Best Things to Do in Puebla, Mexico
Puebla is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico for two reasons. First, the city is only two hours drive from Mexico City, so it is a convenient stop on travelers' itineraries, and second, it is a beautiful colonial city from the 16th century with many highlights such as colorful architecture, churches, and surrounding volcanoes. Read our guide on the best things to do in Puebla, including top attractions and must-do activities.
Mexico is not only about beaches and Mayan ruins as you might think. It is also a country with an incredible number of cities with an interesting history, beautiful architecture, colorful streets, lively markets, and great street food.
And Puebla, only two hours away from CDMX is one of those cities. Plus it has one more ace in the sleeve. Towering volcanoes nearby.
Puebla is a UNESCO World Heritage city, so you might think we should not have been surprised that the place has to offer so many things to do, but we were.
Puebla was the penultimate stop on our Mexico itinerary and the penultimate destination on our year-long journey around South America and Central America, so you cannot blame us that by then we were a bit tired of planning, and we kind of went with the flow.
But when wandering the streets of Puebla for a while and looking for a restaurant to eat, we quickly realized that there are so many amazing things to see and do, that after lunch we returned on our hotel room, and frantically googled the best attractions as we did not have that much time to spend in the city.
Puebla combines the bustle of a large and modern thriving city with the history and splendid architecture, and when walking in the center, you'll have a feeling you were set a couple of centuries back.
In this travel guide, we've picked the best activities you can do in Puebla.
WHAT TO DO IN PUEBLA
Puebla is a culinary city, but apart from eating you should focus on architecture, museums and markets the city has aplenty. When you have enough time, consider including a trip to volcanoes to your itinerary.
Here's a list of the must-see places in Puebla.
Zocalo
Every city center in Mexico is called Zocalo, and Puebla also has its Zocalo, a place with the biggest concentration of people (including tourists) and architectural gems.
The central plaza is lined with Renaissance and Baroque Puebla's Cathedral, City Hall, colonial houses, and many restaurants in the arcades.
Templo de San Francisco
We caught the sight of this church when we were arriving in Puebla's center by taxi from a bus terminal, and we decided that we must go back to take a photo.
Templo de San Franciso is colorful and so different from other churches you can see in Puebla, that it deserves a couple of minutes of your time.
Museo Amparo
Museo Amparo is, without doubt, the best museum in Puebla, and one of the best museums in Mexico generally. The museum is housed in two colonial buildings, and the most modern part is made of glass where you also can admire the incredible vista and skyline of Puebla when standing on a terrace.
When you are inside the museum, you'll find yourself deep in Mexico's history, as the museum contains artifacts from 2500 BC until the most recent times.
If Puebla is the second stop on your Mexico trip right after Mexico City, and you did not see many ruins apart from Teotihuacan, we recommend you to take time and explore Museo Amparo thoroughly.
This way, you can learn more about all those cultures who lived in Mexico during pre-Hispanic times. This will help you also later when exploring places such as Monte Alban near Oaxaca.
Of course, Puebla has much more worthwhile museums, but if you are here only for a day or two, this place is must-visit.
Volcanoes
Why not to go and explore some volcanoes while in Puebla. The city is close to two famous volcanoes Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl, and you can take a tour from the city, to see those two towering snowcapped giants up close.
Most of the tours include only walking in the park around the volcanoes, but if you feel more adventurous, you can sign up and climb Iztaccihuatl, the more famous Popocatepetl is off-limits to visitors because of volcanic activity.
This private Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Tour is well-rated.
Estrella de Puebla
One of the largest ferris wheels is to be found in Puebla. The 20-minute ride will allow you to see the city from every angle possible, and it is the top thing to do in case you need to spice up the classic sightseeing a bit.
The views from the observation wheel are amazing, and if you are not limited by time, plan your visit around the sunset, when the city lights up.
Church of Santo Domingo
The red facade of one of the most notable churches in Puebla, Church of Santo Domingo, ensures that you won't miss this highlight, but apart from admiring the exterior, there is one more reason why you should visit this landmark.
The Rosary Chapel inside the church is one of the most opulently decorated chapels we've ever seen, and when standing inside, we could not decide whether the thing we see is pretty, or it is already too much.
Either way, the baroque Capilla del Rosario is a must-see place when in Puebla.
Cholula
A small village Cholula is only 20 minutes away from Puebla - you can either take a colectivo, taxi or a tour.
The reason why travelers flock in here is that Cholula is the oldest still-inhabited town in the Americas.
Here, you can find the largest pyramid in the world (the Tlachihualtepetl is mostly covered by vegetation, so it looks more like a hill).
On the top of the pyramid stands Iglesia de la Virgen de Los Remedios, and you can enjoy wonderful views of the Popocatepetl volcano.
This Cholula Tour from Puebla is quite popular.
Biblioteca Palafoxiana
The interior of Library Palafoxiana is a real treat for eyes. The library was established in 1646, and therefore it is one of the oldest libraries in the Americas.
Visiting the library is one of the best budget-friendly things to do in Puebla, as the entrance is free.
Xanenetla
If you want to explore Puebla outside the historic center, and want to see one of many neighborhoods and something a bit different than colonial houses, one of the best tips we can give you is to explore Xanenetla barrio.
The neighborhood reminded us a bit of Valparaiso in Chile as it is known for street art and many open-minded and artsy people live and create their art here.
The place is not considered unsafe as it used to be in the past, but it is still better to visit this area during daylight.
Calle de Los Dulces
Sweet Street is a place no one who loves any kind of sweets should miss. Calle de Los Dulces is right in the city center on Avenida 6 Oriente, and you will find here many stalls and tens of sellers waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Museum of the Baroque
The building of the Baroque Museum has wonderful clean lines, and it almost seems that it does not belong here to Puebla. Japanese architect Toyo Ito designed the museum, and even if you do not plan on going inside, it is a worthwhile place to see from outside.
Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe
Two forts on the top of the Acueyametepec hill, fort Loreto and fort Guadalupe were built to defend Puebla in the 19th century against French invaders.
You can stroll around the complex and imagine how it must have looked like here centuries ago. The view from the hill is also not that bad at all.
Parian Market
This market is not yet another random market you come across in almost every city. Parian Market is a place where you can buy authentically produced Talavera ceramics, so it is a great market in case you want to bring home some traditional and original souvenirs.
Casa de Los Muñecos
Close to Zocalo, you cannot miss the fine sight of the 18th-century baroque house with the wonderfully tiled facade.
Cantona
Cantona was a prominent Mesoamerican walled and fortified city between 600 and 1000 AD set in a beautiful landscape. Nowadays, this archeological site is a hidden gem that you can visit on a day trip from Puebla.
More than 25 ballcourts have been discovered yet, and it's been said only between 1-10 percent of the city was uncovered, so it would be definitely worth it to come back in the future to see the progress and the real grandeur of the place.
Mole Poblano
When talking about the food, Puebla is one of the culinary centers of Mexico, so skip fast foods and try the traditional meals instead.
The signature meal you should try in Puebla is mole poblano (chilly-chocolate thick sauce usually served with meat and rice), which is even named after the city. Puebla has a large network of street food.
We even saw a long line of locals waited for a plate near one of many churches, so put your precaution aside and taste as much as you can.
WHERE TO STAY IN PUEBLA
As Puebla is so close to CDMX, it is a traditional stop on almost every traveler's itinerary, and it is the first place where visitors can get the sense of Mexican colonial cities.
Puebla is also a popular weekend gateway for locals from Mexico, so although the city offers quite a wide range of accommodation, it pays off to make a reservation well in advance.
We've handpicked three best hotels for every budget.
Budget | Suites 201 - We stayed in this apartment-like hotel, and could not be happier. For a little price we got an excellent clean room, the accommodation was in a good location close to the main square, and we a simple breakfast was included.
Mid-range | Mesón Sacristía de la Soledad - Located in Puebla's historic center, this hotel is beautifully decorated and has a terrace, rooms are large and comfortable.
Luxury | Hotel Cartesiano Puebla - This five-star hotel is the best place to stay in Puebla in case you can afford it. The service is amazing, rooms well-designed, and the swimming pool just gorgeous.
WHEN TO GO
Temperatures in Puebla are usually pleasant as they are moderated by the altitude - Puebla sits more than 2000 meters above sea level, so it is rarely too hot here, and it can get a bit chilly in the evening, throughout the night and early in the morning.
The dry season is from November to April, and the other half of the year can see rain more often, especially later in the afternoon.
WHAT TO PACK FOR PUEBLA
Puebla is a city with classical sightseeing and attractions, where you do not need to pack much, only enough to feel comfortable all day walking.
Here are five essential things to pack for visiting Puebla.
Daypack | You do not need to carry much on your back when in Puebla, only a daypack with water, t-shirt with long sleeves, money and camera. We found great selection of fruit in Puebla, so we returned to our hotel room with a full backpack.
Umbrella | It can rain, especially when you are visiting Puebla between April and November, so pack a foldable and durable travel umbrella.
Mirrorless Camera | When traveling, we never leave our trusty travel camera behind.
Runners | If you plan on exploring the center of Puebla, wear a comfortable shoes.
Sunscreen | Because of the altitude, do not underestimate the sun.
HOW TO GET TO PUEBLA
Puebla lies only two hours drive from the capital of Mexico, Mexico City, so technically it is its suburb as CDMX is sprawling, and getting to or from Puebla is extremely easy when traveling this direction.
Bus
Buses leave hourly, sometimes even more frequently, and the ticket costs Mx 104.
If you are traveling from Puebla to CDMX, you will arrive at the TAPO bus terminal (Terminal East on San Lazaro metro station).
We arrived in Puebla from another colonial city Oaxaca but as Puebla is a large city with more than one million inhabitants, you won't have a problem to get there from any other destination.
Car
If you don't mind driving in a foreign country, then you might consider renting a car. It takes about two hours to get from Mexico City to Puebla, though the actual travel time depends on the current traffic.
You can search for the best rental car rates here.
Tour
In case you don't have a car, and traveling from Mexico City by bus feels intimidating, you can take one of the guided tours to Puebla so you won't have to worry about transport and your program as well.
This Puebla and Cholula Tour is quite popular.
Plane
Puebla has an airport in case you need to get around Mexico quickly. If you are short on time, flying might be your preferable way to get around Mexico.
SAFETY IN PUEBLA
Puebla is often rated as one of the safest cities in Mexico which still doesn't mean it is 100% safe, but you can walk around the historic center during daylight without an uneasy feeling.
Of course, Puebla is still a large, cosmopolitan city, so you should watch your belongings all the time, but we never had a feeling we should be more careful than we normally are when traveling.
As usual, use your common sense, do not wander away from the center after dark, and do not show off your valuables. In case you will follow those simple rules, your visit to Puebla should be safe.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
