Cusco, Peru Is One of
My Favorite Places
on Earth.
Here’s exactly what to do, what to eat, and why this city will quietly shift something in the way you see the world.
I’ve been to 20 countries across 5 continents. Cusco still makes my list of favorites. The culture, the food, the ruins, the women walking through the market with their babies wrapped on their backs in traditional dress — there’s nothing like it.
This is everything my mom and I did while we were there, organized so you can actually use it. I’m starting with the top ten things to do, then the restaurants at the bottom that I genuinely recommend.
The list10 Things You Can’t Skip in Cusco
1. San Pedro Market
Best for: food + souvenirsThis is the place for cheap, good-quality souvenirs and some of the best food you’ll try in the city. The standout is the strawberry and passionfruit smoothies blended with fresh orange juice. They’re not cold — doesn’t matter. They’re still one of the best things I had in Peru. If you’re shopping for gifts, this is your spot.
2. The Street Food
Must-stopIf you see a woman selling tamales, stop. They’re soft and warm and taste like nothing you’ve had before — like edible clouds, honestly. The beef skewers were my personal favorite. The fried potatoes are also excellent. One note: the cow heart is a thing. It’s chewy. If you’re not feeling adventurous, no pressure. Skip the churros from vendors walking around — they tend to be cold by the time they reach you.
3. Machu Picchu Day Trip
Can’t missTo get there: car → train → bus → short hike. It’s a process. Worth every step. The views are the kind that don’t translate to photos the way they do in real life. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot alpacas on the trail. We saw a mom and her baby. One of the moments I won’t forget.
4. The Choco Museum
For chocolate peopleIf you like chocolate at all, you need to come here. The dark chocolate with salt was my favorite bar they had. The chocolate tea is also something I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. And there are free samples throughout — which never hurts.
5. The Salt Mines
Best for photosThis is one of the most visually striking places in the whole region. The salt terraces cut into the hillside in a pattern that looks almost unreal in photos. The smoked salt they sell here has incredible flavor — we made the mistake of only buying a small amount. Buy more than you think you need.
6. Sacsayhuamán Ruins
Ruins + views + alpacasThe name is notoriously hard to pronounce — just look it up before you go. Beyond the name, what you’re looking at is genuinely remarkable: massive stones of completely different shapes that fit together perfectly without any mortar. No one fully agrees on how it was done. The city views from up here are excellent, and alpacas show up here pretty regularly.
7. Cristo Blanco (White Jesus)
Best sunset spotIt’s smaller than the one in Rio. Still worth the visit. The real reason to come here is the view of the city below — it’s one of the clearest panoramic views you can get in Cusco. Sunset photos from this spot are hard to beat.
Watching the driving in Cusco might actually be the most unexpectedly entertaining thing on this list. There was one moment where our Uber driver just — casually drove into oncoming traffic to get around a jam. No hesitation. Like it was completely normal. In some ways, watching how people move through a city tells you more about the culture than any museum does. It’s worth paying attention to.
8. Watch the Driving
Genuinely entertainingThis sounds like a joke entry. It’s not. The traffic in Cusco moves in ways that are hard to describe. It’s chaotic in a way that somehow works. Just being a passenger here is an experience worth noting.
9. Moray Incan Terraces
Bring a hatThese circular terraces were used by the Inca for agricultural experimentation — each level creates a slightly different microclimate. The science behind it is fascinating. The visual is unlike anything else you’ll see. One heads up: there’s not a lot of shade. We both got sunburned on our scalps. Bring a hat.
10. The Incan Museum
For the curiousEven if history isn’t really your thing, the artifacts here are interesting enough to hold attention. The Incan civilization built something genuinely remarkable — and this museum gives context to everything else you see around the city. Worth a stop.
Where to eatThe Restaurants Worth Going To
Most of what you’ll eat in Cusco will be from street vendors, and that is genuinely the right move. But here are two sit-down spots that were actually worth it.
Before you leave: try picarones from a street vendor. They’re rings of fried dough drizzled with a sweet honey syrup. I’ve never seen them on a restaurant menu — this is street food only. Don’t leave without having them.
Peru does something to you.
I can explain the logistics. I can tell you where to eat and what to see. But the part that actually sticks — the part where you start questioning what you thought was normal — that one you have to go experience yourself.
The full story of how my mom and I made this trip happen on a real budget — and how we’ve done it across 20 countries — is on my channel.
Watch on Wandering Vienna →I’m Vienna. This is Wandering Vienna. There’s always more to explore.