Things to do in Cusco Peru include exploring Incan ruins, wandering colorful markets, and visiting historic churches. From nearby Sacred Valley adventures to cultural experiences in the city, discovering things to do in Cusco Peru offers a rich mix of history and tradition.
👀 At a Glance:
- 🗓️ Best time: April-May or September-October for fewer crowds
- ⏰ Duration: Plan at least 5-7 days minimum
- ✈️ Getting there: Fly into Cusco airport from Lima
- ⚠️ Altitude: 3,400m elevation requires 2-3 days acclimatisation
- 💡 Insider tip: Buy the Tourist Ticket day one
🏛️ Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral
Every morning I grabbed coffee from Jack’s Café near Plaza de Armas. Church bells echo across the square at dawn. This beating heart of Cusco is where Francisco Pizarro declared conquest in 1533.
Now local families bring children to play football every evening. The square transforms from tourist hub to community gathering space after sunset. Street vendors grill anticuchos whilst the smell of charcoal drifts past colonial archways.
What is Cusco best known for? Cusco is best known for being the former capital of the Inca Empire and its incredibly preserved Inca stonework that still stands today throughout the city.
Visit Cusco Cathedral
The Cathedral dominates the entire square with imposing colonial architecture. The interior feels overwhelming and heavy. The Last Supper painting shows Jesus eating cuy (guinea pig). That detail alone makes visiting Cusco Cathedral worth it.
The Cusco Tourist Ticket includes entry plus 15 other attractions around Cusco. It costs 130 soles total. Buy it day one when you arrive in Cusco. I wasted money paying individual fees first.
Churches Around the City Centre
San Pedro church sits south of Plaza de Armas and feels more authentic. Local families worship there regularly. The atmosphere feels genuine rather than performative. No crowds push through taking photos constantly.
Spanish churches throughout the heart of Cusco sit on Inca foundations. They used Inca stones and Inca labour for construction. This pattern tells the conquest story better than history books.
🎨 San Blas Neighbourhood and Best Museums in Cusco
San Blas became my favourite area during my time in Cusco. Cobblestones worn smooth by centuries feel cool underfoot. Narrow streets climb steeply upward past whitewashed walls. I spent entire afternoons wandering these alleys discovering gems.
Exploring San Blas ranks amongst the unique things to do in Cusco Peru for art lovers. The neighbourhood feels authentic and lived-in. Artists work in open studios along the narrow passages.
Museums and Artisan Workshops
Museo de Arte Popular ranks amongst the best museums in Cusco for traditional crafts. The woodcarvings display incredible skill from local artisans. Meeting the artists moved me more than just seeing their work.
They explain techniques passed down through generations. Each piece tells a story about Andean culture. Centro de Textiles Tradicionales features master weavers creating patterns from memory. The rhythmic clack of wooden looms fills the workshop.
Places to Eat in Cusco
Granja Heidi in San Blas serves amazing quinoa soup. Coffee shops in Cusco like this one offer cosy atmospheres. Small family restaurants around Cusco offer authentic meals without tourist prices.
Just ask locals where they eat lunch. They will point you towards hidden places. The best food happens away from Plaza de Armas. Explore more places in Cusco for locally-owned businesses.
🏛️ Best Things to Do in Cusco: Sacsayhuamán and Qorikancha
Sacsayhuamán sits just above Cusco city offering one of the best views of the city. The walk up nearly killed me at first. My lungs burnt with every step. But those views made it worthwhile.
Visiting these Inca ruins represents essential attractions. Both sites show incredible engineering skills. Here is a mind-blowing fact: the Incas moved these 100-tonne stones without wheels or iron tools.
Sacsayhuamán Inca Fortress
The stone blocks here fit together perfectly without mortar. Some weigh over 100 tonnes. You cannot slide a knife between them. The Spanish tried destroying these ruins. These walls proved too strong.
Visit around 4 PM for golden hour timing. The ancient stones glow like honey then. Local tip: park on the south side near Calle Don Bosco to save 20 soles. Check Peru’s official tourism site for hours.
Qorikancha Temple in Cusco City
This was the most important Inca Temple in the empire. It was literally covered in gold sheets. The Spanish built Santo Domingo church right on top. You can still see original walls underneath.
The contrast shows exactly how conquest worked. Inca foundations hold up Spanish buildings throughout Cusco. Walk along Hatunrumiyoc street to see the famous 12-angled stone fitted perfectly into the wall.
🌄 Day Trips from Cusco: Tipón and Qenqo
Most tourists skip Tipón completely. But it ranks amongst the best day trips from Cusco. The agricultural terraces preserve better than Machu Picchu. You will have the place mostly to yourself.
What to do in Cusco besides Machu Picchu? Besides Machu Picchu, visit Sacred Valley sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo, explore San Blas, try local food at markets, and visit archaeological sites around the city.
Tipón Water Temples
Getting there requires effort outside Cusco. Take a bus from Cusco to Tipón village first. Then walk 30 minutes uphill. That effort explains why it stays special and uncrowded.
Water still flows through original Inca channels after 500 years. The sound creates peaceful soundtrack as you explore alone. Bring snacks and suncream for this day trip.
Ruins Around Cusco
Walk beyond Sacsayhuamán to find Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. These smaller sites cluster north of Cusco. You can visit all three in one afternoon.
These sites belong on any list of things to do in Cusco Peru. The Tourist Ticket covers all these places. Hire a taxi for about 50 soles to drive between sites.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Cusco and Local Markets
San Pedro market shows where real life in Cusco happens. The air smells of fresh herbs and roasting corn. This is where locals buy groceries daily. The sights and sounds feel authentic.
What can you do in Cusco Peru? You can explore ruins, hike to viewpoints, visit churches, shop at markets, try traditional food, watch folkloric shows, and take Sacred Valley day trips.
Traditional Food in Peru
I tried cuy (guinea pig) here for the first time. It is traditional food in Peru. I cannot say I loved it. But experiencing it mattered. The vendor laughed at my polite refusal.
Trying local food ranks high on things to do in Cusco Peru. Anticuchos cost only 5 soles. They taste better than meals costing £50 in London. The smoke from street grills fills the evening air.
Best Restaurants in Cusco
Cicciolina creates Mediterranean meets Andean fusion. It became my favourite splurge amongst the best restaurants in Cusco city centre. The menu changes seasonally. Book two weeks ahead in July when tourists flood in.
But the best meal came from a tiny family place in San Blas. No menu existed. Señora María just cooked whatever she wanted. Her ají de gallina made me understand Peruvian pride.
🏔️ Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac and Ollantaytambo
The Sacred Valley connects directly to Cusco like chapters in one book. A day trip to Pisac sits just 45 minutes away by bus. It costs only 3 soles.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley form an inseparable pair. The Sunday market draws both tourists and locals. Arrive before 8am to see vendors setting up and avoid tour bus crowds.
Pisac Market and Inca Ruins
Agricultural terraces at Pisac still function after 500 years. I climbed to the top temple complex. The views over the valley made me emotional.
Green terraces cascade down mountainsides in perfect patterns. The Inca engineering still impresses. A full day tour here reveals incredible detail. October brings harvest season when terraces glow golden with crops ready for picking.
Visit Machu Picchu Gateway at Ollantaytambo
Fortress walls rise dramatically from the valley floor. Climbing to the top feels like ascending stone stairs to heaven. Your legs will burn from the altitude.
People still live in original Inca houses here. Many travellers use this as their trip to Machu Picchu starting point. Water channels still carry mountain water through town. The sound of rushing water fills every corner.
🎭 Fun Things to Do in Cusco at Night
Street musicians play traditional Andean music around Plaza de Armas every evening. Pan pipes echo off colonial buildings. I would buy a pisco sour and listen whilst the city lights flicker on.
Evening entertainment adds variety to things to do in Cusco Peru. The nightlife scene offers something for everyone. From traditional shows to modern bars, options abound after dark.
Traditional Shows and Live Music
Centro Qosqo offers formal folkloric shows for tourists. I preferred spontaneous performances in San Blas though. One evening I stumbled into a celebration. Families danced traditional huayno together in the street.
Mama África is a tiny bar in San Blas playing amazing music. Carlos the owner knows everyone in Cusco. Local craft beer flows cheaper than tourist bars. The walls vibrate with bass on weekend nights.
Best Bars in Cusco
Limbus Bar serves the best pisco sours in the city. The sunset views over Cusco justify the higher prices. Norton Rat’s is famous as a backpacker rite of passage.
Go once for the t-shirt then find better places. The bar scene caters to backpackers. But gems exist beyond Plaza de Armas if you explore side streets.
📅 Cusco Travel Tips and When to Visit
I visited in March at rainy season’s end. Weather changed unpredictably during my days in Peru. Sunshine one minute then rain the next. But crowds stayed smaller and landscapes looked lush green.
How many days are needed in Cusco? You need at least 5-7 days to properly acclimatise, explore the city, visit Sacred Valley, and see Machu Picchu without rushing.
Here is the truth about Cusco: this city lives in layers where every stone tells two stories. The Inca past breathes beneath Spanish conquest in a way no other place matches. This Cusco guide covers essentials for your visit.
Best Time to Stay in Cusco
Dry season (May to September) brings peak crowds. Weather stays reliable but costs more. Book Machu Picchu tickets months ahead. Tours sell out quickly in July and August.
Planning when to visit affects which things to do in Cusco Peru you experience. Shoulder seasons might be perfect. Fewer crowds and better prices exist then. April brings wildflowers whilst October offers harvest festivals in Sacred Valley villages.
How to Get Around Cusco
Arrive in Cusco and take your first 48 hours slowly. I came from Lima to Cusco feeling horrible. The first two days felt like the worst hangover ever.
Coca tea helps with altitude sickness. Soroche pills sell at any pharmacy for 15 soles. Local tip: pharmacies on side streets charge 12 soles versus 20 near Plaza de Armas. Do not hike immediately when heading to Cusco.
Walking around the city centre works best. All major places cluster close together. Watch for slippery cobblestones when rain hits. Wear proper shoes with grip. Many travellers combine Cusco with the Inca Trail for the complete experience.
Can girls wear shorts in Peru? Yes, girls can wear shorts including in Cusco, though locals dress more conservatively. Pack layers since temperature varies greatly. Visit Peru Info for updates.
