Iglesia de Santo Domingo

The Basics

Travelers may discover the vast treasures inside the church and convent during a guided tour that includes the convent’s library with over 25,000 religious works; cloisters decorated with Sevillian tiles, Arabic arches, and 17th-century paintings; several grand altars and chapels, along with Peru’s oldest choir stalls; and the tombs of Santa Rosa de Lima the Patron Saint of the Americas and San Martín de Porres.

Travelers may also explore Santo Domingo as part of a half-day, full-day, private, or group walking and cycling tour that incorporates Lima's historical center. Some tours combine visits to the pre-Columbian Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pyramid in Miraflores or, farther afield, the Inca settlement Pachacamac. Other tours focus specifically on art, culture, and Lima’s famously dynamic food scene.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Suitable for solo travelers, couples, and families.
• Tour may include guide, round-trip hotel transport, but not food or drink.
• Check specific tours for details.
• Admission for adults is about $3.
• Dress appropriately to enter a house of worship.

How to Get There

The Iglesia de Santo Domingo is two blocks northwest of Plaza de Mayor in Lima’s historic center. Take a taxi or the Metropolitano Bus, which bypasses traffic on its very own designated lane through the city. From Barranco and Miraflores, take the line going North (Norte)—with several stops along Avenida Bolognesi—to the Jirón de la Unión stop and walk three to four blocks to the plaza.

When to Get There

The church is open Monday to Saturday from 9am - 12:30pm and 3pm - 6pm, and Sundays from 9am - 1pm. These times may change at any time. The church is particularly lovely to visit at night as it is illuminated in a golden glow, and sometimes hosts festive events in the courtyards.

Huaca Pucllana, archaeology and Dinner

Nearby is one of the city’s most exciting sites:xa0an adobe and clay pyramid located in the Miraflores district of central Lima called Huaca Pucllana. It's an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of Lima Culture, which developed along the Peruvian central coast between AD 200 and AD 700. Within the sacred complex is a wonderful restaurant serving traditional Peruvian food in a totally unique atmosphere.