Cusco Travel Guide
Best neighborhoods, things to do, and when to visit
Cusco, Peru
Cusco sits at 11,150 feet, where Inca stonework forms the foundations of colonial churches and courtyards. Days often warm to around 66°F (19°C) before dropping near 32°F (0°C) after dark, and afternoons fill with Quechua conversation in the markets.
Inca history · Andean markets · High-altitude trekking
Airport
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, just outside the city
Language
Spanish, with Quechua widely spoken
Currency
Peruvian sol (S/); cards common, carry cash for markets
Ideal trip length
Four to five days, plus time to acclimatize
Best time to visit Cusco
May – September
Average temperature
30-71°F (-1-22°C), Dry season with bright days, thin high-altitude air, and near-freezing dawns.
Crowd Level
High
Reason To Visit
From May through September, days stay dry and clear near 70°F (21°C), which suits ruins, high passes, and long walks. June brings the city's biggest Andean celebrations.
Spring eventDía de Todos los Santos
Plaza de Armas de Cusco
Things to do
Dry months open up the Sacred Valley by train or trail, market mornings in San Pedro, and clear-sky stargazing, with afternoons free for museums, weaving workshops, and cathedral courtyards.
Popular events
Spring
Día de Todos los Santos, Señor de Huanca
Summer
Carnaval de Cusco, Compadres y Comadres, Santurantikuy
Fall
Señor de los Temblores Procession, Semana Santa Cusco
Winter
Inti Raymi, Corpus Christi Cusco, Virgen del Carmen de Paucartambo
Where to stay in Cusco
Six Cusco neighborhoods, from the historic core to quiet residential streets.
Nucleo Del Centro Historico
The historic core, where colonial arcades and Inca stonework sit within a short walk of each other.
Known for
Colonial plazas and Inca walls
Things to do nearby
Plaza Mayor, Qorikancha, Cuzco Cathedral
Nearby neighborhoods
Santa Ana, Wanchaq
Santa Ana
A steep hillside neighborhood above the center, with narrow lanes and rooftop views over the city.
Known for
Hillside lanes and city views
Things to do nearby
Mercado Central De San Pedro, Plaza Mayor
Nearby neighborhoods
Nucleo Del Centro Historico
Wanchaq
A flat residential district with markets, bakeries, and daily shops close to the rail station.
Known for
Markets, bakeries, and the rail station
Things to do nearby
Estacion Wanchaq, Qorikancha
Nearby neighborhoods
Nucleo Del Centro Historico, Ttio, Mariscal Gamarra
Santiago
A working neighborhood west of the center, near bus terminals and weekend markets.
Known for
Bus terminals and weekend markets
Things to do nearby
Mercado Central De San Pedro
Nearby neighborhoods
Santa Ana, Nucleo Del Centro Historico
Ttio
A residential pocket east of the center, with local shops and calm streets for longer stays.
Known for
Quiet streets and neighborhood shops
Things to do nearby
Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Nearby neighborhoods
Wanchaq, Mariscal Gamarra
Mariscal Gamarra
A everyday residential area away from the tourist core, handy for slower-paced visits.
Known for
Residential calm outside the center
Things to do nearby
Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Nearby neighborhoods
Wanchaq, Ttio
Must see places in Cusco
Inca stonework, colonial plazas, and ridge-top ruins within reach of the city
Machu Picchu
The Inca citadel sits on a cloud forest ridge, reached by bus from Aguas Calientes.
Time needed
Full day
Sacsaywaman
Massive stone walls form an Inca fortress above the city, with valley views.
Neighborhood
Sacsayhuaman
Things to do nearby
Cristo Blanco, Q'enco Archaeological Complex
Time needed
2-3 hours
Qorikancha
A sacred Inca temple where Inca masonry meets colonial architecture.
Neighborhood
Nucleo Del Centro Historico
Things to do nearby
Plaza Mayor
Time needed
1-2 hours
Plaza Mayor
Colonial arcades, restaurants, and landmarks ring this historic square.
Neighborhood
Nucleo Del Centro Historico
Things to do nearby
Cuzco Cathedral, Church of the Society of Jesus
Time needed
1 hour
Cuzco Cathedral
Colonial art, Cusquena paintings, and historical artifacts fill the cathedral.
Neighborhood
Nucleo Del Centro Historico
Things to do nearby
Plaza Mayor, Twelve Angled Stone
Time needed
1 hour
Plaza San Blas
Cobbled lanes climb past artisan workshops to a small plaza near a carved cedar pulpit.
Things to do nearby
Templo de San Blas, Twelve Angled Stone
Time needed
1-2 hours
Mercado Central De San Pedro
Stalls of fresh produce, local dishes, and handmade crafts fill this busy market.
Neighborhood
San Pedro
Things to do nearby
St. Peter's Church, Plaza Mayor
Time needed
1 hour
Ollantaytambo archaeological site
Terraced ramparts and the Sun Temple rise above a village still on its Inca street grid.
Neighborhood
Ollantaytambo
Time needed
2-3 hours
Places to eat and drink in Cusco
Peruvian dishes grilled meats and a colonial courtyard in Cusco
Chicha por Gaston Acurio
Regional Cusco cooking on a second-floor dining room overlooking Plaza Regocijo.
Highlights
plaza views
Why do locals love it
Menus lean on Cusco ingredients such as alpaca, corn, and river trout.
MAP Café
Glass pavilion in the courtyard of the Museo de Arte Precolombino, serving tasting menus.
Highlights
Tasting menu, colonial courtyard setting
Why do locals love it
Dinner happens inside a museum courtyard in a mansion dating to the 1500s.
Cicciolina
Long-running tapas bar and dining room upstairs on Triunfo, with a wood-fired oven.
Highlights
Tapas
Why do locals love it
The counter seats let you watch small plates leave the open kitchen.
PACHAPAPA cocina cusqueña y más
Courtyard restaurant across from San Blas church, known for clay-oven roasts and stuffed peppers.
Highlights
Clay oven cooking, open-air courtyard
Why do locals love it
Tables sit under a stone courtyard beside the San Blas bell tower.
Crepería & Backpacker La Bo'M
Small French crêperie on the San Blas slope, making savory galettes and sweet crêpes to order.
Highlights
Savory and sweet crêpes
Why do locals love it
A short menu of crêpes cooked to order, a few steps uphill from the plaza.
London Town
A pub-style bar in the old center, good for a drink after dinner.
Highlights
Pub-style bar
Why do locals love it
An easy place to end the night within walking distance of the plaza.
Divina Comedia
Set in an old manor house in central Cusco, with tables around a colonial courtyard.
Highlights
Colonial courtyard
Why do locals love it
Dinner under the arcades of a centuries-old courtyard.
MARE RESTAURANT
A short walk from Plaza de Armas, serving local Peruvian dishes.
Highlights
Local Peruvian dishes
Why do locals love it
An easy sit-down meal right off the main square.
Explore Cusco: The best travel itineraries
One compact day in Cusco's colonial center, built around squares, Inca stonework and a courtyard dinner in San Blas.
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1 Day trip
A walk through the old center, from the arcaded main square to a sacred Inca temple, ending over Andean plates in the artisan lanes of San Blas.
Morning
Start on the main square
Arrive early, when the arcades are quiet and the light is soft.
Afternoon
Inca and colonial layers
Pair the temple with a slow walk up the stone lanes above it.
Evening
Dinner in San Blas
Ask for a courtyard table if the evening is mild.
3 Day trip
Three days centered on the old streets of Cusco, from Inca stonework and colonial churches to San Blas workshops and courtyard dinners.
Morning
The main square
Arrive early, before tour groups fill the arcades.
Afternoon
Cathedral art
Look for the Cusquena school paintings inside.
Evening
Dinner off the plaza
Reserve ahead for a seat at the counter.
Morning
Temple of the sun
Combine the Inca walls and the convent built above them.
Afternoon
Twelve angles
The stone sits along a narrow lane, so watch for passing traffic.
Evening
Clay oven supper
Ask for a courtyard table when the weather is clear.
Morning
Fortress walls
Take it slowly at this altitude on the walk up.
Afternoon
San Pedro market
Bring small bills for juice stalls and produce.
Evening
Glass-walled dinner
Book early, since the dining room is small.
5-7 Day trip
Settle into the historic center, wander the workshops of San Blas, climb to the fortress walls above town, then take full days for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Morning
Colonial heart of the city
Arrive early, when the arcades are quiet and shaded.
Afternoon
Cusquena paintings
Look for the colonial canvases of the Cusco School inside.
Evening
Wood-fired plates
Tables fill after dark, so book ahead on weekends.
Morning
Twelve angles in stone
Go early to see the wall without a crowd in front of it.
Afternoon
Artisan lanes
Wear grippy shoes for the steep cobbles.
Evening
Clay-oven dinner
Ask for a courtyard table on clear nights.
Morning
Temple of the Sun
Inca masonry meets the convent built above it.
Afternoon
Market aisles
Bring small bills for the fruit and juice stalls.
Evening
Rooftops at golden hour
Late afternoon light is best for the view.
Morning
Terraces above Pisac
Start from the upper gate so the walking runs downhill.
Afternoon
Sun Temple stonework
The climb is steady, so pace yourself at altitude.
Evening
Stay in the valley
Sleep in Ollantaytambo village to catch an early train.
Morning
Fortress walls
The site is uphill from town, so allow time for the walk.
Afternoon
Weaving up close
Artisans demonstrate their looms on Avenida El Sol.
Evening
Glass-walled courtyard
Reserve ahead, since the dining room is small.
Family travel
The Planetarium Cusco, alpacas at Awana Kancha, and the short Rainbow Mountain-free day trip to Pisac ruins keep younger travelers curious.
Couple travel
Sunset from Sacsayhuaman looks over the whole valley, and Plaza de Armas balconies suit a slow dinner afterward.
Solo travel
San Blas has walkable cobbled lanes, artisan workshops, and easy company over coffee, with Qorikancha and the San Pedro Market nearby.
How to get around Cusco
Metro and train
Rail service links Cusco with the Machu Picchu area. Departure stations vary by service and company, so confirm yours with the train operator.
Bus
Small city buses and shared vans reach most neighborhoods. Confirm the destination with the driver, and check current routes with the operator.
Rental car
Steep one-way lanes and narrow colonial streets make city driving slow. A rental suits day trips through the Sacred Valley more than town.
Walking
The historic center is walkable, though the altitude and cobbled hills tire legs. Take it slowly, and choose flatter valley routes for cycling.
Generated with AI and may contain mistakes. Sources include third-party travel data and Airbnb data from listings, hosts, and host guidebooks. Updated September 2026.
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