Lima is Peru's vibrant capital and largest city, stretching along the Pacific coast where ancient civilizations once flourished.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Alpaca wool sweater or scarf
High-quality alpaca knitwear in traditional Andean patterns
Price: $20-80
Where: Mercado Indios, Miraflores; Larcomar
Peruvian pottery
Hand-painted ceramics inspired by pre-Columbian designs
Price: $10-50
Where: Mercado Indios, craft markets
Silver jewelry
Sterling silver rings, earrings, and pendants with Andean motifs
Price: $15-100
Where: Miraflores boutiques, Larcomar
Peruvian chocolate
Premium single-origin cacao chocolate bars from Peru's Amazonian regions
Price: $5-20
Where: Chocolatería El Cacaotal, supermarkets
Pisco bottle
Peru's national spirit in decorative bottles
Price: $15-50
Where: Duty-free, supermarkets, specialist wine shops
Retablo (folk art box)
Painted wooden boxes depicting Andean scenes and traditions
Price: $20-100
Where: Craft markets, art galleries
Andean music CD or instrument
Traditional pan pipes (zampoña) or charango ukulele
Price: $10-50
Where: Music shops near Plaza Mayor
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercado de Indios (Artisan Market)
Lima's largest artisan market with hundreds of stalls selling alpaca goods, silver jewelry, ceramics, and Peruvian souvenirs
Where: Petit Thouars 5245, Miraflores
Hours: Daily 9AM-8PM
Mercado de Surquillo
Lima's best food market - essential for foodie travelers and those wanting to see Peru's incredible variety of produce
Where: Av. Paseo de la República, Surquillo
Hours: Daily 6AM-4PM
Las Pallas
Curated selection of high-quality Peruvian folk art, textiles, and crafts in a Barranco colonial house. Prices are higher but quality is excellent.
Where: Calle Cajamarca 212, Barranco
Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM
Feria Artesanal de Miraflores
Outdoor weekend market around Parque Kennedy with crafts, jewelry, and art
Where: Parque Kennedy, Miraflores
Hours: Weekends 10AM-8PM
Mercado Central
Lima's historic central market near Chinatown with produce, spices, textiles, and everyday goods
Where: Ucayali and Paruro, Centro Histórico
Hours: Daily 7AM-6PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Miraflores Artisan Markets
A covered market of over 100 artisan stalls selling Peruvian handicrafts, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and souvenirs. This is the most convenient one-stop shopping for tourists in Miraflores. Quality varies between stalls - compare before buying. Bargaining is expected but should be friendly.
Best for: Alpaca scarves, Ceramic replicas, Silver jewelry, Textiles, Souvenirs
Larcomar Shopping Center
Lima's most scenic shopping mall, built into the Miraflores cliffs. Features a mix of international and Peruvian fashion brands, artisan shops, restaurants, cinema, and bars. The cliff-edge setting with Pacific views makes shopping here an experience in itself.
Best for: Quality alpaca goods, Peruvian designer fashion, Gifts and souvenirs, Books and music, International brands
Mercado de Surquillo
Lima's premier food market for fresh ingredients. While primarily a food market rather than a souvenir market, it's excellent for buying edible gifts: fresh aji peppers to dry, Amazonian fruits, quinoa varieties, and other Peruvian pantry items. Where Lima's top chefs shop.
Best for: Fresh Peruvian ingredients, Edible gifts, Aji peppers, Exotic fruits, Food tourism
La Paz Artisan Street
A street known for multiple artisan shops and galleries selling Peruvian art, textiles, ceramics, and jewelry. More permanent stores with guaranteed quality compared to street stalls.
Best for: Quality ceramics, Artworks, Textiles, Jewelry
Jockey Plaza
Lima's largest shopping mall with over 300 stores including all major international and Peruvian brands, a large food court, supermarket, cinema complex, and children's entertainment. More of a local shopping destination than a tourist one, but excellent for practical shopping needs.
Best for: International fashion brands, Electronics, Practical shopping, Supermarket
Barrio Chino (Chinatown) Shops
Lima's Chinatown is excellent for Chinese groceries, kitchenware, herbal medicines, and cheap electronics. The wholesale supply shops on surrounding streets offer very competitive prices on everything from textiles to electronics.
Best for: Chinese groceries, Herbal medicine, Kitchenware, Budget textiles
Parque Kennedy Weekend Market
A weekend craft and art market in Miraflores' central park, featuring local artisans selling paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and crafts. More affordable than the permanent artisan markets and often featuring the actual makers of the goods.
Best for: Original artworks, Handmade jewelry, Ceramics, Meeting local artisans
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at artisan markets and street stalls, but not in shops with fixed prices or restaurants
Always negotiate politely and with good humor - never aggressively
A reasonable target is 10-20% off the asking price at tourist markets
If you are buying multiple items from the same vendor, ask for a discount on the total
Walking away often results in the seller calling you back with a better price
Don't start negotiating unless you genuinely want to buy the item