Just 2 hours from Mexico City, the city of Puebla is the birthplace of many things uniquely Mexican — including mole poblano, talavera pottery and Cinco de Mayo festivities, to name a few. The city’s historic center, which dates to 1531, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There’s an awful lot to see and do in Puebla. So I’ve created a Puebla travel video (in my usual unfiltered style) to show you some of my favorite things about this fascinating city. If you’re planning a Mexico vacation and looking for things to do in Puebla, this is a good place to start. (One important note: during the pandemic, and some businesses and attractions may be closed, have limited opening hours and/or limited capacity — and they all require masks and social distancing. Be sure to check operating hours and updates before planning travel.)
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The logical place to start your visit is in the historic heart of the city. Downtown Puebla is lined with historic treasures on nearly every block. You can visit the cathedral — which has the tallest church spires in all of Mexico — by day or by night. Whenever you go, don’t forget to look up, because the interior has lots of beautiful details.
You can also visit the oldest public library in the Western Hemisphere: the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, which dates to 1646 and looks almost like a church. Also one of a kind is the Teatro Principal, which opened in 1761 and is the oldest operating theater in Mexico.
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One of the city’s newest attractions is the International Museum of the Baroque, which opened in 2016 in a building designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Inside, you’ll find impressive exhibits of art, fashion and other baroque elements from the 17th and 18th centuries.
If you want to take some art home from Puebla, consider a visit to Barrio del Artista, where local artists work and sell their original creations, and Callejón del Sapo, a colorful street lined with shops that sell arts and crafts as well as an interesting array of antiques (weekends are the best time to visit, when there are more vendors on the street).
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When it’s time to refuel, don’t forget to try some mole poblano, the city’s most legendary dish. If you have time, also consider a visit to Cholula, a town that’s home to a gigantic pyramid that dates to 400 B.C. And if special events are your thing, don’t forget Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexico’s victory over France. Every May 5, a huge parade with about 500,000 military and student participants takes place, and nearly 2 million spectators line the streets to witness the festivities as well as a battle re-enactment.
One thing is certain: no matter how much time you have in Puebla, you’ll surely want to visit again to see even more.
Please feel free to share your travel experiences and questions, whether it’s about Mexico travel or anywhere else. I’m all ears and I love to hear from fellow travelers. Please also be sure to follow my travels on Instagram!