South America
Peru
Arequipa Region
Arequipa
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Historic Centre of Arequipa
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Historic Centre of Arequipa

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Historic Centre of Arequipa
4.5
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
660 within 3 miles
Roqoto
114
414 ft$ • Peruvian
Mumis
661
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Peruvian • Bar
Alma Bar Restaurante
515
0.2 mi$$$$ • Peruvian • Latin • International
Sunset Rooftop Bar
195
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Peruvian • Bar • Spanish
La Plaza Bar & Grill
698
197 ft$$ - $$$ • Peruvian • Bar • Fusion
Zig Zag Restaurant
4,969
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Grill • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
13 Monjas
326
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Peruvian • Contemporary
Dimas
587
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Peruvian • Latin • Vegetarian Friendly
El Buda Profano
476
0.3 mi$ • Japanese • Sushi • Vegetarian Friendly
La Despensa
314
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
82 within 6 miles
Museo de la Catedral de Arequipa
1,093
93 ftSpeciality Museums • Churches & Cathedrals
Plaza de Armas
3,866
236 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus
598
400 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Museo Santuarios Andinos
1,597
448 ftHistory Museums
San Francisco Plaza, Church and Monastery
297
299 ftLibraries • Religious Sites
Church of San Agustin
126
294 ftReligious Sites
Casa Museo Villalobos
71
326 ftSpeciality Museums
Tristan del Pozo (Continental Bank Exhibition Gallery)
46
352 ftArt Galleries
Casa del Moral
180
0.1 miArchitectural Buildings
Monasterio de Santa Catalina
7,600
0.2 miSpeciality Museums
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See what other travelers are saying
  • Skaramoosh
    Edmonton, Canada3,959 contributions
    Loved It!
    This historic city had such an impact on us that we decided we would definitely return in the near future. The historic old town of Arequipa was built with volcanic sillar rock and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 2000. The architecture is like a fusion of European and local native tastes. The result is simply remarkable. If you can, do stay at least two nights here to explore this wonderful city. Highly Recommended!
    Visited January 2020
    Written March 21, 2020
  • Pierre-Yves
    Berlin, Germany51 contributions
    Absolutely fantastic
    We heard of Arequipa as the white city or la ciudad blanca, without really knowing why. Walk through the old part of the City and you understand :-) The historic center is beautiful and very well cared / renovated. You can enter in many houses to discover the inner gardens or squares. A must see and a wonderful day or half day walk. Many restaurant or cafe options as well if you want to stop a while for a rest
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled with family
    Written January 26, 2020
  • Mathew D
    Loveland, Colorado5 contributions
    Special city worth staying a few days in
    Our only regret is not having stayed here longer. There are so many beautiful colonial-era buildings, restaurants, museums and bars in the historic center. All of them within walking distance and safe (although we did wander a little too far one day and ended up in a strange street with lots of sketchy bars). Just use common sense and don't wander too far off and you will love it.
    Visited August 2022
    Written September 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,039 reviews
Excellent
1,292
Very good
642
Average
88
Poor
15
Terrible
2
betteskid
Boston, MA1,302 contributions
Lovely park and square
Oct 2022
We spent some time people watching and enjoying the park when we visited Arequipa. Going here gives you a sense of the people and a bit of the history of the place. It is definitely worth taking a stroll around the area when you visit Arequipa
Written October 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeannete R
Calgary, Canada6 contributions
Gorgeous
Dec 2019
Arequipa is a beautiful city. The buildings around the Plaza are in very good shape and also beautiful. The plaza is a busy place, there is music, and many other activities to enjoy. There are plenty of restaurants around the place. At night the Plaza looks very pretty and it is also safe.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
realworldtraveller
Italy374 contributions
Where?
May 2015
There is NO historic centre in Arequipa; it's just the main square and one short pedestrian street with a few shops, some cafes that close early and after walking it up and down a couple of times it's already time to leave town. The only problem is that you are hundreds of miles away from anything else.
Written September 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zforall
Sarasota, FL289 contributions
Beautiful centroids!
Nov 2019
Especially at night. Do not get into any one of the many taxis cruising the square. We were warned. This is a poor city, typical of the property owners living elsewhere..
Written November 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gdinunzio
Rome, Italy45 contributions
Outstanding example of a colonial settlement
Aug 2018 • Friends
With its buildings built in white volcanic rock (sillar), the historic centre of Arequipa is the result of its people's endurance against natural processes and the capacity of cultures to overcome crises. The pre-existent indigenous populations, the Spanish conquest and the evangelization, the spectacular natural setting, are all main factors in the definition of Arequipa’s identity.

This combination of influences, and the response to an unstable ground due to earthquakes, is illustrated by robust walls, archways, porticos, vaults, courtyards and open spaces, and a strong indigenous influence in the intricate Baroque decoration of its facades.
The core of the historic town is the Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor) with its archways, the municipality, and the cathedral; at one corner of the plaza there are the Church and Cloisters of La Compañia, the most representative ensemble of the Baroque mestizo period.
Not far from Plaza des Armas you can visit the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, a spectacular religious citadel, integrating architectural styles from the 16th to 19th centuries and the complex of San Francisco includes a small square, the main church, the convent, and the cloisters of the third order.

Your walk can continue with the visit to the chapels and convents of Santo Domingo date from the 16th to 18th centuries: San Agustín, La Merced and the church of Santa Maria; Santa Teresa and Santa Rosa; Puente Real (now Puente Bolognesi) and Puente Grau are also built from sillar.

Churches are generally well preserved and maintain their religious use; however, many manor houses (twenty percent completely restored) have lost their original use as residences and have been adapted for administrative and cultural activities.  

The center of Arequipa also contains about 500 of dignified casonas, characteristic well-proportioned vernacular houses.

Concluding, two days are well spent to visit this masterpiece of creative integration between european and native cultures, which also offers a great offer of good restaurants and craft shops.
Written August 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,523 contributions
Great historical center
Jul 2017 • Couples
The historic center of Arequipa is one of the more beautiful ones we have visited in Peru. Its very safe and has so much to offer. While it has kept its historic feel there is a modernity to it as well with restaurants, bars and shops in the historical buildings.
Written July 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan F
Paris, France32 contributions
Arequipa - a beautiful, yet peaceful start to our holiday
Jul 2016 • Family
Central Arequipa is smaller, more peaceful and lower altitude than Cusco, and as such was a great beginning to our Holiday. . We stayed 3 days and enjoyed it - getting a taste for the culture and the adventurous side of a Peru Holiday.
Written August 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pierre1999
Fort Lauderdale, FL457 contributions
Beautiful, clean "city of white"
Jun 2016 • Family
Between the drier climate (than Lima), and much less congestion, traffic and pollution, I really enjoyed walking down the many streets of Arequipa.
Written June 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
minimize940314
Los Angeles, CA3,527 contributions
Pretty
May 2016 • Solo
Arequipa is big city! Especially plaza de armas and cathedral are huge. They are absolutely beautiful at night! Do not miss.
Written June 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beardy_McBeardson
Denver, CO60 contributions
Polluted, noisy and charmless
Sep 2015 • Couples
What a disappointment. We imagined the gleaming "white city" surrounded by majestic volcanoes. What you get is streets barely wide enough for one person, constant stream of honking taxis, stifling heat and smog so thick that you can barely make out the volcanoes from miradores (your best views of the volcanoes are as you come off the airplane).
Written September 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Historic Centre of Arequipa - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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