When I was in in Cusco last year, I ended up spending most of my time acclimatising to the altitude, running errands, and frantically preparing for the Salkantay Trek I’d booked last minute (classic me!). But even with limited sightseeing time, the city completely captivated me. People had told me that Cusco “just has” a magical feeling in the air, and I’d have to agree despite the onslaught of tourism which seems to have tainted the city somewhat. There aren’t as many things to do in Cusco as there are in other Peruvian cities, I suppose because most people are there for the same reason as me; to prepare for a hike (or a train ride) to Machu Picchu.
Of course, the two really popular things to do here are to visit Machu Picchu and hike Rainbow Mountain, which are both outside of the city itself. Within the city of Cusco there are a few different things you can do, but you’ll be mesmirised simply walking around the city. The vibe of the city is really lovely, with cobblestone streets, ancient Inca walls, and colourful markets at every turn.
The only issue is that you’re often being called on the street by vendors trying to sell you something or offering you a massage (seriously, it happens about 100 times a day!). But once you get used to the constant offers, Cusco reveals itself as one of South America‘s most fascinating cities.
About Cusco
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, sits at a breathtaking 3,400 metres above sea level in the Peruvian Andes. It was once the heart of the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, and you can almost feel it as you walk around. The city still showcases incredible Inca stonework alongside Spanish colonial architecture, which reminds you of its complex history following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Today, it’s Peru’s undisputed tourist capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, serving as the gateway to Machu Picchu and countless other archaeological sites.
Most visitors need at least 3-4 days to properly experience Cusco, though many stay longer to acclimatise before going on high-altitude treks or simply to soak up the atmosphere.
🇵🇪 Read more: A Complete Travel Guide to Cusco, Peru
How to Get to Cusco
Getting to Cusco can be relatively straightforward as it has Peru’s second busiest airport after Lima. You can fly directly from many major Latin American cities, though most international flights connect through Lima. From North America or Europe, you’ll almost always have at least one layover, typically in Lima, Panama City, or Mexico City. Budget airlines like Viva Air and Sky offer decent deals if you book in advance.
The problem with flying to Cusco is the altitude. Going from sea-level or anywhere low down, like most major cities, means you shoot up in altitude which can leave you with altitude sickness. If it’s possible in your itinerary, I always recommend going to Arequipa for a few days before you go to Cusco, because it’s sort of half-way up and helps you to acclimatise slowly. (This is what I did and, apart from the breathlessness, which is normal, I didn’t get any symptoms of altitude sickness, which I had experienced just a couple of months earlier in Guatemala when I climbed a volcano too fast).
If you’re already in Peru and fancy the overland route, you can take the bus on the classic tourist trail from Lima to Cusco or vice versa. I strongly recommend spending more than a week making stops along the way if you choose this route, in places like Huacachina, Nazca, and Arequipa are all worth visiting. Peru Hop and Wayki bus both offer a flexible hop-on-hop-off service that’s popular with backpackers, or Cruz del Sur is. themost popular local bus provider.
🇵🇪 Read more: Where to Stay in Cusco, Peru
Things to Do in Cusco
Cusco itself is packed with history, culture, and enough activities to keep you busy for days. Whether you’re interested in archaeology, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up the atmosphere in colonial squares, Cusco has something for everyone.
Twelve-Angled Stone
OK, it is literally just a stone in a wall, but it’s also one of Cusco’s most photographed attractions! Located on Hatunrumiyoc Street (try saying that three times fast), this remarkable stone has twelve perfectly angled corners that fit with the surrounding blocks like tetris pieces, all without any mortar. The stone is part of a palace wall that once belonged to Inca Roca, the sixth Inca ruler, and demonstrates the mind-blowing precision of Inca stonemasonry. What’s even more impressive is that these walls have survived numerous earthquakes that destroyed many Spanish colonial buildings.
Sample the Local Peruvian Cuisine
Cusco’s food scene is fantastic, from street food to high-end restaurants. Don’t miss trying coca tea for altitude sickness (it really works!), and grab an Inca Kola – Peru’s fluorescent yellow soft drink that tastes remarkably like Irn-Bru! The San Pedro Market is perfect for trying local specialties like anticuchos (grilled beef heart) or if you’re feeling brave, cuy (guinea pig).
➡️ Book a Peruvian cooking class and food tour in Cusco
Get a Massage
You will be offered this about 100 times just walking down the street in Cusco, so you might as well give in eventually! Traditional Peruvian massages often incorporate coca leaves and hot stones, and after a few days at altitude, you’ll probably need one. Prices start from around S/30 (€7.50) for 30 minutes at local places.
Day Trip to Rainbow Mountain
This can be really variable depending on the weather, but it’s worth going to check out this naturally colourful mountain. Make sure you acclimatise for a couple of days in Cusco first as the hike takes you up to over 5,000 metres! Tours typically leave at 3am (so plan accordingly) and cost around S/80-120 (€20-30), including transport and breakfast.
Day Trip to Machu Picchu
Of course, this is the main attraction for most visitors to Cusco. If you want to do any of the hiking trails (Inca Trail, Salkantay, etc.), you’ll need to book in advance. For the Inca Trail, you need to book up to six months in advance. For the Salkantay Trek, usually just a week or two is ok. If you’re taking the train, I recommend booking your Machu Picchu entrance ticket at least a week ahead, or more during peak tourist season (June-August).
➡️ Book your day trip to Rainbow Mountain here
Explore San Blas Neighbourhood
This bohemian quarter was my favourite area in Cusco, with its narrow cobblestone streets, artisan workshops, and hipster cafes. The walk up is steep (blame the altitude!), but you’ll be rewarded with stunning city views and the charming San Blas Church.
Day Trip to Ollantaytambo
This living Inca town in the Sacred Valley features impressive ruins and still has its original Inca street plan. It’s about 90 minutes from Cusco and makes a great day trip, especially if you’re interested in seeing how Inca urban planning worked. Many Sacred Valley tours include Ollantaytambo.
Day Trip to Pisac
Famous for its massive Inca citadel and colourful Sunday market (also runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays), Pisac is another Sacred Valley highlight. The ruins offer spectacular views over the valley, and the market is perfect for picking up alpaca wool products and other handicrafts.
➡️ Book your day trip to the Sacred Valley from Cusco
Visit Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)
Once the most important temple in the Inca Empire, Qorikancha still displays remarkable Inca stonework despite having an entire Spanish colonial church built on top of it (☹️). The contrast between Inca and Spanish architecture is quite fascinating, and there’s a museum that tells you all about the temple and pre-Columbian astronomy.
Wander Through San Pedro Market
For a real local experience, spend a morning exploring Mercado San Pedro. It’s sensory overload in the best way – rows of fresh produce, strange Amazonian fruits, traditional medicines, and food stalls serving cheap local breakfasts. Just watch your belongings as it gets crowded!
Take a Free Walking Tour
Several companies offer free walking tours of Cusco (it says free, but you’re expected to tip whatever you think it’s worth). They’re brilliant for getting oriented and learning about the city’s history from passionate local guides. I recommend taking one in all of my guides to bigger cities! The walking tours in Cusco usually cover Plaza de Armas, San Blas, and include stories about Inca and colonial history.
Visit the Planetarium Cusco
This might sound a bit random but the Inca were incredible astronomers, and this small planetarium gives fascinating presentations about Andean astronomy and cosmology. If you go in the evening, you can stargaze with telescopes, and the clear mountain air makes for incredible views of the southern hemisphere sky.
Take a Day Trip to Moray and Maras
These lesser-known sites are absolutely worth visiting, and they are usually done together in a one day trip. Moray is an archaeological site with mysterious circular agricultural terraces that the Inca may have used as an agricultural laboratory, while the Maras salt mines are still in use today, creating a patchwork of thousands of salt pools cascading down the mountainside.
➡️ Book your day trip to Moray & Maras Salt Mines from Cusco
Explore the Cusco Cathedral
Located on Plaza de Armas, this massive baroque cathedral took nearly 100 years to build and contains an interesting mix of Catholic and Andean religious art. Keep and eye out for the famous painting of the Last Supper featuring cuy (guinea pig) as the main dish!
Hike to Sacsayhuamán
Just a 30-minute uphill walk from the city centre (longer if you’re still adjusting to altitude!), this massive Inca fortress offers incredible views over Cusco. The enormous stones, some weighing over 300 tons, showcase mind-blowing Inca engineering. Best visited in the late afternoon for sunset views.
Take a Cooking Class
Learn to make Peruvian classics like ceviche, lomo saltado, or causa by taking a cooking class in Cusco. Most classes include a market visit to buy ingredients and explain local produce. It’s a fun way to spend a morning and you get to eat your creations for lunch!
Visit the Coca Museum
Small but informative, this museum explains the cultural importance of coca leaves in Andean society. You’ll learn about traditional uses versus cocaine production, and why coca tea is so essential at altitude. They also have a shop selling various coca products. P.S. no, it won’t make you high!
Party in Plaza de Armas
Cusco has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife scene. Start with pisco sours at one of the balcony bars overlooking Plaza de Armas, then head to clubs like Mama Africa or Mythology. Just remember that alcohol hits a LOT harder at altitude, so pace yourself and stay hydrated!
🇵🇪 Read more: How to Get from Cusco to Lake Titicaca
Practical Tips for Visiting Cusco
Getting Around Cusco
Walking is quite easy in Cusco, and it’s generally not common to take transportation within the city centre. That being said, the altitude can really exhaust you, so do be careful and take it easy – those cobblestone streets that look flat are actually slight inclines that’ll have you huffing and puffing (and there are a couple of steep hills, too)!
Public buses do run around Cusco, but they’re not commonly used by tourists because all the main tourist areas are within walking distance. If you need a taxi, only use Uber or book one through your accommodation – other taxis are dodgy and likely to rip you off, especially at the airport. You can book a transfer to pick you up from Cusco Airport for a fair price (around S/70 or 17.50€), which I’d recommend over trying to negotiate with airport taxi drivers.
Best Time to Visit Cusco
The best time to visit Cusco is during the dry season from May to September, when you’ll have clear skies and minimal rainfall – perfect for trekking and visiting Machu Picchu. June to August is peak tourist season, so expect crowds, higher prices, and needing to book Machu Picchu further in advance. The wet season (October to April) has fewer tourists and lower prices, but trails can be muddy and views obscured by clouds. Some trails are completely closed in the worst of the rainy season, and when I did the Salkantay Trek at the end of March, we ended up getting ourselves in a lot of danger when we got stranded on the side of a mountain in between landslides. So, bear that in mind 😬
The weather is fairly consistent year-round temperature-wise in Cusco, with highs of around 20°C (68°F) and chilly nights dropping to 0-5°C (32-41°F). Always pack layers!
If you’re interested in festivals, Inti Raymi (June 24th) is the biggest celebration in Cusco, recreating the Inca winter solstice festival with incredible costumes and ceremonies.
Money & Costs in Cusco
Cusco is generally affordable compared to Western standards but is more expensive than other Peruvian cities due to its tourist focus. You’ll find ATMs everywhere in the city centre, but no free ones (and trust me, I hate paying to withdraw money so I tried a fair few!). A lot of ATMs will dispense eithersoles or dollars, because it’s common to pay for tours and transfers in dollars cash.
Most hostels and tourist-oriented restaurants accept credit cards, but sometimes with an additional fee (usually up to 5% or sometimes up to 10%). Local markets, small restaurants, and street vendors are cash only.
Budget travellers can probably get by on S/80-120 (20-30€) per day including accommodation, while mid-range travellers should budget S/200-300 (50-75€) daily. A meal at a local restaurant costs S/20-30 (5-7.50€), while tourist restaurants charge S/30-60 (7.50-15€) for main courses.
FAQs About Things to Do in Cusco
How many days do you need in Cusco?
I’d recommend at least 3-4 days in Cusco itself – two days to acclimatise and explore the city, plus additional days for any day trips or tours. If you’re planning to hike to Machu Picchu or do Rainbow Mountain, add extra days accordingly. Many people use Cusco as a base for a week or more because there’s so much to explore outside of the city.
What’s the best way to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco?
Take it really easy your first 1-2 days, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol initially, and try coca tea – it genuinely helps! Most hotels provide coca tea in reception. Consider taking altitude sickness pills if you’re particularly susceptible. Sleep is important too, so don’t plan anything strenuous for your first day.
Is Cusco safe for tourists?
Cusco is generally safe for tourists, especially in the main tourist areas around Plaza de Armas and San Blas. Take normal precautions: don’t flash expensive items, avoid empty streets at night, and use official taxis or Uber. The biggest ‘danger’ is persistent street vendors and tour operators trying to sell you stuff!
Do I need to book Machu Picchu tickets in advance?
Yes, absolutely! Machu Picchu tickets should be booked at least a week in advance, or several weeks during peak season (June-August). If you want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, book even further ahead as these sell out quickly. The official website is the best place to purchase tickets.
Conclusion
Cusco truly is an extraordinary city that serves as the perfect introduction to Peru’s incredible history and culture. While most people use it as a jumping-off point for Machu Picchu, the city itself deserves several days of exploration. From its stunning Inca stonework to vibrant markets and excellent museums, there are enough things to do in Cusco to keep you busy for a week or more. Just remember to pace yourself with the altitude, embrace the slower pace of life, and don’t be afraid to say “no gracias” to the hundredth massage offer of the day. Whether you’re here for the history, the hiking, or the excellent food scene, Cusco won’t disappoint!
