Best day trips from Mexico City
While there are plenty of museums, restaurants, and historical sites to keep you very busy in Mexico City, the central region of Mexico is filled with Pueblo Magicos and beautiful towns that are well worth your time.
Mexico City is well connected to the surrounding states with four bus terminals so it's easy to get around, but finding the right one for your desired destination can be confusing. Check terminals, times, and prices using the ADO App.
1. Teotihuacan
Why go: Explore an ancient city.
What to see and do: Teotihuacan is by far the most popular day trip from Mexico City for travelers. The main pyramid on site, the Pyramid of the Sun, is one of the largest pyramids in the world and you can still climb all the way to the top. Just be sure to take it slow, the altitude of the city is well over 7,000 feet (2,120 meters).
Teotihuacan is an ancient meso-American city that is believed to have been built as early as 400 BC. It wasn’t until 1400 AD that the Aztecs stumbled upon this city and gave it the name we know now, Teotihuacan or “the place where the gods were created.”
You can expect to spend anywhere from one to four hours here depending on how long you linger at each pyramid. There is also the site museum and a set of well-preserved murals which are both included in your entry ticket.
Getting there: There are tours available that also include stops at the Basilica of Guadalupe and lunch near the pyramids. You can also take the bus directly from Terminal de Autobuses del Norte. Buses leave every 10 minutes from 8am to 9pm and you can book your roundtrip ticket at the ticket counter here. You cannot pre-book bus tickets for Teotihuacan.
2. Tepoztlán
Why go: Find zen in a traditional sweat lodge.
What to see and do: Tepoztlán is a pueblo magico (a Mexican village thought special enough to be magic) about 50 miles (82 km) south of Mexico City and easily reached by bus. It’s said that Tepoztlán is the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec feathered serpent god and because of this, many believe it to be a place of great healing and spirituality.
Visitors from all over the country come to Tepoztlán to take part in a temazcal; a pre-hispanic sweat lodge that was originally used as a way to purify the body and mind after something difficult like a battle or a ceremonial ball game. It was also used to help heal the sick and continues to be used by indigenous people around the country today for this purpose.
The second most popular way to sweat a lot and refresh the mind and body in Tepoztlán is the climb El Tepozteco, the mountain at the end of the town’s main street. Follow the steps up and in about an hour you’ll reach the pyramid of Tepozteco.
Getting there: Take the bus from Terminal de Autobuses del Sur which is just outside of the Tasqueña metro station to the south of the city center. Buses leave every hour.
3. Puebla
Why go: Eat your way around the city of Puebla.
What to see and do: The city of Puebla deserves a whole trip of its own, but if you are only in the region for a short time, a day trip to Puebla will at least whet your appetite. Speaking of appetite, the city is best known for its culinary contributions.
The Pueblan mole, with its chocolate notes and rich flavor make it a truly decadent sauce to add to any meal. It’s not just the mole that should be sampled, though. Cemitas and Pelonas are Pueblan sandwiches worth trying for lunch. Chalupas and memelas are corn-based snacks that are cooked in lard, keeping them incredibly juicy, and topped with spicy sauce, onions, and melt-in-your-mouth-tender pork.
In between meals, the city of Puebla has several sites worth exploring including the Cathedral of Puebla, which is surrounded by Colonial-era architecture and a nice plaza. The Temple of Santo Domingo is incredibly ornate on the outside and inside is home to a chapel made almost entirely out of gold. Also in Puebla is the oldest library in the Americas, Biblioteca Palafoxiana.
Getting there: Take the bus from TAPO bus terminal to Puebla. It’s located just outside of the San Lazaro metro station on the east side of the city center. Buses run every 40 minutes and can be pre-booked on the ADO App.
4. Taxco
Why go: Shop for silver jewelry in Taxco.
What to see and do: Taxco is a city in the hills of Guerrero, a state to the southwest of Mexico City. It’s about 100 miles (170 km) from the city center and takes about two and a half hours to reach. A trip here should start early to avoid traffic.
Taxco used to be known around the world for its silver. When the Spanish arrived and discovered its mineral riches, it was home to the largest silver mine in the Western Hemisphere.
As the extraction of silver grew in the area, so too did the art of crafting the silver into something beautiful. When the mines dried up, the shopkeepers and craftsmen stayed behind to continue making what is known around Mexico as some of the finest silver jewelry available. Tourists still flock here to have pieces specially made for loved ones.
In addition to shopping for bracelets and earrings, Taxco is also a beautiful city to explore. At the center of the city is the cathedral, the Templo de Santa Prisca, with its rose-pink stones on the outside and dark frescos on the inside.
Getting there: Many tours companies run day tours from Mexico City which include a stop in Taxco as well as the southern town of Cuernavaca. Buses also run from Terminal de Autobuses del Sur every hour. It takes roughly three hours by bus each way. Check bus times or pre-book tickets on the ADO App.
You might also like:
Best places to eat in Mexico City in 2020
Highlights of Mexico City
Top 14 free things to do in Mexico City
This article was first published July 2019, last updated March 2020.
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