Centro Histórico

The historic center has the colonial architecture, museums, and most of the restaurants and cafes. Safe during the day with tourist police around, though pickpockets work the crowded areas. Lots of cafes where people sit with laptops, so you won't be the only one.

You'll spend most of your time here - colonial buildings made from white volcanic stone, the huge Santa Catalina Monastery (plan half a day), and Plaza de Armas with restaurants around it. During the day you get tour groups, locals running errands, and travelers working in cafes. Tourist police patrol visibly around the plaza and it feels safe during daylight. Plenty of women eat alone in cafes on San Francisco and Santa Catalina streets, so solo dining doesn't feel weird. Restaurant staff speak enough English to help with menus since they see tourists constantly. After dark it shifts - tour groups leave, and by 10pm the streets quiet down. Stick to well-lit areas near Plaza de Armas and main streets if you're out late. The cobblestone streets look nice but get slippery when wet. Watch your stuff in crowded spots like Mercado San Camilo and near the monastery entrance - pickpocketing happens.