Things to Do in Cusco - Top Attractions, Hidden Gems & Must-See Sights

Every visit to Cusco starts and ends here. The Plaza de Armas has been the center of this city since before the Spanish arrived in 1534. During the Inca Empire, this was Huacaypata, the ceremonial heart of the capital where military victories were celebrated and religious rituals held. The Incas drained a swamp and built their administrative center on it. The Spanish then tore down the palaces and raised Catholic churches and colonial mansions on top. That layering, Inca foundations under colonial architecture under modern tourism, is what makes Cusco what it is, and you feel it most clearly in this square. The plaza is free and open 24 hours. Two of the city's most important buildings face it directly: the Cusco Cathedral to the northeast and the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus on the southeast corner. The arcaded walkways are lined with restaurants (overpriced, but some have balcony seating worth paying for) and travel agencies. This is a top sight in Cusco and the natural starting point for exploring the historic center on foot. At night the cathedral and surrounding buildings are lit up, and the square takes on a different energy. Street vendors sell hot drinks, and locals gather on the benches. It is also where political demonstrations happen, so do not be surprised by occasional crowds with megaphones.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas stretches northwest of Cusco along the Urubamba River, and it contains more than 350 archaeological sites scattered across a landscape of terraced hillsides, colonial villages, and agricultural land still farmed using ancient methods. The Incas valued this valley for its mild climate and fertile soil, growing their prized giant maize here at elevations between 2,600 and 3,050 meters. The valley was declared a Cultural Heritage site in 2006 and recognized by the FAO as part of the world's important agricultural heritage. Most visitors see the valley as a day trip from Cusco, stopping at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. The main archaeological sites are covered by the Boleto Turistico (130 PEN), the same ticket that gets you into Sacsayhuaman above Cusco. Sites generally open at 7:00 AM and close around 6:00 PM. The drive from Cusco to Pisac takes about an hour, and from there to Ollantaytambo is another hour. You can hire a private driver for the day or join a group tour. The real appeal is the variety. In one day you go from Pisac's mountaintop terraces to Ollantaytambo's massive fortress to Chinchero's textile market. If you have two days, add the Moray terraces and Salineras salt ponds, which are off the main route but absolutely worth the detour. The valley also sits lower than Cusco, so it is a good early stop if you are still acclimatizing to altitude.

Two kilometers uphill from the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuaman is the Inca fortress that makes you question everything you thought you knew about ancient construction. The walls are made of limestone blocks, some weighing over 100 tons, fitted together without mortar so precisely that you cannot slide a sheet of paper between them. Construction began under the Inca ruler Pachacutec in the 15th century and was finished by Huayna Capac in the early 16th century. When Pizarro's men first saw it, they could not believe what they were looking at. The site is included in the Boleto Turistico (130 PEN), which also covers Sacred Valley sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisac. It is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. You can walk up from the city center in about 30 minutes, but the climb is steep and you are already at 3,400 meters altitude. Take it slow. A taxi costs around 10 PEN. Among things to do in Cusco, this is the one that shows you just how advanced Inca engineering really was. From the top of the walls, you get a panoramic view of the entire city spread out below. The site is also where Cusco's Inti Raymi festival takes place every June 24th, a massive reenactment of the Inca sun ceremony. On regular days, though, it is surprisingly peaceful once you move past the main entrance area.

About 430 meters uphill from the Plaza de Armas, the San Blas neighborhood is Cusco's artisan quarter, and this small adobe church is its anchor. Built in the mid-16th century on Inca foundations, San Blas Church holds one of the most remarkable pieces of colonial woodcarving in South America: a pulpit carved from a single cedar trunk, so detailed that nobody is entirely sure how it was made. The carving is attributed to indigenous craftsmen, and it stands as proof that the artistic talent in Cusco did not arrive with the Spanish. The church itself is modest compared to the cathedral down on the plaza. That is part of its appeal. Entry is free, and it is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Sundays). The Plazoleta de San Blas outside the church is one of the most pleasant squares in Cusco, surrounded by artisan workshops, small galleries, and cafes with steep-street views. Getting here means climbing cobblestone lanes that will leave you winded at 3,400 meters. Take it slow. The walk up from the Plaza de Armas takes about 10 minutes and passes through some of the best-preserved Inca stonework walls in the city, including the famous 12-angled stone on Calle Hatunrumiyoc.

Housed in the Casa Cabrera, a colonial mansion just one block from the Plaza de Armas, this museum (known locally as MAP Cusco) is the best place in the city to understand the artistic traditions that existed in Peru long before the Incas. The collection belongs to the Museo Larco in Lima, and the 450 pieces on display were selected to show 3,000 years of artistic evolution. Ten exhibition rooms cover the Formative period through the Nazca, Mochica, Huari, Chimu, and Inca cultures, with gold jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and carved wood. The building itself is worth seeing: the colonial courtyard with its stone arches is a pleasant contrast to the pre-Columbian art inside. Give yourself about an hour for a thorough visit. Among the best museums in Cusco, this one stands out because it puts the Inca civilization in context. Most visitors arrive thinking the Incas were the beginning and end of Peruvian history, but the Mochica ceramics and Nazca gold here are older, and in some cases more technically accomplished, than anything the Incas produced. It reframes your entire trip.