Lima is a great place to catch a soccer game, either at the Estadio Nacional along the Vía Expresa and 28 de Julio or at the more modern Estadio Monumental Lolo Fernández in the Molina neighborhood. Games happen mostly on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and prices and locations are published two days beforehand in the newspaper.

Tickets run US$5–9 and can usually be bought the same day for nonchampionship matches. Tickets are bought at the stadium, at Farmacia Deza (Conquistadores 1140, San Isidro, tel. 01/222-3195), and at TeleTicket counters at Wong and Metro supermarkets.

Bullfighting takes place at the Plaza de Acho (Hualgayoc 332, tel. 01/481-1467) near the center of Lima from the first week of October to the first week of December, a centuries-old tradition that coincides with Lima’s biggest festival, El Señor de los Milagros. Tickets for the Sunday afternoon events range US$30–100 for a two-hour contest featuring world-class bullfighters from Spain and Peru. Tickets are also sold at Farmacio Deza and at TeleTicket counters in Wong and Metro supermarkets.

Cockfights, traditionally part of criollo culture, are weekend events at various peñas and the Coliseo de Gallos Sandia in Surquillo.

Horse races can be seen at the Jockey Club of Peru (El Derby s/n, puerta 3, Hipódromo de Monterrico, tel. 01/610-3000), where betting races are held Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends.

To watch American football or European soccer, head to The Corner Sports Bar and Grill (Larco 1207, tel. 01/444-0220, 11 a.m.–3 a.m. daily). With TVs even in the bathrooms, you are unlikely to miss a moment of action.