Things to do in Cusco

Activities, attractions and tours
Cusco showing mountains

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Top places to visit

1. Plaza de Armas

Head to where the action is at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, a large landscaped square bordered by shops, restaurants and ancient churches. For more than 500 years, the square has been at the heart of city life. Come to the plaza nowadays and you might see festivals, concerts and religious processions. Enjoy the lively atmosphere, admire the ornate lampposts and colonial archways and relax with a drink.
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Plaza de Armas which includes a garden and a church or cathedral

2. San Pedro Market

Cusco San Pedro Market is a sprawling, open-air market, with everything from produce and meat to clothing and incense. Popular with locals and visitors, the market is an entertaining destination for shoppers and anyone curious about local culture.
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Cusco San Pedro Market featuring markets and food as well as a small group of people

3. Cusco Cathedral

Standing over Cusco’s main square is Cusco Cathedral, an impressive Gothic-Renaissance structure built on the site of an Inca palace. Explore the interior, filled with more than 400 canvases, woodcarvings and a silver altar.
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An imposing building constructed with stones from an Inca fortress is celebrated for its beautiful architecture and artwork that spans three centuries.

4. Coricancha

Qorikancha was the most important and elaborate temple of the Inca Empire. Qorikancha means golden courtyard and at the time of the Incas, the walls were covered in solid gold sheets. When the Spanish colonized the area, they demolished and looted parts of the temple and constructed the convent of Santo Domingo on top of it. The convent is still there today. Marvel at the original stonework, walk down corridors and through the chambers of Qorikancha and find clues to its former splendor.
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Cusco - Machu Picchu featuring a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

5. Sacsayhuaman

Venture into the archaeological park just outside Cusco’s city center to explore the ruins of Sacsayhuaman. This colossal stone fortress and temple sits on a steep hill overlooking the city and attests to the brilliance of Incan engineering. Come to observe traditional Incan ceremonies and to admire how the structure was built, noting the large limestone blocks that lock together without mortar.
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Sacsayhuaman featuring heritage elements and a ruin as well as an individual child

6. San Pedro Church

Behind the modest stucco façade of the San Pedro Church (San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas) is an interior filled with a dazzling display of religious art. With almost every inch covered with canvases, murals and ornamentation, the building has been dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes.”
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Cusco showing a city and street scenes

Popular places to visit

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Plaza de Armas

Cusco’s busy main square has been the center of public life for centuries. Enjoy its spacious layout, ancient churches and restaurants.

Plaza de Armas
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San Pedro Market

Get caught up in the chaos of this intriguing attraction and enjoy a uniquely Andean experience.

San Pedro Market
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Cusco Cathedral

An imposing building constructed with stones from an Inca fortress is celebrated for its beautiful architecture and artwork that spans three centuries.

Cusco Cathedral
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Coricancha

Discover the remains of an important Incan temple dedicated to the sun, admire its construction and learn about its fascinating history.

Coricancha
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Sacsayhuaman

The colossal stones of Cusco’s hilltop fortress are a powerful testimony to the ingenuity of Incan construction techniques.

Sacsayhuaman
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San Pedro Church

Step inside “the Sistine Chapel of the Andes,” a richly decorated 17th-century church full of carvings and religious paintings.

San Pedro Church
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Plaza San Blas

Find out about the history of Cusco with a stop at Plaza San Blas. Make time for the shops and local tours in this culturally rich area.

Plaza San Blas
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Twelve Angled Stone

Find out about the history of Cusco with a stop at Twelve Angled Stone. Make time for the shops and local tours in this culturally rich area.

Twelve Angled Stone
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Plaza El Regocijo

You can find out about the history of Cusco when you stop by Plaza El Regocijo. Make time for the shops and local tours in this culturally rich area.

Plaza El Regocijo

Areas of Cusco

La Merced Church showing a city

Cusco Historic Center

4.5/5(62 area reviews)

Cusco Historic Center is known for its popular shops, and with sights like Museo de Historia Natural and Santa Catalina Convent, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Cusco.

Cusco Historic Center
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Las Joyas

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Las Joyas and surrounding area, you can visit Agua Buena Recreational Park and Real Plaza Cusco.

Las Joyas
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San Antonio

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in San Antonio and surrounding area, you can visit Agua Buena Recreational Park and Real Plaza Cusco.

San Antonio
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Ramiro Priale

When in Ramiro Priale, you can plan a visit to Santiago Plaza and San Pedro Market, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Ramiro Priale
Photo by Theresa McLaird

Taray