Changing of the guard at the Government Palace
- Lima, Peru
- Posted on
- 1 photo
Photo: Jordan Klein from San Francisco, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About this tip
The changing of the guard at the Government Palace takes place around midday on the esplanade facing the Plaza Mayor, and both locals and tourists watch from the palace facade. Arrive early to claim a spot and shoot the uniforms against the yellow colonial buildings. On some Sundays a mounted ceremony adds more pageantry and larger crowds, so allow extra time.
Where
Changing of the guard at the Government PalacePalacio de Gobierno, Plaza Mayor, Lima
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Lima
26 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.
TipSleepA 1924 landmark hotel on Plaza San Martín
Lima, PeruGran Hotel Bolívar opened in December 1924 on Plaza San Martín, and famous guests from the mid twentieth century signed its lobby guest book. It still operates with rooms and a restaurant, a short walk from the Plaza Mayor, which puts the Historic Centre at your door. Choose it for old-Lima atmosphere and check the…
SB TipSleepStay in a 1914 mansion in Barranco
Lima, PeruHotel B is a Belle Époque mansion built in 1914 and reopened as a boutique hotel in 2013, with more than 300 Peruvian art pieces on display throughout. It sits on Avenida Sáenz Peña in Barranco, an easy walk to galleries, cafés and the clifftop. Book directly with the hotel and ask for a room in the historic house if…
TipEventsLima Film Festival: ten days of cinema in August
Lima, PeruThe Festival Internacional de Cine de Lima, organized by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, brings Peruvian and international films to the city each August, and its 30th edition took place in 2026. Screenings have included the Museo de Arte de Lima, and the festival also runs itinerant shows in other…
TipEventsLima book fair: late July into August
Lima, PeruThe Feria Internacional del Libro de Lima, run by the Cámara Peruana del Libro, fills a large exhibition hall for about two weeks from late July into early August. It is a lively place to meet Peruvian authors, browse local publishers and pick up books about the country. In 2026 it moved from Jesús María to the Jockey…
CN TipMusic & NightlifeClassical and folk concerts at the Gran Teatro Nacional
Lima, PeruThe Gran Teatro Nacional in San Borja is Peru's main performing arts venue, home base for the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional and a stage for the Ballet Folclórico Nacional and the national children's choir. Check its website for the current programme, since some activities are free and others ticketed. It makes a good…
TipMusic & NightlifeA folk music night at a Lima peña
Lima, PeruBrisas del Titicaca is a long-running cultural association in Cercado de Lima that promotes Peruvian folklore with music and dance shows, and its shows can be paired with dinner or lunch. Reserve ahead and check the current schedule through its official channels or Ticketmaster before going, since programmes change…
TipPhotography & ViewsParque del Amor at sunset: the Kiss and the mosaics
Lima, PeruParque del Amor on Malecón Cisneros has a large sculpture of two lovers, The Kiss, by Víctor Delfín, and a wall of ceramic mosaics with quotes about love from Peruvian writers. Arrive in the late afternoon to catch the light over the Pacific and frame the sculpture against the sky. The clifftop walk continues to other…
TipSport & OutdoorsLearn to surf at Makaha, then try Waikiki
Lima, PeruMakaha, under the Miraflores cliffs, is the beginner favorite, and most Lima surf schools work there. Waikiki, just south, has slightly bigger waves and fewer people once you have your balance. The water is cold all year, so wetsuits come with lessons. Go early, since the wind picks up later, and book a day ahead for…
Know Lima well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.