What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Cusco, Peru.
Photo: Cristhians_art / Pexels
Cusco sits high in the Peruvian Andes, a city of Inca stone walls topped with colonial buildings. The Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral and the Qorikancha sit close together, while San Blas and San Pedro Market add a local, everyday feel. Above the centre, Sacsayhuamán and Qenqo give you Inca ruins and wide views over the rooftops. Dry, sunny weather runs from June to September, with July and August the busiest months. Nights stay cold year-round, since the city sits at altitude.
Two to three days let you see the Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral, Qorikancha, San Blas and Sacsayhuamán without rushing, plus time to adjust to the altitude before heading further afield.
Hills above San Cristóbal
This large Inca site sits on the hill above the city. Its huge stone walls are cut to fit together without mortar. You also get wide views over Cusco's red-tiled roofs.
Avenida El Sol
This was the most important Inca temple in Cusco. The Spanish built the Santo Domingo convent on top of it, so you can see fine Inca stonework and colonial buildings side by side.
Historic centre
The main square was the centre of the Inca capital and is still the heart of the city. It is surrounded by stone arcades, churches and balconies, and it is a good place to start exploring on foot.
Plaza de Armas
The cathedral stands on the main square and holds a large collection of colonial religious art from the Cusco School. Look for the painting of the Last Supper with a guinea pig on the table.
Plaza de Armas
This Jesuit church faces the main square next to the cathedral. It has a richly carved stone front and a gilded altar inside.
San Blas
A steep neighbourhood of narrow stone streets, craft workshops and small cafés just uphill from the main square. The small San Blas church has a finely carved wooden pulpit.
Historic centre
This narrow lane is lined with original Inca walls. The best-known block has twelve angles that fit tightly against the stones around it, which shows the skill of Inca builders.
San Pedro
Cusco's main covered market sells fruit, bread, cheese, herbs and local food at simple counters. It is a good place to eat a cheap lunch or try fresh juice among local shoppers.
Plaza de las Nazarenas
A compact museum in a colonial mansion with well-displayed ceramics, gold and silver objects from cultures across ancient Peru. The labels are clear and the collection is easy to see in one visit.
Hills above the city
A sacred Inca rock carved with channels, steps and an underground chamber, a short way past Sacsayhuamán. Many visitors combine it with the other Inca sites on the hill.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C / 8°C | 26 days (195 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| February | 16°C / 8°C | 25 days (165 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 6.1/10 |
| March | 16°C / 7°C | 23 days (131 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 6.1/10 |
| April | 16°C / 6°C | 17 days (62 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| May | 17°C / 5°C | 9 days (27 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: June | 17°C / 4°C | 2 days (7 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 9.0/10 |
| Best month: July | 17°C / 4°C | 3 days (9 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.2/10 |
| Best month: August | 18°C / 5°C | 6 days (18 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 8.8/10 |
| Best month: September | 18°C / 6°C | 9 days (27 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 8.2/10 |
| October | 18°C / 7°C | 17 days (71 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| November | 18°C / 8°C | 21 days (125 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| December | 17°C / 8°C | 24 days (164 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 6.6/10 |
Highs reach 16.3°C with rain on about 26 days and 195mm falling, the wettest month. Score 6.2, a good month, but heavy rain makes trails muddy.
Similar to January: 16.1°C highs, 24.9 rain days and 165mm. Score 6.1, good, though this is peak wet season with less sunshine, 9.1 hours a day.
Highs stay at 16.1°C, rain days drop slightly to 23.4 with 131mm. Score 6.1, good, as wet season starts easing.
Highs of 16.3°C and rain days fall sharply to 16.6, with 62mm of rain. Score 6.2, good, marking the shift toward drier weather.
Highs reach 16.6°C and rain becomes rare, 8.5 rain days and just 27mm. Score 7.6, best, with 10.5 hours of sun daily.
Dry season peaks: 16.8°C highs, only 2.1 rain days and 7mm of rain. Score 9, best, though nights drop to 4.3°C, cold after dark.
The driest and warmest month in the dry stretch, 17.4°C highs, 2.5 rain days, 9mm rain. Score 9.2, best, nights fall to 3.8°C.
Highs climb to 18°C with 5.9 rain days and 18mm rain. Score 8.8, best, sunshine rises to 11.1 hours a day.
Highs of 18.3°C, rain days at 8.8 with 27mm. Score 8.2, best, still dry with strong sun, 11.1 hours a day.
Rain returns: 17.4 rain days and 71mm, highs stay at 18.3°C. Score 7, good, as the wet season begins building again.
Highs of 18°C, rain days rise to 20.7 with 125mm. Score 7, good, with wetter afternoons becoming common.
Highs ease to 17.1°C, rain days reach 24.4 with 164mm. Score 6.6, good, as the wet season settles in fully.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Peru →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for views, quiet, repeat visitors
San Cristóbal sits on the slope above the Plaza de Armas, below the road up to Sacsayhuamán. It is quieter than the centre, and many places have wide views across the city. The drawback is the steep climb back up from the centre every day, which many people find tiring in the first days at altitude.
Good for budget travellers, local feel
Santa Ana is an older residential area uphill to the west of the centre, with a church, small plazas and simple guesthouses. It gives a more local, less touristy side of Cusco while staying walkable to the main square. The drawback is the steep hill and stairs, and there are fewer restaurants nearby, so evenings mean walking back down.
Good for families, longer stays, practical needs
Wanchaq is a modern, mostly flat district southeast of the historic centre, with supermarkets, banks, clinics and everyday local restaurants. It is useful for longer stays and is closer to the airport. The drawback is that it has little historic character, and you will need a taxi or a longer walk to reach the main sights.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima → Cusco Cruz del Sur runs 7 departures a day. The trip takes 21 to 24 hours. Fares start at S/ 195. The highest fare was not checked. Most visitors fly this route, but flight times and fares were not checked. Search limit reached: Cusco–Puno (PeruRail Titicaca train and bus), Arequipa–Puno, Cusco–Arequipa and Lima–Iquitos (air or river only, no road) were left out because no operator source could be checked. | bus | 21 h | 195 PEN ↗ |
Roasted or fried guinea pig is a traditional Andean dish, often served whole with potatoes. Locals eat it on special occasions and at family gatherings in Cusco's markets and local restaurants.
This stir-fry mixes strips of beef with onions, tomatoes, and French fries, served with rice. It's a everyday lunch dish found in restaurants and home kitchens across Cusco.
Deep-fried pork pieces, usually served with corn, mint, and onion salad. It's a popular weekend breakfast or lunch dish sold at local eateries and street stalls.
A warming soup made with quinoa, vegetables, and sometimes meat, reflecting the Andean staple grain grown in the region. It's commonly eaten for lunch, especially in cooler months.
A stuffed spicy pepper filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese, then baked. This dish is a specialty of the wider Arequipa-Cusco Andean region and appears on many local menus.
Peru's national cocktail, made with pisco brandy, lime juice, egg white, and bitters. It's widely enjoyed in Cusco's bars and restaurants, especially in the evening.
Yes. August scores 8.8 out of 10 and is one of the four best months. Daytime highs reach 18°C and rain falls on only 5.9 days with 18mm total, so afternoons are mostly dry. Nights are cool at 4.6°C low, so pack a warm jacket.
June, July, August and September score highest, between 8.2 and 9.2 out of 10. July is the top month: highs of 17.4°C, only 2.5 rain days and 9mm of rain, plus 10.9 hours of sun. These months fall in Cusco's dry season, with far less rain than December to March.
Plan on 2 to 3 days for the city itself. The main sights are quick: Plaza de Armas and the cathedral each take 1–2 hours, San Blas needs 2–3 hours, and Sacsayhuamán above the city takes another 2–3 hours. Add extra days if you're also visiting the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu.
It depends on the month. From December to March, rain falls on 23 to 26 days a month with up to 195mm in January. From June to August the city is dry, with just 2 to 6 rain days a month and under 20mm of rain, making this the clearer, sunnier stretch of the year.
Yes, nights are cool year-round. Lows drop to 3.8°C in July, the coldest month, and rarely rise above 8°C even in the warmer wet season months like December and January. Daytime temperatures are mild, between 16°C and 18°C all year, so bring layers for the temperature swing.
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