Panoramic view of Plaza Mayor with palm-lined grounds, the Cathedral and yellow Government Palace in Lima. — PHOTO“Plaza Mayor - Lima, Peru.jpg” by WMrapids · CC0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.

SOUTH AMERICA LIMA · PERU

Plaza Mayor of Lima

See Lima's 1651 bronze fountain and the cathedral, government palace and other civic façades around the founding square.

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What to expect

Plaza Mayor, also called Plaza de Armas, is the starting point for a walk through Lima's historic centre. Visita Lima identifies the square with the city's 1535 foundation and the 1821 proclamation of independence, and dates its central bronze fountain to 1651. The surrounding buildings include the Government Palace, Municipal Palace, Archbishop's Palace and Cathedral. UNESCO places the square and these major buildings within Lima's World Heritage historic centre.

Free entry

Before you go

Entry and costs

Visita Lima lists the public square as free. The Cathedral, government buildings and nearby museums have separate admission, schedules and security controls.

Visitor notes

The open square is listed as free; entry to the Cathedral, palace interiors and other institutions is separate and controlled by each operator. Ceremonies, security perimeters, restoration or public events can limit access to parts of the plaza. For a longer walk, continue along Jirón de la Unión toward Plaza San Martín, checking opening details for any indoor stop.

Opening hours

Date-specific hours are not available for this place. Check the official page for the day you plan to visit.

Good for

Historic centreArchitectureCity walk

Official sourceVisita Lima — Plaza Mayor

Checked 1 November 2026. Hours, entry rules and access can change; check this page again before you visit.

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