pics

Awesome. Super friendly to tourists, could not recommend enough.

Food is absolutely incredible no matter your diet. It can be very affordable, but you've also some of The Finest high end dining in the world. You could make the trip and focus only on food and it'd be worth it in Lima. Drinks and transportation are also super affordable. Lodging as well.

There's tons of history and art to explore. Not many cities you can turn a corner and see a pre-Incan pyramid rise above the neighborhood (literally just posted photos in another thread about this).

Lima is ... difficult. Its a gigantic city growing well beyond its own capabilities and infrastructure. 99% of houses are unpainted brick without a proper roof and cables just hanging out. There is so much poverty, stray dogs and smell of piss even in the touristy areas. During more than half the year you will not see the sun because it is always covered in haze and smog (dust from the desert + cold moist air from the ocean). The outskirts growing into the desert are the most depressing sight of human existence I have ever seen.

The bike lanes are nice but limited to Miraflores (the tourist main quarter). Baranco is very nice and artsy, as are some of the rich areas. There are very nice restaurants, theatres, museums etc if that is your thing though. And if you spend some time in more rural Peru, returning to a modern city with shoping malls can be nice too.

All in all I would not recommend going to Lima as your destination when going to Peru. Stay for 2-3 days then get the fuck out of there to the actually beautiful cities like Arequipa.

There was an outrage in germany when the state expenses listed 20 millions in payments to peru for bicycle lanes amongst a financial crisis. They cut paid parental leave and public transport subventions but thought bicycle lanes on the other side of the world is important. Green party is crazy here.