10 Best Places to Visit in Mexico

Mexico City is a cosmopolitan UNESCO metropolis that teems with cultural treasures. Head to the Centro Histórico district to see Templo Mayor (Aztec temple of Tenochtitlán), Catedral Metropolitana (Latin America’s oldest and largest cathedral) and Palacio Nacional (home of Mexico’s President). Art aficionados can visit Palacio de Bellas Artes (a performance center featuring murals by Diego Rivera) or Casa Azul (a bright blue residence that’s dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo). Museo Jumex delivers contemporary art across 5 expansive levels including famed pieces by Jeff Koons, Gabriel Orozco and pop art icon Andy Warhol.

Beyond the city limits, pre-Hispanic attractions litter the landscape including Tula: A Mesoamerican archeological site that showcases age-old Toltec warriors. Foodies will fall in love with the city’s boundary-pushing cuisine at a range of critically acclaimed restaurants like Quintonil, Pasillo de Humo and Siembra Tortillería.

With its inviting turquoise waters and powder-soft beaches, Tulum is a Yucatán Peninsula resort town that’s all about rest and relaxation. Its showpiece is a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city that teeters on a dramatic seaside cliff, featuring the Temple of the God of Wind and El Castillo castle.

Unsurprisingly, Tulum is a magnet for wellness seekers that flock to its thatched beachside bungalows and high-end retreats to try modalities like sound healing, meditation, yoga and massage. When it’s hot, cool off in the crystal-clear cenote pools that were once used by the Mayans or snorkel at the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve.

The city of Cuernavaca, capital of Morelos state, is cradled in the verdant undulations of the Tepozteco Mountain range. Visitors come here for a majestic array of architectural feats including the 16th-century Palace of Cortés (featuring murals by Diego Rivera) and a UNESCO World Heritage Roman Catholic monastery.

History buffs can wander winding cobbled streets in search of buildings belonging to Cuernavaca’s colonial era – when Spanish influence began to rapidly transform this once Aztec and Tlahuica stronghold. For an easy afternoon, swing by Centro Cultural Jardín Borda, a mansion and garden that boasts tinkling fountains, an artificial lake and ornamental botanicals.

Guadalajara impresses with its characterful colonial plazas and remarkable architectural landmarks like Teatro Degollado (a multi-columned Neoclassical theater) and the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (famed for its Spanish Renaissance influence and neo-Gothic spires). Every year, the city hosts a wide array of festivals that attract visitors from across the globe, spanning books, movie theater, jazz and art.

Hit the palm-fringed Plaza de Armas to watch live Mariachi performances in the Art Nouveau bandstand or venture out of town along Mexico’s tequila trail. Visit over 150 distilleries set among fields of blue agave including Fábrica La Rojeña (producers of Jose Cuervo).

Boasting 9 beautiful bays that are protected by indigenous tribes, Huatulco is a sun-seeker’s paradise that’s as famed for its golden sand beaches as it is for its exciting host of water sports. Take to the aquamarine sea to scuba dive, sail, and snorkel through coral, or go fishing for amberjack and marlin on a chartered excursion.

Foodies will adore Huatulco’s “catch of the day” – from its succulent shrimp and lobster to its freshly-shucked oysters. Hit Don Crudelio for coastal tacos, Terra Cotta for surf & turf and Ve El Mar for seafood-stuffed pineapple.

Some would argue that San Miguel de Allende is Mexico’s prized jewel – a colonial-era city resplendent with baroque Spanish architecture, upscale restaurants, and exotic flowering vines that cascade from terraces and windowsills. Its major landmark is the pink-hued Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel church which can be found at the city’s cobbled center (which boasts some of the best dining experiences in Guanajuato).

Founded in the 16th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is peppered with stunning stone colonnades, brightly painted homes and shady plazas lined with artisan vendors. Day trippers will enjoy a visit to the Jesuit Sanctuary of Atoltonilco which is famed for its murals depicting angels and demons and over-the-top interior.

Situated on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos beckons with its pristine beaches, dreamy desert landscapes and ritzy waterfront resorts. You might be in Mexico, but Cabos is a multicultural haven that’s celebrated for its eclectic visitor experiences including Ayurvedic healing, international dining and flamboyant Spanish Flamenco shows.

By day, put on a pair of hiking boots for an adventure in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains or take a scenic camel ride across the region’s golden sands. Culture lovers will relish a visit to one of the city’s leading art galleries including Yandi Monardo, Casa Dahlia and Galeria de Arte Bascón.

Valle de Guadalupe has made a name for itself with its prestige vineyards and eclectic cuisine. Tucked between the beautiful beaches of Ensenada and the undulating mountain ranges of Baja California, the region’s scenic Ruta del Vino showcases over 100 wine producers and a hefty assortment of top-notch eateries.

Set around a 200-year-old oak tree in an atmospheric courtyard garden, Animalon restaurant dishes up decadent bites like Margarita scallops with tamarind butter and strawberry shortcake with vanilla mousse. At Bodegas de Santo Tomás Winery, you can dine al fresco at barrel tables while sampling the estate’s ruby cabernet sauvignon and award-winning merlot.

Located in Nuevo León, Monterrey is a sprawling economic hotbed with a cinematic mountain backdrop. Melding old-world majesty with modern conveniences, this megalopolis boasts state-of-the-art museums like Salón de la Fama del Béisbol Mexicano (the baseball hall of fame), Museo del Acero Horno 3 (a mammoth homage to the nation’s steel industry) and MARCO (contemporary art).

Visit Barrio Antiguo, a compact cobbled neighbourhood east of the Grand Plaza, for colonial architecture, bustling beer halls and atmospheric music venues. Foodies can visit Zona Rosa for upmarket restaurants serving inspiring cuisine – try Alamara, La Embajada, or Mochomos.

A cornerstone of indigenous culture, Oaxaca lures visitors to its characterful streets and balloon-filled squares with its evocative Dia de los Muertos festival, compelling arts scene and charismatic restaurants that have attracted foodies the world over. Grab a table at Los Danzantes for homemade mezcal and delicious regional cuisine served in rustic-chic surroundings.

Marvel at old colonial architecture, ancient books, and archeological treasures at Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca: a mesmerizing museum set in monastic buildings, adjoining the Templo de Santo Domingo. A short drive south, you’ll discover Monte Albán, a Mesoamerican UNESCO site founded in the sixth century BCE that’s famed for its plaza, mounds and pyramid complex.