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Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru and its largest city. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the modern city is a curious mix of the modern mega city with some 'islands of modernity', large but orderly slum areas and colonial architecture in downtown. Lima was the seat of Spanish rule for 300 years, and as such it has wonderful churches, cloisters and monasteries.

Lima is the best place to try Peruvian cuisine, which has a huge variety of ingredients from the coast, mountain and Amazon regions. The cold sea current that passes Peru's long coast makes the sea very rich in fish and seafood.

Districts
The following pages include the province of Callao and the province of Lima and their districts

Understand
Lima is a metropolis of almost 8.5 million people. Many of these people have migrated from the Andes mountains to find work in Lima, without success. For this reason, there is widespread poverty in the city center and in the peripheral areas.

Lima's pre-Hispanic and colonial architecture is beautiful and the city has several museums (such as the Museo Larco) that tells the story of a country with a long history that produced a large number of coastal and Andean civilizations (such as the Moche, Chavin, and the Incas) and many local cultures. There are several archaeological sites in and around the city (locally known as huaca).

The city is built on a valley surrounded by an extremely arid desert. In the summer, the weather is usually beautiful, very warm and sunny, with limited rain. In the winter, the city is often overcast and "rainy" for days at a time, but in total, Lima receives only about one centimeter of rain per year. Temperatures also fall to around 11-19 C° (45-55° F), which seems chillier when combined with the general dampness. Air pollution in the streets of Lima can be very bad due to a combination of weather and older poorly-maintained vehicles.

By plane

The airport is well connected with most cities in South America, and with some North American and European cities. Flights arrive daily from Amsterdam Schiphol, Bogotá, Madrid Barajas, Medellín, Miami Airport, Quito, Santiago and Toronto. There are also regular flights from Atlanta Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Houston George Bush Airport, Newark Liberty Airport and London Gatwick.

Lima is the hub for many national domestic flights and is served by LATAM, Jetsmart Perú, Sky Perú, and Star Perú (see below).

The airport has Wi-Fi (WIGO) for a fee.

Airlines and destinations

 * LATAM (formerly LAN & TAM Airlines) - offers many international and domestic routes throughout the region, and to/from North America and Spain. It serves Antofagasta, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Barcelona, Bogotá, Brasília, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Cajamarca, Calama, Cali, Cancún, Cartagena, Chiclayo, Concepción, Córdoba, Cuzco, Foz do Iguaçu, Guayaquil, Havana, Ilo, Iquitos, Jaén, Jauja, Juliaca, La Paz, Los Angeles, Madrid, Medellín–JMC, Mendoza, Mexico City, Miami, Montego Bay, Montevideo, New York–JFK, Orlando, Piura, Porto Alegre, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Punta Cana, Quito, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Rosario, Salta, San José (CR), San Miguel de Tucumán, Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru, Santiago, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Tacna, Talara, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes
 * Avianca (formerly Taca Peru) serves Bogota.
 * Europe is served by Air Europa, British Airways, Air France, Iberia, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
 * USA is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and LATAM
 * Canada is served by Air Canada
 * Other Latin American airlines include Avianca (Bogota); Copa Airlines and Wingo (Panama City); and Aeroméxico (Mexico City)); Gol (São Paulo–Guarulhos); JetSmart (Antofagasta, Concepción, and Santiago); Sky Airlines/Sky Peru (Cancun, Miami, Santiago); Avior Airlines and Estelar Latinoamerica (Caracas); and Aerolíneas Argentinas (Buenos Aires)

Other domestic carriers include:
 * ATSA (Atalaya, Chachapoyas, Huánuco, Tingo María)
 * Jetsmart Peru (Arequipa, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Cusco, Piura, Tarapoto, Trujillo)
 * Star Peru (Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Huanuco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Tarapoto)
 * SKY Peru (Arequipa, Cuzco, Iquitos, Juliaca, Jauja, Piura, Pucallpa, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes)

Arrival
Arrival at the airport can be chaotic. Most flights from overseas arrive in clumps either early in the morning or very late at night, which means that getting through immigration and customs can be tremendously time consuming; the time between arrival at the gate and exiting customs can range from 20-90 minutes.

The area immediately outside of customs is typically crowded, full of people waiting for arriving passengers. It's not uncommon for entire families to show up to greet a returning family member and the crowd is further swelled by pre-booked car and taxi service drivers holding up signs with passengers' names; a large area where passengers can stand freely and scan the crowd to look for people and not be accosted has been cordoned off in front of the customs exit.

Transit
If you are transiting through Lima, the airport has a separate hall for connecting international passengers, who need not pass through Peruvian immigration or customs, but will have to pass through a security checkpoint dedicated to screening connecting passengers before they can enter the secure area of the terminal where the international gates are located. Due to congestion, the airport often does not assign gates to flights until less than two hours before departure.

Taxis
Be wary of taxi drivers at the airport: if you need transportation from the airport you should avoid using the informal taxis outside that will accost you.

You can hire a taxi and pay for it at the desks Green Taxi, Taxi365 and others inside the customs reception area at somewhat inflated fees, or book one ahead of time online with a reputable company. A trip to the Centro Historico from Green Taxi is S/55 (soles) (Feb 2018), or S/65 to Miraflores (Feb 2024). These certified companies are safe.

Once you leave the grounds of the airport, things get much cheaper rather rapidly and a trip to Miraflores shouldn't cost you any more than S/25-30, but it is not as safe. The area around the airport is unsafe in general and taxi drivers can be dangerous. The taxis waiting right outside the terminal but within the grounds are more safe than the ones outside and cheaper than the ones inside. Check out the tips for taking the taxi safely underneath.

Always make sure in which currency they are giving the price. 25 soles and 25 dollars is a big difference.

Express airport bus
There is an hourly express bus between the airport and four stops in Miraflores. A one-way ticket costs 20 Soles.

Car rentals
Car rental is available at the airport via Hertz, Budget, and National, but unless you have experience driving in extremely challenging environments you should avoid driving yourself in Lima.

By bus
The bus station is right outside the airport grounds exit to your right. To get into Miraflores you can take the blue 18 bus or a micro. It says Miraflores on the side but confirm with the bus driver. A ride to Miraflores will cost you S/2. The area surrounding the airport is a bit dodgy. If travelling with all or any valuables and especially at night, it is recommended to take the Airport Express Lima bus instead, which will cost you US$12 for a return ticket or a taxi within the airport grounds, which costs about US$20 one way. The public bus to Miraflores takes 1-3 hours depending on traffic, while a taxi or Airport Express Lima should take under an hour.

Most companies have their terminals lined up along Paseo de la Republica (north & south) in La Victoria, not Lima's nicest district. However. Other stations are in the outskirts of La Victoria (Av. Javier Prado and along Paseo de la Republica), which is better. There you find some of the more reputable companies like Cruz del Sur, Tepsa, Ormeño, Linea, ITTSA, Movil Tours, Flores and Civa. Some of the same companies have multiple terminals in La Victoria, service to [http://granterminalterrestre.com/servicios. Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte] in Túpac Amaru in the northern part of town; and in/around Acotongo in the southern part of town.

If you are staying in the North Lima area or close to the airport, there is a modern bus terminal: Gran Terminal Terrestre Plaza Norte, which is very convenient. It should take you around 10 minutes to get there from the airport by the Avenida Tomás Valle in a combi or taxi (there are no buses along the whole length of this avenue).

Regular buses run up and down the roads Panamericana Sur/Norte (the local name for the Panamerican Highway), Carretera Central, Interoceánica Sur, Interoceánica Norte, amongst others:

 * South: Pisco, Ica, Nazca, Arequipa, Tacna, Cuzco, Puerto Maldonado, Juliaca, Puno, Moquegua, Ilo.
 * North: Huaraz, Chimbote, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Cajamarca & Tumbes.
 * East: Huancayo, Cerro de Pasco, Huánuco and Pucallpa.

Companies and terminals
Some of the major bus companies and their terminal locations:

By train
The Peruvian rail network has been neglected for a long time and it is now used for freight and as a tourist attraction first and foremost. ferrocarril central runs the occasional passenger train from Huancayo.

Taxi
If going further, a taxi ride between adjacent neighbourhoods costs about S/7-10 (US$2-3), if you speak Spanish well enough. A longer ride may cost from S/24-34 (US$7–10). A reasonable price for a taxi service between the airport and Miraflores is about S/65 (US$25), but may cost more from within the airport. By custom, taxis do not have meters; rather, the fare should be negotiated before boarding the taxi, or, if you order by phone, at booking time. If asking for a ride on the street, don't be fooled into getting into the cab before a rate is negotiated. Be very discerning about which taxi you choose and avoid hailing random cabs off the street as much as possible.

Caution is advised when using taxis in Lima. In Lima the shared taxis are prohibited, but there are some taxis colectivos pirata, and it might not hurt to look if there's someone hiding on the back seat or the trunk before entering.

First-time travellers to Peru need nerves of steel with regard to the traffic. Lima harbours the most lunatic drivers in the world and taxi drivers are among the worst.

Maintenance of any mechanical object in Peru, (including taxis) is only performed once it has already ceased to function. Many cars are in very poor, even unsafe, condition. It's very common to see cars and taxis with missing windows or body parts.

If you don't know a trusted taxi, it's wise to use the public transport.

Tips for taking the taxi safely: The taxi driver might take you to a location different from your destination where others are waiting and/or threaten you with a gun or knife. By the time you get to your hotel or hostel you will not have your passport, money, backpack or anything else for that matter. Even though most of the taxis in the center of the city are quite safe, be extra careful around the airport, in bad neighbourhoods and especially the bus stations.
 * Do not show any valuables (including jewelry) and try to look a bit shabby.
 * Speaking Spanish with confidence to your driver helps.
 * Before asking for a taxi, ask several people (not taxi drivers) for the regular price. If the driver you talk to goes under that price, he might be looking to make money some other way.
 * Tuck away your phone and passport where they will not look for it or see it.
 * Know where you are going, know the route or at least pretend you know. Always look like you are paying attention but stay calm.
 * If they start talking to you, mention that people are waiting for you, that you know local people and this is not your first time in Lima.
 * Keep an eye on whether the driver is communicating with you.
 * When in doubt, do not get in! There are literally a hundred others waiting for you. If you have doubts after entering the taxi, just get out somewhere it seems kind of safe and pay him full price. You can also ask him to take a different route that you choose.
 * Never show the address or directions on your phone. Remember the address or write it down.

Rideshare
Rideshare is available, although you may have to wait a few minutes at rush hour, or if your trip is too short. Rideshare is not allowed to the airport, however.

Public transport
Lima's public transport network consists of a single metro line, modern buses, coasters and combis (which are called "micros" by the locals). The system can be confusing for foreign tourists.

Metro
The  is a newish subway system that is being developed. As of 2022, only Line 1 exists; it serves 33 stations through 11 districts. It is an elevated line, which runs in the general north-south direction in the eastern part of the Lima metropolitan areas (2-3 km east of Lima's historical center and Miraflores), and, as such, does not serve many locations where tourists are likely to stay of visit.

Line 2, to run in the east-west direction toward Callao, is under construction, and is expected to open in 2024; once it's opened, the attractiveness of the metro system for the visitors is likely to significantly increase.

Bus rapid transit (Metropolitano)
The  is a modern rapid transport bus system, operated with fully wheelchair-accessible articulated ("bendy") buses. The stations are spaced at 1 km or so, and the buses mostly travel on their own dedicated lanes on expressways, which means that traveling on this system is indeed much faster than on regular buses.

It operates similarly to a subway system: you enter a station through a card-operated turnstile, travel as you wish within the system, and exit your destination system via a turnstile as well. (A card is not needed for exit, as the fare is flat is not distance-based).

There is basically one route, running from the northern suburbs to Lima's city center to the southern suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores, although it splits in two for a short stretch in the city center. There are different "services", however, which differ primarily at which stations they stop (express vs. limited stops vs. local), and at which branch they take around the downtown.

Rechargeable cards are used as tickets; as of February 2022, one pays S/4.5 for the card (non-refundable), and S/2.50 for an adult fare. The minimum initial purchase price of a card is S/5 (S/4.50 for the card, and S/0.50 toward fares).

If you only need to ride the system once or twice during your trip, and don't want to buy a card, you can try to offer S/2.50 to some passenger who's not to busy (e.g. walking out of the system) so that he or she puts the money on his or her card and then lets you into the station with his/her card. You don't need a card to leave the system.

While some of the stations of the system have a single platform for northbound and southbound buses, some stations are physically split into two, one for northbound and the other for southbound buses; so make sure to read the signs before paying your fare to enter a station!

Additionally, the Metropolitano operates several "feeder rutes" (rutas alimentadoras) that run on local streets in the vicinity of the northern and southern terminals of the main line, bringing passengers to those terminals. Those routes are numbered started with AN- and AS-, respectively.

The public transport authority (Autoridad de Transporte Urbano) has a smartphone app on its web site with information about both the BRT routes and other municipal buses (see below).

Municipal buses
Besides the BRT, the city also operates large modern buses along at least a couple of "trunk routes" (ruta troncal) or "corridors" (corredores). Known as Corredores Complementarios, they form part of an integrated transport system with the BRT. There are at 4 corridores, including:
 * Blue (corredor azul): along avenues Tacna, Garcilaso, and Arequipa. Particularly useful for traveling between downtown Lima and San Isidro and Miraflores); routes 301 ... 306.
 * Red (corredor rojo): along Javier Prado - La Marina - red). (routes 201 ... 257)
 * Purple (corredor morado) (routes 404 ... 412)
 * Yellow (corredor amarillo) (route 107)

The municipal buses have clearly labeled stops (paraderos), with signs and benches, at least along the main corridors. The bus route number are usually made out of three digits (e.g. 301). The fare is around S/1.5, and is supposed to be paid with a card as well. However, is a passenger does not have a card, the driver will take your cash and will scan his card as well.

There is more information on these buses in the Spanish Wikipedia page Corredores complementarios.

Private buses
Unfortunately, municipal buses run far from everywhere; they don't go anywhere near the airport. Thus, most of Lima is still served primarily by small private buses, provided by a variety of companies, whose numbers usually consist of one or two letters and some digits. For example, to go from the airport to Magdalena, Miraflores or Surco, you can take the big blue bus called "Las Flores 18" (IM-18). The fare is S/2 (Miraflores) or S/2.50 (Surco).

On the side of every bus or van you will see the names of the major avenues it travels along. While Google Maps will show you where bus stops are, this is merely a suggestion; stops are not physically marked, and a bus, in general, can stop anywhere the driver feels reasonable, based on the desires of the passengers inside and the apparent existence of potential passengers outside.

Conductors generally lean out the door of the bus (which typically never closes) yelling the destinations. If this doesn't make sense, ask the conductor. Also here be aware of pickpockets.

While no "official" system map for the private buses seems to exist, a reasonably good directory of them is maintained at the Wikiroutes site. There is also a smartphone app, Tu Ruta.

Bicycling
Bicycling is fairly popular in the Greater Lima. While the authorities of the region and those of some districts encourage bicycling, e.g. by creating bike lanes (cyclovia) on some streets, this activity remains somewhat dangerous due to the chaotic nature of the traffic throughout most of the metro area. Some of the routes, such as the one along the ocean shore, are quite pleasant though.

The service with a rather misleading name, City Bike Lima exists for renting bicycles from the bike parking stations. Unfortunately, it should be more properly named "City Bike Miraflores": as of early 2022 it only covers the single district of Miraflores. Plans exists for extending the service to the neighboring San Isidro.

Bike shops are fairly numerous, and are spread throughout the metro area. The greatest concentration of them appears to exist a few blocks east of downtown, in Jiron Luna Pizarro between Avenida Miguel Grau and Jiron Antonio Raimondi, and adjacent blocks. (For the map location, see, e.g., https://goo.gl/maps/vw6MnDUpGiQkREcw8 ). So this may be not a bad area to shop for spare parts, etc. This area is very busy though, as it also has a lot of bus stations; so watch out for pickpockets and other annoyances.

See

 * The historic downtown, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * The Circuito Mágico del Agua (Magic Water Tour), a fountain and light display in the Parque de la Reserva and Parque Fermín Tangüis.
 * The Parque del Amor (Lovers' Park) in Miraflores.
 * The Costa Verde, Lima's impressive green coast stretches between San Miguel and Chorrillos.
 * The tourist-friendly districts of Barranco, Miraflores and Santiago de Surco.
 * The historical sites of Pueblo Libre, including the Cruz del Viajero, a monumental Christian cross dating from the era of the Conquistadores.
 * Lima's best shopping malls: Plaza Norte, Jockey Plaza, Larcomar, Mall Aventura Plaza, Real Plaza Salaverry.
 * Historical churches: Lima´s Cathedral, Santo Domingo (San Martín de Porres), Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa de Lima), Nazarenas (Señor de los Milagros), San Francisco.
 * Museums: Museo nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia (Pueblo Libre), Museo de Arte (Paseo Colón), Museo Pedro de Osma (Barranco), Museo Rafael Larco (Pueblo Libre).
 * Parque Kennedy in the center of Miraflores. This park is right in the entertainment district and is famous for the large number of cats that used to live there.
 * Huaca Pucllana : Pre-Inca temple of the Lima culture (around 500 AD). This archaeological site is located in the Miraflores district, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Open every day except Tuesday and Sunday, from 09:00 to 15:30. Guided tour required. 15 soles / person.

Do

 * Surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean in Miraflores Beach
 * Paragliding over the reefs of Miraflores Beach
 * Visit Pachacamac in Lurin (1/2 hour from Miraflores), a sacred pre-Inca citadel.
 * Go to Mamacona (Lurin, behind Pachacamac) and live the emotion of a live show with Caballo Peruano de paso and the beautiful dance Marinera. Tickets in Mirabus, central park of Miraflores.
 * Visit Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, a pre-Inca ruins.
 * Surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean in Miraflores Beach
 * Paragliding over the reefs of Miraflores Beach
 * Visit Pachacamac in Lurin (1/2 hour from Miraflores), a sacred pre-Inca citadel.
 * Go to Mamacona (Lurin, behind Pachacamac) and live the emotion of a live show with Caballo Peruano de paso and the beautiful dance Marinera. Tickets in Mirabus, central park of Miraflores.
 * Visit Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, a pre-Inca ruins.

Exchange
It is very hard to change money other than euros and U.S. dollars in Lima. You can't even change the currency from neighbouring countries (besides Chile) in normal money exchanges and banks. You might find more flexible exchange offices at the airport, but they often charge ridiculous service fees and exchange rates.

Changing money in Miraflores can be done safely with cambistas on the street, but you must follow a few simple rules to avoid being cheated. First, make sure that the cambista is wearing the vest-uniform indicating that he or she is an authorized, licensed cambista. Always ask for the exchange rate ("tipo de cambio"). It is worth it to compare with several cambistas, especially if you are changing a significant amount of money. Some scammers do tricks with their calculators in your face and you won't notice, so the best way to know how much you should be getting is to bring a calculator yourself or use the one in your cellphone. Finally, make sure that the bills the cambista gives you have his or her seal ("sello") stamped on them - that way, if by chance one of them turns out to be counterfeit you can come back and complain. It is rare to get counterfeit notes from a cambista, but asking for the seal helps maintain the incentive for honesty and acts as insurance for you.

Withdraw
As anywhere, your best bet is usually to draw soles from an ATM. There are banks dotted all over Lima and some of them have guarded ATMs. Chances are the bank will charge you a fortune every time you withdraw money so it is better value to get as much as possible when making a withdrawal. BCP cajeros generally allow withdrawals up to S/700. Interbank has been known to charge insane fees (around US$18 for a US$50 transaction).

Always be cautious when using an ATM, as you may be followed and targeted for a robbery.

Musical instruments
If you are interested in purchasing Peruvian folk musical instruments, there are stores selling charangos, quenas, antaras, etc., on Ca. Cantuarias. If you have the time, a number of these stores can help you find a teacher to learn how to play your purchase.

Handicrafts
Your best bet is to head for Av. Petit Thouars in Miraflores, which is full of handicrafts stores. Or, go to Av. La Marina in Pueblo Libre.

Supermarkets
The main supermarkets are Wong, Metro, Plaza Vea, Vivanda and Tottus. These can be found all over.

Eat

Gastronomy has been, since the days of the Spanish vice royalty, an essential aspect of life in Lima. During the last few years, the city's dining reputation has experienced a huge leap in the eyes of the world, due in part to the International Summit of Gastronomy (Madrid Fusión) in 2006, which declared Lima to be the "Gastronomy Capital of the Americas". The offerings in Lima are nowadays more varied and cover a wide range of types and cuisines, both regional and international.

Despite the wide range of choice in Lima's many restaurants, ceviche is surely number one on the list of dishes you must get to know, not only because it happens to be the Peruvian national dish, but because of its unparalleled delicious taste. With the increasing interest in the Peruvian cuisine, ceviche is quickly making its way onto tables all over the world. But if you want to enjoy the real thing, don't miss it during your stay here in ceviche's mecca. There is at least one cevichería in every neighbourhood. Moreover, most criollo restaurants include ceviche on their menus; indeed the dish is so popular that it is even offered at many of the more upscale nouvelle-cuisine restaurants.

In some places, Peruvian food tend to be spicy and heavy. Try it and ask if any dish is picante (spicy), which usually means it is going to be very spicy! A full meal may be really heavy even if it's perfectly nice and well-prepared with fresh ingredients.

A second must goes to Chinese and Japanese cuisines, which predictably, have a strong Peruvian influence. Chifas - that is, Chinese restaurants- - which can be counted by the hundreds if not thousands, are usually down-to-earth neighbourhood eateries, offering a fare rich in seafood and chicken. Japanese restaurants, on the contrary, are less widespread, and more upscale and expensive. Their forte is, of course, a year-round supply of the freshest and most varied seafood.

Travellers longing for a delicious falafel or shwarma sandwich will be pleased to learn there is an excellent café in Parque Kennedy that serves these type of Middle Eastern foods at reasonable prices.

There is a heavy presence of fast-food chains such as KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, Papa John's and local chain Bembos all over the city. Places such as Burger King, Chili's and TGI Friday's are scarce, but can be found around Miraflores. Also, you shouldn't miss Peruvian-style hamburgers at Bembos, and traditional Peruvian sandwiches in if you want to give your everyday fast-food a local twist.

Drink

 * Pisco Sour is the national drink of Peru, made with Pisco, a brandy made of grapes. It is highly recommended that all visitors to Peru try this drink at least once. Visitors might be amused to learn that Chileans claim Pisco Sour is their own, but it isn't true. There are some variations that are offered in several bars around town. Just be careful; the fresh and sweet flavour makes it very easy to drink too much, and you can so easily get drunk on it.
 * Inca Kola is the most popular soft drink in Peru, one of few sodas that Coca Cola couldn't defeat (until they bought the company). It's a yellow-fruit flavored drink that tastes like hierba luisa.
 * Jugos You can find great fresh fruit drinks all over Lima. Starting from S/0.50 for a fresh orange juice at the market to some more expensive ones. Surtidos, containing several different fruits, are quite tasty.
 * Chicha Morada A refreshing, purple, non-alcoholic drink high in antioxidants. It's made by boiling purple corn with pineapple, cinnamon, clove, and sugar.
 * Emoliente is a hot drink prepared with barley, herbs, sugar and lemon juice. It's often sold by street vendors at night for around S/1. It's especially great in winter.
 * Starbucks Coffee is predictably widespread if you really need your daily caffeine fix.

Sleep
Surco, Miraflores, San Borja and San Isidro are some of the nicest and safest areas in the city. Although they sometimes come a bit pricier than the old city center and other parts, some budget accommodation options do exist.

Keep in mind that the old city may not be safe for tourists at night.

Stay safe
If you witness a crime being committed, do not intervene unless you are really sure of what you are doing: many criminals, even pickpockets, carry guns, knives, etc., and may use them if feeling threatened.

In general, a tried-and-true technique for staying safe in Lima is to maintain a low profile. Leave your fancy watch at home, don't wear a fine suit and don't carry a laptop when hailing taxis on the street, and keep a relaxed, friendly, smiling attitude. If you do need to go out dressed like a tourist, call a taxi rather than hire one in the moment - the few moments you wait and the few extra soles you pay will be worth it.

Thieves
While there is not much violent crime against tourists, opportunistic theft is rampant. Watch out for pickpockets constantly. If you carry a purse, a camera, a backpack or just a pair of sunglasses hang on to them at all times. In crowded areas, put your back pack on your front and hold shopping close to you. Just keep your eyes open and be aware of people around you. In any case, if someone extremely friendly approaches (even wanting to stretch your hand), just try not to talk that much, and they'll go away. It's normal to find polite people around trying to help tourists, but stay away from the extremely friendly ones.

Football violence
Avoid the surroundings of football (soccer) stadiums before and after big matches, since "barras bravas" (hooligans) can be very violent. Ask for advice if you plan to go there or thereabouts. Very infrequently, but occasionally even in nicer tourist areas, gangs of young supporters of rival football clubs, or strikers involved in a labor dispute may brawl. If you find yourself caught in the middle of such a confrontation, just try to move out of the way, preferably behind a closed door. These youths generally do not carry lethal weapons, and the worst that is likely to happen is that someone will get hit with a rock before the police arrive to break it up.

Districts of note
Some areas of Lima are safer than others: Miraflores and San Isidro have large populations of well-to-do and wealthy Peruvians, not to mention large tourist groups, so they have a large police presence to protect the population. Other districts, such as La Victoria, are much more dangerous. Visitors would be well advised to stay out of these areas unless accompanied by an experienced native or visiting busy areas during daylight hours. Downtown Lima is normally well patrolled but be careful anyway. Callao (the port is a separate city) is rather rough: ask for advice before going there if you plan to. The area around the airport is generally safe and well guarded but use common sense while carrying your luggage outside the airport.

Sex
Staying safe for adults can also require an understanding of the sexual climate of Peru. In general Peru is a relatively conservative country in the sense of male and female roles, but at the same time Peruvians are extremely open to friendships with foreigners. Thus, some men can find themselves suddenly the object of flirtation by attractive young Peruvian women, but then be suddenly rejected for having violated some unwritten line of conduct in, say, discussion topics. Women can find themselves the object of unwanted looks and stares, but at the same time the risk of violence and rape is probably not as high as in many other countries.

A problem that can arise is the Peruvian concept of the pepera, found at certain night clubs or pubs. Peperas are usually attractive women aged 16–25 that deliberately entice foreign tourists and then spike their drinks with sleeping pills and rob them once they're unconscious. Usually peperas work in groups of two, although smaller and larger groups exist as well. Male "peperos" also spike the drinks of women but robbery is often accompanied by rape. Peperas in general are found in dense tourist areas, such as Parque Kennedy in Miraflores as well as the Plaza de Armas in central Lima. One locale in particular that is notorious for dangerous peperas is the Tequila Rock discoteca in Miraflores and its sister in Pueblo Libre (La Marina). In July 2013 cases of drink spiking, working with bar staff, occurred in Albazos Restaurant y Pisco Bar (Berlin 172 in Miraflores).

Another cultural concept worth learning is the "brichera" (or "brichero"). There are two types of bricheras: the first type are women that are genuinely looking to meet foreign men in the hopes of dating or marriage or even a quick fling. The second type are women that search for foreign men with the implicit purpose of exchanging sex for small gifts or money. This second type of brichera is risky, especially for foreigners lacking local sensibilities, since it involves prostitution. These bricheras do not use contraception reliably, and therefore pose a higher risk for transmitting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). If you decide to have a fling, make sure to use a condom.

Taxis
Another important point to be taken into consideration is that you should not pick up just any taxi, especially when you are leaving the airport. It is not unusual to hear news of taxi drivers cheating tourists by charging them S/100 or even S/200 for normal rides, which is well in excess of the maximum fare limit of S/50. Even though Peruvian taxi drivers normally increase their fares for gringos, it is not usually such a massive difference. It is most advisable to use one of the official taxi companies inside the airport with set fares to ensure your safety.

Taxi drivers have also been known to participate in robberies, express kidnappings or serve as get away vehicles. While the overwhelming majority of Lima's taxistas are honest hard working people trying to make a living, you should be alert if you are going to hail a taxi on the street, especially if you appear to be wealthy or a foreigner. Your safest bet is to have your hotel call a taxi for you or keep the numbers of official taxi companies ("radio taxis", which are marked with registered numbers) handy. Lima's tourist information centers will be willing to call one for you as well.

Uber (largest presence), Cabify, InDrive, Beat and Easy (smallest presence) ride share apps are available in Lima, and almost always cheaper than taxis, they're also safer, and with Beat/InDrive you get a recommended rate, but you can negotiate over the app as well. Most Peruvians use ride share apps, as even they don't enjoy negotiating with taxi drivers (there are no taxi-meters).

Corrupt police
While highly unlikely, some corrupt policemen might insist on seeing your passport to ‘verify when you entered the country’. Peru doesn't stamp passports anymore, so the victim shows the passport (if they are even carrying it on them) and of course, there will be no stamp from border control on the passport. The police will then threaten to take you to the police station or ‘fine’ you on the spot. They just want money, make sure you are nice but stand your ground. Ideally show a picture of your passport on your phone but don't show them your real passport.

Embassies
The majority of embassies are clustered in San Isidro with some located in the adjacent Jesús María, La Victoria, Miraflores and Lima Districts:
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇵🇾 Paraguay
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇾 Uruguay
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Go next
If you are flying out of Lima internationally, the airport tax is US$31, or US$7.40 for domestic flights, which is rolled into the purchase price of tickets at the airport. Ensure you receive a sticker on the back of each ticket from the check-in counter as proof you have already paid the tax at the security checkpoint.

The surrounding residential towns of Lima in the foothills of the mountains offer spectacular views and are ideal day-trips from central Lima.

If you are flying to your next destination, you can take the "Las Flores 18" (IM-18) bus to the airport (from Miraflores/Magdalena/Surco) or any micro bus that says "Todo Faucett/Aeropuerto" on its side. The trip from Miraflores takes about an hour and costs S/2.

If you wish to take a long distance bus, see the Get In section above for bus companies, the various locations of their terminals and their destinations.

Some popular destinations from Lima are:

 * Arequipa — the "White City", in the southern highlands.
 * Cajamarca — hosts an exciting carnaval every February.
 * Cuzco — The center of the Inca civilization. Luxury tourist buses run twice daily with Cruz del Sur. One of South America's most iconic sights, Machu Picchu, is just a 4-hours train ride away from Cuzco.
 * Huancayo — can be reached by taking a scenic train trip through the Andes.
 * Huaraz — a mountaineering center.
 * Iquitos — a northern city of the selva (jungle)
 * Ica — a desert city with an oasis called Huacachina.
 * Matucana — and the Antankallo waterfall.
 * Nazca — home of the ancient and mysterious Nazca Lines.
 * Piura — a city on the northern coast.
 * Pucallpa — can be reached by bus or plane and is the only major river port linked by road to Lima. It's possible to travel by boat to Iquitos.
 * Tarma — the "Pearl of the Andes".
 * Trujillo — a beautiful city on the northern coast.
 * Tumbes — a northern coastal city with a heavenly beach.

title: Lima


text:
Lima (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Lima:

El Salvador

 * Santa Rosa de Lima — A town in Eastern El Salvador

Peru

 * Lima — The capital city and largest city in Peru.

Portugal

 * Ponte de Lima — A town in the Minho region

Sweden

 * Lima, a village in Malung-Sälen municipality

United States of America

 * Lima (Ohio) — A town in Ohio.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Lima (disambiguation)


text:
Lima (Ohio)

Lima is a city in Allen County, Northwest Ohio and is the county seat of Allen County.

Understand
Though the town shares its name with the capital of Peru, it is pronounced 'Lye-mah' thanks to the local vernacular. Founded in the 1830s, Lima became an oil boom town in the late 1800s. The city flourished as an industrial town until the 1970s, when many industries began to leave as part of the Rust Belt decline that affected much of the Midwest. This is evidenced by the sheer number of abandoned factories and warehouses in the city. Yet, Lima remains prominent in the area as a hub for business and local culture.

By plane

Lima is about a 1-hour drive from Dayton International Airport, a 1½-hour drive from John Glenn Columbus International Airport , a 1½-hour drive from Toledo Express Airport , and a 2-hour drive from Detroit Metro Airport.

By car
From the north or south, Lima is easily accessible from I-75, exits 124, 125 and 127. From the east, Lima can be accessed from State Route 81 or U.S. 30 to I-75 south. From the west, one can take U.S. 30 to State Route 309.

Get around
In the city center, the two main hubs are Market Street (running east and west) and Main Street (running north and south). The two streets meet at the center of town, in a small area known as Town Square. It is here that most downtown businesses are, and where weekly "Rally in the Square" events take place during the summer. The yearly "Square Fair" also takes place here in early August.

In the main business district outside of downtown (known as 'Westgate'), main hubs are Elida road (running northwest to southeast) and Cable Road (running North and South). The majority of activities can be found in this area of town, about northwest of downtown. Most restaurants, shopping, activities and the Lima Mall are in this area.

If you take Market Street east out of town it will become Bellefontaine (pronounced 'Bell-fountain') Street, and you will find another business district (known as 'Eastgate') similar to that near Elida/Cable Roads. This is where I-75 exit 125 meets the city, and the Allen County Fairgrounds are about a mile east of this stretch of businesses on Bellefontaine.

Eat
Most restaurants in Lima are of the chain variety, either fast food or sit-down. There is at least one of most major type of restaurant (Texas Roadhouse, IHOP, Applebee's, Olive Garden, Panera Bread, etc.) in town, but there are a few local restaurants worth visiting.

Go next

 * Findlay
 * Kenton

title: Lima (Ohio)


text:
Lima/Barranco

Barranco is a suburb or barrio of Lima the capital city of Peru.

Barranco is south of Miraflores with many clubs and cafes popular among college students in Lima. It's the party heart of town, where you can find many Peñas (clubs that offer folkloric music shows), in particular Afro Peruvian and Criollo gigs. On the weekends, Barranco holds "A Taste of Barranco" food festival. Outdoor tables are filled with many dishes and the price is very reasonable. Local musicians play, it's a very popular place to be. Some of the best clubs for rock music are found here also.

Museums

Eat

By mail
The new postcode for Barranco is 15063 but the old postcode is still in use and more recognizable as 'Lima 04'. There are no post offices in Barranco proper. Therefore, the nearest post offices to Barranco are:

title: Lima/Barranco


text:
Lima/Central Lima

Central Lima, Peru comprises the districts of Lima (Cercado), Breña, Jesús María, Lince, La Victoria, San Luis, El Agustino and Rímac.

Lima Metro
In Central Lima, Line 1 of the Metro has 5 stations. It runs every day from 06:00 to 23:00. You must purchase a rechargeable card for S/5.00 to use the service and each trip costs S/1.50.

Lima Cercado

Parks

La Victoria
Gamarra is a fantastic area to shop for a bargain. It's a busy area with street side shops. It doesn't have the security or the price tags of the modern shopping malls. Take only essentials and exercise caution in Gamarra.

Drink
Around the Plaza Mayor, you can find some nice bars. Around Plaza San Martin you can find "El Directorio", "De Grot" and "Mao Bar", which are small rock pubs occasionally hosting shows from local bands and low-priced beer, when compared to similar places in Barranco or Miraflores.

title: Lima/Central Lima


text:
Lima/East

Eastern Lima describes the districts of La Molina, Cieneguilla, Ate Vitarte, Santa Anita, San Juan de Lurigancho, Lurigancho-Chosica, Chaclacayo in Lima, Peru.

Lima Metro
In Eastern Lima, Line 1 of the Metro runs everyday from 06:00 to 23:00. You need to purchase a rechargeable card for S/5 (soles) to use the service and each trip costs S/1.50.

More

title: Lima/East


text:
Lima/West

Western Lima includes the Chorrillos, San Isidro, Magdalena del Mar, Pueblo Libre, San Miguel districts of Lima, to the south of the Rimac River and west of Av. Arequipa.

The related districts of Central Lima, Miraflores and Barranco have their own pages.

San Isidro

title: Lima/West


text:
Lima/Miraflores

Miraflores is a suburb or barrio of Lima the capital city of Peru. Miraflores is known as Ciudad Heroica or the Heroic City. There are many parks, gardens, high rise apartment buildings, hotels, restaurants and shops. Situated on the coast, Miraflores is considered to be one of the finest districts of Lima and is very popular with tourists.

Get in
To get to Miraflores from the airport or bus terminal or wherever it is that you arrived in Lima is as simple as taking a taxi or bus.

By taxi
A good advice is to book a taxi inside Lima Airport or the bus terminal or to have your hotel or hostel book you a taxi. From the terminals, prices range between S/15-S/35. From the airport, an official taxi will cost you at least S/60. It is not advised to take a taxi outside the bus terminals or airport because those areas are very dangerous and notorious for scams and robberies. The same goes for the taxi drivers that pick up tourists in these areas. Safe taxi services include: Taxi365, Taxi Directo and Taxi Green.

By transfer
You can have your hotel/hostel order a private transfer for you. Prices one way start from US$20.

Do
Many shopping malls have cinemas, bars, bowling, even nightclubs, see the subsection Shop, in the section Buy

Paragliding and hang gliding: Most flights are done from the cliffs at Miraflores, next to Parque del Amor.

Surf schools

Miraflores is the most popular surfing spot in Lima city. Makaha beach in front of the Malecon is packed with surfing schools that offer lessons but also do board rental.

Miscellaneous:

Buy
There are a number of markets for buying Peruvian artesania, souvenirs, jewelry, and handicrafts along Av. Petit Thouars in Miraflores, a short walk from Parque Kennedy. The biggest of these is Mercado Indio, a huge expanse of small tiendas selling everything Peruvian - sweaters, blankets, etc.

Shop

 * El Mundo Papel, is a handcrafted and artshop. You can find unique T-shirt designs, sketch books, prints, etc., in this small little shop in Avenida 28 de Julio 552 in Miraflores. It is very close to Larco Street.
 * El Mundo Papel, is a handcrafted and artshop. You can find unique T-shirt designs, sketch books, prints, etc., in this small little shop in Avenida 28 de Julio 552 in Miraflores. It is very close to Larco Street.

Bars and clubs

 * For a bit of fun in Miraflores, try the small street between Parque Kennedy and Bellavista, locally known as the calle de las pizzas (Pizza Street). It is a big tourist trap, but on the other hand you are guaranteed to meet other travelers in high spirit.
 * At the end of Av. Larco you can find the LarcoMar amusement area, with spectacular views of the beaches, about 40 m below it, and the Pacific Ocean, and the usual western style shopping mall shops and fast food chains.
 * Crypto, heavy metal and hard rock pub on the first side-street of Calle de las Pizzas. Unmarked entrance, just a black door. They sell pitchers of rum & coke for about US$5. Excellent atmosphere if you're in the scene, but a bit intimidating for tourists who just wander in.
 * For jazz music, try Jazz Zone, Avenida La Paz 656.
 * For jazz music, try Jazz Zone, Avenida La Paz 656.

Coffee
For the coffee-addicts, there are a number of good options:

Internet
Parque Kennedy has free wifi internet access. It doesn't work on all phones though.

By mail
The new postcode for Miraflores is 15074 but the old postcode is still in use and more recognizable as 'Lima 18'.

title: Lima/Miraflores


text:
Lima/South

Southern Lima (Cono Sur) includes the districts of San Borja, Santiago de Surco, San Juan de Miraflores, Villa María del Triunfo, Villa el Salvador, Pachacamac, Lurín, Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, San Bartolo, Santa María del Mar and Pucusana in Lima, Peru.

Others

title: Lima/South


text:
Lima/North

Rio Rimac North is the section of Lima north of Rio Rimac including the districts of Comas, Carabayllo, Puente Piedra, Santa Rosa, Ancón, San Martín de Porres, Los Olivos and Independencia.

Get in
There is a bus rapid transit system, El Metropolitano, that connects some of the districts in the North area (Comas, Los Olivos, Independencia and San Martín de Porres) with Central and South Lima.

For intercity transportation, there is a modern bus terminal: Gran Terminal Terrestre, which is next to the Plaza Norte Shopping Center and the "Tomás Valle" Metropolitano Station.

title: Lima/North


text:
Limanowa

Limanowa is a small town in Małopolskie Province, in the Beskid mountains of southern Poland.

By bus
You can get in by bus from Kraków or Nowy Sącz. The company "Maxbus" has several buses per day from Kraków main bus station for 19 zł.

Get around
Everything can be seen by walking, as everything is relatively close.

Do
There are festivals during the year on special days.

Limanowa can serve as a great base to hike the surrounding hills and forests.

Eat
Try some authentic Polish cuisine in the main square.

Drink
Head to the local pub, or clubs just outside the center.

Sleep
There is a hotel close to the center that is relatively cheap.

title: Limanowa


text:
Limassol

Limassol (Greek: Λεμεσός, Turkish: Leymosun) is the second largest city (after the capital, Nicosia) of Cyprus. Following the Turkish invasion in 1974, it has become the principal sea port and has also developed into a significant tourist destination.

Understand
Limassol is the second largest town in Cyprus after Nicosia, with population of approximately 200,000. Apart from being a major tourist destination, it is also a principal hub for international business in Cyprus. This gives Limassol a more cosmopolitan feel compared to other district centers. Renovation projects in the old town and old port area are seeking to rejuvenate the historic centre, making it more accessible and interesting for sightseeing.

By plane
Limassol is about 40 minutes drive away from  and.

Larnaca mainly serves traditional airlines, while most of RyanAir flights land in Paphos. Transfer from Larnaca is generally slightly cheaper even though the distance is the same. Official fixed taxi fare from the airport was not updated since early 2000 (even after recent taxi price rise in 2022) and is still at €55, but no driver will ever accept that. The official taxis will charge you €100 (as of late 2023) per car with luggage between Paphos and Limassol, unofficial transfer companies that you may find in the Internet and pre-book tend to be about €20 cheaper. From Larnaca it's even slightly cheaper.

There is a regular shuttle bus service from Larnaca and Paphos airports. Be careful to arrange pick-up from the shuttle bus stops, as they are away from the central areas. Bus driver might provide assistance to arrange a taxi.

By boat

Limassol has the biggest commercial shipment port and a reasonable passenger port, with several regular cruise routes:

 * Louis Cruise Lines from Agios Nikolaos (Kriti), Beirut, Haifa, Port Said and Rhodes.
 * St. Raphael Marina St. Raphael Marina on the outskirts of Limassol.
 * magic 1 from Ashdod, Israel.

Additionally, Scandro Holding operates a ferry between Piraeus and Limassol. Crossings are 1-2 times per week during the summer months and fortnightly off-season.

By bus

 * There are special Green Buses which operate intercity. Buses are available for Troodos, Larnaca, Pafos and Nicosia. There are few stops. It is best to confirm timings from the closest CTO Tourist Information Center.

By service taxi

 * Travel Express run an intercity service using shared minibuses between the major towns in Cyprus. They can pick up from Larnaca and Pafos Airports. They are a lot cheaper than taxis but more expensive than the intercity buses, however, they take you door to door. Bookings need to be made in advance, however, if it's not full you can normally get on the next one.

Get around
The three main roads are:
 * 1) The Beach Road
 * 2) Makarios Avenue
 * 3) Griva Digeni (which transforms into Kolonakou / Spyros Kyprianou later to the east)

By bus
The bus service has been upgraded, with more routes and better schedules, however waiting times may still be long. The principal tourist route is #30, serving the beach road from Le Meridien hotel up to New Port (Old Port after 18:00), which runs approximately every 15 minutes. You can find detailed information and maps on the EMEL bus company website. Cost per trip is €1.50. Day tickets cost €5.

By taxi
Taxi is the most popular means of transportation for tourists, but are expensive and it is common to ignore meters. Sharing taxis is also popular, and may work out to a more reasonable fare. You can also try calling the taxi via Bolt, it will call an official taxi and the meter will be run through Bolt. It should start when your ride starts, but the initial value will be slightly higher than if you've hauled the taxi yourself. If a Bolt taxi arrives, they usually stick to the app (especially if you pay within the app), but they regularly have no cars available.

You're unlikely to catch a taxi even 1-2km away from few central tourist locations. Taxi companies may flat out decline to send you a car if you call, especially outside the ring road or at peak hours. Some taxi drivers may give you their business cards, but these are typically a facade for the same taxi companies. Do not expect you can get a taxi outside the city or in a random location.

Official urban taxi tariffs since August 1, 2022 are €3.80 initial, €0.95/km, €17.00/hour wait between 06:00-20:30, €4.80/1.10/19.00 at night, extra surcharges: €2 on public holiday, +20% for taxies with 5 passengers, +50% for taxies with 6 passengers. Minimal fare was €5 before 2022, and it's unclear what it is now. Again, you're unlikely to get away that cheaply, expect +€3 with Bolt or unofficial taxy companies, and x1.5/x2 overcharge from official taxies. That adds up for at about €10 for a short 1-2km trip.

By bicycle
The beach road has a dedicated bicycle lane stretching from the Old Port to the Dasoudi area. In summer, it gets very hot.

There are shared bikes available in Limassol center and along the bicycle lane to the east, operated by Nextbike. The easternmost location is near the Grand Resort, more than 10 km from the city center. See all locations. Price is €2 for the first 60 min or €8 per 24 hr.

Transport rental
Cars, scooters and bicycles can be hired easily, however locals have a relaxed approach to Highway Code. For example, they rarely use blinkers and one may sometimes encounter a person going the other way on the roundabout or a one-way road because it's shorter. Moreover, the traffic is on the left.

See

The old town of Limassol is full of historic houses, both from the Ottoman period and the British colonial period. The area has been renovated, especially the street near the Limassol Castle.

 * Akti Olympion, a 7-km beach-side walking park area stretching from Municipal Gardens to the Old Port.
 * Akti Olympion, a 7-km beach-side walking park area stretching from Municipal Gardens to the Old Port.

Do

 * Visit the Limassol Wine Festival, every September.
 * Party during the Limassol Carnival, every February/March. Truly colorful!
 * Watch the Cyprus Rally every Autumn.
 * Get drunk at the Potamos Yermasoyias (aka "Galatex") which has plenty of entertainment in the pubs, night clubs and cafes on the street and in the surrounding area.
 * Visit one of the traditional buzukia (tavern with live music).
 * Explore the Limassol Castle and nearby Old Town area.
 * Visit Anexartisias street in the Old Town, a popular shopping area for both tourists and locals.
 * Take a walk on the wooden promenade along the sea opposite the archeological site of Kingdom of Amathus.
 * The Municipal Garden along the beach road is a good place to spend some time and catch some interesting flora. However the zoo is not that great.
 * Take a walk on the wooden promenade along the sea opposite the archeological site of Kingdom of Amathus.
 * The Municipal Garden along the beach road is a good place to spend some time and catch some interesting flora. However the zoo is not that great.

Sport

 * Football: three city clubs play soccer in First Division, the top tier in Cyprus: Apollon, Aris and AEL. All three share Tsirio Stadium (capacity 13,300) by A7 north edge of city centre.
 * Limassol Marathon is held in Feb / March. The next is probably 18-19 March 2023 but tbc.

Buy

 * The traditional shopping streets are Ayios Andreas and Anexartisias street. These streets provide an ambiance of the old cobbled path lanes, away from the modern city.
 * Several western style supermarkets (Carrefour, Debenhams, LIDL, Orphanidies etc.) are spread across the city and warehouse-style shopping centres have mushroomed on the outskirts of the city. My Mall is the biggest shopping centre in the area, located to the west of New Port.
 * Sea Sponges is popular product of Cyprus, used as a bath/face scrub. Loofa is used as a bath scrub. Available at most tourist/souvenir shops. Also there is a Sea Sponges Exhibition at the roundabout at the Old Port. However, sea sponges may be pricey!
 * The Lefkara Lace and other lace products may be brought from Limassol or other cities, as they may be often over-priced in Lefkara, due to a large number of tourists flocking there, especially during the tourist season.
 * Opening hours for most shops are M-F 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-19:00 (siesta time in between, outside of the tourist area most smaller shops are not open on Wednesday afternoons) and Saturdays 09:00-14:00. Only some convenience stores (Periptero in Greek) would be open 24 hours on all days.

Eat
Kebab can be optimum for a relatively cheap, fresh and filling meal. Be careful with colourful "tourist" cafes since those are often over-priced and offer low quality conventional sandwiches or English Breakfasts. Mousaka or Kleftiko are popular, however your best bet (especially if you are hungry), is a traditional Cyprus Meze (either of the meat or fish variety), which usually includes a myriad of small hot and cold dishes for a reasonable price.

Try targeting restaurants that cater for the locals. You should not encounter a client/waiter language barrier as virtually everyone speaks English.

All major western chains are present, e.g. McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Friday's, Bennigan's, Goodies, and Nandos.

Drink
Drinking water: it is generally safe to drink water directly from the tap. Most apartments and hotels would have a separate tap provided along with the sink, for water that bypasses the storage tank on the roof.

Limassol has the reputation among locals of being the party capital of Cyprus. When Ayia Napa hibernates in the winter, Limassol powers on drawing much of the local clientele especially during the carnival season.

The Potamos Yermasoyia tourist area is littered with countless bars and pubs to cater for everyone's tastes and budget. The old medieval town centre is more popular with the locals and offers classier but pricier establishments. Most hotels will also have a variety of in house bars (either with a local or international twist), which are open to non residents too.

Sport is religion here and sports bars abound. Football is in your face everywhere, especially the British and Greek leagues. Being here during a European or World cup competition finals stage is only next best to attending the real thing.

Zivania is the equivalent local version of Grappa or Eau de Vie. Drink frozen zivania shots at your peril.

Commandaria is a sweet dessert wine and a speciality of Limassol is worth tasting especially after a meze.

Mid-range

 * Pralina Blu, beach-side restaurant and cafe opposite McDonald's / Luna Park in the tourist area.
 * Pralina Blu, beach-side restaurant and cafe opposite McDonald's / Luna Park in the tourist area.
 * Pralina Blu, beach-side restaurant and cafe opposite McDonald's / Luna Park in the tourist area.
 * Pralina Blu, beach-side restaurant and cafe opposite McDonald's / Luna Park in the tourist area.

Sleep
Apart from local luxury and boutique hotels Limassol boasts many branches of international hotels. However one can easily find low budget accommodation. An increasingly popular option is private apartment and villa rental.

Budget
As far as renting a Studio Apartment (with cooking facilities) goes, there are plenty of them around, and one may find accommodation easily, both long term and short term.

title: Limassol


text:
Limassol district

Limassol district is a region in Cyprus.

Cities

 * - the administrative capital

Villages

 * - A village by the British Air Force Base of the same name.
 * - A village by the British Air Force Base of the same name.

Talk
The dominant language is Greek, even though English and Russian are pretty well known in tourist establishments.

Do
Take a walk along the water stopping at the waterfront cafes.

title: Limassol district


text:
Limavady

Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, in the scenic Roe Valley. Limavady is nowadays part of Causeway Coast and Glens District, and in 2021 had a population of 11,000. "Limavady" is from Léim a' Mhadaidh – "leap of the dog". In legend the dog leapt from a bluff across the Roe Valley to warn of attack, or summon help, or simply to leg it.

Understand

 * - "very Irish, for though it has been planted for more than two centuries by English and Scottish settlers, the old Irish race still forms the great majority of its peasant inhabitants; and there are few, if any counties in which, with less foreign admixture, the ancient melodies of the country have been so extensively preserved." — Publisher's introduction of 1855

Jane Ross (1810-1879) lived with her sisters at 51 Main St Limavady, and early one morning in 1853 she heard an unusual violin tune played outside her window. She was a keen collector of Irish folk music; she never got the name of the player or of the tune, but it joined a batch published by George Petrie. Known as the "Londonderry Air", it was originally without words. It was unlike other Irish folk tunes, and other collectors were unaware of it. It's nowadays believed to stem from the 18th-century Aisling an Óigfhir or "The Young Man's Dream", but played so slowly and mournfully as to cause Ross to mistake the time signature.

The first set of words to the tune appeared in the 1870s, and something like 50 versions have been published, mostly so sad and mawkish that you would either fall about laughing or throw up. There really ought to be a mash-up version (yes, that scans for its first line), to set His love among the sons of men, and lie and faint within your silken bosom, the pilgrim told not how or when. But in 1913 Frederic Edward Weatherly set the words that have become the unofficial national anthem of Northern Ireland and its diaspora. They're every bit as mawkish, and you can laugh or upchuck if you will — lots of late-night carousers do so — but if there is a single molecule of Ulster in your being, then you will nevertheless sing like you mean it. It's called "Danny Boy".

Get in
is at Eglinton 10 miles west on A2, with flights from the UK and in summer from the Med. You've more choice flying into one of the Belfast airports.

One commuter bus 246 runs in the morning M-F from Eglinton (for airport), Ballykelly and Limavady via Dungiven to Belfast Europa station, and returns around 17:00. The rest of M-Sa it only plies between Limavady and Dungiven every hour or two.

Ulsterbus 143 / 144 / 152 runs from Londonderry via Eglinton and Ballykelly, taking 70 min to Limavady. It's hourly M-Sa but with only four on Sunday.

Bus 134 / 234 runs M-Sa every 2-3 hours from Ulster University and Coleraine along the coast road A2 to Castlerock, Magilligan crossroads, Bellarena, Aghanloo Cross and Limavady, taking just under an hour. The 234 Goldline Express continues to Ballykelly, Eglinton and Londonderry.

Limavady is east end of Main St.

The railway runs right next to Limavady and the airport and serves neither. Trains run hourly from Belfast to Londonderry with a halt at five miles north, where you'll need to have a taxi arranged as Bus 134 (above) is infrequent. Otherwise stay on the train to Londonderry then take the bus out. (No point changing at Coleraine, it's the same bus as at Bellarena.) Actually the train did stop once at Limavady in 2021 but that was because someone dumped a burning car on the tracks. It wasn't believed to be a protest about Ulster's poor commitment to sustainable transport so no arrests ensued.

By road from Belfast follow M2 / A6 to Dungiven then B68 north.

Lough Foyle Ferry sails in summer from Greencastle in County Donegal to. It sails Jun-Aug, shuttling continuously from 9AM to 8PM, a 10-min crossing. It carries light vehicles; there are buses to Greencastle but no onward public transport from Magilligan Point. In 2021 one-way fares are €16 for a car and passengers, €2.50 for a foot passenger or motorbike. Make sure your personal and car documents are valid for the Republic of Ireland.

Get around
You need your own wheels to explore the area.

The main taxi operator in Limavady is Bells +44 28 7776 3929.

See

 * is a 3-mile stretch where the River Roe channels through a scenic wooded gorge. The visitor centre-cum-museum remains closed in 2021. The area is used for fishing, kayaking, river-bathing and abseiling.
 * rises abruptly northeast of the village. It's the western bastion of the Antrim plateau, formed of basalt from lava upwelling 60 million years ago. You can drive most of the way up, for example by Bishop's Road branching off B201 the old Coleraine Rd. It's designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has great views from the cliffs towards Lough Foyle and County Donegal. Gliders, hang-gliders and para-gliders launch from the edges. Near the top (385 m / 1263 ft) is a shallow lake for fishing.
 * stretches for 7 miles from Magilligan Point to Downhill cliffs above Castlerock, with views across to Donegal. The easiest access is midway, by the tourist complex and caravan sites off A2. There's another access at its east end towards the cliffs, but in between it's cut off by the railway. Vehicles are permitted on the beach, and some of them rev around with no regard for the children.
 * : see Castlerock for this oddity perched on the cliff edge at the east end of Benone Strand.
 * has variously been a dance-hall, army base, school and hotel, but is closed in 2021.
 * has variously been a dance-hall, army base, school and hotel, but is closed in 2021.

Do

 * Roe Valley Arts (M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM) on Main St put on music and exhibitions.
 * Roe Valley Leisure Centre on Greystone Rd has a gym and pool.
 * Golf: the course is within Roe Valley Resort, see Sleep.
 * Benone Tourist Complex by the beach has a 9-hole golf course, putting green, driving range, tennis courts and an outdoor kids activities area.
 * Danny Boy Jazz & Blues Festival is in June.
 * Stendhal Festival is a pop music and comedy event in August.

Buy

 * Tesco on Main St is the principal store, open M-Sa 8AM-midnight, Su 1-6PM.
 * SuperValu on Market Street is open 8AM-9PM, Su 1-6PM.
 * Lidl is on Main St is small; it's open 8AM-9PM, Su 1-6PM.
 * There's an ATM at the Bank of Ireland on Main St.
 * Dungiven has a Supervalu on the main road open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

Eat

 * By the Buscentre are Junction Bar & Grill, McNulty's Fish & Chips, Frank Owens bar (see below), Kebab King and Scotty's Cafe.
 * Moonlight is an Indian / Italian restaurant at 50A Catherine St, open W-M 16:30-22:30.
 * Moonlight is an Indian / Italian restaurant at 50A Catherine St, open W-M 16:30-22:30.
 * Moonlight is an Indian / Italian restaurant at 50A Catherine St, open W-M 16:30-22:30.

Drink

 * Distilleries: you'll have to join the tourist hordes at Bushmills, Limavady's distillery closed in 1915.
 * Distilleries: you'll have to join the tourist hordes at Bushmills, Limavady's distillery closed in 1915.
 * Distilleries: you'll have to join the tourist hordes at Bushmills, Limavady's distillery closed in 1915.

Sleep

 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.
 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.
 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.
 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.
 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.
 * Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.

Connect
Limavady has 4G from all UK carriers; you might also get a signal from the Irish carriers. As of Aug 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Castlerock has the odd Mussenden Temple.
 * Derry is a fascinating walled city.
 * Coleraine is by the university. Travel that way for Giant's Causeway and other sights along the Antrim coast.

title: Limavady


text:
Limbang

Limbang is a small town in northern-most part of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is the capital of the division of the same name.

While it has the pleasant atmosphere of an isolated Sarawak interior administrative centre, Limbang does not have that much to offer the traveller. However, you may find yourself here if travelling overland from Sabah to Sarawak or vice-versa. Limbang is also one start of the Headhunter's Trail to Mulu National Park.

Understand
Limbang is geographically peculiar as it is sandwiched between two parts of Brunei. This situation was created in 1890 when the White Rajahs of Sarawak forced the Sultan of Brunei to cede the Limbang district. Till today, the Sultanate continues a not-much-heard-of territorial claim over Limbang. Because of the undeveloped interior of the district, most transportation links between Limbang and the rest of Sarawak have to go through Brunei.

By plane
Limbang's airport (LMN) lies about 5 km from town on the road to Pandaruan and Temburong.

MASWings links Limbang with the Sarawakian towns of Miri and Lawas, where there are onward flights to Kota Kinabalu, thus providing the opportunity to fly over expensive Brunei if travelling between Sabah and Sarawak.
 * From Lawas: Flights operate on Mondays and Wednesdays. The flights originate in Miri.
 * From Miri: There are two daily flights between Miri and Limbang using the new MASWings' ATR aircraft.
 * From Kota Kinabalu: Two flights weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays with the Twin Otter.

By bus

 * From Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: You can catch the KK to Bandar bus which passes through Limbang. There are some coffee shops on the main road which the bus uses as angents and can sell tickets. The bus also stops outside these shops.
 * From Miri: There are no direct buses between Miri and Limbang. From Limbang, you will have to catch a bus to the Tedungan border checkpoint and then catch another bus to Bandar Seri Begawan before making your way to Miri. See above for details to get to Tedungan, and the Bandar Seri Begawan and Brunei pages for connections to Miri.
 * From Nanga Medamit: Several buses a daily make their way to Nanga Medamit, the start of the Headhunters' Trail to Gunung Mulu National Park.
 * From Temburong, Brunei: Regular buses make their way from the bus terminal to Pandaruan where you can catch a ferry across the river to Puni in the Temburong district of Brunei. You will have to take taxis for your onward journey from Puni to Bangar, the administrative centre for Temburong, 5km away. You can get your Malaysian exit stamp just before boarding the ferry (or get an entry stamp just after getting off the ferry if coming from Brunei).

By road
Limbang's network of roads link it to the main part of Brunei (where its capital Bandar Seri Begawan is located) to the west, and to its Temburong district to the east. Travelling anywhere beyond Brunei, e.g. to Miri, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu by land will require you go through Brunei.

You will most likely find yourself in Limbang if you are travelling overland from Sarawak to Sabah. See Kota Kinabalu to Brunei by land.

 * From Tedungan (for Bandar Seri Begawan): A relatively good road links Limbang with the Tedungan (known as Kuala Lurah on the Brunei side) border checkpoint, where good roads go all the way to Bandar Seri Begawan. See the "Get in" section of the Brunei page for directions to get to Kuala Lurah. Tedungan is about 43 km from Limbang. Both Brunei and Malaysian immigration procedures can be done at the border. From Limbang, head south along the Limbang River. Take a right turn after the KM10 point and travel another 13 km before taking another right turn (going straight will lead you to Nanga Medamit). The road road ends right at the border checkpoint. Queues can be quite long at the checkpoint, especially during weekends when Bruneians travel en masse to Limbang for some fun. Do the reverse if coming from Brunei. You will have to follow this route if you are heading to Miri or other parts of Sarawak. See the "Get in" section directions from Bandar Seri Begawan to Miri.
 * From Temburong: A road goes from Limbang for about 15 km to Pandaruan where the Pandaruan River forms the border between Malaysia and Brunei's Temburong district. You can take a ferry across to Puni on the Brunei side of the border. There is a vehicular ferry (RM8 or B$4 one way) as well as passenger boats. Puni is about 5 km from Bangar, the administrative centre of Temburong district. Because of the Malaysian immigration checkpoint at Pandaruan, travellers do not have to get their Malaysian exit stamp at the immigration office at Limbang Wharf before proceeding to Pandaruan. The Pandaruan checkpoint is open between 6AM and 10PM. The Brunei immigration checkpoint at Puni is about 600 m away from the ferry landing point, operating from a wooden one-storey building on the right side of the road if coming from the ferry. You will have to come this way if you are heading to Lawas or Sabah. See the "Temburong | Get in" section for onward directions.
 * From Gunung Mulu National Park: This virtually requires you to do the Headhunters' Trail which starts of Nanga Medamit. See Gunung Mulu National Park page for details.

By boat

 * From Labuan: The Royal Limbang No.1 (Tel : +6085-213749) runs daily in both directions, departing from Limbang at 08:00 and 08:30. From Labuan, ferries depart at 12:30 and 14:00. Tickets cost RM20 one-way. Journey time about 2½ hours. Ferries depart from the Customs jetty in town.

Drink
The Tedungan area at the Brunei border is home to numerous bars and nightclubs catering to Bruneians looking to have a good night out as these are banned in Brunei.

Sleep

 * Purnama Hotel,  Limbang Plaza, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–2167000. Fax : +60 85-216711
 * Royal Park Hotel,  Lot 1089 & 1090, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–212155. Fax : +60 85-212233
 * Prime Hotel,  Lot 112, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–213833. Fax : +60 85-217999
 * Centre Point Hotel, Lot 1587 & 1588, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–213699. Fax : +60 85-217637
 * Mesra Hotel, Lot 787 & 788, Bank Street. Tel : +60 85–213351. Fax : +60 85-212153
 * Jia Lun Hotel, Lot 1116, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–215060. Fax : +60 85-215048
 * Muhibbah Inn,  Lot 790 - 792, Bank Street. Tel : +60 85–212482. Fax : +60 85-212153
 * Metro Inn, Lot 781 & 782, Jalan Bangkita. Tel : +60 85–211133. Fax : +60 85-211051
 * Mariner Inn, Lot 1371 - 1373, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–212922, 212923, 212925, 212926. Fax : +60 85-215898
 * Hota Inn,  Lot 1453, Jalan Buangsiol. Tel : +60 85–212733. Fax : +60 85-212788

Go next

 * Miri
 * Kuala Belait
 * Seria
 * Tutong
 * Sengkurong
 * Jerudong
 * Berakas
 * Bandar Seri Begawan
 * Bangar
 * Lawas

title: Limbang


text:
Limburg (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Limburg:

Belgium

 * Limbourg (Dutch: Limburg), the city in Belgium that once was the capital of the duchy which the Dutch and Belgian regions get their name from.
 * Limburg (Belgium), province in the east of Dutch-speaking Belgium.
 * In American English, Limburger is the name given to Frommage de Herve, a cheese from the Pays de Herve in Liège province.

Germany

 * Limburg an der Lahn, a city in Hesse, its name being not related to the other, but instead derived from the Gaulish Linda (water) and the German burg (castle).

Netherlands

 * Limburg (Netherlands), a province in the southeastern Netherlands.

title: Limburg (disambiguation)


text:
Limburg (Belgium)

Limburg is one of the five provinces of Flanders (Belgium). There is also a province called Limburg in The Netherlands. It is the easternmost province of Flanders. The province boasts an interesting mining history, forests and historic towns. The area is mainly visited by tourists from Belgium or its neighbouring countries.

Cities

 * — administrative center for the province and main place of interest for international visitors.
 * — — former important coal-mining city in Limburg, with a large industrial heritage.
 * — former mining town that today offers visitors a gentle mix of industrial heritage and natural sights, including the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum.
 * — the centre of the Haspengouw region, which is renowned for its pears, apples and sweet cherries.
 * — one of the oldest towns in Belgium, dating back to Roman times.
 * — the centre of the Haspengouw region, which is renowned for its pears, apples and sweet cherries.
 * — one of the oldest towns in Belgium, dating back to Roman times.
 * — one of the oldest towns in Belgium, dating back to Roman times.

Other destinations

 * Terhills

Understand
Whereas much of Flanders is built-up, cosmopolitan, and frenetic, the Belgian Limburg is more rural and down-to-earth.

Talk
The official language, as in all of Flanders, is Dutch, and most people speak it. The main local language of the province is Limburgish which, like Dutch, is part of the Low Frankish language group and is recognised as an endigenous regional language. Another traditional language, Brabantian, is locally used in the nearby regions of Lommel and Tessenderlo.

English, often learned as a second language at school, is also widely understood especially by younger generations. French, which is spoken in two municipalities, Voeren and Herstappe in the south of the province is often intelligible south of a line from Gingelom to Riemst.

Stay safe
Besides a few specific neighborhoods in the larger towns like Genk and Tongeren, the Limburg province is very safe, and tourists do not have to worry.

title: Limburg (Belgium)


text:
Limburg (Netherlands)

Limburg is the most southern province of the Netherlands, encompassing the eastern part of the historical region of Limburg or Limbourg - the other part forms the namesake province of Belgium. Limburg is different from the rather flat rest of the Netherlands as it is remarkably hilly, it remains predominantly Catholic (while the majority of the country is Protestant).

The capital of the Dutch Limburg is Maastricht, famous for its medieval old town and the namesake treaty signed there, which basically created the European Union.

Cities
Limburg stretches from south to north over three regions:

 * North Limburg
 * Middle Limburg
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * Middle Limburg
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * Middle Limburg
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * Middle Limburg
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * South Limburg
 * — capital of the province
 * — capital of the province
 * — capital of the province

Talk

Most people (roughly 78%) in Limburg speak Limburgish in every day life, a regional language closely related to Dutch and German. Dutch is the official language used for practically all forms of official (and most unofficial) written communication. In the larger cities, Dutch is also the main colloquial language. The majority of the people furthermore speak English and German with various levels of fluency. Some French is spoken in areas near the border with Wallonia.

By plane

 * Maastricht/Aachen Airport is a regional airport located near Maastricht.
 * Brussels Airport can be reached in an hour from Mid- and South-Limburg.
 * Eindhoven Airport, a base for low-cost carriers, can be reached by car and public transportation.
 * Amsterdam Airport offers train connections to several cities in Limburg.
 * Weeze Airport in northwest Germany can be reached by car.

By train
The Dutch railway serves Limburg with regional branches and intercity-branches to Amsterdam and The Hague. German railway links connect Heerlen to Aachen and Venlo to Mönchengladbach by local trains. Maastricht is connected to Liege in Belgium by local train.

Get around
Arriva operates the local railway concession in Limburg, as well as the numerous regional and municipal bus lines within the province.

See

 * Museum Asselt
 * Old castles in Eijsden, Hoensbroek, Arcen and Valkenburg
 * American War Cemetery in Margraten
 * National Park "De Meinweg" about 8 km southeast of Roermond
 * Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht, with works by Cranach and Brueghel as well as modern artists
 * Museum De Locht in Melderslo. A museum about life in north-Limburg in 1850–1950, with departments about mushroom- and asparagusculture.

Do

 * South Limburg is very popular with hikers and bikers. The terrain is very hilly by Dutch standards.
 * Carnaval is celebrated all over Limburg, typically held during February or early March.

Eat
A typical Limburg food is the Limburgse vlaai, which is a sweet pie which originally comes from Weert.

Drink
Limburg is famous in the Netherlands for its local beer. The known local brands of beer in Limburg are:
 * Alfa Beer (Schinnen)
 * Brand Beer (Wijlre)
 * Probatum (Horst)
 * Mestreechs Blónt & Double Saison de Liège (Maastricht)
 * Steinder Wit (Stein)
 * Gulpener (Gulpen)
 * Veldwachter & Rolduc abdij-bier (Beek)
 * Hertog Jan (Arcen)
 * Leeuwbier (Valkenburg)
 * Lindeboom (Neer)
 * Wieckse Witte, Vos & Maltezer (Maastricht)
 * Zonnestraal & Avondrood (Sevenum)
 * Christoffel (Roermond)

Go next
Limburg is at "the corner of Europe", with long borders with Belgium and Germany. You can use it as a starting point to exploring many different regions:
 * Continue exploring Limburg into its Belgian part
 * Stay in the Netherlands and head northwest to North Brabant or up north to Gelderland
 * Go east to North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany
 * Head south for the French-speaking Belgian province of Liege in Wallonia

title: Limburg (Netherlands)


text:
Limerick

Limerick (Luimneach) is a city in County Limerick in the Shannon Region of Ireland, with a population in 2024 of 60,314. It's a miniature Dublin with its Georgian streets, historic sights, and many visitor amenities, and is a good base for visiting its surrounding county plus County Clare and County Tipperary.

Understand
Limerick grew up at the limit of tides and navigation of the River Shannon. In the 9th century the Vikings first raided it then settled, calling it Hlymrekr which probably means low-lying and fertile. As elsewhere in Ireland, they were overthrown by the native Irish in the 10th and 11th centuries, who in turn came under the rule of the Anglo-Normans. In 1205 King John ordered the construction of the castle on the river island in the Shannon, and the English settled in this area of King's Island, with their "Englishtown" protected by massive walls. South across the small River Abbey lay "Irishtown", with the natives firmly put in their place.

Limerick became a prosperous port, so it was worth fighting for. Some of the many conflicts were the proxy war that was part of the medieval England—Scotland wars; a siege as Oliver Cromwell crushed Royalist opposition in Ireland; and the siege which was the last stand of King James II/VII forces against William of Orange, ended by the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. Supposedly this was signed over the "Treaty Stone", which now stands near Thomond Bridge.

The city benefited from local agriculture and by growing trade with North America, with Irishtown rebuilt on a grid pattern as a Georgian city comparable to Dublin, and fine public buildings. It slumped with the Napoleonic wars, with the draining of political power to England, and with the great Irish famine of 1847. Not until mid-20th century did it redevelop, as transatlantic flights began from Shannon and new industry was attracted in to replace bygone trades.

It's spawned many great writers and poets: Michael Hogan (1828-1899) the satirical Bard of Thomond, Jim Kemmy (1936-1997) author of The Limerick Anthology, Frank McCourt (1930-2009) author of Angela's Ashes, 'Tis and Teacher Man. Other famous local people include the actor Richard Harris, TV presenter Terry Wogan, statesmen Éamon de Valera and Michael D Higgins, and physician William Brooke O'Shaughnessy who pioneered IV therapy and the medical use of cannabis. What the place didn't spawn was limerick verse, which evolved in 18th-century England, presumably from a nonsense lyric that referred to the city or county.

This is Limerick is the tourist office, within the castle.

By plane
is near Shannon town, 25 km west of Limerick along N18. It has flights from Europe and the UK, and from New York, Newark and Chicago. All the main car rental firms have offices at the airport.

To town, Bus Eireann 343 runs every 30 min between 8AM and midnight, taking an hour via Bunratty; some may start from Ennis. Bus 51 between Galway, Limerick and Cork also stops at the airport hourly.

Dublin Airport has a wider selection of flights and is served by Flightlink Bus 723 direct to Limerick, 2 hr 30 min.

By train
Hourly trains from Dublin Heuston take two hours. A few are direct but usually you take the train for Cork and change at Limerick Junction (25 km east of Limerick, near Tipperary); change there also from Waterford. See Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.

Five trains a day run from Galway, taking 2 hours via Athenry, Gort and (more frequently) Ennis.

Two trains a day M-Sa and one on Sunday run from Ballybrophy on the Dublin-Cork line via Roscrea and Nenagh.

By bus
Dublin Coach M7 ("Big Green Bus") runs every 30 min from Dublin Burgh Quay, taking 2 hr 45 min via Heuston railway station, Kildare, Annacotty and UL campus at Castletroy. The last bus departs at midnight. The bus stop in Limerick is Arthur's Quay, M7 doesn't use the bus station. Alternate buses branch here for Bunratty and Ennis, or for Adare, Newcastlewest, Abbeyfeale, Killarney and Tralee. See above for the direct bus from Dublin Airport.

Bus Eireann 51 runs hourly from Cork via Mallow, 2 hours, and continues north to Shannon Airport, Ennis and Galway, 80 min.

Bus 13 runs from Tralee every two hours, and Bus 14 from Killarney and Kerry Airport every two hours, both via Abbeyfeale, Newcastlewest and Adare.

Bus 55 runs every two hours from Waterford, taking 2 hr 30 min via Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir and Tipperary. Bus 72 runs three times a day from Athlone, taking 2 hours via Birr and Nenagh.

Limerick bus station is at Colbert next to the railway station.

By car
From Dublin, N7 is all motorway once you get past Naas, 200 km or 3 hours in all. Other major routes from Limerick are N18 / M18 to Shannon Airport, Ennis and Galway, N20 to Mallow and Cork, N21 to Tralee and Killarney, and N24 to Tipperary and Waterford.

Get around
Walking will get you everywhere in city centre.

Bikes need to be rented weeks in advance. There is only one bike rental shop in town.

By bus
Bus Éireann operate frequent buses in Limerick. All routes run via city centre:
 * Bus 301 from Raheen and University Hospital Limerick in the southwest to Westbury in the north, every 30 min daily.
 * Bus 302 loops west from Henry Street in city centre via University Maternity Hospital, Thomond Park, Limerick Institute of Technology, Caherdavin and back to Sarsfield Street in the centre, every 20-30 min daily.
 * Bus 303 runs from Pineview in the northwest to O'Malley Park in the southeast, every 20-30 min daily.
 * Bus 304 runs from Raheen and Ballycummin in the southwest to Castletroy and the University of Limerick in the east, every 30 min daily. Bus 304A is similar, from Raheen via University Hospital.
 * Bus 305 runs from St Mary's Park in the north to Lynwood Park in the east, hourly daily.
 * Bus 306 runs from Ballynanty in the northwest to Edward Street in the south city centre, hourly daily.
 * Bus 313 runs from Arthur's Quay in city centre to Ardnacrusha in the north, 4-5 times Monday to Saturday.

TFI website has a map of the city bus network.

Cash fares within the city are €2.40-2.80 adult and €1.40-1.70 child, while if paying with a TFI Leap Card are €1.68-1.96 adult and €0.98-1.19 child. On TFI Leap Card, 24-hour, 7-day and monthly tickets are also available.

By taxi
Fares are nationally regulated and taxis must use the meter. Until Sep 2024, fares M-Sa 8AM-8PM are €4.20 flagfall then €1.30 per km. In slow traffic or if asked to wait they charge by the minute, 46 cents. At all other times it's €4.80 flagfall then €1.71 per km, waiting 60 cents per min.

See

 * Widows Alms Houses just south of the castle were built in 1691 to house soldiers' widows.
 * 100 m east of the castle is a home for elderly nuns, embellished by a vivid mural. There are stretches of the old city walls alongside, including a sally port.
 * is lined with confident Georgian architecture. The Daniel O'Connell monument perches at the top of the street.
 * next to Thomond bridge is a rough limestone block used for mounting horses. It was supposedly upon this stone that the Treaty of Limerick was signed on 3 Oct 1691, ending the siege of the city and the war between the Jacobites and William of Orange. The Treaty permitted the defeated Jacobite soldiers to leave for France (which most did), or to enlist in William's army, or to go home. It also ensured protection of the defeated Catholic gentry provided they swore allegiance to King William. But few did so, the Pope proclaimed James as the rightful king, the Catholics were oppressed, and the conflict rumbled on for the next 300 years.
 * is a dam and hydroelectric power station, upstream in County Clare but more easily accessed from Limerick. Built 1924-29 just after independence, it changed not only the lower Shannon, but the entire face of rural Ireland through electrification. A canal lock takes boats through the 30 m drop in river level, and there are fish ladders for the salmon and eels. There are tours of the power station.
 * is lined with confident Georgian architecture. The Daniel O'Connell monument perches at the top of the street.
 * next to Thomond bridge is a rough limestone block used for mounting horses. It was supposedly upon this stone that the Treaty of Limerick was signed on 3 Oct 1691, ending the siege of the city and the war between the Jacobites and William of Orange. The Treaty permitted the defeated Jacobite soldiers to leave for France (which most did), or to enlist in William's army, or to go home. It also ensured protection of the defeated Catholic gentry provided they swore allegiance to King William. But few did so, the Pope proclaimed James as the rightful king, the Catholics were oppressed, and the conflict rumbled on for the next 300 years.
 * is a dam and hydroelectric power station, upstream in County Clare but more easily accessed from Limerick. Built 1924-29 just after independence, it changed not only the lower Shannon, but the entire face of rural Ireland through electrification. A canal lock takes boats through the 30 m drop in river level, and there are fish ladders for the salmon and eels. There are tours of the power station.
 * is lined with confident Georgian architecture. The Daniel O'Connell monument perches at the top of the street.
 * next to Thomond bridge is a rough limestone block used for mounting horses. It was supposedly upon this stone that the Treaty of Limerick was signed on 3 Oct 1691, ending the siege of the city and the war between the Jacobites and William of Orange. The Treaty permitted the defeated Jacobite soldiers to leave for France (which most did), or to enlist in William's army, or to go home. It also ensured protection of the defeated Catholic gentry provided they swore allegiance to King William. But few did so, the Pope proclaimed James as the rightful king, the Catholics were oppressed, and the conflict rumbled on for the next 300 years.
 * is a dam and hydroelectric power station, upstream in County Clare but more easily accessed from Limerick. Built 1924-29 just after independence, it changed not only the lower Shannon, but the entire face of rural Ireland through electrification. A canal lock takes boats through the 30 m drop in river level, and there are fish ladders for the salmon and eels. There are tours of the power station.

Do

 * What's on? Listen to Live 95 FM on 95.0 MHz, or read Limerick Post or Limerick Leader.
 * The Peoples Park is south of the centre by the Gallery of Art.
 * Gaelic games: the County GAA team play hurling and Gaelic football at Páirc na nGael, capacity 44,000, on Ennis Rd 1 km west of city centre.
 * University Concert Hall has music, cinema, comedy and other events. It's on Castletroy campus 4 km east of city centre.
 * UL Arena is a large sports facility on the University campus east of the city.
 * University Concert Hall has music, cinema, comedy and other events. It's on Castletroy campus 4 km east of city centre.
 * UL Arena is a large sports facility on the University campus east of the city.
 * UL Arena is a large sports facility on the University campus east of the city.

Learn

 * University of Limerick (Ollscoil Luimnigh) is based at Castletroy 3 km east of the city. Established in 1989, it has 16,000 students and 500 academic staff.
 * Technological University of the Shannon (Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Sionainne) was established in 2021, with its Midwest campus on Moylish Park in Limerick, and others in Athlone, Thurles, Clonmel and Ennis. It incorporates the former Limerick Institute of Technology.

Buy

 * Cruise's Street, pedestrianised, is the main retail strip.
 * Arthur's Quay is a shopping centre on Patrick St, open M-Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM.
 * Milk Market is a covered market on Cornmarket Row, open F-Su.
 * O'Mahony's is a good book shop at 120 O'Connell Street, open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM.

Drink

 * Strand Hotel (see Sleep) is on Ennis St just north of Sarsfield Bridge on the way to Thomond Park, so its public bar is thronged with both home and visiting fans before and after a match. Those without tickets can watch the match on the large screen TVs.
 * Treaty City Brewery is at 24 Nicholas St by the castle. They have a tap room and offer tours, €23.
 * Crew Brewing is at 35 Thomas St. The tap room is open M-F 4-11:30PM, Sa 1PM-12:30AM, Su 1-11PM.
 * Thomond Gate is a distillery producing small batches of Irish whiskey. No tours.
 * Strand Hotel (see Sleep) is on Ennis St just north of Sarsfield Bridge on the way to Thomond Park, so its public bar is thronged with both home and visiting fans before and after a match. Those without tickets can watch the match on the large screen TVs.
 * Treaty City Brewery is at 24 Nicholas St by the castle. They have a tap room and offer tours, €23.
 * Crew Brewing is at 35 Thomas St. The tap room is open M-F 4-11:30PM, Sa 1PM-12:30AM, Su 1-11PM.
 * Thomond Gate is a distillery producing small batches of Irish whiskey. No tours.
 * Strand Hotel (see Sleep) is on Ennis St just north of Sarsfield Bridge on the way to Thomond Park, so its public bar is thronged with both home and visiting fans before and after a match. Those without tickets can watch the match on the large screen TVs.
 * Treaty City Brewery is at 24 Nicholas St by the castle. They have a tap room and offer tours, €23.
 * Crew Brewing is at 35 Thomas St. The tap room is open M-F 4-11:30PM, Sa 1PM-12:30AM, Su 1-11PM.
 * Thomond Gate is a distillery producing small batches of Irish whiskey. No tours.
 * Treaty City Brewery is at 24 Nicholas St by the castle. They have a tap room and offer tours, €23.
 * Crew Brewing is at 35 Thomas St. The tap room is open M-F 4-11:30PM, Sa 1PM-12:30AM, Su 1-11PM.
 * Thomond Gate is a distillery producing small batches of Irish whiskey. No tours.

Stay safe
City centre is safe and cosy, even at nights and weekends. Standard advice: beware traffic, safeguard valuables and avoid the occasional drunk.

The police station (Gardai) is on Henry Street in the city centre. Their non-emergency number is +353 61 212 400. In emergencies dial the standard 112 or 999.

Connect
As of April 2024, Limerick has 5G from all Irish carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Drive west past Shannon Airport into County Clare and Ennis and take N68 to Kilrush and Kilkee. This brings you onto the wild Mizzen Head, with the grey Atlantic heaving below.
 * On the road north towards Galway, stop to admire the Cliffs of Moher.
 * Lough Gur, 15 km south of the city along R512, is a remarkable collection of Neolithic sites and artefacts.
 * Along the south bank of Shannon, Adare is an attractive old town, pity about the traffic and the hordes.
 * Nearby Foynes is where the transatlantic flying boats used to berth, and the likes of Sinatra and John Wayne stepped out to the pop of flash-guns; see the museum and step aboard a plane.

title: Limerick


text:
Limestone (Maine)

Limestone is a city in Maine just over the border from New Brunswick, Canada.

Get in
From Caribou- Route 89 East. From North or South- U.S. Route 1. From Canada- 375 in New Brunswick goes to 229 in U.S. and straight into Limestone.

Get around
There is never any heavy traffic, not even moderate traffic. So using a car is by far the easiest way to go. The central part of Limestone is very small, walking around town is very easy.

Drink
The closest nightlife is over the border in Moncton.

Go next

 * Moncton
 * Caribou
 * Presque Isle
 * Grand Falls

title: Limestone (Maine)


text:
Limestone (Illinois)

Limestone is a village in Kankakee County, Chicagoland region of Illinois, United States of America.

Understand
The major industries of the Kankakee Area are health care, higher education, manufacturing, and retail trade. It is the regional retail market center for the area South of the Chicago suburbs, with a strong reputation as a City of Restaurants serving Interstate Highway 57 travelers, from Interstate Highway 57 Exit 308, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 312, Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315, and Interstate Highway 57 Exit 322. Suburban Bradley is the retail hub serving Interstate Highway 57 Exit 315.

The Kankakee Area has a hot summer, cold winter climate, typical of the interior Midwest.

By car
Limestone is located on Illinois State Highways 17 and 113.

Do
Vana's Pumpkin Patch and Fudge Shop

Go next
The city nearest to Limestone is Kankakee, population about 27,000, also in Kankakee County. Nearby villages include Bonfield, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Herscher, and Union Hill, all in Kankakee County. Chebanse is in Kankakee County and neighboring Iroquois County; and Reddick is in Kankakee County and neighboring Livingston County.

title: Limestone (Illinois)