Free self-guided walk · Lima

Historic centre, from Plaza San Martín to San Francisco

A free self-guided walk through Lima's historic centre, from Plaza San Martín along Jirón de la Unión to the Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco Monastery.

Distance
1.6 km
Walking time
21 min
Allow
About 1.5 hours with stops
Stops
5

Open the route in Google MapsLima city guide

About this walk

Lima's historic centre was the capital of Spain's South American empire, and its churches and balconied mansions are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The walk is short, leaving time for the monastery's catacombs.

  • Terrain: Flat and pedestrianised in parts.
  • Best time: Late morning, in time for the changing of the guard at noon at the Government Palace.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Plaza San Martín

    Start at the grand square with the Gran Hotel Bolívar.

  2. Jirón de la Unión

    Walk along the pedestrian shopping street.

  3. Plaza Mayor

    The main square, with the cathedral.

  4. Government Palace

    The president's palace on the square.

  5. San Francisco Monastery

    Finish at the monastery and its catacombs.

Tips

  • The San Francisco Monastery runs guided tours of the catacombs for a fee.
  • Keep valuables out of sight in crowds.
  • Pisco sours were popularised at the Gran Hotel Bolívar on Plaza San Martín.

Prefer a guide?

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.