Before I begin…I have a disclaimer. I am Mexican! Yes. My family is from Mexico and I go back to Mexico time and time again. So, I am definitely biased when it comes to Mexico. There is so much culture in Mexico, so many different customs from different parts of Mexico. This is what makes Mexico truly beautiful.
There. I said it. Now that this bias is out in the open, I want to talk about some of the most beautiful cities, my favorite cities in Mexico. This does not mean that the other cities are not amazing. I wanted to take the time to talk about what makes these cities so special to hopefully inspire you to take a trip.
Best Cities in Mexico to Visit
Mexico City
Mexico City is probably the most recognized city in Mexico. Why wouldn’t it be, it is often compared to NYC, and by the sheer size of it, it definitely can be. Now, what makes Mexico City a truly great city to visit, there is something for everyone.
If you love history and learning about the culture, you can spend your entire time in Mexico City visiting historical and cultural sites. Some of my favorites are El Zocalo, Tenochtitlan Pyramids, museums, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Xochimilco. These are just a few of my favorites.
Maybe you are a foodie. There is an endless list of places to eat. You will not have enough time in Mexico City to experience it all. You can find some of the best food in Mexico City, from street food, to hole in the walls, to fine dining. Everything. Why? Because it’s Mexico City. Every time I go, I experience and do completely different things. You can go to mercados and eat your way through the mart, you can walk to your next destination and find yourself eating street food next to executives or high school kids. One of my favorites that also has a cult following is Churreria el Morro, just sit with the locals, and have some churros and hot chocolate.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is a city that has a mix of tradition and modernness, old and new, big and small. It might be one of my all-time favorites. Although Guadalajara is a big city, contrary to Mexico City, it doesn’t feel like it. Of course, it’s big, but you don’t get lost in it like you do in Mexico City.
Some of my favorite things to do in the city are; going downtown and just walking around, getting lost in El San Juan de Dios Market, having a torta ahogada, visiting museums and historical sites, listening to mariachis at Plaza de Los Mariachis, and the nightlife is amazing.
Another reason I love Guadalajara, the day trips you can take. You can have Guadalajara be your base and then take trips or tours to Tequila, Lake Chapala, Tlaquepaque, and Tonala. These are just a couple of day trips you can take.
Puerto Vallarta
Speaking of Jalisco, let’s talk about Puerto Vallarta. This is one of my favorite beach destinations in Mexico. Now, granted, it doesn’t have the most beautiful beaches, but there is no better feeling than a small beach town that has everything you need. The thing about Puerto Vallarta is that you will find a lot of retirees and foreigners in the city, but they are all mixed in with the locals. You are living with locals. It’s not just a tourist destination where we are secluded from everyone. Here, you are all living together. It’s a beautiful life in Puerto Vallarta. You can go to the beach, walk el Malecon, eat aguachiles or have a kale salad. You name it and you can find it here without losing the rich culture of Mexico.
Zacatecas City
This city. This city I tell you. If you have not been here, you are missing out. You won’t find tons of articles or blogs about Zacatecas City and I don’t know why. It’s a smaller city then Guadalajara and Mexico City, the culture is so so rich. First off, stay in the heart of the city. You will not need a car to explore. All you need to do is walk around and be present. You can start the morning by having some coffee from one of the many cute coffee shops, then head over to the Cathedral and get consumed in its beauty. For lunch, maybe have some street tacos from a vendor and then sit at the park and enjoy people watching. For dinner, you will have a plethora of choice, traditional Mexican food, sushi, greek or steak. The options are endless.
You can visit small museums, go zip lining, drink craft local beers, or sip on mezcal. The one thing about Zacatecas City that I absolutely love is the fusion that exists. You feel the richness of the Mexican history as well as the Spanish footprint…then you blend it all in with the new world we live in. Yes, this exists everywhere, but here, in Zacatecas City, you feel it. You can’t neglect it, or avoid it. It’s everywhere. It’s beautiful.
Guanajuato
Everyone knows about San Miguel de Allende, but not as many people know about Guanajuato City. This was the place to go before San Miguel de Allende. It is a gem in Mexico. Everything is walkable. You can go to a small plaza that is surrounded by restaurants. You enjoy people watching, a nice meal and cocktail of choice. There is the mummy museum that is under a cemetery, and once you leave the cemetery you walk out to a beautiful city view. Make sure you get lost by walking around all the small streets that are so vibrant with color. Once you’ve had your taste here…then you can go to San Miguel de Allende.
Playa del Carmen
What? Playa del Carmen. Why? Well, because it is sitting on a beautiful .white sand, clear water beaches. It is blocks away from 5ta Avenida, where you can go and get your tourist fix, but also several blocks from where the locals go. Playa del Carmen for me is my go-to when I want to take a quick trip to the beach. It has everything I need, beach, delicious food and it’s easy to travel to and not expensive. Yes, it’s absolutely too touristy, but some beaches are not as packed, and you can stay away from the tourists if you know where to go.
Oaxaca
Of course, Oaxaca is on this list. This is the place we never knew we wanted to go to until it became popular. The first time I went was over 10 years ago and I immediately fell in love. The narrow streets, colorful buildings, rich good. Everything. El mole de chocolate. Everything. I went again two years ago, and although it was much more touristy, it was still as beautiful. You can enjoy mezcal, street food, take a cooking class or go on day trips. My favorite thing about this city is the food. You cannot find food like Oaxacan food anywhere else. Period.
There you have it! This is of the best cities in Mexico to visit. I continue to go back and back again to these cities.
What cities in Mexico are your favorite and why? I would love to hear your thoughts!
