Things to do in Callao

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Lima

Lima Main Square

7

4.3/5

73 reviews

Lima Main Squarealso known as the central square, is the birthplace of the old town of Lima, the capital of Peru. In 1535, the Spaniard Pizarro founded the city here, and the square subsequently became the center of the entire city's planning and expansion. It is surrounded by the Government Palace of Peru, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union. The colonial-style facades are often adorned with carved wooden balconies, creating a highly recognizable cityscape for Lima, and the Cathedral houses the coffin of the city's founder, Pizarro. The bronze fountain in the center of the square was completed in the mid-17th century and is one of the oldest monuments preserved in Lima, as well as a popular spot for tourists to take photos.

Lima · 10.4km from Callao

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Lima

Lima's historic center

6.7

Lima · 10.2km from Callao

Lima's historic center is the historic core of Lima, the capital of Peru, spanning the Lima and Rímac districts on both banks of the Rímac River. In the 16th century, the Spaniard Pizarro founded the city here. Over the following centuries, churches, convents, mansions, and squares were built one after another. The old town long served as the political and religious center of the Viceroyalty of Peru, with facades in Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Baroque, and Neoclassical styles layered upon one another, where traces of Mediterranean, Moorish, and Andalusian decorative techniques can also be seen. A highly recognizable feature of the old town is the rows of carved wooden balconies, mostly built between the late 17th and 18th centuries, which are intricately carved and projecting. The Palacio de Torre Tagle and Casa de Osambela are representative examples. The old town is compact, spreading out from the Lima Main Square along pedestrian streets, and the main attractions can be connected on foot. The changing of the guard in front of the Government Palace is also a common sight in the square.

Selected for Best Things to Do in Peru

San Martin Square

4.0/5

51 reviews

San Martin Squareis located in Lima, the capital of Peru. Inaugurated on July 27, 1921, to celebrate the centennial of Peru's independence, it is named after José de San Martín, the leader of the South American independence movement and the Liberator of Peru, and is one of the most representative public spaces in the old town. In the center of the square stands a bronze equestrian statue created by Spanish sculptor Mariano Benlliure, capturing the moment San Martín led his army across the Andes: the general sits calmly and focused on horseback, without the typical pose of a rearing horse or brandishing a weapon; the pedestal also features a female statue adorned with a small alpaca, symbolizing Peru, and the surrounding marble railings and granite paving were also part of the original meticulous design.

Lima · 9.9km from Callao

Lima · 10.5km from Callao

Lima Cathedral

5.9

4.0/5

29 reviews

Lima Cathedral is located on the east side of the Lima Main Square in the old town of Lima and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima. The main facade is in the Renaissance style, with stone statues of the apostles standing between the niches, complementing the scenery of the square. Inside, it has a 3-aisle layout, with over 10 small chapels lined up on both sides. Looking up, you can see the Gothic ribbed vaulted ceiling made of wood and plaster, forming a starry pattern, which reduces the weight of the roof and aids in earthquake resistance—a clever architectural design to cope with the earthquake-prone environment. The wooden choir stalls surrounding the main altar were carved in the 17th century, with the backs intricately carved with images of apostles and saints. The Chapel of the Saints houses images of saints native to Peru, such as Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Martin de Porres. The sacristy and the chapter house display oil paintings themed around the zodiac, large carved wooden cabinets, and portraits of past archbishops.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Lima

Malecón de Miraflores

Miraflores · 12.6km from Callao

4 reviews

Malecón de Miraflores is located in the Miraflores district of Lima, the capital of Peru. It is a coastal promenade built on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, stretching nearly 10 km. From north to south, it connects three coastal green spaces: Marina, Cisneros, and Reserva. On one side are garden neighborhoods, and on the other is the vast Pacific Ocean. It is a go-to spot for Lima residents for daily walks, jogging, and cycling. The pedestrian and bicycle paths are separated, and the route is lined with flower beds, sculptures, and viewing platforms, offering both leisurely strolls and the opportunity to cycle along the entire coastline. Malecón de Miraflores sits atop cliffs dozens of meters high, with waves constantly crashing against the rocks below. It is especially popular in the evening; finding a bench facing the sea to watch the sun slowly sink into the Pacific Ocean is a memorable experience for many visiting Lima.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Peru

Pucllana Site Museum

6

3.8/5

32 reviews

Pucllana Site Museum is a pre-Inca archaeological site tucked away in the bustling Miraflores district of Lima. Its name originates from Quechua, meaning 'sacred place of games.' It was built by the ancestors of the Lima culture starting around 200 AD and flourished around the 5th century, long before the Inca Empire. The entire pyramid is constructed of adobe, with seven staggered platforms reaching over 20 m in height. One side is a ceremonial plaza where marine offerings, such as fish, were once placed in deep pits. The other side is an administrative area with traces of courtyards and small rooms, where functional zones remain clearly distinguishable today. Around 700 AD, the Wari culture converted the upper levels of the pyramid into a noble burial ground. The well-preserved 'Lord of the Huacas' tomb, which unearthed the remains of an adult wearing a mask along with buried children, is one of the site's most notable archaeological discoveries.

Miraflores · 12.1km from Callao

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Lima

Chinatown

5.8

4.7/5

Lima · 10.9km from Callao

Chinatownis located in the historic center of Lima, the capital of Peru, adjacent to the bustling Central Market, and is one of the largest Chinatowns in Latin America. The main street is a pedestrian street with an oriental flair, lined with Chinese-style pavilions featuring red pillars and green tiles. The road is paved with red bricks and embedded with patterns of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Beneath the archway, shops, pharmacies, supermarkets, and barbershops stand side by side. Most signs are written in Chinese, and the open-air market is crowded with vendors and bustling with people, making one feel as if they have stepped into an old street market in China. It is also famous for "chifa," a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine. The term originates from the Cantonese word for "eating a meal" and is now the general term Peruvians use for Chinese food. Fried rice, stir-fried noodles, and wonton soup retain their Guangdong roots while incorporating local ingredients. Enjoying a meal in a restaurant under the Chinese-style eaves is a reason many tourists make a special trip here.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Peru

Love Park

6.2

4.8/5

Miraflores · 12.9km from Callao

Love Park is situated on the coastal cliffs of the Miraflores district in Lima, with steep sandy cliffs below and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond. The park opened on Valentine's Day in 1993 and is a popular spot for local couples. In the center of the park stands "The Kiss" by sculptor Victor Delfin, depicting a couple embracing and kissing. Below the sculpture is a curved bench made of colorful mosaic tiles. Its winding, undulating curves are often compared to the Gaudí bench in Park Güell in Barcelona. The bench and the wall facing the sea are covered in colorful mosaics, engraved with Spanish love poems, many of which were written by Peruvian poets. The atmosphere is particularly special in the evening. Sitting on the bench watching the sunset sink into the Pacific Ocean, you can often see paragliders taking off from the nearby cliff tops and gliding over the sea.

No. 19 of Best Things to Do in Peru

Real Felipe Fortress

5.5

4.7/5

22 reviews

Real Felipe Fortress stands majestically on the Pacific coast of Peru in the port of Callao and is a large fortress built to defend against pirates and privateers, and to guard the gateway port for Lima. The fortress was designed according to the Vauban-style bastion system popular in Europe at the time, is one of the large military projects built by the Spanish in the Americas, and was named after King Philip V of Spain. The fortress has an irregular pentagonal plan, with a bastion built at each of the five vertices, named King, Queen, San Felipe, San Carlos, and San José. The two towers, King Tower and Queen Tower, have tiered cannon emplacements, and inside the towers are semi-circular dungeons where prisoners were once held. The drawbridge and sentry box in front of the main entrance are still guarded by armed soldiers today, and you can feel the strong military atmosphere before even entering.

Callao · 2.8km from downtown

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Lima

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Free things to do in Callao

Lima Main Square

7

4.3/5

73 reviews

Lima's historic center

6.7

Lima · 10.2km from Callao

San Martin Square

4.0/5

51 reviews

Lima · 9.9km from Callao

Malecón de Miraflores

Miraflores · 12.6km from Callao

4 reviews

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5.8

4.7/5

Lima · 10.9km from Callao

Love Park

6.2

4.8/5