This list of the best places to visit in Cusco will help you prepare a route through one of the most historic and beautiful cities in Latin America, which we are sure will not disappoint you.
Located on a slope of the Andes, Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire and one of the most important cities in the Spanish colonial era. Declared a World Heritage Site, it still preserves the remains of Inca temples and constructions in the foundations of numerous colonial buildings where this mixture of two cultures can be observed while walking through its streets and cobblestone squares, visiting the most important temples and churches as well as when you taste its delicious cuisine accompanied by a pisco sour.In addition the city is perfect as a base to visit some of the

great jewels of Peru like the Sacred Valley, the Mountain of the 7 colors and the Machu Picchu.

Based on the experience of the days we spent in the city during our trip to Peru on our own, we have made this list of what we believe are the 10 must-see places in Cusco. Let’s get started!

1. Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the historical center and one of the most important places to visit in Cusco. Formerly this square was a swamp that the Incas dried up to make it the administration center of the entire Empire but with the arrival of the Spanish numerous buildings and churches were built around the square, on top of the Inca temples and palaces.
Nowadays the square is full of tourist restaurants and big chains like McDonald’s or Starbucks, travel agencies and souvenir stores, which for us have taken away a little bit of the charm of past times, although it is still a must in the city.

Two of the most interesting places you can visit in the square are the Cathedral of Cusco and the Church of the Company of Jesus. The Cathedral with a mixture of Baroque, Gothic and Plateresque styles has several wonders inside such as the chapels, the main altar and the sacristy.

Next to the Cathedral, you can find the Church of the Company of Jesus, one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Peru. Besides observing its impressive facade, it is worth entering to see the main altar, the 4 cedar altars and the golden pulpit.

An interesting option to learn about the history of the city and not miss anything is to book this private tour with an English speaking guide or this free tour of Cusco, considered one of the best free tours in Cusco.

Schedule of the Cathedral: every day from 10am to 6pm

Church visiting hours: every day from 8h to 11h and from 13h to 17h

2. San Blas Neighborhood

San Blas, located in the historic center, is the most beautiful and charming neighborhood to see in Cusco. Strolling through the narrow, steep cobblestone streets, seeing the old colonial houses or looking for some original souvenirs in one of the stores and craft workshops are some of the best things to do in Cusco.

Among its most interesting places is the Church of San Blas, the oldest in the city built on top of an Inca temple, which is worth entering to see its fantastic carved wooden pulpit.

3. Qorikancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo

Qorikancha was a temple built by the Incas dedicated to the Sun God that with the passage of time was expanded and embellished to become the most important place of worship of the Inca Empire. One of the most outstanding elements that are preserved from the temple are the great blocks of solid rock that were joined without any type of mortar, until forming great walls. These walls, covered with gold sheets, delimited various temples within Qorikancha, such as the Sun, Moon and Star temples.

4. Sacsayhuamán, one of the places to visit in Cusco

Located about 40 minutes walk north of the historic center, are the ruins of the fortress Sacsayhuaman, another place to visit in Cusco essential. This complex was started in the 15th century by order of Pachacutec, one of the most important Incas that the Empire had. And even though only a part of the ancient Sacsayhuamán remains today, you can still see the incredible walls of large stone blocks forming 3 superimposed platforms.

5. Loreto Street and the Stone of the 12 angles

Loreto Street, located in the historical center, is the most interesting street in the city as the contrast between the Inca and colonial buildings can be seen more clearly. The Inca walls located in the lower part of the Spanish buildings are an authentic work of art where the large blocks of stone fit perfectly as in a puzzle.

The most famous point of the Inca walls and located among the places to see in Cusco essential, is located a few meters from the Calle Loreto, on the street Hatun Rumiyoc, where is the Stone of the 12 angles, famous for its great finish and bordered by its twelve angles.

6. San Pedro Market

Another place to see in Cuzco is the Mercado de San Pedro, the oldest and best known market in the city. This market also called the Central Market, was built by the famous Gustav Eiffel, author of the Eiffel Tower and inside you can see stalls of all kinds of typical products of Peru such as passion fruit, pineapple, corn, cassava, Andean potatoes and other more common in all markets.
It is also a good place to buy handicrafts and try typical local dishes in one of the food stalls.

A good way to tour this market and try some of the Peruvian delicacies with the recommendations of an expert is to book this gastronomic tour with a Spanish speaking guide.

Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. On Sundays it closes at noon.

7. Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Qenqo and the White Christ

In addition to Sacsayhuaman, there are three other Inca archaeological sites that deserve to be among the must-see places in Cusco. The first is Tambomachay, dedicated to the cult of water and located 8 kilometers from Cusco in which a beautiful natural environment stands out where there was an Inca hydraulic system formed by fountains, channels and aqueducts.
At 5 minutes walking from Tambomachay is Pukapukara, known as the Red Fortress. In these ruins you can appreciate the different rooms and walls of the old fortress, which could be used as a hunting shelter, a guard post or a stop for the royal entourage.

Following the highway towards Sacsayhuamán, you will arrive, in one hour walking, at Qenqo, a religious complex where you can see the remains of various Inca constructions such as an amphitheater, two columns with astronomical functions, a channel and a subway room.

Qenqo is located one kilometer from Sacsayhuaman and also very close to the White Christ, an 8 meter statue from which you can take the road down to the city, with fantastic views of the city of Cusco.

To save money we advise you to book the specific tourist ticket for the area of Cusco that includes all these ruins and the tourist attractions of the city.

Keep in mind that although it is advisable to take this tour on foot through the landscapes, you can take a combi that brings you closer to this site.

8. The Sacred Valley

The magical Sacred Valley of the Incas, located 15 kilometers from Cusco, is one of the most impressive places to visit in Peru. In this valley of the Andes that is crossed by several rivers, you will find archaeological sites of the ancient Incas, indigenous and colonial peoples and landscapes that will leave you speechless.
This valley was very appreciated by the Incas for its good conditions for agriculture in which taking advantage of the geography, they created a system of terraces to grow their so precious corn.

9. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, located a little more than 100 kilometers from Cusco, is considered one of the seven wonders of the world as well as one of the most important places to visit in Cusco.

This ancient Inca city, which remained hidden among the mountains and vegetation until it was discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, stands out for its 15th century ruins such as the Intihuatana stone, the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the Condor and the Hall of the Three Windows.

10. The Rainbow Mountain

Another of the best excursions and places to visit in Cusco is the Rainbow Mountain also called the Mountain of the Seven Colors. Located at more than 5000 meters high in the Andes, it presents one of the most incredible geological phenomena of the earth, which has made it one of the best known places in the area in a few years.

This explosion of colors is the product of the combination of different minerals that give the sensation that a rainbow fell from the sky onto the mountain, when viewed from afar. Keep in mind that the best time to see the colors clearly is in July and August, the dry season.

The best and most comfortable way to get to Rainbow Mountain is to book this tour from Cusco with an English speaking guide or this 4 day tour that includes Machu Picchu, both of which will take you to one of the most impressive places to visit in Cusco.