Cusco is located in the middle of the Peruvian Andes. History shows it was the capital of the Inca Empire. It has a spectacular main square, narrow cobbled streets and is home to nearby ruins and full of things to see and do. This article will guide you on 15 Fun Things To Do In Cusco City.Â
TIP: Cusco is 11,000 feet above sea level in elevation, so it may take a few days for your body to acclimatise. Try drinking a cup or two of coco or muna tea to keep altitude sickness at bay.
1. Take Advantage of a FREE Walking Tour of Cusco City
Sign up for a FREE Walking Tour to give yourself an induction to Cusco City. The tour lasts 2.5 hours, and it’s a great way to discover more about the history and culture of the place.
I originally booked online with GuruWalk, but when I went to what I thought was the meeting point, I accidentally walked off with a different company called Free Walking Tour Cusco. Whoops. Nevertheless, it was meant to be, as I had an absolutely fantastic tour. The guide was amiable and knowledgeable, walking us to all the interesting parts of the city and providing information and recommendations along the way.
We got to see and learn about the Incan walls. Listen to Incan music at MUSEO INKA. As well as look and learn about archaeological and historical sites in Cusco. We also got taken to a market to learn about the fruits and veg that grow in Peru and witness the famous national delicacy cuy cooked and uncooked.
I had so much fun walking the streets of Cusco City learning about local life, history and architecture.Â
Although this is a FREE activity, the guides work on tips, so be sure to tip them well if you feel they did a good job.
If you are interested in a free walking tour with FREE Walking Tour Cusco the meeting point is at KFC Cusco City every day at 9:45am, 12:30pm and 3pmÂ
2. Get Tipsy on Pisco Sours & Listen To Live Music
Get Tipsy on some Pisco Sours and listen to live music while in Cusco City. Pisco Sours actually dates back to the early 20th century. An American bartender named Victor Vaughen Morris created it when he moved to Peru in 1903 as an alternative to Whiskey Sour. The drink then became widely popular throughout Peru and now even has its own National Day.
Its a hit with tourists due to its freshness and mix of flavours of pisco, egg white, lemon juice, and simple syrup. The perfect place to enjoy them is in the Plaza de Armas. Plaza de Armas has many restaurants and bars. Pick a bar with some live music and enjoy your pisco sours into the night.Â
3. Visit The Cristo Blanco
Cristo Blanco is a giant statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms. It stands on the hills of the city of Cusco, making it visible from all angles across the city. The entrance is free, so it makes for a quick cool stop.
To reach this statue, you can walk from the Plaza de Armas on an incline, take a taxi service or reach it by bus. My legs were pretty knackered from the trip, so I went up by bus, which leads me to the next thing you can do in Cusco City.
4. Ride Along on a Cusco City Bus Tour
In the Plaza de Armas, many street sellers sell a Cusco bus tour. It was a great way to see parts of Cusco City I had not had a chance to see yet by foot. As we rode along, the bus tour included 17 sites with an English and Spanish-speaking guide. We also got off at two stops. Cristo Blanco and for Ceremonia Hoja de Coca, to experience an Incan ritual which was an interesting experience to Incan culture.
5. Shop Till You Drop at San Pedro Market
San Pedro Market is the biggest market in Cusco City and, without a doubt, the most popular.
On the walk up to the market, you will find many street vendors selling everything you can think of, from dried foods to cooked and uncooked guineapig to toys, books, and clothing to beauty products, including live snails! I even saw someone sitting with a weighing scale and charging people to weigh themselves. I mean, the hustle was real and good for them.
Once you enter the market, you will be met with alpaca jumpers, ponchos hats, scarves gloves. You will also find many vendors selling bags, accessories, souvenirs, and more.
When you think things get any better, you see the food hall selling fresh fruit juices, traditional meals, cheeses, fruits and veg, coco sweets, and Peruvian coffee. You will find everything you need at this market, making it perfect for shopping for gifts for your family and friends.
You can spend hours at this market and not get bored, and in fact, I found myself at this market at least once every day I was in Cusco City. It’s definitely worth a visit and loads of fun.
Remember not to get ripped off, though! Bring out your strongest haggling skills to get the best prices.
6. Explore The San Blas Neighbourhood
Exploring the San Blas neighbourhood is a must on your trip to Cusco. The neighbourhood is beautiful, with coffee shops, galleries, artisan handcraft shops, bars, restaurants, the Temple of San Blas, the Coca Museum, and the Hilario Mendvil Museum.
If you want to relax and watch the sunset, the San Blas View Point has excellent panoramic views of Cusco City.
7. Admire The Cusco City Street Art
Spend a couple of hours just walking around Cusco and admire how graffiti artists bring the streets of Cusco to life. You will see many bright, colorful designs expressing their visions of the world and their way of life.
8. Take Pictures With Alpacas
What’s more fun than cuddling and taking photos with the cutest little alpacas? Alpacas are found all over the city, and the alpaca women are happy for you to hold the alpacas and take photos. For a tip, of course. The alpacas are treated well, and it’s impossible to resist not having a little cuddle and taking a photo at least once during your trip.
9. Enjoy an Inca Massage
All over Cusco City, you will find massage parlors. The Inca massage is an ancient Andean medicine that combines different massage techniques using hands, hot stones, and cupping to relieve pain and balance the mind, body, and spirit.
Compared to England, the prices are incredibly low, with some massages starting at as little as £10 for 30 minutes. So, of course, I took advantage of this with all the hiking, climbing, and walking around I had been doing.
10. Eat Exotic Fruits at San Blas Market
San Blas market is one of the oldest markets in Cusco and is perfect for those looking for a more traditional experience at local prices. The market mainly sells groceries, plants, and juices.
My favourite section in this market was the fruits. I purchased some exotic fruits and got the vendor to cut them up to try, which was great fun and also delicious.
11: Hang Out in Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is Cusco’s main square. It’s a busy, vibrant place to be. You will see street food carts and street sellers selling art, jewellery, clothing, and more. It has many restaurants and bars so that you can indulge in Peruvian and Western cuisine.
It is also home to two churches, Cusco Cathedral, and the church La Compania de Jesus.
My favourite things to do were to have drinks on restaurant balconies to watch the everyday city life go by. Then sitting on the church steps enjoying street snacks amidst all the action.
It’s also an excellent area to walk around, with stone pathways and a colourful vibe capturing the essence of Cusco and its culture.
12. Visit A Museum
For those of you that are interested in learning about history, art, or culture, have fun spending your day visiting some museums in Cusco City.
Here are 5 to get you started, but the city is full of them, depending on your interests.
Museo Inka
Choco Museo
Museo Maximo Laura
Coca Museum
Planetarium Cusco
13. Try Guineapig at Mr Cuy
In the UK, guineapigs are cute fluffy pets, but in Peru, they are a loved delicacy served with potatoes and veg. At Mr. Cuy, they dress your guinea pig in a little hat, making it a fun experience. The drinks and starters are also excellent at this restaurant. I didn’t fancy a guinea pig for dinner, so I left that for my cousin while I enjoyed something else off the Menu. I will leave the guinea pig to you, adventurous foodies looking for fun in Cusco City
14. Visit Saqsaywaman
Saqsaywaman is a unique archeological site built by the Incas in the 15th century. It is located 25-30 minutes walk uphill from Cusco’s main square, Plaza de Armas. On the walk-up, my cousin and I met a man offering us a car service to four sites, including Sacsayhuaman, so we decided to take him up on the offer, which was a great option.
It cost 60 soles (£7.50 each) for the car service and 70 soles (£15) for the entry ticket to the four sites, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Q’enqo, and Saqsaywaman. The man waited for us while we explored each site then left us at Saqsaywaman where we explored at our own pace then made our own way back to the main square.
15: Enjoy Sunset at a Cusco City Viewpoints
Cusco has several viewpoints to get a stunning view of the city. You should make an evening of it and watch the sunset in one of the city’s three most popular spots below.Â
- Mirador de San Cristobal
- Mirador de San Blas
- Cristo Blanco
Share
Follow Me On
MORE IN PERU
You’ll also like
2026 Travel Bucket List
2026 Travel Bucket List 2026 travel isn’t about rushing through destinations or following the latest travel trends just because everyone else is. For me, this
Travel Europe By Train From London
Tired of long airport queues, delays, luggage restrictions, or the fear of your luggage not turning up on the other side? If yes, then do
Sleep In a Capsule at Nine Hours in Tokyo
Sleeping in a capsule hotel, also known as a pod hotel, is a cool experience and a TOKYO MUST DO. I stayed in the Nine Hours