Your stay — Hostal Imperial
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The Property — Hostal Imperial
A converted colonial mansion in central Lima, the Hostal Imperial feels like a time capsule with its dark-wood staircase, tiled courtyard and high ceilings. It’s a no-frills three-star that prioritises location and character over modern amenities, ideal for budget travellers who want to be steps from Plaza de Armas and the vintage bars of Jirón de la Unión. The lobby smells of floor wax and old paper, with a desk clerk who probably knows the best ceviche spot three blocks away.
Chronicles of Lima
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro as the City of Kings and became the political and commercial heart of Spain’s South American empire. Its historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage site, grew around the Plaza de Armas with baroque churches and wooden balconies typical of colonial Lima. The 20th century brought republican mansions and a modernist wave by architects like Héctor Velarde, while today the city pulses with a vibrant food scene and cloud-heavy skies that locals call ‘panza de burro’.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lima guide →Best months
April, May and October offer the driest weather (sunny mornings, cool evenings) and thinner crowds than peak summer, ideal for walking the historic centre.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak season due to school holidays and the Fiestas Patrias (28-29 July) which fill the city with parades and festivities. Hotel prices can spike 20-30% around these dates, and the central plazas get crowded.
Budget shoulder season
June and September are the best shoulder months: still dry enough for sightseeing, hotel rates drop 15-20% from peak, and sites like the Monastery of San Francisco feel less rushed.
Weather & packing
Lima in July is overcast and foggy (the famous garúa) with temperatures of 15-19°C – no rain, but persistent damp. Pack layers: a light waterproof jacket for the morning mist, and a sweater for the cool evenings. Leave the shorts and sandals at home.
Live City Briefing — Lima
- The Línea 2 metro extension opened a new section in January 2026, connecting the eastern districts to the historic centre – useful for avoiding taxi traffic on Av. Abancay.
- Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI) reopened its renovated colonial wing in March 2025, with an expanded collection of pre-Columbian ceramics.
- Expect road closures and increased security around Plaza de Armas on 28-29 July for Fiestas Patrias, which may affect hotel access and evening strolls.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostal Imperial, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the interior courtyard (if available). These are high enough to avoid street rumble and quietest given the lack of lift noise at that level.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the first floor — they suffer from street noise off the main avenida and foot traffic in the lobby. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the service staircase, which can have late-night clatter.
Best views
Ask for a room at the back of the hotel — likely overlooking a residential courtyard, not the busy main street. That gives a quieter outlook and a slice of local life, not car fumes.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest, as they sit above the main footfall and the lift shaft, and are less exposed to street-level sounds from Lima’s constant traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Lima’s main avenidas are loud day and night with buses, taxis, and mototaxis. The hotel’s entrance is at street level, so ground-floor rooms pick up exhaust and honking. The bar can generate chatter until late; request a room away from it.
Insider tips
1. Check in early evening to request a top-floor courtyard room before the last allocation. 2. If you have heavy luggage, note there is no lift (typical for a 3-star in Lima’s old centre) — ask for a lower floor if mobility is an issue, but accept the noise trade-off.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hostal Imperial
Free for all guests, 15 Mbps download; one device per room; password at reception
One small lift serving floors 1–3; ground-floor lobby is step-free
No newspapers; digital kiosk in lobby with local news app on shared tablet
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop free; late checkout until 13:00 for PEN 50, after 13:00 full night
Free, secure luggage room at reception; no time limit
Step-free at main entrance; lift to all floors; no grab bars in showers
No on-site parking; nearest public lot at Plaza San Martín (PEN 25/night, 5 min walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 18% IVA included in rate; no additional tourist tax charged
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; refundable PEN 200 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Parroquia San Juan Macías (842 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo (864 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días (890 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Gamarra Moda Plaza — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Parque Los Reyes — 417 m · ~5 min walk
Museo de la Nación — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Auditorio Municipal Pedro Bernaola La Torre — 526 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 661 m · ~8 min walk
Mas Salud — 540 m · ~7 min walk
Comercial Bazar "Leo" — 672 m · ~8 min walk
Expreso Molina Union — 274 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or tourist offices in Miraflores—they give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere; contactless works in most shops and restaurants; mobile pay still limited.
No obligation; round up in restaurants (5-10% for good service). Taxis none; hotel porters 2-5 soles.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of filter coffee from a bakery or market stall: 3-5 soles.
Menú del día at a local comedor: 12-18 soles, includes soup, main, and drink.
A main course at a no-frills chifa or pollería: 15-25 soles.
Anticuchos stalls around parks, churros vendors on main avenues—especially near Parque Kennedy and along Avenida Larco.
Plaza Vea and Metro are the common supermarket chains in the area.
Galerías on Avenida Wilson (near city centre) or the Gamarra market district for cheap local clothing.
Corredor bus system integrated with metropolitano: 2.50 soles per ride; from airport take the Airport Express bus for 8 USD (35 soles) or a metropolitano feeder bus with a change at Ramón Castilla.
Eat lunch at menú spots rather than evening dinner; use ATMs inside banks not standalone machines to avoid skimming; avoid taxis off the street—use Uber or Cabify for fixed fares.
Good to know — Lima
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
LimaDial 105 for police, 106 for ambulance, and 116 for fire brigade. For general emergencies or to reach the national emergency system, you can also call 911, which works in Lima for all services.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Lima, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostal Imperial
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 661 m · ~8 min walk — pharmacy · Mas Salud — 540 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Lima (Estacion Central) → Hotel Bahia (Angamos stop, Miraflores)
💡 Only useful if you're already in central Lima. Buy a Tarjeta Metropolitano at the station. Avoid during rush hour (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) as it gets packed.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores, Larco Mar stop)
💡 Book online for a small discount. The bus has luggage space and WiFi. Get off at Larco Mar, then a 5-minute walk to the hotel.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores)
💡 App-based ride is safer than street cabs. Pickup is outside the arrivals exit. Cabify often has fixed prices; Uber may surge late at night.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores)
💡 Pre-pay at the official booth inside arrivals. Ignore touts outside; they charge more and are less safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostal Imperial?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the interior courtyard (if available). These are high enough to avoid street rumble and quietest given the lack of lift noise at that level.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostal Imperial?
Avoid any room on the first floor — they suffer from street noise off the main avenida and foot traffic in the lobby. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the service staircase, which can have late-night clatter.
Is Hostal Imperial noisy?
Lima’s main avenidas are loud day and night with buses, taxis, and mototaxis. The hotel’s entrance is at street level, so ground-floor rooms pick up exhaust and honking. The bar can generate chatter until late; request a room away from it.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostal Imperial?
Ask for a room at the back of the hotel — likely overlooking a residential courtyard, not the busy main street. That gives a quieter outlook and a slice of local life, not car fumes.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostal Imperial?
1. Check in early evening to request a top-floor courtyard room before the last allocation. 2. If you have heavy luggage, note there is no lift (typical for a 3-star in Lima’s old centre) — ask for a lower floor if mobility is an issue, but accept the noise trade-off.
What time is check-in at Hostal Imperial?
Check-in at Hostal Imperial is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostal Imperial have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, 15 Mbps download; one device per room; password at reception
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostal Imperial?
18% IVA included in rate; no additional tourist tax charged
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostal Imperial?
Menú del día at a local comedor: 12-18 soles, includes soup, main, and drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostal Imperial?
Corredor bus system integrated with metropolitano: 2.50 soles per ride; from airport take the Airport Express bus for 8 USD (35 soles) or a metropolitano feeder bus with a change at Ramón Castilla.
When is the best time to visit Lima?
April, May and October offer the driest weather (sunny mornings, cool evenings) and thinner crowds than peak summer, ideal for walking the historic centre.
Top Attractions in Lima
💡 Guards change at the Government Palace at noon most days—arrive early for a clear spot.
💡 Go just before sunset to see paragliders land on the grass below—best photos come from the far end of the park.
💡 Skip the overpriced guided tour; the self-guided route covers the key chapels and crypt.
💡 Visit for the evening tour (6 PM) when the weather is cooler and lights highlight the adobe patterns.
💡 The fourth floor has a stunning collection of Andean weavings, often overlooked by visitors.