One Day in Cusco, Peru
The city of Cusco – also spelled Cuzco – is located in the southern highlands of Peru. The biggest tourist hub in the country, Cusco offers ample day trips to nearby wonders – including Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and Lake Humantay. One of the most populous regions in Peru, Cusco is also bustling with activities to do in town as well. Our recommendations of things to do in Cusco to make the most out of your day in the city is below!
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1. Visit San Pedro Market
San Pedro Market is the biggest market in Cusco, located within walking distance from the Plaza de Armas on the corner of Santa Clara & Thupaq Amaru road. A central shopping hub, San Pedro offers pretty much anything you could need to buy: fruits, vegetables, meat, chocolates, clothing, flowers, souvenirs – really anything!
But when you’re done perusing the aisles and shopping, if you want to enjoy San Pedro like a true local – head to the back of the market. Here you’ll find rows of food stands to sit down and order a meal at. Grabbing a barstool and eating in the market is one of the most authentic ways to enjoy Peruvian food while visiting.
If you’re in town for more than a couple of days, another popular market to explore in Cusco is the San Blas Market on Pumapaccha street. But if you only have time for one, you’ll definitely want to stop at San Pedro.
2. Street Shop for Souvenirs
Directly outside of San Pedro Market, in the Plazoleta San Pedro, there is often outdoor shopping kiosks set up. While some of the stands offer similar items to what is sold inside San Pedro, these stands often offer a broader selection of items created or organized by the local community.
Like all street shopping, the stands in the Plazoleta San Pedro are free to visit.
3. Enjoy a Cooking Class
After your visit to San Pedro & getting to see every delicious food Peru has to offer, you’ll likely now want to taste test them! One of the best ways to learn about the local food culture while traveling is to sign yourself up for a cooking class! To read our full review of Cusco Culinary’s cooking class, click here!
A four hour tour of San Pedro Market and group cooking class held by Cusco Culinary costs ~ $59 USD (227 soles) per person. Classes must be booked in advance and are offered in both the morning (lunch) or afternoon (dinner). Remaining availability can be checked through the link below.
4. Visit the Cathedral of Cusco
The Cathedral of Cusco – also called the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption (a mouthful, I know) – is located right in the heart of Cusco at the Plaza de Armas. Built over 400 years ago, the cathedral exemplifies Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic architectural influences on the region.
The Cathedral of Cusco is home to both historic art and modern work created by art students of the city. Entrance tickets for the cathedral can be purchased at the door for 40 soles (~ $10 USD), or can be booked in advanced as part of a full city tour.
Cusco City Tour
5. Stop for a Bite to Eat
If it’s not obvious from the activities listed in this guide, you should definitely prioritize trying some Peruvian dishes while in Cusco. There’s no shortage of restaurants and cafes in the city, so whenever the craving hits you – there should be something nearby to fit your needs. The photos below were taken in an avocado based cafe in the city 🙂
Some popular dishes to look for include alpaca, ceviche, and huancaina.
6. Explore Cusco
Cusco is an extremely walkable city with many shops and parks to stumble upon. As with every new city you’re visiting, we highly recommend walking from destination to destination – or just wandering around – to get a good feel of it! One of our favorite finds was a sustainable & ethically sourced brand named Atipika located on Calle Carmen.
Help out some future Cusco travelers by letting us know what your best finds were in the comments below!
7. Visit the Cusco Planetarium
Last but not least, when the sun goes down on the city, finish off your day by booking a trip to the Cusco Planetarium! The daily presentations at the planetarium include an overview of Incan astrology, a projection of constellations, and outdoor stargazing through the program’s telescopes.
Visits to the Cusco Planetarium can be booked directly through their website in advance. If you’re looking to make a same day reservation, you can call the planetarium through WhatsApp and check remaining availability. Transportation is arranged by the program from Regocijo Square (by the fountain).
Adult tickets for this experience cost 75 soles (~ $20 USD).
Day Trips from Cusco
If you have more than a day to spend in Cusco, and are interested in some of the adventurous day trips that makes the region so popular, check out our next guides below!
1. One Day Tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu (Complete Guide)
Now declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it’s no secret that Machu Picchu is the most popular…
2. One Day Tour from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain (Complete Guide)
A stunning natural landscape, Rainbow Mountain is one of the fastest growing attractions in…
Read our guide for one day in Arequipa next!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
The cooking class sounds incredible! I love doing such activities in new cities because it’s such a fun way to appreciate the culture. Of course visiting Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain would be a dream too😊
Lots of interesting things to do in Cusco. I hope to visit one day. The food looks good!
Cooking classes are one of my favorite things to do when traveling! Those foods look amazing. Thanks for inspiring some other ideas for things to do in Peru besides Machu Picchu. Adding these to my list for my trip!
This post brought back some great memories. We spent a whole month in Cusco and loved it there. The markets are really good and loved buying fresh produce from there. We didn’t do a cooking class, but that sounds like a lot of fun.
That fooood! I would love to learn to cook some of those dishes and taste as many as I can!!
I have just been listening to the fall of civilizations podcast about the Inca (It’s fascinating for someone who as never been- you might love it as you have visited the places it talks about!!) It is always cool to see what a place looks like after you have learned about its history..
Manchu Picchu is definitely on my bucket list!!