Cusco is a historical city that was once the Incan Empire’s capital. This city is unique for its fusion of remaining Incan ruins and Spanish colonial architecture from the 16th-century conquest. It’s very popular for travelers coming to or from Machu Picchu. My husband and I spent a few days here after our epic trip to the Sacred Valley. Even though this city is popular with tourists, it’s one of Peru’s largest cities for residents and feels massive. It’s worth a visit for its history, architecture, and unique culinary scene. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Here’s all the information you need for where to stay in Cusco especially if you’re only spending 2 days in Cusco and how to make the most of your trip!

Where to Stay for 2 Days in Cusco: My BEST Hotel Recommendations

What is the best part of Cusco to stay in? 

The best part of Cusco to stay in is the Centro Historico near Plaza de Armas, San Cristobal, or San Blas. If you’re only spending 2 days in Cusco, it’s important to be as close to the city center as possible to see all the important points of interest.

How many days should I stay in Cusco?

When my husband and I traveled to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu, we stayed two nights. We thought spending 2 days in Cusco was enough for everything we wanted to do and see. We even did a day trip to one of the Rainbow Mountains, and don’t regret having an entire day for that day trip. Cusco is a major city, and even though there are plenty of things to see and do, it’s a stark contrast from the peaceful atmosphere of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.

Want to visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley? Here’s everything you need to know to hike Machu Picchu and the best places to stay in the Sacred Valley!

When’s the best and worst time to visit Cusco?

The best time to visit Cusco is during the dry season from May to October. Visiting in May, September, or October will also avoid the summer crowds. The worst time to visit Cusco is from November to April, or the rainy season.

Looking to plan the epic Peru itinerary? Here’s how to spend the perfect 10 days in Peru!

Is Cusco safe?

Cusco, especially in the historic center, is generally a safe city in Peru due to its large number of tourists. In any city, it’s best to be on high alert. Travelers should always be aware of petty theft, street crime, including phone theft, and fake taxi drivers. Political protests in Peru can also be unpredictable and escalate quickly. It’s essential to check your country’s government websites for advice before visiting.

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Where to Stay for 2 Days in Cusco by Neighborhood

Historic City Center: My #1 recommendation for staying in Cusco

If you’re looking to stay in one of the best neighborhoods in Cusco, and where to stay in Cusco for 2 days in Cusco, the historic city center and Plaza de Armas would be the best area. This is one of the most idyllic places to stay in the city, it’s close to all of the historical and tourist landmarks, including all the best things to do in Cusco. The best things to do in Cusco’s historic city center include Qorikancha, Mercado Central, Museo de Arte Precolombino Larco (which is close to San Blas as well), and Cusco Cathedral.

Pros of staying in the Historic City Center

With its Incan ruins and archaeological sites, inspired Spanish architecture, and vibrant cultural colors everywhere you look, staying here is an easy decision. Even though many of Cusco’s luxury hotels are concentrated in this area, there are still plenty of affordable hotel accommodations. It’s also where you’ll find the highest concentration of tourists in Cusco, making it a safe area to stay and wander around. I would still advise caution after dark, but my husband and I easily walked to dinner and back from our hotel and were never concerned for our safety. You’ll also find many Peruvian women dressed in colorful outfits with baby llamas, which is perfect for a photo opportunity (you should tip them if you get a photo).

Cons of staying in the Historic City Center

The historic city center is one of the busiest places in Cusco, so if you’re looking for a quieter and secluded area, you might have to look elsewhere. Many of the hotels included below really are some of the best places to stay for 2 days in Cusco and can be the perfect escape from the bustling city.

Best Places to Stay in the Historic City Center

Luxury $$$$:  Palacio Nazarenas, a Belmond Hotel • Monasterio, a Belmond Hotel • Palacio del Inka • Inkaterra la Casona

Mid $$-$$$: Sonesta Hotel Cusco • Costa del Sol Wyndham • Casa Andina Premium Cusco

Budget $: Moaf Cusco Boutique Hotel

San Cristobal: Spending a relaxing 2 days in Cusco

If you’re looking for where to stay in Cusco, San Cristobal is a secluded and quiet neighborhood a bit outside Cusco’s historic center and overlooks the sprawling city. It’s named for its colonial church, San Cristobal. The church is built on ancient ruins and has a bell tower that offers incredible views of Cusco. You may even get lucky and find local performers dancing in the church’s square. When we visited, we even saw large political groups gathering as it was election time. Even though it’s not recommended to stay too far from the tourist city center, San Cristobal is still close enough and safe.

My husband and I stayed here when we spent 2 days in Cusco and felt very safe. I highly recommend staying at the beautiful Palacio Manco Capac by Ananay Hotels.

Pros of staying in San Cristobal

One of the reasons I liked staying in this area of Cusco was how secluded and quiet it was. Cusco is a large city and can be overwhelming, but this neighborhood isn’t a far walk from San Blas and a short ride to the city center (or you can walk if you like!). It’s also close to the citadel and historic capital of the Incan Empire, Sacsayhuaman. Here’s a tip: if you enter before 7 am, it’s free to visit! It is a bit of a hike up to the top, but you can also choose to take a taxi to the entrance. The views from this viewpoint, similar to San Cristobal church, are breathtaking.

Cons of staying in San Cristobal

The only downside to staying in San Cristobal is that it’s a bit removed from the city center if you plan to focus a lot of your time here. My husband and I spent an afternoon walking around the San Pedro Market and visiting Plaza de Armas and the surrounding area, but we easily just caught a taxi back since we had walked quite a bit that day. Taxis will charge a bit more to drive you up the hill to San Cristobal, but it will still only cost you a few USD. 

Best Places to Stay in San Cristobal

Luxury $$$$: Inkaterra la Casona • Palacio Manco Capac by Ananay Hotels (my husband and I loved our stay at this 5-star hotel!)

Mid $$-$$$: Hotel Midori • La Casa Encantada Boutique Spa Hotel

Budget $: Korilazos Summit • Summit Viewpoint House

San Blas: Where to stay in Cusco on a budget

San Blas is one of the more cultural and hipster neighborhoods in Cusco. You’ll find plenty of locals and expats in this area. Don’t miss the most famous street C. Siete Borreguitos, which is tucked between whitewashed walls down a staircase adorned with flowerpots. This street also offers incredible views of Cusco. The main plaza is beautiful and has great little shops. Make sure to wander in them, I purchased the cutest handmade cards at Museo Hilario Mendivil.

Pros of staying in San Blas

Looking for where to stay in Cusco that has the best coffee? You can find the best coffee in San Blas at Carmen Alto or L’atelier. Make sure to head to the second floor of the cafe for incredible views of the neighborhood. Since you’ll find plenty of locals in this area, this neighborhood is also very budget-friendly. 

Cons of staying in San Blas

If you’re looking to stay in a quiet area in Cusco, I wouldn’t recommend San Blas. This area has plenty of bars and restaurants that are open until very early in the morning. If you don’t want to party all night, make sure your accommodations are not above a bar or restaurant! 

Best Places to Stay in San Blas

Luxury $$$$: Monasterio, a Belmond Hotel

Mid $$-$$$: Tocuyeros Boutique Hotel

Budget $: Viajero Cusco Hostel • Loki Hostel Cusco •  Atoq San Blas Hotel

Best Things to Do in Cusco

Best Day Trips from Cusco

Machu Picchu

It goes without saying that Machu Picchu is one of the best day trips from Cusco. Even though many people plan a day trip to this natural wonder of the world, I highly recommend staying in the Sacred Valley before visiting Machu Picchu.

Here are all the best places to stay in the Sacred Valley and everything you need to know before visiting Machu Picchu.

Marvel at Peru’s rainbow mountains

Vinicunca and Palccoyo are the two most popular rainbow mountains in Peru. Visiting either of these rainbow mountains will take an entire day, stopping for breakfast on the way up and lunch on the way back. The long drive up and back winds through narrow roads and is not for the faint of heart. Climbing higher in altitude can also make you feel sick or nauseous. Once you reach the base of the mountain, you will still be required to climb a bit.

Our experience at Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain was incredible. I did experience ‘altitude sickness’ on the climb up, but only felt short of breath and had to stop multiple times throughout the hike. The hike up was more or less a paved pathway up an incline. There was a steeper and more difficult hike, you could also try for different views. My husband took the steeper path and did not experience shortness of breath or altitude sickness. It wasn’t until the long drive back that I began to feel very tired and nauseous, symptoms expected with altitude sickness.

We chose to visit Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain instead of Vinicunca because, according to our research, it’s the less crowded of the two mountains. Even though I experienced altitude sickness, the views were incredible, and I highly recommend this day trip.

Stop at Salineras de Maras on the way to Cusco

Even though many visitors choose a day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco, I highly recommend staying a few nights in the Sacred Valley. Traveling to the Sacred Valley or on your way back to Cusco, make sure to stop at Salineras de Maras from Ollantaytambo (here’s the private transport company we used, specify in the comments you want to stop here). These 3,000 natural salt wells are a mystery of the Urubamba Valley. The salt is even different colors based on the mineral composition, and it’s one of four places in the world where you can extract pink salt.

Best Restaurants in Cusco

Rucula Peruvian: Rucula is one of the more popular restaurants in Cusco, serving traditional Peruvian cuisine. You really can’t go wrong with many of the restaurants in Cusco, there’s incredible food in this city. This restaurant also has lovely views of Plaza de Armas and the surrounding landscape. Since this is a popular spot, make sure to book a reservation.

Pachapapa: If you want to try the Andean tradition of roasted guinea pig, this next spot is known for this! This dish takes around an hour to prepare, and is served just as it sounds, a roasted guinea pig. After they serve it like this, they will carve it for you in preparation to enjoy. I didn’t try this when I was in Cusco, but I’ve read it doesn’t taste as good as chicken.

Mil: Even though this next spot is a bit out of the city in the Sacred Valley, it’s one of the most unique dining spots near Cusco. This secluded restaurant, surrounded by the sacred mountains of Moray has a working relationship with local farmers and artisans to provide a unique dining experience. Make sure to check their website for their seasonal culinary options.

Restaurants I loved in Cusco

Mauka: This restaurant is located inside the beautiful Palacio Nazarenas. Even though my husband and I would have loved to stay here, we settled for dining here instead. We chose to have a table overlooking their stunning outdoor pool, surrounded by the property’s historical facade. I remember feeling as if I was walking through a secret garden to get to the restaurant, and of course, the food was delicious. I highly recommend this spot!

L’Atelier Cafe Concept: This is one of the most instagrammable cafes in Cusco. It’ location is in the heart of San Blas!

Map Cafe and Restaurant: I only included this next spot for the ambience, it’s neighbors to Palacio Nazarenas. We had a lovely time walking around the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, and wish we had spotted their restaurant sooner. Even if you don’t enjoy art, the architecture of this museum is stunning, and the floating glass box in the courtyard that is their restaurant gives the most romantic vibes.

Organika: My husband and I walked here one night for dinner while staying at Palacio Manco Capac. This place was hopping, and it was easy to see why. We didn’t have a reservation and didn’t have to wait long for a table for two. There’s a part of the restaurant that feels like you’re dining in a greenhouse, but we dined in the main dining area, which had a great ambience because it was so busy! Every dish was like a work of art, and so delicious. This restaurant is close to San Cristobal and San Blas if you’re staying there.

Things to Do in Cusco at Night

The city of Cusco is known for its nightlife, and bars and nightclubs stay open late. Make sure to pack layers, as it can get chilly in the evening. As I mentioned before, my husband and I opted to stay in the quiet area of San Cristobal. This allowed us to rest up and make the most of spending only 2 days in Cusco.

Here are a few other ideas for some of the best things to do in Cusco!

What you need to know before visiting Cusco

How to Get Around in Cusco

The best way to get around Cusco is to walk or Uber. When searching for where to stay in Cusco, my husband and I chose the Palacio Manco Capac by Ananay Hotels because of its location. We were able to easily walk to many of Cusco’s points of interest in the city. We used Uber a few times and had no issues using the app.

Is Cusco a walkable city? 

Cusco is a walkable city, especially in the historic center where most of the best things to do in Cusco are. Public transport is limited in this city, but when my husband and I visited we didn’t have any trouble using the Uber app. 

How to get to Cusco

Should I go to Cusco before or after Machu Picchu?

You should visit Cusco when traveling to Machu Picchu because it’s one of Peru’s most beautiful cities. Cusco is also a wonderful gateway city for exploring Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, and Peru’s rainbow mountains. 

Here’s a 10 day Peru itinerary to help you plan your next epic trip, or message me as I work as a travel advisor as well!

How many days in Cusco and Machu Picchu

Is 2 Days in Cusco enough to acclimate?

One benefit of traveling to Cusco before hiking or any strenuous climbing in Machu Picchu is to help adjust to the altitude. Cusco is at a higher altitude than Machu Picchu, so visiting Machu Picchu from Cusco will help you acclimate. If you’re wondering if 2 days in Cusco is enough to acclimate, it’s recommended to spend at least a day or two in Cusco to help acclimate. Of course, everyone can respond to the altitude differently. The more time you have, the better. To help acclimate to altitude, it’s always best to stay well hydrated and avoid alcohol. It’s also recommended to discuss medications with your doctor before visiting. 

Speaking from personal experience, my husband and I acclimated in the Sacred Valley for two days before visiting Machu Picchu. We traveled to Cusco after Machu Picchu, and the only time I struggled with the altitude was visiting Palccoyo rainbow mountain. I will say, even though the trek was exhausting, but the views were incredible!

What to Bring when Traveling to Peru

The best items to bring when traveling to Peru are a water bottle with a built-in filter and altitude sickness remedies. My husband and I easily purchased this type of water bottle online, which gave us reassurance that any water we were drinking would be safe. The best altitude sickness remedies to bring would be an anti-nausea prescription from your doctor, as there are limited anti-nausea medications sold over the counter. 

It’s important, before traveling to Peru to consult with your doctor or a travel clinic regarding not only altitude sickness remedies but also required immunizations or other necessary information. 

Planning a trip to Peru? Here are the posts you need to read:

10 Day Peru Itinerary: Machu Picchu, Cusco, & Lima

Hiking Machu Picchu Peru: A Comprehensive Guide for First Timers

Sacred Valley Hotels: Best Places to Stay near Machu Picchu

Here are a few other posts you may enjoy:

Best Places to Stay in Cartagena Colombia: South America’s hidden gem!

Best Places to visit in Africa for First Timers: Including a Botswana Safari

Cape Town Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

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