Free things to do · Cusco · Peru
5 free things to do in Cusco
Cusco without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Cusco without paying an entry fee: Plaza de Armas, Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone, San Blas quarter and Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco are all free. The Boleto Turístico is good value if you plan to see several sites around Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 3
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- February
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Historic Centre
1.Plaza de Armas
Climb to a café balcony overlooking the plaza for views of the churches at night when they are lit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
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Street · Historic Centre
2.Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone
Walk the street early or late to avoid crowds around the stone, and continue uphill into San Blas.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · San Blas
3.San Blas quarter
Come in the late afternoon and have coffee on a terrace looking down over the city's roofs.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Couples
- Shopping
Museum · Historic Centre
4.Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco
Visit before shopping for textiles elsewhere; you will know how to judge quality.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · San Cristóbal
5.Cristo Blanco
Visit at sunset, then walk down through San Cristóbal while it is still light.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Centre | Plaza de Armas, Hatun Rumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone and Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco | 1 hour + 30 minutes + 45 minutes |
| San Blas | San Blas quarter | 1–2 hours |
| San Cristóbal | Cristo Blanco | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Historic Centre
Qorikancha and Santo Domingo
Look at the curved Inca wall from Avenida El Sol below, which survived earthquakes that toppled the Spanish church.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Historic Centre
Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús
Climb to the choir loft or bell tower for a view straight over the Plaza de Armas.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Art
Market · San Pedro
San Pedro Market
Grab a fruit juice blended to order at the juice stalls, and keep your bag in front of you.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
More ways to save
- The Boleto Turístico is good value if you plan to see several sites around Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
- Eat the set lunch menu at local restaurants or in San Pedro Market.
- Use colectivos instead of private taxis for travel to the Sacred Valley.
- Book Machu Picchu trains early for better prices and availability.
- Visit in April or October for lower prices than the June–August peak.
- Compare tour prices at several agencies; many sell the same group trips.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cusco expensive to visit?
Cusco is affordable for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Cusco?
Plaza de Armas: Climb to a café balcony overlooking the plaza for views of the churches at night when they are lit.