2 Days in Cusco: The best way to see everything quickly!

So, you’re heading to Cusco? You’re in for a treat because Cusco was our favorite city in the entire country of Peru! Sara and I spent a full month based in the Inca capital so we’re super excited you’ve decided to visit and we have a ton of information to provide.

If you’ve made it to this guide, then you only have minimal time in Cusco. But it’s okay, because we’ve put together the most time efficient 2 day itinerary to Cusco you’ll find on the interwebs!

By the end of this article, you’ll have been bequeathed a royal amount of knowledge. We’re going to tell you where to stay, where to eat and what to do. In addition, we want to cover EVERYTHING you need to know before your trip to Cusco.

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Things to know about spending 2 days in Cusco

We want to start off by setting some expectations. As you’re probably already aware, only two days in Cusco is not enough to see everything. Personally, we’d recommend at least five days in Cusco, but more on that later.

However, don’t be disheartened because even though Cusco is the 8th biggest city in Peru, the main touristy area is actually very small. 

All in all, we’re going to have you cover a LOT of ground during your two days here!

About this 2-day itinerary

Sara and I have painstakingly sat down, mapped out and prepared the most efficient route around Cusco. Unlike other “2 days in Cusco” itineraries online, we’ve created this particular itinerary to be followed step by step. 

Therefore, if you manage to follow our itinerary to a tee, you’ll maximize your time to be able to visit as many spots as possible in two days. We’ll have you running around from morning to night, but it’ll be so worth it!

Now, we know that not everyone is going to be arriving at the exact same time in Cusco and have the same amount of time to visit. So feel free to adjust this itinerary by removing or moving certain activities to fit your schedule.

And we just want to note that our 2 days in Cusco itinerary doesn’t include any day trips to the surrounding area. We’re just covering the city of Cusco because you’re going to need two full days for this anyway!

2 days in Cusco itinerary overview

It’s possible some of you are just looking for a quick itinerary to shove into your planner. Below is a concise list of what Sara and I will be talking about below. Just know, there are going to be golden nuggets of information within the actual itinerary that will help smooth out your planning!

Day 1:

• Plaza de Armas
• The Sun Temple
• Palacio del Inca Kusicancha
• Museo de Inca
• Twelve Angled Stone
• Plaza San Blas
• Mercado San Blas (late lunch!)
• Cusco Cathedral
• Plaza Regocijo
• Museum of Contemporary Art or Regional Historical Museum of Cusco
• Arco de Santa Ana
• Mercado San Pedro
• Dinner at Morena Peruvian Kitchen
• Pisco sour tasting

Day 2:

• Temple of the Moon
• Cristo Blanco
• Saqsaywaman
• Lunch at Limbus Restobar
• Chocolate workshop at the ChocoMuseo
• Museo de Arte Precolombino
• Dinner at KION Peruvian Chinese

Cusco Itinerary Day 1

Right, let’s jump into the meat and potatoes of this itinerary! We’ve put together the first day to cover a ton of activities within the historic center of Cusco.

Plaza de Armas

We’re going to go ahead and assume you’ve arrived early into Cusco. Drop your bags off at the hotel and immediately head to the beating heart of the city – Plaza de Armas.

Plaza de Armas is the main square has been the historic center of Cusco since before the Spanish conquest in 1534. It’s bordered by two stunning churches (Cusco Cathedral & the Church of the Society of Jesus), as well as numerous restaurants, shops, cafes and bars.

Besides all of the above, we found Plaza de Armas to be a great spot to just sit on a bench and people watch. There’s a calm and relaxed way of life in South America which can be seen just by taking a step back and observing.

If you’re around Cusco at the right time of year, and especially if you’re spending Christmas in Cusco, then Plaza de Armas is where you’ll find most of the holiday events.

The Sun Temple (Church of Santo Domingo)

There are two sites of major Inca temple ruins to visit in Cusco and we’re sending you to both!

But up first is the Sun Temple, or Coricancha. Believe it or not, this sacred temple to worship the sun and mother nature is found inside a church and convent. 

Without going into too much of a history lesson, all the churches in Cusco were built over Incan temples while the Spanish were trying to convert everyone to catholicism. The sun temple is the only one still preserved, inside the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo.

So this is sort of a two-for-one deal. We got to visit not only a stunning church with unreal architecture, but we also got to stand in the middle of what was once the most important temple in the Inca capital!

• Entrance Fee: S/.15 ($4)
• Opening times: 6am – 5:30pm
• Time to visit: 30 to 60 minutes

Palacio del Inca Kusicancha

The palace of Inca Kusicancha is an archeological site that’s thought to once be the birthplace and home to Pachacutec – the 9th Sapa Inca of the Cusco Empire. It was under the rule of Pachacutec that the Inca Empire was born and most archeologists believe that it was for Pachacutec that Machu Picchu was built.

Found fairly close to Plaza de Armas, this palace is a well preserved memory of a pre-Spanish era. Originally, it was used as a sort of communal housing complex. It had courtyards, houses, canals and much more. Although most of the canals were destroyed by the Spanish.

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 8am – 5pm
• Time to visit: 30 to 60 minutes

Museo de Inca

There are so many museums in Cusco, but we wanted to keep this itinerary pretty light. We figured that you wouldn’t want to be inside museums for two whole days! So this is the first museum of 3 for your time in Cusco.

The Inca Museum is found super close to Plaza de Armas so it’s pretty easy to find. It takes you on a journey through time, covering civilisations in Peru starting pre-Inca, all the way up to the Spanish invasion.

We found a range of artefacts, memorabilia and clothing from the past here, all well preserved in the glass museum casing we know and love. Sara and I are museum buffs at the point, and the Inca Museum is both informative and interesting!

• Entrance fee: S/.20 ($5.34)
• Opening times: 9:15am – 4pm (Mon – Fri)
• Time to visit: 60 to 90 minutes

Twelve Angled Stone

Next it’s time to head to one of the most popular Inca artifacts in Cusco – the Twelve Angled Stone. We came here super early in the morning and had the entire alley to ourselves, but it should be around 11am for you now so there are going to be a few people around the stone.

The Twelve Angled Stone is now seen to be a national heritage object to Peru, and was once a piece of the Inca Palace in Cusco. Recognizable by its twelve-angled border, it’s a great example of the perfection of Incan architecture.

One of our guides told us that the Incas only built these perfect walls for temples and Palaces. In fact, you would have noticed how perfect the walls were at the sun temple too!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 10 minutes

Plaza San Blas

After the beautiful Twelve Angled Stone, you need to prepare yourself for a bit of hill action (but not as much hill action as tomorrow!) to head to Plaza San Blas.

The San Blas neighborhood has been made popular for its picturesque buildings, narrow streets and beautiful plazas. If you find yourself with some spare time it’s definitely worth wandering aimlessly around for a while. However, with just two days you don’t have a lot of spare time!

So to get a good feel for the area, we think checking out Plaza San Blas is a decent toe-tip into the neighborhood. If you manage to come on the right day, there’ll also be some small street markets around!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 15 minutes

Mercado San Blas (LUNCH!)

Most blogs on the internet will send you to Mercado San Pedro for lunch, but we’re not most blogs! Despite visiting Mercado San Pedro later, however, for lunch we much prefer the smaller, less busy and much cleaner Mercado San Blas.

This market is a great place for grocery shopping, or finding small trinkets, but it’s also an amazing place to find fresh food. There are a few stalls offering menu del día (set menus at a very low cost) but we opted for a handmade steak sandwich with a fresh juice. The entire meal was less than $5 each!

• Entrance fee: FREE! But the food costs.
• Opening times: 6am – 4pm, closed Sundays.
• Time to visit: 30 minutes

Cusco Cathedral

It’s time to take a delve into the most grand looking building in Plaza de Armas. Cusco Cathedral was built in 1668 by the Spanish over the top of the Incan Suntor Wassi governmental building and the Incan temple Kisoarkancha.

Cusco Cathedral wasn’t actually the first cathedral built in Cusco, that title goes to Iglesia del Triunfo which was built in 1539. This small church now acts as an auxiliary chapel to the main cathedral.

Take a stroll inside this giant house of god and feel the history as you wander up and down the aisle of the cathedral. Sara and I are far from religious, but we always truly appreciate the magnitude of the architectural feats that must have gone into building religious buildings hundreds of years ago.

Note: on the way to the next location, stop by the ChocoMuseo and book your chocolate workshop for tomorrow afternoon!

• Entrance fee: S/.40 ($10.68)
• Opening times: 6am – 8pm
• Time to visit: 30 to 60 minutes

Plaza Regocijo

From the cathedral, take a wander up to Plaza Regocijo, which is just a block away. Generally, we always found this plaza to be a lot more quiet and peaceful than Plaza de Armas. Especially with the giant fountain in the center offering a spectacle to behold.

This is another spot that we recommend slowing down and chilling out. Watch the world go by, discover different types of birds around and enjoy the sun… if there is any.

But if that’s not your style, there are a few different museums around Plaza Regocijo that you could visit instead. In fact, we have at least one of them on the next stop of this itinerary!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 30 minutes

Museum of Contemporary Art or Regional Historical Museum of Cusco

As we mentioned, there are three different museums around Plaza Regocijo. Tomorrow afternoon you should have booked your chocolate workshop at the ChocoMuseo, so leave that one alone.

Instead, use the next hour to check out one of the other two. The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Municipality of Cusco (sheesh that’s a mouthful) is exactly what it says on the tin – an art museum. Opened in 1995, it holds over 280 pieces of artwork from local, national and foreign artists.

In stark contrast, in the Regional Historical Museum of Cusco you’ll find artworks and information about Cusco’s pre-Inca times, the Incan Empire and all the way up to the Spanish colonization. 

So take your pick!

• Entrance fee: Not entirely sure unfortunately… but probably no more than $5!
• Opening times: 9am – 5pm (RHMoC) and 8am – 4pm (MoCA)
• Time to visit: 60 – 90 minutes

Arco de Santa Ana

After a mooch around the museum, you’re going to get that heartbeat pumping heading uphill to Arco de Santa Ana. Don’t worry though, it’s little more than a 10-minute walk.

This arch was declared a historic monument of Peru in 1972, and was made a UNESCO heritage site in 1983 along with Cusco’s entire historic center. 

From the top of the street, you’ll look downhill at Arco de Santa Ana, and Cusco beyond it. It’s one of the best views of the city that doesn’t require hiking!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 10 minutes

Mercado de San Pedro

Sheesh, it’s starting to get late now isn’t it? And your legs are starting to get tired? Well don’t worry, this is the last stop of the tour… at least today!

Mercado San Pedro is the second market on this tour and by far the biggest. It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs, groceries, fresh juices and much more. San Pedro market is also a great place to grab a menu del día too, albeit it being not quite as clean as Mercado San Blas.

Take a wander around the aisles and experience what a truly local market in Peru feels like. Maybe pick up a mango juice or some snacks to boost the energy after a long day… whatever floats your boat!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 6am – 6pm (until 4pm on Sundays)
• Time to visit: 20 – 30 minutes

A Peruvian dinner at Morena

Woohoo it’s that time of day for dinner! We want you to test out the local cuisine (obviously) so our personal recommendation of a spot we absolutely LOVED was Morena Peruvian restaurant.

While here, I decided on the juiciest and tastiest burger while Sara opted for a quinoa salad. Both meals were absolutely delicious!

Morena is a tad more expensive than heading to a mom & pop shop but we think the quality of the food is more than worth it. Why not treat yourself!

Note: if you’re a budget traveler, then check out Restaurante y Pizzería URPI beside Mercado San Pedro. We found it to have a high quality Peruvian menu for a pretty low price!

Pisco sour tasting (optional)

This last item on today’s itinerary is optional. Maybe you’re tired and want to head straight to bed to re-energize for tomorrow, or maybe you simply just don’t drink alcohol. It’s totally up to you!

But we truly believe you can’t pass through Peru with at least trying on pisco sour – Peru’s national beverage of choice.

We’re not the biggest drinkers and didn’t head out to party too many times in Cusco. But we did spend New Years Eve at Plaza Mayor Cusco Restobar, getting ready for the fireworks. I had a few pisco sours here and can confirm they taste great at an affordable price!

Otherwise, most bars in Cusco will offer pisco sours, so just take your pick!

Cusco Itinerary Day 2

Welcome to day two of our Cusco itinerary, and prepare yourself because we have some walking to do today!

Sara and I have focussed the second day on exploring areas on the outskirts of the historic center. From today you can expect viewpoints, ruins and some of the richest chocolate you’ve ever tasted!

But first things first, we want you up bright and early with the sun…

Temple of the Moon

We already sent you to the sun temple yesterday, and to begin today we’re sending you to the moon temple!

It’s a bit of a trek from the city center, and it’s completely uphill. However, you can be safe in the knowledge that we’re getting all the elevation climb done during this stint. The rest of the day is either flat or back downhill to town.

Start by heading to Plaza San Blas – the area you had lunch yesterday. From here you’ll need to follow Google Maps all the way uphill until you reach the top of the road in the photo. Here there’ll be a field to your right, enter the field and continue following the maps (there isn’t a marketed pathway. At the center of the field you’ll find the Temple of the Moon! The entire walk from Plaza de Armas should take around 45-minutes.

The Temple of the Moon was an important ritual site to the Incas. It was thought to be the temple used for fertility ceremonies. It’s slowly falling apart now and you can’t actually walk up to it, but just seeing the ruins is incredible!

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 20 minutes

Cristo Blanco

From the Temple of the Moon, you’ll take a 30-minute walk to Cristo Blanco. It’s down a gradual hill so don’t worry about exerting too much energy. You’ll also walk past areas of Saqsaywaman archeological site, which we’ll get to next!

Cristo Blanco is pretty much what it says on the tin: white Jesus. Or more specifically, a white Jesus statue!

But more than that, Cristo Blanco is the most popular viewpoint in Cusco. From here you can see the entire city, from one end of the valley to the other. If you look closely, you can see landmarks like Plaza de Armas, the Church of Santo Domingo and Cusco Cathedral.

• Entrance fee: FREE!
• Opening times: 24/7
• Time to visit: 20 minutes

Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywama is an ancient Inca citadel that sits around 3700m above sea level. Found to the north of Cusco, literally beside Cristo Blanco, this citadel was built in the 15th century by Sapa Inca Pachacuti.

The most famous characteristics of Saqsaywama are the perfectly built Inca walls, constructed from large rocks. The same sort of construction you saw yesterday at the 12 Angled Stone!

Entry to this complex is quite pricey, at S/.70 (~$18), but we found that you can see just as well inside the complex from the surrounding hill. Also, heading back down into Cusco from here will take you past one of the famous walls. So only play the entry fee if you really want to wander around inside.

• Entrance fee: S/.70 ($18.72)
• Opening times: 7am – 5:30pm
• Time to visit: 60 minutes

Lunch at Limbus Restobar

On your way back into Cusco, you’ll pass Limbus Restobar. We were recommended this spot  by our Airbnb host as it has some amazing views over the city. Unfortunately we never made it there ourselves but, considering it’s en route, it’ll be a great place to stop for lunch!

Besides, even if the food is subpar, you still get the experience of lunch with a view!

Chocolate workshop at the ChocoMuseo

Remember that afternoon chocolate workshop we had you book yesterday? Well now it’s time to cash that in!

We had a ton of fun at this workshop. Our host was genuinely hilarious and amazing! He was super knowledgeable about the chocolate making process, the history and the culture. He loved to joke around, even trying to convince us we were going to add blood into the chocolate like the Mayans!

Spoiler alert: we didn’t.

But if you love chocolate, want to learn to process the final product from cocoa beans or just want to have a great time, you’ll love this workshop!

Alternatively, you can just spend some time exploring the museum and chocolate factory for free!

• Entrance fee: Museum entry is free, the two hour workshop is S/.99 ($26.47)
• Opening times: 9am – 7pm (workshops run daily)
• Time to visit: 20 minutes for the museum or 2 hours for the workshop

Museo de Arte Precolombino

Alas, it’s coming to the final hours of your 2 days in Cusco. It’s been a busy 48 hours so we wanted to finish off on something a bit more chill and relaxed. So after your workshop, head to Plazoleta de las Nazarenas where you’ll visit the Pre-Columbian Art Museum.

With stellar reviews on Google, this is widely considered to be one of the best museums in Cusco. It exhibits art from various Peruvian cultures throughout history and displays the cultural wealth of pre-colonial Peru.

It’s also worth mentioning that with later opening hours, you won’t be rushing around the museum to end the day. You can take your time, enjoy the courtyards at sunset and even end up with the museum to yourself.

• Entrance fee: S/.20 ($5.37)
• Opening times: 8am – 10pm
• Time to visit: 60 – 90 minutes

Dinner at KION Peruvian Chinese

For the final dinner of your time in Cusco, we’re suggesting something a little bit different. KION is a restaurant near Plaza de Armas that specializes in a Peruvian-Chinese fusion menu.

We weren’t entirely sure what to expect before visiting but actually we were completely blown away by the food! From mouth watering noodle dishes to Peruvian inspired dumplings, what could go wrong!

And then it’s time to head back to your hotel to prepare for your next adventure the following day – wherever that might be!

Day trips from Cusco

Seeing as we’ve omitted a lot of the classic Cusco day trips from this list, we’re going to cover them super briefly below. 

As we said, 2 days in Cusco isn’t quite enough time to incorporate day trips, but in case you’d like to substitute one of the days with the following, here are your options.

Machu Picchu

A Cusco guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Machu Picchu… would it?

And yes, it is possible to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back in one day, but it’s going to cost you!

The only way to make this a day trip is to book the super fancy and overpriced train. You’ll need to take a taxi or minibus to Ollantaytambo first (trains don’t run from Cusco anymore) and catch your 90-minute train from there. 

Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you’ll take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu and then do the entire journey in reverse to get back.

This will be a long day, from early morning to late evening. It’s also going to set you back almost $300 to do so. 

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain

Palcoyo isn’t the famous rainbow mountain that you see all over social media. This is good though, because when we visited, we were the only tour group there!

We took a tour that left Cusco around sunrise and drove us a few hours through the Andes to Palcoyo. Then it’s a fairly simple 45-minute hike to the summit.

Just make sure that you’re acclimatized sufficiently because Palcoyo sits at 4950m above sea level!

Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is a crazy place and an amazing tour. It’s another packed out day so expect an early start and a late finish. But it is possible to do it as a day tour.

We visited Chinchero, the Salt Mine of Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Our guide was super animated and incredibly knowledgeable about the area. 

The only downside we found was that visiting so many places felt a bit rushed. We were only given around 20-minutes in each spot before needing to move on to the next one!

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain

Now this is the rainbow mountain that you see all over social media. If you don’t fancy Palcoyo and really want to visit the original rainbow mountain (against our recommendation) then you’ll need to head to Vinicunca. 

We didn’t go as we felt like Palcoyo was enough, but we’ve heard tons of stories. You can expect a pretty long and steep hike at 5000m, tons of tourists queuing for the iconic photo and peddlers always trying to sell you stuff.

Things to know before visiting Cusco

Now we have the main bulk of the itinerary out the way, we just wanted to cover a few FAQs that might help you streamline your 2 days in Cusco.

How can you deal with altitude sickness in Cusco?

The best way to deal with altitude sickness is to wait it out and acclimatize for a couple of days before doing anything strenuous. However, if you’re short on time, you can chew coca leaves or drink coca tea, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol or smoking. Sometimes motion sickness medicine could help too.

Is Cusco safe?

For the most part, Cusco is a safe city. We spent a month walking around with our cameras and phones out and not once did we encounter any crime. This is especially true for the historic center of the city – where you’ll spend most of the time as a tourist.

There are a few unsavory areas in Cusco but this itinerary doesn’t take you to any of them!

Is two days long enough in Cusco?

Yes and no. Yes, because it’s possible to see most of the main sights and attractions of Cusco in two days, as we’ve proved with this itinerary. But also no, because it would be better to take it slow and enjoy your time a bit more without rushing around.

We personally would recommend a minimum of five days in Cusco to really experience the city.

How can you get around Cusco?

The easiest way to get around Cusco is to walk. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance from Plaza de Armas, so you won’t have any issues. If you plan to head further afield, there’s Uber in Cusco. There’s also a South American app called InDrive too, which is similar to Uber.

Sara and I have designed this entire itinerary to be walkable though!

What’s the best time of year to visit Cusco?

The best time of year to visit Cusco is during the dry season, which is between April and September. However, bear in mind this is also going to be the most popular time to visit and the city will be pretty busy.

We also recommend Christmas in Cusco as well. We spent both Christmas and New Years with our Airbnb host family and had an amazing time over the holidays!

Should you take photos with the alpacas and llamas in Cusco?

No, you should avoid taking photos with the alpacas and llamas. The feet of llamas and alpacas are not evolved for walking on concrete, and doing so can cause them severe issues. Also, you’ll find a lot of the “baby llamas” are actually just baby goats, and you’re being fooled!

You might think you’re helping the indigenous women that walk them around by paying them, which is true, but you’re also harming the animals. Previously, there was a motion by the government to prevent people walking around with llamas and alpacas, calling it animal abuse, but it doesn’t seem to have worked.

This might not be a “frequently” asked question, but we wanted to cover it anyway as it’s important.

Where to stay in Cusco

If you’re planning this 2 days in Cusco itinerary, here are a few great spots in the historic center to stay!

Hostels:

• Wild Rover Cusco ($7-15/night) ← Cusco’s party hostel.
• Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Cusco ($15-40/night)
• Cusco Rock Hostel ($16.50/night)

Budget Hotels:

• Eco Bunnu Inn ($23/night)
• Cochito Cusco ($28/night)
• Andean Valley Hotel ($26/night)

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Amaru Colonial ($57/night)
• Casa Montes San Blas ($49/night)
• Hotel Hacienda Cusco Centro Historico ($56/night)

Luxury Hotels:

• Union Hotel Cusco ($100/night)
• Auka Boutique San Blas ($74/night)
• Anahuarque Hotel Boutique ($72/night)

Where to eat in Cusco

Other than what we already included in the itinerary, here’s a list of a few of our other favorite places to eat:

• Chakruna Native Burgers – amazing freshly made burgers, including alpaca burgers too!
• Pachapapa – an awesome spot for Peruvian food.
• ChocoMuseo – you can also pick up some dessert treats from the cafe, we LOVED the brownie.
• JC’s Cafe Cusco – a really awesome spot for brunch or lunch!
• Molly’s Irish Bar – we ate our last dinner here and it was delicious.
• La Bodega 138 – for the best Italian pizzas we ate in South America… no exaggeration!

How to get to Cusco

If you’re heading to Cusco, there are a couple of different ways you can get there!

By plane

The first and most obvious choice is by plane. We flew from Lima to Cusco for about $120 each, and the flight was just a modest 90 minutes. You can also fly to Cusco from a lot of other parts of South America, although some may require a layover in Lima.

Also, it’s pretty dope to get views over the Andes out of the plane window. This mountain range is crazy!

By bus

Taking the bus is a budget traveler’s friend. You can book buses from Lima, Nazca, Huacachina and Arequipa, all taking you to Cusco. Our favorite site to use to book buses in South America is busbud.com.

If you’re looking for buses, here are the most popular options:

• Lima to Cusco ($32)
• Ica to Cusco ($30)
• Arequipa to Cusco ($25)

Check out our other Cusco guides:

• What’s the rainy season in Cusco like? – Peru Travel Guide
• Cusco Weather in January: A good time to visit?
• Spending Christmas in Cusco: Things to do and how to celebrate!
• How to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco and Peru!

We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about spending 2 days in Cusco. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!