Lima is the capital of Peru. With more than 8 million inhabitants, it is also by far the largest city in the country. If you are only visiting Peru and do not connect the trip with other countries in South America, your trip will most likely start and end at the international airport Jorge Chavez.
One day after arrival and 1-2 days before the return flight you will probably be in Lima. Whether Lima is worthwhile longer or not, there are different opinions. We only had a short stay at the beginning and end of our Peru trip. From my point of view this was sufficient.
If you are in Lima, you will probably stay in one of the districts Miraflores, San Isidro or Barranco. These are the tourist quarters and are also considered safer compared to the other quarters. Especially the area around the airport is considered unsafe.
To go from the airport to Miraflores or San Isidro and back, you can take the Airport Express Bus: https://www.airportexpresslima.com/
Lima is said to offer a good cuisine and also has several Michelin restaurants. Lima is located on the coast. In Miraflores there is an expensive shopping centre above the coast, but it has a nice promenade.
If you want to get a taste of the old cultures, you don’t even have to leave Lima. Even in the middle of the city there are remains of long gone times. In Miraflores you can for example visit Huaca Pucllana, a 1500 year old clay pyramid. Real history in the middle of the city.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t see the sun. Lima is also called the gray city. That’s because there are often low grey clouds hanging over Lima. But even if the city is located directly at the sea and often covered with clouds, it almost never rains.