Things to Do in Cusco
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Cusco, Peru, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Cusco. Former Incan capital, cobblestone streets built on foundations that have outlasted several earthquakes now, the political and religious centre of the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas, and it still shows. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Cusco: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the altitude adjustment. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Cusco's Incan Stonework
Cusco's old Incan stonework is famous for walls fitted together so precisely that a piece of paper or a knife blade cannot fit between the blocks, built without mortar, yet the joints remain remarkably tight even centuries later, and properly resilient through multiple significant earthquakes that have damaged later Spanish colonial construction built directly on top of the same Incan foundations. Hatunrumiyoc Street, with its famous twelve-angled stone, is the classic spot to see this precision up close.
It's worth running your fingers along a few of these walls (where permitted) to appreciate the precision, photos alone don't quite convey how tight these joints actually are.
Address Hatunrumiyoc Street, central Cusco
Plaza de Armas & Cusco Cathedral
Cusco served as the capital of the Inca Empire, once the political and religious centre of the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas, and Plaza de Armas, the city's main square, sits directly atop what was once the Incan ceremonial centre. Cusco Cathedral, built using stones taken from a nearby Incan fortress, dominates the square, a striking, if uncomfortable, example of colonial construction built literally from the previous civilisation's dismantled monuments.
The cathedral's interior holds a notable collection of Cusco School art, a distinctive colonial-era painting tradition blending European religious subjects with Andean artistic sensibilities, worth the entry fee for art history alone.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am–6pm, shorter Sundays
Address Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Machu Picchu Preparation
Cusco serves as the main gateway city for travellers heading to Machu Picchu, most visitors base themselves here before making the journey to the famous mountaintop ruins, and proper preparation really matters, Machu Picchu tickets sell out well in advance, particularly for the Inca Trail permits, which are limited daily and often booked months ahead.
Whether you're doing the multi-day Inca Trail hike or the more straightforward train-and-bus route, Cusco is where you'll sort logistics, tickets, transport, and guides, worth arriving with at least a rough plan rather than figuring it all out on the ground.
Best time Book well ahead regardless of route chosen
Altitude Acclimatisation
Cusco sits at roughly 3,400 metres above sea level, high enough that altitude sickness is a real, common concern for visitors arriving from lower elevations, symptoms range from mild headaches and fatigue to more serious complications if ignored. Most guides recommend spending at least a day or two in Cusco itself, resting and staying hydrated, before attempting Machu Picchu or any strenuous hiking.
Coca tea, offered widely in Cusco specifically to help with altitude adjustment, is a well-established local remedy worth trying, though it's not a substitute for proper rest and hydration if symptoms are significant.
Best time Build in 1–2 rest days on arrival before strenuous activity
San Pedro Market
Cusco's central market, fresh produce, local cheeses, and a properly good food court section serving Peruvian classics at local prices, a proper working market rather than a tourist-only stop, though it's become popular with visitors too given how easy and cheap it is to eat well here.
It's a good, affordable lunch option and a real way to see local daily life, worth a wander even without a shopping list.
Hours Daily, busiest mornings
Address San Pedro, Cusco
Sacsayhuaman
A massive Incan fortress complex just above Cusco, often overlooked compared to Machu Picchu given the scale of stonework here, some blocks weigh over 100 tons, moved and fitted with the same mortar-free precision found throughout the city, a staggering feat of ancient engineering.
It's a good half-day trip, walkable from central Cusco if you're properly acclimatised, or a short taxi ride if you'd rather save the energy for later exploring.
Hours Daily, roughly 7am–6pm
Getting there A walkable but uphill route from central Cusco
Best time to visit Cusco
May through September is the dry season and by far the most popular window, clear skies for Machu Picchu and comfortable conditions for the Incan sites around Cusco itself.
The wet season (roughly November through March) brings heavier rain, and the Inca Trail specifically closes for maintenance each February, worth checking current Machu Picchu access and trail status if travelling outside the main dry season.
Getting around Cusco
Central Cusco, including Plaza de Armas and the surrounding old town, is walkable, though the altitude and steep, cobbled streets make it slower going than you'd expect. Taxis are cheap and useful for reaching Sacsayhuaman or covering longer distances without the exertion.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cusco worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, both as the gateway to Machu Picchu and as a genuinely remarkable destination in its own right, the Incan stonework and colonial layering here are unlike anywhere else.
- How many days do you need in Cusco?
- Three to four days covers the city and acclimatisation comfortably before continuing to Machu Picchu, which typically needs a further one to four days depending on route.
- Is Cusco expensive?
- Moderate, generally affordable for food and local transport, though the Boleto Turistico, Machu Picchu tickets, and any Inca Trail permits add up as genuine, worthwhile expenses.
- What is Cusco famous for?
- Being the former capital of the Inca Empire, its remarkably precise mortar-free stonework, and serving as the main gateway to Machu Picchu.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
