Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros)

The Basics

This small wooden bridge is a Peruvian landmark famous for its colonial design and its views of the Bajada below. Most Lima walking and biking tours include a stop in the Barranco district to discuss Peru’s colonial history and get a look at the bridge. It’s also a popular destination for night tours, which often take in Lima’s Magic Water laser show.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Bridge of Sighs is a lovely stop for all first-time visitors to Lima.

• There is no fee to access the bridge.

• Bars, restaurants, and music venues line the bridge and Bajada de los Baños, making the area perfect for a drink or a meal with a view.

• Walk down to the Pacific Ocean from the bridge and enjoy some time strolling along the beach.

How to Get There

Take the Metropolitano bus to the Bulevar station and walk a few minutes to the bridge. Alternatively, you can walk the entire boardwalk of Barranco and reach the Bridge of Sighs between the streets of Ayacucho and La Ermita.

When to Get There

Barranco is a great place to watch the sunset over the Pacific; arrive in the late afternoon for the best views. High season in Lima is during the summer months of December to April, when the days are warm and sunny with little rainfall.

The Bridge of Lovers

The Bridge of Sighs has been a popular attraction of Barranco since the late 1800s. A number of artists and philosophers, drawn by its views, came to wax poetic. Where there are artists, there are love stories, and the bridge became a favorite place for suitors to win the hearts of their beautiful prospects. In 1960, Chabuca Granda wrote a song about the romantic walkway and solidified it as a place of art, love, and poetry.