We spent 2 days in Cusco on our visit to Peru. Cusco is the starting point to visit the iconic Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But this ancient city nestled in a valley in the Andes warrants a visit in its own right. Here is my pick of the top 10 things to do on a visit to do on a visit to Cusco.
How to get to Cusco
Cusco is located in the south of Peru, around 700 miles south east of the capital, Lima. It’s 400 miles north west of the Bolivian capital, La Paz. We arrived by bus from La Paz and departed by plane to Lima. There are several companies offering bus services between Cusco and Lima, La Paz and other destinations. We used Transzela. The bus station is centrally located, just a mile south of the old town. The airport is around 3 miles out of town. As well as domestic flights, you can fly direct to La Paz, Santiago and Bogotá.
Getting around Cusco
The old town is best explored by foot. On Day 2 of our itinerary, we travelled slightly further afield and opted for a guided coach tour, which we booked via Liz’s Explorer.
Where to stay in Cusco
We stayed at the Tierra Viva Cusco Centro, a nice hotel in a characterful old colonial building in the old town. The rooms were clean and comfortable and it does a great breakfast.
Cusco: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | See the imposing Cusco Cathedral |
| 2 | See the equally imposing Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús |
| 3 | Visit the Plaza de Armas by Day and by Night |
| 4 | Relax in the Plaza Regocijo |
| 5 | Relax some more in the Plaza San Francisco |
| 6 | Marvel at the scale of Sacsayhuamán |
| 7 | Visit the ancient Temple of Q’enqo |
| 8 | Learn more about Incan History at Puka Pukara |
| 9 | Marvel at Incan engineering at Tambomachay |
| 10 | See Santo Domingo, built over Qorikancha |
Centro Histórico
The first five sights in my top 10 are in Cusco’s old town; the Centro Histórico. It’s very pretty with cobbled streets, plazas and plenty of old churches and other buildings.
No 1 – See the imposing Cusco Cathedral
Right in the centre is the imposing Cusco Cathedral. Its origins date back to the 16th Century, although construction took almost a century to complete. Building materials include blocks taken from a local Inca site.
No 2 – See the equally imposing Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús
Across the square is the equally grand Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús, also dating from the 16th Century. You can climb a flight a steps for a spectacular view across the Plaza de Armas, to Cusco and beyond.
The church is open daily from 9 am until 11.45 am. From Monday to Friday it opens again in the afternoon from 1 pm until 5.45 pm. Entry costs 20 soles (around £4.30).
No 3 – Visit the Plaza de Armas by Day and by Night
Plaza de Armas by Day
The main square, the Plaza de Armas, is a pretty square with trees, flowers and benches surrounding a fountain. By day, it’s a pleasant place to relax in the shade and enjoy the view.
Plaza de Armas by Night
At night, the atmosphere in the Plaza de Armas is buzzing. Folk dance groups perform with hordes or tourists stopping to watch, whilst dozen of vendors try to sell their wares.
No 4 – Relax in the Plaza Regocijo
To the west of the Plaza de Armas is another pretty square; the Plaza Regocijo. Here, you will find the museum and the contemporary art museum.
No 5 – Relax some more in the Plaza San Francisco
To the west, another square, Plaza San Francisco is overlooked by the imposing Iglesia San Francisco.
Cusco (Circuit No 1)
There are plenty of archaeological sites around Cusco. Entry tickets are sold in packages, so you can’t pay to visit just one site. Instead, you must purchase a Tourist Ticket, which gives you access to all attractions. Or choose between Circuits 1, 2 and 3. A Tourist Ticket costs 130 soles (around £28) or a ticket for Circuit 1, 2 or 3 costs 70 soles (around £15).
We opted for Circuit No 1, which provides access to four archaeological sites located in the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park. (Circuit No 2 covers sites in the Southern Valley, while Circuit 3 covers the Sacred Valley of the Incas). We paid a further 30 soles each for the tour. The next 4 items on my top 10 are on Circuit No 1.
No 6 – Marvel at the scale of Sacsayhuamán
Sacsayhuamán is is the bottom of an Incan fort – the Spanish removed the top to build their cathedral.
You just need to stand near the base to appreciate the scale of the building.
No 7 – Visit the ancient Temple of Q’enqo
Next stop, Q’enqo – an ancient temple fashioned in a rock formation.
No 8 – Learn more about Incan History at Puka Pukara
On to Puka Pukara, the ruins of an Incan military site. This fort is formed part of the defence of Cusco and the Inca Empire.
No 9 – Marvel at Inca engineering at Tambomachay
Finally, Tambomachay, an Incan baths complete with aqueducts and waterfalls.
No 10 – See Santo Domingo, built over Qorikancha
The church and convent of Santo Domingo were built in the 16th Century over the Incan site of Qorikancha.
- Trip taken: March 2019
- Updated: October 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
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