Best Things to Do in Cusco: Inca Stone, Markets, Views
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The best things to do in Cusco are the ones that make the old Inca capital legible: the Plaza de Armas, the Qorikancha Sun Temple, the great stone walls of Sacsayhuamán, the artists' lanes of San Blas and a day or two in the Sacred Valley. Almost everything sits at about 3,400 metres, so the real skill here is pacing yourself rather than ticking off a list.
Start slowly: the altitude comes first
Most visitors fly in from Lima and land at roughly 3,400 metres within a couple of hours. Headaches, breathlessness and poor sleep are common in the first days, and the sensible response is to plan a gentle first afternoon. Drink water, eat lightly, skip the big night out and walk uphill slowly. Coca tea is offered almost everywhere and many people find it comforting. If you have a heart or lung condition, or you are worried, talk to a doctor before the trip rather than relying on advice from a blog.
Because of this, I suggest putting the flat, central sights on your first day and keeping the climbs and day trips for later. The historic centre is compact enough to cover on foot, but steep streets such as those leading up to San Blas will feel much longer than they look on the map.
Plaza de Armas and the cathedral
Begin where the city has always begun. The Plaza de Armas was the Inca Huacaypata, a ceremonial square, and it is now ringed by arcades, cafes and the cathedral. Sit on a bench in the evening when the façades are lit and watch the city go about its business. It is a free, low-effort first hour that lets your lungs catch up.
The Cusco Cathedral was built over the foundations of an Inca palace and is full of paintings by the Cusco School, the local tradition that blended European technique with Andean motifs. Look for the way saints and scenes are dressed and fed in a distinctly regional manner. Opening arrangements and ticket combinations change, so check the official sources when you arrive.
Qorikancha and the stonework of the old city
A few minutes downhill is Qorikancha, the Inca Sun Temple, where the Santo Domingo convent was built straight on top of Inca walls. It is the clearest single place to understand how Cusco was layered: perfectly fitted Inca blocks below, Spanish arches above. The small site museum nearby helps explain the architecture and rituals.
Then walk the lanes in search of Inca masonry still serving as walls. On Hatunrumiyoc street, the famous twelve-angled stone is cut to lock with its neighbours without mortar. Crowds gather there, so go early or late and be patient for a photograph. Seeing how tight the joints are tells you more about Inca engineering than any plaque.
San Blas, markets and where to eat
San Blas is the artists' quarter, a climb of stone steps, craft workshops and small galleries around a modest church. Go in the late afternoon, wander without a goal and stop at Pachapapa, known for wood-oven meats and a courtyard on the square. The small Mercado de San Blas is calmer than the big market and good for crafts and fresh produce.
For a more working-class table, head to the Mercado Central de San Pedro, a historic market with fruit stalls, cheese and fresh juices and cheap local lunches. Eat where locals queue, prefer freshly cooked dishes and keep your valuables close, as in any busy market. For something more polished, Chicha por Gastón Acurio reinterprets Andean produce, and Quinta Eulalia is a family picantería associated with cuy and rocoto relleno. If you like breakfasts, Jack's Café is the traveller favourite, and Café Ayllu on the main square is an old-school spot for bread and pastries. Our Cusco food guide has more.
Sacsayhuamán and the hills above the city
The fortress of Sacsayhuamán crowns the hill north of the centre, famous for its giant zigzag walls whose boulders weigh far more than they have any right to. You can climb to it in about half an hour on foot, past the Cristo Blanco statue, or take a short taxi ride and walk down. Either way, go in the morning light and carry water.
From there a gentle Inca-route walk links Q'enqo, a ceremonial site of carved rock altars and underground passages, with Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. It is an excellent half-day with views back across the red roofs. In late June the site hosts the Inti Raymi re-enactment of the Sun God festival, which draws large crowds, so book ahead if you plan your visit around it.
Museums and cultural evenings
If rain or fatigue strikes, Cusco has good small museums. The Museo Inka is the most complete introduction to the Inca, the Museo de Arte Precolombino is set in a colonial mansion, and the Museo Machu Picchu - Casa Concha shows objects linked to early expeditions. Many are covered by the tourist ticket system, so compare options before buying singles. For an evening, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo presents Quechua dance and Andean music.
Sacred Valley and day trips
The valley below the city is the natural second chapter. Pisac has a steep path to terraces and ruins, Ollantaytambo has the short Pinkuylluna climb to Inca storehouses, and the Maras salt pans link with the circular terraces of Moray on a scenic walk. Chinchero and Laguna Piuray give an easy lakeside stroll at altitude.
If you want adventure, rafting at Huambutío, paragliding over Pisac, biking around Moray or a via ferrata near Ollantaytambo are all offered, always at altitude. Choose licensed operators and acclimatise first. For the Machu Picchu leg, tickets and trains need booking well in advance, and rules are set by the authorities, so check the official channels.
Putting it together
- Day 1: Plaza de Armas, cathedral, Qorikancha, slow dinner
- Day 2: Hatunrumiyoc, San Blas, markets, Sacsayhuamán and Q'enqo
- Day 3: museums or a Sacred Valley day with Pisac and Ollantaytambo
- Spare day: Moray and Maras, or the Machu Picchu trip
Other cities in the region are worth pairing. A trip to Brazil, for example, fits well with our Rio de Janeiro itinerary, while the Buenos Aires food guide suits a southern extension. If you like the museum-per-day rhythm, our Paris in three days shows the same logic. Build your own route with the Cusco day-by-day plan.