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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From LIM
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION25m
TRANSIT50m
EXPLORE1h 40m
RETURN50m
BUFFER45m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~25 min · LIM
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
LIM is generally efficient outside peak early morning arrivals. The new terminal (2025) added more immigration counters. Most Western passports clear in under 30 min. Fill out the digital Andean migration card online before arrival to save time.
Transit into the city
50 min
Airport Express Lima coach runs LIM to Miraflores in 45 to 70 min, about USD 8 one way, buses every 30 min from 05:00 to 22:30. Authorised taxis (Taxi Green, Taxi 365) to Miraflores run S/60 to S/80 and take 30 to 60 min in traffic. Avoid unmarked taxi touts at arrivals.
Explore Lima
~1h 40m of free time
At LIM, stay airside—use lounges and dining as immigration lines and distance to the city make exits impractical.
We recommend you stay airside: Lima Airport is far from most attractions and traffic is heavy.
A short visit is possible only to nearby districts if roads are clear.
Base yourself near the coast or historic center and enjoy scenery, food, and walking. Distances are larger than they appear, so plan conservatively.
Return to LIM
50 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 95 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~45 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at LIM typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
What to See
Top sights for your time window
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Peruvian Sol (S/). Cards accepted in Miraflores, Barranco, and most sit-down restaurants. Carry small sol notes for taxis and street vendors. USD is accepted at some tourist spots but you will lose on the rate.
Language
Spanish. Basic English is spoken at airport information desks, major hotels, and tourist restaurants in Miraflores and Barranco. Outside those zones, assume Spanish only.
Visa
No tourist visa required for most Western passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, NZ) for stays up to 183 days. Airside transit does not require clearance. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
Airport Express Lima coach: LIM to Miraflores in 45 to 70 min depending on traffic, every 30 min, about USD 8 one way. Authorised airport taxi (Taxi Green or Taxi 365) to Miraflores is S/60 to S/80, 30 to 60 min. Avoid unmarked taxis at arrivals. No metro reaches the airport yet.
Weather
Coastal desert, mild year round. December through April is summer, sunny with highs around 25C. May through October is cool and overcast with persistent fog (garua), 15 to 20C and little actual rain. Pack a light jacket outside of summer.
Tipping
Not required. 10 percent at sit-down restaurants is appreciated if no service charge appears on the bill. Round up for taxis and leave S/2 to S/5 for small services.
Emergency
105 (police). 106 (SAMU ambulance). 116 (fire). Tourist police (POLTUR) operate near Miraflores and the airport, English-speaking officers available.
Time Zone
PET (UTC-5). No daylight saving time, same as US Eastern Time during winter months.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
