Mexico is a fascinating and diverse country to visit at any time of the year. Whether you like history, culture, food, wildlife, or nature, there are places to visit in Mexico and things to do to suit you.
For this reason, and its year-round temperate climate, Mexico is a popular global destination; last year, over 38 million people visited Mexico. Drawn by the country’s colonial silver cities, Mayan temples, Aztec canals, white sand beaches, and cosmopolitan capital, Mexico captivates tourists of all ages and budgets.
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The Top Places to Visit in Mexico
This article includes some of the best places to visit in Mexico to help you plan your perfect Mexico itinerary.
Mexico City
Mexico City is justifiably one of the most popular cities to visit in Mexico. Every itinerary should include a stop in the enthralling capital city.
Despite its sprawling size, the city is easy to get around thanks to its cheap public transport system, including an efficient metro network. Renting a car in Mexico City is not necessary – save it for when you are ready to take day trips from the capital or to start your longer Mexican road trip.
Mexico City offers world-class museums, such as the National Anthropology Museum in Chapultepec Park and the National History Museum.
If you love art, you will be spoilt for choice between the Museo de Frida Kahlo (or Casa Azul), MUAC (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo), and the Folk Art Museum. You also shouldn’t miss the impressive murals by Diego Rivera at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the National Palace, and the Secretariat of Public Education.
Mexico City is also one of the best places to go in Mexico to see Lucha Libre wrestling. The capital is considered the spiritual home of this unique and flamboyant style of wrestling, and it also boasts Mexico’s largest Lucha Libre stadium, Arena Mexico.
A night at Lucha Libre is not only raucous fun but also a valuable glimpse into modern Mexican culture.
Make sure you also leave time to explore Mexico City’s ‘historical heart,’ the Zocalo. This iconic central square is home to the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Aztec-era ruins of Templo Mayor.
The capital city is also one of the places to go in Mexico to get a great introduction to Mexican food and drink. Along with a wide range of fine dining and street food options, you can take a local neighborhood taco or pulque tasting tour or join a cooking class led by a resident.
Teotihuacan Pyramids
The UNESCO-listed Teotihuacan is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico due to its proximity to Mexico City.
This pre-Columbian ‘city of the gods’ consists of over 2000 structures, including two of the largest pyramids in the world: the 66-metre-tall Pyramid of the Sun and the 43-metre-tall Pyramid of the Moon.
The ancient site is incredibly well-preserved and is an awe-inspiring place to visit. Taking one of the many Teotihuacan tours on offer will help you understand the site’s significance.
For the ultimate travel memory, get up early and take a sunrise hot-air balloon trip over the ancient site.
Tulum
Tulum is one of the most scenic historic places in Mexico. It is located on the northeast Caribbean coast in the state of Quintana Roo.
It features the 16th-century ruins of a walled Mayan settlement, perched on a 12-metre tall cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Tulum’s iconic pyramid, El Castillo, is one of the most photographed locations in Mexico.
Any visit to Tulum should also include an unforgettable swim in one of the many cenotes surrounding Tulum. There are approximately 6,000 cenotes to choose from! Some of the most popular options include Gran Cenote, Laguna de Kaan Luum and Cenote Dos Ojos.
Holbox
Car-free Isla Holbox off the northern Yucatan coast is one of the best places to go in Mexico to get away from it all.
The picturesque island is famous for its white sand beaches, azure waters, cool party vibe, and excellent seafood.
If you are a birdwatcher, the Yum Balam Reserve is a must-visit as it is home to over 200 different bird species. Holbox is also a perfect place to see bioluminescence plankton, which is a super unique experience.
Join a night-time kayak tour and watch the waters light up with a neon glow under the stars. It’s a simple yet magical experience, perfect for ending a day after exploring the island’s charms. Plus, it’s a chance to see nature’s own light show!
Oaxaca
Many visitors fall in love with Oaxaca within minutes of arriving in the city. As well as its gorgeous colonial architecture, the city is best known for its thriving food scene and its strong indigenous culture.
Highlights of Oaxaca include the central zocalo (where there is always something happening, day or night), the Baroque-style Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and the fascinating Museum of Oaxacan Cultures.
Join a street food tour to indulge in the culinary delights of the city or visit the Fonda Florecita or the food stalls at Mercado de 20 Noviembre. Don’t leave the city without trying Mole Negro (a spicy savory sauce) or tlayuda (a tortilla topped with refried beans, Asiento and Oaxacan cheese.
Sweet options you must add to your culinary list should include Maguey Cocido or cooked maguey, a native agave plant that is also used to make mescal.
Chichen Itza
The UNESCO-listed Chichen Itza is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of The World; it is usually Number 1 on most travellers’ Mexico itineraries.
The pre-Columbian Mayan site is, quite simply, unmissable. At its peak in 600 AD, it would have been one of the largest Mayan cities in Mexico and home to over 35,000 people.
Today, the central section of the site encompasses 5 square km, with many more km yet to be excavated from the dense jungle that enveloped the site and kept it hidden for centuries.
Highlights of the excavated section include the iconic Temple of Kukulcán (a 30 m high step pyramid), The Temple of the Skulls, and the 168 meter-long Great Ball Court, which is the largest and best-preserved tlachtli court found to date.
Visiting this site is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will bring the history and culture of the Mayans to life.
Sayulita
Sayulita is a small, trendy Pacific coast resort in the western state of Nayarit.
It is an ideal destination for outdoor lovers, with its long sandy beaches, jungle hiking, surfing, horse riding, and biking. Wildlife lovers can enjoy dolphin spotting trips, whale watching, or helping release baby turtles into the ocean.
This is one of the nicest places in Mexico to dine in small, locally owned family restaurants serving freshly caught seafood or stay in cozy boutique B&Bs.
Guanajuato
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Guanajuato is one of Mexico’s famed silver cities.
It boasts ornate Baroque architecture, colorful colonial buildings, and elegant plazas with a maze of tree-lined and cobblestone streets, which are a delight to wander. There is something new to admire around every corner.
Highlights include Casa Diego Rivera (the famous artist’s birthplace, now an excellent museum), the yellow-fronted BasÃlica de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, and the elaborate Teatro Juárez.
Climb to the independence monument El PÃpila for a bird’s eye view of the city or visit the controversial mummies on display at the Museo de las Momias.
A visit to Guanajuato should not be a rushed tick list – this is a city made for wandering and immersing yourself in Mexican art and culture.
Puerto Vallarta
This lively and popular Pacific Coast resort has an idyllic setting lined with golden sandy beaches and backed by the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Whether you like organized beaches backed by bars and restaurants like Los Muertos or secluded tree-lined bays like Caballo Beach, Puerto Vallarta has a beach for you.
Go for an evening stroll along the Malecon promenade, ogle the yachts in the marina, or escape into nature at the botanical gardens. Enjoy a snorkel in Los Arcos Marine Park or take a boat trip around the mangroves and canals at El Salado Estuary.
Puerto Vallarta is also a good base for trips to surrounding towns and villages such as the El Tuito in the Sierra Madres.
Merida
If you’re looking for safe places to visit in Mexico, add Merida to your list.
The charming capital of the Yucatan is considered one of the safest cities to visit in the country.
It offers elegant plazas and boulevards (a stroll along Paseo de Montejo is a must-do), colonial mansions such as Casa Montejo, and the ornate Cathedral de San Ildefonso. If you are a history lover, you can choose between the Anthropology and History Museum or the fascinating Mayan World Museum of Mérida.
Isla Mujeres
The ‘island of women’ lies 13 km off the coast of Cancun. It is a paradise getaway from the busy mainland resorts and hotels of the Yucatan peninsula.
Isla Mujeres is just 8 km long, offering pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear snorkeling. The Manchones Reef, which sits just off the island’s coastline, is considered one of the best snorkeling locations in the world.
Plus, snorkeling over MUSA, Isla Mujeres’s underwater sculpture museum, is a unique and memorable experience.
Isla Mujeres is also the best place to visit in Mexico if you want to swim with whale sharks or see migratory humpback whales. These rare and priceless experiences will live long in your travel memories.
San Cristobal De Las Casas
This highland city in the southern state of Chiapas is popular with expat residents. It’s famous for its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and diverse food scene.
You can spend your days happily getting lost in the maze of cobbled streets lined with centuries-old buildings and seeking new dining experiences each night. For a picture-perfect view of the city, visit the hilltop churches of San Cristóbalito and Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
This is also one of Mexico’s best areas to visit to pick up affordable, high-quality locally made souvenirs.
Puerto Escondido
The Oaxacan coastal resort of Puerto Escondido is one of Mexico’s hidden gems.
It offers palm-tree-lined beaches, amazing seafood, and thrilling Pacific Ocean waves for surfing. Popular beaches include the 3.5 km-long Playa Zicatela and Playa Carrizalillo.
Plus, if you visit between July and January, you can help release baby Olive Ridley turtles from one of Puerto Escondido’s turtle sanctuaries into the ocean.
Bacalar
If you’re wondering where to travel in Mexico for an off-the-beaten-track experience, consider visiting Bacalar.
This laid-back town in Quintana Roo near the Belize border is best known for its stunning Laguna Bacalar (also called the Lagoon of 7 Colours). The lagoon is ideal for a ‘beach’ getaway, for swimming, or for gentle watersports.
It also boasts spectacular cenotes, including Cenote Azul, Cenote Cocalitos, and Cenote Esmeralda.
Los Cabos
If you want to see the range of Mexico’s diverse natural landscapes, include Los Cabos on your itinerary.
Situated on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, the Los Cabos area is known for its dramatic desert landscapes, mountains, rocky bays and outcrops, and pristine sandy beaches. It is a magnet for nature lovers and offers some of the best wildlife experiences in the country.
You can swim with whale sharks, join a dolphin or whale-watching trip, or enjoy unparalleled snorkeling in the Sea of Cortes, dubbed the ‘aquarium of the world.’
Alternatively, go paddleboarding or kayaking amongst the sea lions and bird colonies in Chileno Bay.
If all this is too energetic for you, Los Cabos is also gaining a reputation for its wellness spas and relaxing retreats.
Copper Canyon
If you want to see Mexico’s extreme landscapes, don’t miss the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre) in the northwest state of Chihuahua. The effort to get there is well worth it.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a series of six dramatic canyons. When taken together, the Copper Canyon is four times larger than the Grand Canyon in the United States. Its rim has an altitude of 2,500 meters, while its deepest point is a staggering 1.6 km.
One of the best ways to appreciate the size and scale of the canyon is to travel through it by train on the Ferrocarril Barrancas del Cobre, colloquially known as El Chepe. It is considered to be one of the best train journeys in the world.
El Chepe runs from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, a total journey of 652 km, and along the way, it travels across 39 bridges and through 86 tunnels. You can ride the entire route in 17 hours or stop at villages and towns along the route to go hiking, mountain biking, or sightseeing. Adrenaline junkies will love the Zip Rider, which at 2,530 m, is the world’s second-longest zip line.
Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a good place to base yourself if you want to experience a little of everything Mexico has to offer.
You can enjoy great beaches, theme parks, clear snorkeling, lively nightlife, and fantastic food, but you will also be close to offshore islands, cenotes, caves, and Mayan ruins.
Due to its prime and accessible location, Playa del Carmen gets very busy with tourists, particularly in the peak season from December to March.
Wrap-up
Few countries in the world offer a similarly wide range of diverse attractions and experiences as Mexico.
Mexico has everything, from nonstop urban cities to deserted white sand beaches, mountains to coral reefs, desert landscapes to dense jungles. It has a thriving modern art and food scene and a rich cultural heritage packed with Aztec and Mayan ruins. Mexico’s strong indigenous culture is evident wherever you go.
Throw in great food and drink, good music, colorful and inclusive festivals, amazing wildlife opportunities, and year-round sunshine, and you pretty much have the perfect vacation destination.
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