The best way to get acquainted with Cusco is to visit its centre, the beautiful Plaza de Armas. With a large cathedral dominating the north side, the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus, which at every point of entry is packed with shops and restaurants, the plaza is always humming with life. The pristine 500-year-old stones that make up the plaza are Inca-laid, and it’s an ideal spot to take a seat and people watch.

Get a feel for Peruvian culture via the popular folk-dance show at the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo. Included as part of Cusco tourist ticket program (a multi-ticket pass you can buy to many of the city’s tourist attractions) the show features a variety of Andean folk traditions, such as wartime dances and agricultural rituals. The bright, colourful costumes ensure this is a visual feast, so bring your camera.

We wouldn’t usually suggest guided tours, but if you have limited time the Cusco walking tour, which leaves the town centre to explore two Inca sites, Saqsayhuaman and Q’enq, is a must. From the Plaza de Armas you can see Saqsayhuaman Fortress, an Inca citadel perched precariously on a steep hill above the city. Built in the 1400s to protect Cusco, Saqsayhuaman showcases the famously precise Inca architecture: the enormous stones are the biggest in pre-Columbian America and still fit together perfectly without any mortar. An afternoon is enough time to stroll to the top of Saqsayhuaman and spend time relaxing in the plaza and admiring the views. The tour includes a picnic in gorgeous surroundings with commentary from an enthusiastic guide.