Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, is a mesmerizing city filled with rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture. Nestled in the Andes Mountains, it serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu and many other incredible sites. Whether you're a history buff, adventure seeker, or culture lover, Cusco has something for everyone!
Here are the top 10 places you must visit in Cusco!
1. Machu Picchu
One of the new seven wonders of the world. The icing on the cake in any South American tour package. Being able to visit the amazing Inca Citadel is a unique experience in life. Precisely, Cusco is popular worldwide for hosting Machu Picchu and for being the capital of the Inca Empire. The conqueror's Spanish never could reach it, and the Inca citadel remained intact to this day. To get there, you can walk the pilgrimage route that the ancient Incas used to do, called the Inca Trail.
2. Plaza de Armas
Cusco’s Plaza de Armas is the cultural center of the city. Lining the plaza are restaurants, bars, and coffee shops – many with a great view of the city – perfect for spending an afternoon people-watching and acclimating to Cusco’s elevation. At the heart of the plaza lies a manicured garden and an intricate statue of the Incan ruler Pachacuti. Those willing to venture from the sun-soaked benches will appreciate a tour of Cusco’s massive cathedral, complete with a trip into the crypts.
3. La Cathedral
A squatter on the site of Viracocha Inca’s palace, the cathedral was built using blocks pilfered from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywamán. Its construction started in 1559 and took almost a century. It is joined by the 1536 Iglesia del Triunfo to its right and the 1733 Iglesia de Jesús María to the left. The cathedral is one of the city’s greatest repositories of colonial art, especially for works from the escuela cuzqueña (Cuzco school), noted for its decorative combination of 17th-century European devotional painting styles with the color palette and iconography of indigenous Andean artists.
4. Qorikancha
If you visit only one Cusco site, make it these Inca ruins forming the base of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo. Once the richest temple in the Inca empire, all that remains today is the masterful stonework. The temple was built in the mid-15th century during the reign of the 10th Inca, Túpac Yupanqui. Postconquest, Francisco Pizarro gave it to his brother Juan who bequeathed it to the Dominicans, in whose possession it remains.
5. Sacsayhuamán – The Inca Fortress
This massive Inca ruin offers panoramic views of Cusco. Marvel at the gigantic stone walls (some weigh over 100 tons!). Visit during the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) in June. Perfect for hiking & photography.
6. Planetarium
For the Inca, astronomy played a huge role in day-to-day life, influencing the planting and harvesting of crops, religious ceremonies, and architecture. The Inca calendar was detailed and accurate, as evident in the positioning of buildings to coincide with solstices. The wonders of such phenomena are explored at the Cusco Planetarium, where visitors learn about Incan astronomy and conduct star-gazing of their own.
7. San Blas District
The artisan neighborhood of San Blas is notable for its architecture and quaint shops. Just a short walk from the plaza, the terrain becomes steep on the way up to San Blas Plaza. The Inca road Hatunrumiyoc is a remnant of the city’s past and a remarkable cobblestone construction that leads through the neighborhood.
8. Iglesia San Francisco
More austere than many of Cuzco’s other churches, Iglesia San Francisco dates from the 16th and 17th centuries and is one of the few that didn’t need to be completely reconstructed after the 1650 earthquake. It has a large collection of colonial religious paintings and a beautifully carved cedar choir. The attached museum supposedly houses the largest painting in South America, which measures 9m by 12m and shows the family tree of St Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order.
9. Paddy’s Irish Pub
Stop in for a drink at Paddy’s, the highest Irish-owned pub in the world. Expats and backpackers fill Paddy’s to enjoy imported European beer (including Guinness) and watch rugby, soccer or American football. Homesick travelers will appreciate the pub’s burgers and sandwiches, as well as Irish favorites such as shepherd’s pie. Centrally located on the corner of the plaza, Paddy’s serves as a spot for a celebratory drink after a trek to Machu Picchu, and a good place for the solo traveler to meet people.
10. San Pedro Market
San Pedro Market is a spectacle to behold, filled with fruit, vegetable, and meat stands, as well as 30 stalls serving freshly squeezed juices. A lack of refrigeration means products are displayed open-air, and the freshest items are sold first thing, so come early if you want to buy. For lunch, the market hosts several empanada and tamale vendors, as well as food stalls that serve a menú – a two-course meal – at a very reasonable price. If you’re struggling with the altitude, pick up a bag of coca leaves here to suck on.
