San Miguel

Lima, Peru

Overall Safety
Moderate
3.5 / 5
Based on 12 Safety Metrics

Your Personal Safety Guide

Know exactly what YOU should do to stay safe in Lima — based on your personal experience level and travel style.

Summary

Residential area with local prices and low crime, but you'll need Spanish and will have to go elsewhere for tourist stuff.

Residential and authenticLocal Peruvian atmosphereBudget-friendly pricesSafe and quietFew tourists
Details

San Miguel is where middle-class Lima residents actually live - local markets, kids going to school, family restaurants. Almost no tourists, which means lower prices than Miraflores but also almost no English. The area around Plaza San Miguel and the shopping mall is safe and walkable. Crime rates are relatively low for a residential area. Restaurants serve big portions cheap, but menus are Spanish only. You might get curious looks as a foreigner eating alone, but people are friendly enough. It gets quiet at night when families go home - stick to main avenues if you're out late. You'll need to Uber to tourist areas for nightlife or English speakers.

Safety Ratings

Daytime Safety

Good

Night Walking Safety

Good

Harassment Risk

Moderate

Public Transport Safety

Good

Pickpocketing Risk

Moderate

Scam Risk

Moderate

Police Visibility

Good

Emergency Services

Good

Evening Venues

Moderate

Solo Dining

Good

Drug Activity

Low

Homelessness Visibility

Low

Getting By in English

Moderate

Is This Neighborhood Right for You?

Get personalized neighborhood recommendations matched to your travel style and safety comfort level in your free Lima Safety Guide.

Recommended Places

Cafes

  • Local cafes near Plaza San Miguel

Restaurants

  • Local neighborhood restaurants
  • Market food stalls

Bars

  • Local bars near plaza

Other Spots

  • Plaza San Miguel
  • Plaza San Miguel Shopping Center
  • Mercado de Magdalena
Impressions & Tips

"Felt safe and authentic but needed Spanish to get around"

"Great prices for food and accommodations"

"Very local feel, not touristy at all"

"Had to Uber to Miraflores for nightlife and tourist spots"

"Good if you want to experience real Lima life"

Similar Neighborhoods in Lima

Areas with comparable safety profiles for solo female travelers

Magdalena del Mar

4.0
Lima, Peru
Night Walking SafetyGood
Daytime SafetyGood
Harassment RiskModerate
Transport SafetyGood
Quiet and residentialAuthentic local atmosphereLow crime rates+2

Safe residential area with low crime and local prices. Need Spanish, no tourist infrastructure or nightlife.

12

Pueblo Libre

4.0
Lima, Peru
Night Walking SafetyGood
Daytime SafetyGood
Harassment RiskModerate
Transport SafetyGood
Traditional and historicColonial architectureSmall-town community feel+2

Traditional neighborhood with museums and colonial architecture. Small-town feel, safe, but needs Spanish and lacks tourist infrastructure.

12

Barranco

4.0
Lima, Peru
Night Walking SafetyGood
Daytime SafetyGood
Harassment RiskHigh
Transport SafetyGood
Bohemian and artisticBest nightlife in LimaStreet art and murals everywhere+2

Lima's artsy nightlife district with street murals and younger crowd. Less secure than Miraflores but manageable if you Uber at night and avoid dark side streets.

45

Share this Guide

Help other women stay safe in San Miguel

Is this guide helpful?

Help us improve! Share your feedback or let us know what's missing.

Safety Reminder

Neighborhood conditions can change. Check recent news, ask locals or your accommodation about current safety, especially for nighttime plans.

Her Safe Voyage

Empowering solo female travelers with comprehensive safety guides and neighborhood ratings for destinations worldwide.

Always trust your instincts and stay aware of your surroundings while traveling. Safety information is carefully curated and researched, and should be used as a guide only.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Share This Site

Help other women travel safely by sharing our guides

© 2024-2026 Her Safe Voyage. Empowering solo female travel worldwide.