Things to do in Cusco
Cusco sits in a valley in the Peruvian Andes, where Inca walls support colonial buildings and the Plaza de Armas anchors the historic centre. The cathedral, Qorikancha and the artisan neighbourhood of San Blas give a first visit several distinct directions. Start with the places that interest you, then decide whether to join a walking guide, take a vehicle tour to archaeological sites or spend a full day outside the city.
The city is around 3,400 metres above sea level. Leave room in the arrival plan for the altitude as well as sightseeing. A short central route and a long mountain excursion make different demands; a packed list of landmarks is less useful than choosing an outing that fits the day. Our altitude guide explains the general precautions.
Explore Cusco and beyond
For a city walk, choose a guided route through the centre. For a day outside Cusco, compare the Sacred Valley and mountain trips with meals included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rainbow Mountain by ATV
- Breakfast and lunch
- Single or double ATVs
- Helmet, oxygen, and walking sticks
Admission is extra.
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Cusco food tastings walk
- 15+ food tastings
- Bottled water
- Max 8 exclusive guests
Walk through old Cusco with seven to eight stops.
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Sacred Valley and salt mines
- Buffet lunch
- Textile center of Chinchero
The tourist ticket and salt mine entry cost extra.
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Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley
- Bilingual tour guide
- Breakfast and buffet lunch
- Oxygen bottle for emergencies
Rainbow Mountain entry and optional Red Valley entry cost extra.
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Historic centre and San Blas walk
- English-speaking local guide
- Walk through San Blas
- 12-Angled Stone
See Qorikancha from outside. Chocolate depends on the option; chicha is optional when available.
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Guided walk in Cusco
- Certified professional guide
- Permanent assistance
Explore Cusco with a certified guide in English or Spanish.
Check availability →City walks, food tastings and Andean days
A guided walk offers a compact introduction; the valley and Rainbow Mountain outings include longer transport days. Food tastings begin at a city meeting point.
Find the guide for your next decision
Tours compared
Choose between city circuits, food experiences and longer excursions.
City tours
History, architecture and archaeological stops with transport.
Historic centre walks
Plaza de Armas, stone streets and the San Blas neighbourhood.
Day trips
Compare valley, lake, mountain and railway excursions from Cusco.
Markets and cooking
San Pedro visits, guided tastings and hands-on classes.
Private tours
Compare private city and Sacred Valley options.
Tourist ticket
Understand the Boleto and the entrances paid separately.
Altitude
General acclimatisation guidance for the city and beyond.
Getting there
Arriving from Lima and continuing from the airport.
Where to stay
Choose between the historic centre and San Blas.
Weather and seasons
Plan for the regional rainy and drier seasons.
Plaza de Armas, cathedral and Qorikancha
The Plaza de Armas was the ceremonial and political centre known as Huacaypata. Today its arcades and cathedral frame a useful starting point for understanding the city. Qorikancha tells a different part of the story: a sanctuary of the sun god Inti, with the Santo Domingo monastery built over Inca masonry. These are connected themes, rather than interchangeable stops.
Choose city tours for the fuller historical context and a vehicle circuit extending towards the ruins. A guide at a landmark does not mean that paid interior admission is included. The cathedral and Qorikancha temple have separate entrances from the Boleto Turístico; the Qorikancha site museum is a different attraction. The ticket guide explains that distinction before you buy a pass.
San Blas and a taste of the city
Northeast of the main square, San Blas has narrow cobbled streets, adobe houses and balconies, alongside ceramics, textiles, jewellery and painting. A central walking tour keeps attention on these streets. The historic-centre and San Blas walk includes an outside view of Qorikancha; chocolate tasting belongs only to an option that includes it. Another two-hour guided walk starts at Portal de Comercio 121 and offers guidance in English and Spanish.
Food adds a separate reason to explore. The tasting walk beginning at Mercado de Wanchaq includes more than fifteen tastings and bottled water, with a maximum of eight guests in its standard group. Hotel pickup and alcoholic drinks are excluded. For San Pedro Market and cooking experiences, use the dedicated market and food guide; a street tasting walk and a cooking class spend their time differently.
A first look at the day-trip choices
The Sacred Valley outing combines shared transport, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, a buffet in Urubamba and a visit to a textile centre in Chinchero. Admission to the archaeological sites and Maras salt mines is extra. Hotel collection depends on the selected option; the alternative meeting point is the fountain on the Plaza de Armas. Our sister guide to the Sacred Valley gives more background on the destination.
Rainbow Mountain can be approached through a walking excursion or an ATV outing. The ATV option includes a helmet, guide, breakfast and lunch; the walking option includes transport, a bilingual guide, breakfast and buffet lunch. Entrance fees are extra, and collection arrangements depend on the option. An ATV does not remove every walking section or the effects of altitude. The day-trip comparison also introduces Humantay Lake and explains the longer railway excursion choices.
Questions about visiting Cusco
Should I begin with a walk or a vehicle tour?
Choose a walk for the central streets and San Blas, or a vehicle city circuit for archaeological stations beyond the centre. Transport is part of the latter format, while admission needs separate attention.
How should I plan around the height?
General CDC advice dated 23 April 2025 recommends light exertion during the first 48 hours and avoiding alcohol. Fitness does not prevent altitude illness. Read the altitude page before planning a higher excursion.
Is this an official tourism or booking office?
This is an independent visitor guide, not an official tourism authority or booking office. It brings together practical explanations and selected experiences so that you can choose a suitable visit.