto Taxi): 40–70 min, PEN 60–90 (€15–22). Uber / Cabify: 40–70 min, PEN 45–70 (€11–17).
Where can I leave my bags in Lima?
Luggage storage near Jorge Chávez Airport and in Lima is listed in our Lima luggage storage guide.
Getting out of Jorge Chávez Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Lima
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Lima and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse Lima
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Lima Airport
With 12 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Lima
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
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Also useful for your Lima trip
Airlines that fly to Lima
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from LIM.
Atsa Airlines route mapJetSMART route mapJetSmart Perú route mapLATAM Airlines route mapLATAM Airlines Perú route mapSky Airline Peru route mapStar Perú route mapAerolíneas Argentinas route mapAeromexico route mapAeroregional route mapAir Canada route mapAir Europa route mapAir France route mapAmerican Airlines route mapArajet route mapAvianca route mapAvianca Ecuador route mapAvianca El Salvador route map
Airport lounges at Jorge Chávez Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Lima travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Lima works
01
Check you can leave
Visa-free for most Western, EU, US passports up to 90 days. Yellow fever vaccine recommended (required for jungle regions, not Lima itself).
02
Head into town
Airport Express bus (to Miraflores): 60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6).
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Jorge Chávez Airport by Airport Express bus (to Miraflores) (60–90 min, PEN 25 (€6)). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Ready for Lima?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.