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Things to Do in Cusco, Peru
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Cusco, Peru
Top things to do in Cusco, Peru include exploring the Incan fortress of Sacsayhuamán with its massive stone walls just 2 kilometers from the city center. Visit Coricancha, or Qorikancha Temple, famous for its gold-covered walls. Stroll through Plaza de Armas, the main square, and the lively San Pedro Market for local flavors.
1. Qorikancha Temple
Discover a dazzling blend of Inca and colonial architecture. Experience brilliant golden stonework reflecting sunlight in a sacred space.
Quick facts: Imagine a temple that was once the richest and most important shrine in the Inca Empire, its walls once covered with pure gold. The Spanish built a colonial church on top, creating an extraordinary fusion of Inca and Spanish architecture.
Highlights: Step inside the sun room, where polished granite walls capture the sunlight and reflect like a golden glow, revealing the Inca's advanced understanding of astronomy. The temple’s name means 'Golden Temple,' and its golden past still echoes in the intricate stonework blending history and mystique.
2. Plaza de Armas
Vibrant heart of Cusco bursting with culture and history. Stroll through centuries of heritage, lively markets, and festive celebrations.
Quick facts: Tucked at the heart of the city, this vibrant square pulses with energy from bustling markets and lively festivals. Layers of history show in every stone, where Incan foundations support colonial buildings above.
Highlights: Known locally as Huacaypata, the square was once a central Incan ceremonial ground, which means each corner holds echoes of ancient rites. Around the holidays, colorful parades fill the plaza, lighting up the cobblestones with music and dancing, creating a magical atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
3. San Pedro Market
Experience a sensory explosion with fresh foods and crafts. Dive into vibrant traditions and vibrant local life in every corner.
Quick facts: Bustling with vibrant colors, this market offers over 200 stalls featuring fresh produce, traditional Andean crafts, and local delicacies. The lively chatter and haggling is an authentic glimpse into daily life for locals and travelers alike.
Highlights: Vendors wear traditional woven hats and ponchos, and the air is filled with the aroma of roasted corn and fresh coffee. A quirky tradition here is the Tuesday spice exchange, where sellers barter rare Andean herbs known for their healing properties.
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
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Guides earn only tips, so they give their absolute best
You tip what feels right
At the end, just tip whatever you feel is right
I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Cusco, Peru, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
4. Cusco Cathedral
Experience a masterpiece of architecture and art fused with Inca history. Step inside for stunning colonial paintings and surprising local cultural details.
Quick facts: The cathedral houses over 400 artworks, including some from famous colonial painters, making it a vibrant museum as well as a place of worship. Its construction involved stones taken from nearby Inca ruins, blending Inca and Spanish history in every wall.
Highlights: Visitors can see the famed 'Last Supper' painting featuring a guinea pig as the main dish, a unique twist reflecting local culture. The cathedral's intricately carved wooden choir stalls, adorned with biblical scenes and native motifs, reveal a fascinating fusion of European and Andean artistry.
5. Inca Museum
Discover ancient treasures and the mysterious Ice Maiden up close. Experience authentic Inca culture through stunning artifacts and haunting history.
Quick facts: The place holds over 1,700 artifacts showcasing the rich Inca culture and their daily life. Many pieces include intricate gold and silver works, revealing the ancient craftsmanship skills.
Highlights: Visitors can find a famous mummy of Juanita, the Ice Maiden, most perfectly preserved in the world. The museum invites you to see her real garments and learn about the intense rituals that preserved her for centuries.
6. Tambomachay
Feel the serenity of ancient water channels and tranquil stone terraces. Experience the magic of water in motion amid the high Andes.
Quick facts: You can hear water trickling through a series of ancient aqueducts that once supplied fresh water to the Incas. The site features perfectly carved stone terraces that seem to hum with history and nature in harmony.
Highlights: One striking detail is the intricate system of aqueducts and canals with water flowing constantly, almost like a natural musical instrument. The place was likely used for ritual bathing, and you can almost picture the ceremonial mist in the cool mountain air as the water cascades down stone steps.
7. Cristo Blanco Viewpoint
Epic city views and a giant guardian statue make the climb worth it. Experience a breathtaking sunset that paints the mountains golden.
Quick facts: Soaring 3,600 meters above sea level, the statue captures attention with its 22-meter height, standing tall like a giant guardian over the city below. Visitors often spot geckos climbing the statue's base, a quirky local wildlife encounter you won't expect.
Highlights: The statue's outstretched arms perfectly frame panoramic views of the Andes and Cusco's historic streets, combining art and nature in one breathtaking scene. At sunset, sunlight casts a glowing halo behind the statue, creating a stunning spectacle photographers seek out.
8. Museo de Arte Precolombino
Discover vibrant histories through 450+ pre-Columbian artifacts. Experience immersive stories from Inca rituals to Andean life.
Quick facts: The museum showcases over 450 artifacts from more than 100 indigenous cultures of the Americas, dating from 1250 BC to 1532 AD. Visitors can explore ancient ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and religious objects that reveal rich pre-Columbian histories.
Highlights: A standout piece is the 15th-century Qero cup, elaborately carved and used in Inca rituals, offering a tactile glimpse into sacred ceremonies. Interactive multimedia guides allow visitors to see how the artifacts were used in daily life and spiritual practices, enhancing the sensory experience.
9. Visit the San Francisco Convent
Explore layered history where Inca and Spanish worlds collide. Encounter stunning baroque art and ancient stone walls beneath your feet.
Quick facts: Ancient foundations of a large Inca palace lie beneath its stone walls, offering a fascinating glimpse into pre-Columbian engineering. The convent houses a museum with over 400 religious artifacts, making it one of the richest in the region.
Highlights: Visitors can see how colonial Spanish architecture was built on top of original Inca stonework, a visual story of cultural fusion. An ornate baroque altar carved from cedar wood holds one of the largest collections of colonial religious paintings and gold artifacts in the Andes.
10. Day hike to Humantay Lake
Experience breathtaking mountain scenery on this rewarding hike. Feel the crisp air and stunning turquoise waters up close.
Quick facts: A high-altitude trek ascending 3,800 meters leads to a vivid turquoise lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The trail covers about 12 kilometers round trip, with stunning Andean flora and wildlife to spot along the way.
Highlights: The lake's striking turquoise color comes from the glacial meltwaters of the nearby Humantay glacier. Visitors often pause to marvel at the dramatic contrast between the bright water and the rugged, icy landscape, a sight that feels almost otherworldly.
11. Visit Maras salt mines
Experience 3,000 terraced salt ponds shimmering under the sun. Walk through ages-old salt pools and see tradition in action.
Quick facts: Over 3,000 small salt ponds cascade down the hillside, each managed by local families using traditional methods. Visitors can watch the salt crystallize under the intense Andean sun, creating dazzling white patterns against the red earth.
Highlights: The breathtaking patchwork of over 3,000 salt pans changes color with the sun's movement, revealing intricate geometric designs seen best from the main overlook. Local families have inherited the rights to these ponds for centuries, preserving ancient salt-harvesting rituals unchanged since Incan times.
Where to Stay in Cusco, Peru
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Picarones
Picarones are doughnut-shaped sweets made from squash and sweet potato, deep-fried and drizzled with a spiced syrup called chancaca, popular during festivals in Cusco.
Mazamorra Morada
Mazamorra Morada is a purple corn pudding infused with fruits and spices, traditionally enjoyed as a dessert with a unique deep purple color from Andean purple corn.
Alfajores
Alfajores are delicate sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche, widely enjoyed in Cusco and often sold by street vendors and bakeries alike.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Cuy chactado
Cuy chactado is a traditional dish featuring fried guinea pig, a delicacy enjoyed for its crispy texture and cultural significance in Andean celebrations.
Rocoto Relleno
Rocoto Relleno is a spicy stuffed pepper dish, filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese, then baked, showcasing the local love for vibrant and bold flavors.
Chiri Uchu
Chiri Uchu is a cold platter traditionally eaten during Corpus Christi, combining guinea pig, corn, cheese, and spicy sauces, reflecting Cusco's rich culinary heritage.
Traditional Beverages
Chicha Morada
Chicha Morada is a sweet, non-alcoholic drink made from purple corn, cinnamon, clove, and fruit, known for its refreshing flavor and cultural importance.
Api Morado
Api Morado is a warm, spiced purple corn drink served especially during cold mornings and festivals, beloved for its thick texture and comforting taste.
Pisco Sour
Pisco Sour is a popular Peruvian cocktail made with pisco brandy, lime juice, sugar, and egg white, often enjoyed by locals and visitors in Cusco's social scenes.
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Most popular day trips
Machu Picchu
Famous Incan citadel with stunning mountain views and ruins.
Sacred Valley
Valley with traditional villages, markets, and archaeological sites.
Rainbow Mountain
Colorful mountain with natural mineral hues, popular trekking spot.
Sacsayhuamán
Massive Incan fortress with large stone terraces near Cusco.
Getting there
Train stations
Train service to Machu Picchu and other local destinations
From the airport, take a taxi or shuttle to the city center, about 15 minutes.
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Comments (10)
Spent a week just to soak in the culture and hike nearby ruins. Cusco’s cobblestone streets are not easy on sore feet.
Weather was tricky, cold nights but sunny days. Bring layers or you’ll freeze. Enjoyed the vibe and the markets a lot.
Cusco is chill but crowded, especially in June. Food's great though, local dishes are a must-try. Stayed 4 days, could've done 3 honestly.
Loved the blend of Inca culture and colonial architecture. Beware of altitude though, it hit me hard first two days.
The local bus system is confusing but cheap; ask around or get a local sim to use maps better, don’t just guess.