Mercado Central de San Pedro is Cusco’s largest traditional market, built in 1925 to a design attributed to French engineer Gustave Eiffel and located in the Plaza San Pedro, about four blocks from the city’s main square. It has served as a hub of daily life for locals for a century, after moving from an earlier site in the Plaza de San Francisco to its current iron-and-glass building.
Inside, vendors sell everything from fresh produce, cheeses, and Peruvian chocolate to juices, prepared meals, textiles, and souvenirs across dozens of stalls organized by section. It’s one of the best places in Cusco to sample local specialties and see everyday Andean market culture up close.
The market is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with shorter Sunday hours from 7 AM to noon.