Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & Landmarks
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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  • Smith Williams
    United States2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I had a pleasure to meet
    Wonderful! Cusco's Plaza de Armas, with its historical charm, impressive architecture and cultural energy, is the heart of the city. A meeting point for locals and visitors, it offers magical sunsets, artisan markets and delicious local cuisine. Its beauty and vitality make it the perfect starting point to explore the rich history of Cusco.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 November 2023
  • Christian M
    Copenhagen, Denmark6,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cusco's Heartbeat
    The grand square is not only beautiful; it's also the heartbeat of the city, where locals and tourists come together to observe each other in the most stunning surroundings. This is where you can find deals on the countless activities originating from Cusco, including the overwhelmingly popular trip to one of the 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. You'll be offered a massage at least 10 times and forced to say no to all sorts of touristy stuff, and normally, all this commotion might annoy you - but here in Cusco's central square, you'll just shrug and smile instead. It's part of the charm here. If you can only visit one attraction in Cusco, make it Plaza de Armas.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 February 2024
  • DanielMtz90
    Monterrey, Mexico459 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pretty cool for getting drinks and food with a nice view
    The Cusco Main Square, or Plaza de Armas, is a spectacle of history and modernity intertwined, a central haven where the pulse of the city is most palpable. This square is a kaleidoscope of culture, where historic cathedrals stand in conversation with the lively buzz of contemporary restaurants and bars. From every corner, eateries of varying degrees of formality beckon, each offering a window seat to the world passing by. Opting for a balcony view, one may find themselves enveloped in the golden hues of an Andean sunset, which, when paired with the culinary delights of local and international cuisine, becomes an experience of sensory splendor. Though the church tour, at a modest price, may not be the highlight for all, it is a testament to Cusco’s rich spiritual tapestry and a must for those with an appetite for ecclesiastical architecture. The plaza is also a paradise for souvenir hunters, where local artisans offer a medley of crafts that are as colorful as they are emblematic of the region. Beyond the tangible, the Main Square offers a vista that is more than visual; it’s a narrative of the city’s past, present, and future, woven together in the cobbled streets and the silent stories of the Inca and colonial structures. This is a place to linger, to dine, to watch, and to be enveloped in the vibrant tapestry that is Cusco.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 April 2024
  • MichDames
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa117 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful plaza with a hive of activity. The hub of cusco. Well worth it.
    Beautiful well.maintained plaza. Lots of festivities and marches going on all the time. The hub if cusco. The cathedrals and buildings around the plaza are exquisite. Definitely worth staying nearby as all the activity is here. Lots of restaurants and curio shops too.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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DanielMtz90
Monterrey, Mexico459 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
The Cusco Main Square, or Plaza de Armas, is a spectacle of history and modernity intertwined, a central haven where the pulse of the city is most palpable. This square is a kaleidoscope of culture, where historic cathedrals stand in conversation with the lively buzz of contemporary restaurants and bars. From every corner, eateries of varying degrees of formality beckon, each offering a window seat to the world passing by. Opting for a balcony view, one may find themselves enveloped in the golden hues of an Andean sunset, which, when paired with the culinary delights of local and international cuisine, becomes an experience of sensory splendor.

Though the church tour, at a modest price, may not be the highlight for all, it is a testament to Cusco’s rich spiritual tapestry and a must for those with an appetite for ecclesiastical architecture. The plaza is also a paradise for souvenir hunters, where local artisans offer a medley of crafts that are as colorful as they are emblematic of the region. Beyond the tangible, the Main Square offers a vista that is more than visual; it’s a narrative of the city’s past, present, and future, woven together in the cobbled streets and the silent stories of the Inca and colonial structures. This is a place to linger, to dine, to watch, and to be enveloped in the vibrant tapestry that is Cusco.
Written 20 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark6,101 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
The grand square is not only beautiful; it's also the heartbeat of the city, where locals and tourists come together to observe each other in the most stunning surroundings.

This is where you can find deals on the countless activities originating from Cusco, including the overwhelmingly popular trip to one of the 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu.

You'll be offered a massage at least 10 times and forced to say no to all sorts of touristy stuff, and normally, all this commotion might annoy you - but here in Cusco's central square, you'll just shrug and smile instead. It's part of the charm here.

If you can only visit one attraction in Cusco, make it Plaza de Armas.
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,570 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
You are just about to visit the very very heart of Cusco! The arcades and monumental churches may induce you to believe this is a typical Spanish "Plaza Mayor". Yes, but absolutely not! You are at the site of the ancient "Haukaypata" - the great Inca square! When the Spanish conquerors arrived in Cusco, in the 16th century, the magnificent "Haukaypata" was already there. It was the administrative, cultural and religious center of the whole Inca Empire. The Spanish "Plaza de Armas", its magnificent churches ("Catedral del Cusco" and the "Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús"), fountains and typical arcades were built over the perfect carved stone foundations of the Incan palaces and temples! And remember, since 1983, Cusco has been appointed by Unesco as a "World Heritage Site"! Just unmissable! Enjoy!
Written 2 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ScaniaSwede
Malmö, Sweden1,291 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Couples
It’s the heart of Cusco and big. You have a wonderful view of Cusco and and the mountains around. It’s a wonderful place to watch how the Peruvians go around their lives. Some Peruvians in genuine traditional clothing and it was not for us tourists. Around the square there are several restaurants and shops. We had an excellent meal in one of those restaurants.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shaun P
Brisbane, Australia10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Great finishing point after visiting the many attractions that radiate around the plaza. Especially on dusk the plaza takes on a magical quality. We were a bit put off by the many restaurant/stall/massage/tour hawkers offering their wares, but the flip side of that was the beautiful high quality food restaurants on offer, and all politely moved away when told we were not interested.
We felt very safe here and walking multiple blocks either direction was not a concern at all even after dark.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Smith Williams
United States2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Wonderful! Cusco's Plaza de Armas, with its historical charm, impressive architecture and cultural energy, is the heart of the city. A meeting point for locals and visitors, it offers magical sunsets, artisan markets and delicious local cuisine. Its beauty and vitality make it the perfect starting point to explore the rich history of Cusco.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cavydad
Camarillo, CA2,137 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Central meeting place in Cusco! If you become separated, which is easy to do in Cusco, say we’ll meet later on the church steps. McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC realize that everyone at some point will wander by.

This is all forgetting the history of it’s layout, another example oh great Inca city planning.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wilson S
Maine252 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019
Catholic buildings on old Inca buildings on old preinca buildings. You can really feel the history here. With some nice cafes and restaurants around it, grab a coffee on a balcony and sit and soak it all in. Also very beautiful at night. Only negative is the amount of people trying to sell tours, trinkets, and massages.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Atis B
Kharagpur, India1,175 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Family
After our scheduled tour to Ollantaytambo was over we had few hours free before we left Cuzco for Bolivia. We both decided to walk away in the plaza. We wanted local experience and we find it. We are from India and we can’t speak Spanish yet we found the locals are happy to help the foreigners like us. The all we’re enjoying on their own. Someone was selling beautiful paintings some one souvenir, someone toys. We loved the place.
Written 23 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

betteskid
Boston, MA1,327 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
We spent time in this plaza while visiting Cusco. There are plenty of places to sit and it's a great place to people-watch, take a break or enjoy a snack. You get a sense of the atmosphere of the city while you are here and it is central to everything. A lovely fountain can also be found here.
Written 14 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Plaza de Armas - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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