Things to Do in Cusco — City Sights, Culture and Day Trips

Ultima actualización en 16 September, 2026 por Jhon Quispe

Last Updated on 16 September, 2026 by Jhon Quispe

The best things to do in Cusco depend on how many days you have and how quickly you adjust to the altitude. Cusco offers much more than a stop before Machu Picchu. The city combines Inca history, colonial architecture, markets, food, festivals and high-Andean landscapes, so the best itinerary depends on how much time you have and whether you prefer culture, gastronomy, archaeology or outdoor adventure.

You can observe sunsets at the Main Square.

Best Things to Do in Cusco at a Glance

Explore Cusco’s Historic Center

The historic center concentrates several of the most important things to see in Cusco within walking distance. It is the best place to begin because you can move between Inca foundations, colonial buildings, plazas, museums, restaurants and traditional neighborhoods without leaving the central part of the city.

Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of modern Cusco and one of the easiest places to begin understanding the city’s transformation from an Inca capital into a colonial and contemporary urban center.

During the Inca period, the wider central plaza played an important ceremonial and political role. Today it is surrounded by colonial arcades, churches, restaurants and historic buildings and remains an important setting for celebrations such as Corpus Christi and Inti Raymi.

Qorikancha

Qorikancha, commonly known as the Temple of the Sun, was one of the most important religious complexes of the Inca world.

Its main attraction today is the contrast between finely worked Inca stone walls and the colonial structures of the Santo Domingo complex built above them. The site provides one of the clearest examples in central Cusco of how different historical periods occupy the same physical space.

Qorikancha combines surviving Inca masonry with colonial architecture in the center of Cusco.

Cusco Cathedral

The Cathedral of Cusco dominates one side of the Plaza de Armas and contains an important collection of religious art associated with the Cusco School.

Its architecture and artwork reflect the interaction between European religious traditions and Andean imagery that developed during the colonial period.

Cusco Cathedral is one of the principal colonial landmarks around the Plaza de Armas.

Walk Through San Blas

San Blas is one of the most enjoyable neighborhoods to explore on foot. Narrow streets, stone steps, traditional houses, artisan workshops and small cafés create a very different atmosphere from the wider streets around the Plaza de Armas.

The climb into the neighborhood also opens views over the historic center.

San Blas combines traditional streets, artisan workshops and elevated views over central Cusco.

Visit the Inca Sites Around Cusco

You do not need to travel as far as the Sacred Valley to see major Inca archaeological sites. Several important complexes are located immediately outside the city and can be combined in a half-day excursion.

Several important Inca archaeological sites can be visited just outside Cusco’s historic center.

Sacsayhuamán

Sacsayhuamán is one of the most impressive archaeological complexes near Cusco. Its enormous polygonal stones and precisely fitted walls make it one of the clearest examples of monumental Inca stonework. The site also occupies an elevated position above the city and plays a central role in modern Inti Raymi celebrations.

Q’enqo

Q’enqo is a smaller archaeological complex known for carved rock features and ceremonial spaces. Its scale is much smaller than Sacsayhuamán, making it more meaningful when visited as part of the same archaeological route.

Puka Pukara

Puka Pukara occupies a strategic position along an old route northeast of Cusco. Its terraces, walls and elevated location help visitors understand the broader network of Inca infrastructure around the former capital.

Tambomachay

Tambomachay is known for its channels and flowing water features constructed into finely worked stone. Visiting these four sites together provides a much fuller picture than simply seeing Sacsayhuamán alone.

The Cusco City Tour combines colonial heritage and Inca architecture through several of the city’s main historical and archaeological attractions and nearby sites.

Experience Everyday Cusco at San Pedro Market

San Pedro Market offers a different experience from Cusco’s monumental attractions. Here the focus is daily life, food, produce and local commerce rather than archaeological history. You can walk through stalls selling fruits, vegetables, cheeses, traditional breads, prepared dishes, medicinal herbs, textiles and souvenirs.

San Pedro Market gives travelers a closer look at everyday food, shopping and local life in Cusco.

Try Unique Cultural Experiences in Cusco

Not every activity in Cusco needs to involve an archaeological monument. Workshops and community experiences can add context to the textiles, ingredients and traditions you see throughout the region.

Join an Andean Textile Experience

Textile demonstrations and workshops introduce travelers to traditional spinning, natural dyes and weaving techniques still used by Quechua-speaking communities in the Cusco region. Chinchero is one of the best-known places for this type of experience, although it lies outside the city and is normally visited as part of a Sacred Valley or community-focused excursion.

Textile experiences provide context for the colors, symbols and techniques found in traditional Andean weaving.

Take a Chocolate Workshop

A chocolate workshop is an easy cultural activity to combine with sightseeing in the historic center. At ChocoMuseo, visitors can learn about cacao and participate in workshops that include roasting, grinding and preparing chocolate products.

Chocolate workshops are a practical indoor activity for families and travelers looking for something different from archaeological sightseeing.

Try an Andean Cooking Experience

Cooking workshops can introduce you to Peruvian ingredients and preparation techniques rather than limiting the food experience to ordering from a restaurant. Depending on the program, activities can include market visits, preparing traditional dishes or learning about cooking methods such as pachamanca.

Try Cusco’s Local Food

Food is one of the easiest ways to add another layer to your experience of Cusco.

Traditional dishes reflect both Andean ingredients and regional cooking traditions.

• Cusco adobo: pork prepared with chicha de jora, ají and spices.
• Chiri Uchu: a traditional dish closely associated with Corpus Christi celebrations.
• Baked guinea pig: one of the region’s best-known traditional preparations.
• Quinoa soup: a simple Andean preparation particularly appealing on cold days.
• Pachamanca: meat, potatoes and other ingredients traditionally cooked using heated stones.

Trying local dishes adds a gastronomic perspective to Cusco’s archaeological and cultural attractions.

Cusco also has contemporary restaurants, vegetarian and vegan options, cafés and international food, so you do not need to eat traditional dishes at every meal to experience the city’s food scene.

Enjoy the Best Views of Cusco

Cusco sits in a valley surrounded by hills, so several viewpoints offer wide views over the historic center and surrounding mountains.

San Cristóbal Viewpoint

The area around San Cristóbal provides a broad view over the central city and is conveniently positioned between Plaza de Armas and the higher archaeological area around Sacsayhuamán.

Cristo Blanco

Cristo Blanco stands on the hills above Cusco near Sacsayhuamán and provides another broad view across the valley. It works especially well as part of an archaeological or panoramic route rather than as a separate long excursion.

Cusco’s elevated viewpoints reveal how the historic center sits within the surrounding Andean valley.

Take a Day Trip from Cusco

Once you have explored the city itself, some of the best things to do around Cusco require a full day away from the historic center.

Explore the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley follows the Vilcanota River and contains important archaeological sites and traditional towns.

Common stops include:

• Pisac
• Ollantaytambo
• Chinchero
• Moray
• Maras

The Sacred Valley is the strongest choice if you want archaeology and culture without committing to a demanding high-altitude hike.

Hike Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is a high-altitude excursion known for its mineral-colored slopes and wide Andean landscapes. The main challenge is altitude rather than distance alone, so it is better scheduled after you have spent some time in Cusco rather than immediately after arriving.

Rainbow Mountain is one of the most popular high-altitude nature excursions from Cusco.

Visit Humantay Lake

Humantay is a turquoise glacial lake located beneath high Andean peaks. The hike is steep and takes place at significant altitude, so the experience is more physically demanding than sightseeing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.

Humantay Lake combines a high-altitude hike with one of the region’s best-known glacial landscapes.

Experience Cusco’s Festivals and Traditions

Your travel dates can completely change what you experience in the city.

If a particular celebration matters to you, confirm the annual calendar before booking because some dates change from year to year.

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Best Things to Do in Cusco Depending on Your Trip

If You Have One Day in Cusco

Focus on the city rather than trying to add a distant day trip.

• Plaza de Armas
• Qorikancha
• San Blas
• San Pedro Market
• San Cristóbal or Cristo Blanco

This gives you a mix of Inca history, colonial architecture, local life and city views without spending most of the day in transportation.

If You Have Two or Three Days

Use the first day for the historic center, then add Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. On the following day, choose one major excursion such as the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake according to your interests and how well you have adapted to the altitude.

If You Are Traveling with Family

Family-friendly options include San Blas, San Pedro Market, chocolate workshops, cooking classes and the main historic-center attractions. High-altitude excursions such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake require more careful consideration because the physical demands are very different from walking around Cusco.

If You Prefer History and Culture

Prioritize Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, the Cathedral, the nearby Inca archaeological sites, San Pedro Market and a Sacred Valley excursion.

If You Prefer Outdoor Adventure

Use Cusco as a base for Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and longer trekking experiences in the surrounding Andes.

Practical Tips Before Exploring Cusco

The infographic summarizes practical advice for the first days in Cusco, including acclimatizing gradually, postponing demanding high-altitude trips, carrying some cash and dressing in layers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Things to Do in Cusco