Shutterstock

Xalapa

Familiar to the world primarily due to the super-hot green chili that was named after it, Xalapa (also spelled Jalapa, but always pronounced ha-la-pa) is actually about as different to the fiery jalapeño pepper as can be – unlike sweaty coastal Veracruz city, Xalapa's highland location makes it temperate and often quite cloudy. Thanks to its alternative vibe and large student population, the city is lively at night and has a thriving cultural scene (it has its own branch of the Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts, for example).

Traffic-choked Xalapa has an alluring center, full of well-kept parks, bustling pedestrian streets and colonial architecture. The superb anthropological museum is the main draw for visitors here, but the gargantuan pre-Hispanic relics are supplemented by hip bars, weighty bookstores and a superb array of quality coffee joints, making this one of Mexico's most enjoyable state capitals.

Explore Xalapa

M
Museo de Antropología
Attached to spacious gardens, 4km northwest of the center, this remarkable museum contains Mexico’s second-finest archaeological collection. The focus is…
P
Parque Juárez
Xalapa's central main square doubles as a terrace, with its south side overlooking the valley below and, in clear weather, the snowcapped cone of Pico de…
M
Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero
Almost as old as New Spain itself, this former posada was initiated in 1525 by Juan Lencero, a soldier loyal to Hernán Cortés, and served as a resting…
N
Naolinco
A worthy day trip from Xalapa, Naolinco is a 33km drive north of the city. Apart from its Parroquía San Mateo, it has a viewpoint overlooking the…
C
Catedral Metropolitana
A mélange of neo-Gothic and baroque, Xalapa’s cathedral lacks a second tower but still impresses with its scale and grandiosity. The architecture makes…
P
Palacio de Gobierno
Veracruz' state government occupies a palatial neoclassical building. On its north and east facades, under the arcades, are superb murals depicting…
G
Galería de Arte Contemporáneo
Xalapa has several contemporary art galleries and this one, in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the center, shows an interesting range of…
P
Parroquia de San José
Xalapa's oldest church was founded back in 1535, with the current building completed in 1770. Architecturally, it displays an unusual blend of baroque and…
P
Parque Paseo de los Lagos
Xalapeños escape the monstrous traffic just south of Parque Juárez in this serendipitous park, which has 3km of delightful lakeside paths, most commonly…

M
Museo de Antropología
Attached to spacious gardens, 4km northwest of the center, this remarkable museum contains Mexico’s second-finest archaeological collection. The focus is…
P
Parque Juárez
Xalapa's central main square doubles as a terrace, with its south side overlooking the valley below and, in clear weather, the snowcapped cone of Pico de…
M
Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero
Almost as old as New Spain itself, this former posada was initiated in 1525 by Juan Lencero, a soldier loyal to Hernán Cortés, and served as a resting…
N
Naolinco
A worthy day trip from Xalapa, Naolinco is a 33km drive north of the city. Apart from its Parroquía San Mateo, it has a viewpoint overlooking the…
C
Catedral Metropolitana
A mélange of neo-Gothic and baroque, Xalapa’s cathedral lacks a second tower but still impresses with its scale and grandiosity. The architecture makes…
P
Palacio de Gobierno
Veracruz' state government occupies a palatial neoclassical building. On its north and east facades, under the arcades, are superb murals depicting…
G
Galería de Arte Contemporáneo
Xalapa has several contemporary art galleries and this one, in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the center, shows an interesting range of…
P
Parroquia de San José
Xalapa's oldest church was founded back in 1535, with the current building completed in 1770. Architecturally, it displays an unusual blend of baroque and…
P
Parque Paseo de los Lagos
Xalapeños escape the monstrous traffic just south of Parque Juárez in this serendipitous park, which has 3km of delightful lakeside paths, most commonly…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Xalapa.

See
Museo de Antropología
Attached to spacious gardens, 4km northwest of the center, this remarkable museum contains Mexico’s second-finest archaeological collection. The focus is…
See
Parque Juárez
Xalapa's central main square doubles as a terrace, with its south side overlooking the valley below and, in clear weather, the snowcapped cone of Pico de…
See
Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero
Almost as old as New Spain itself, this former posada was initiated in 1525 by Juan Lencero, a soldier loyal to Hernán Cortés, and served as a resting…
See
Naolinco
A worthy day trip from Xalapa, Naolinco is a 33km drive north of the city. Apart from its Parroquía San Mateo, it has a viewpoint overlooking the…
See
Catedral Metropolitana
A mélange of neo-Gothic and baroque, Xalapa’s cathedral lacks a second tower but still impresses with its scale and grandiosity. The architecture makes…
See
Palacio de Gobierno
Veracruz' state government occupies a palatial neoclassical building. On its north and east facades, under the arcades, are superb murals depicting…
See
Galería de Arte Contemporáneo
Xalapa has several contemporary art galleries and this one, in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the center, shows an interesting range of…
See
Parroquia de San José
Xalapa's oldest church was founded back in 1535, with the current building completed in 1770. Architecturally, it displays an unusual blend of baroque and…
See
Parque Paseo de los Lagos
Xalapeños escape the monstrous traffic just south of Parque Juárez in this serendipitous park, which has 3km of delightful lakeside paths, most commonly…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Xalapa

Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.