Puebla’s proximity to Mexico City makes it one of the most popular day trip destinations from the capital. People often spend just one or two days in Puebla before moving on to their next destination in Mexico.
With such little time in Puebla, you need to budget your time wisely to make sure you don’t miss anything. One of the best ways to do that is to book a guided tour.
Not only will the best tours take you to Puebla’s top attractions, but a good tour guide can explain the city’s rich cultural heritage in ways that only a local can. Puebla’s Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and best experienced with a knowledgeable tour guide.
Whether you’re visiting Puebla on a day trip from Mexico City or staying for a few days, here are fifteen of the best tours to make the most of your time in Puebla.
VISIT PUEBLA QUICK LINKS
HOTELS
Top-rated hotels in the Historic Center, the best area to stay for first-time visitors to Puebla. Click on the link for more Puebla hotel recommendations.
- Luxury: Casona de los Sapos Hotel Boutique
- Midrange: Hotel Boutique Casareyna
- Budget: Hostal Casa De Arcos
OTHER SERVICES
- Mexico Tourist Card (FMM)
- Travel Insurance (with COVID cover)
- Mexico SIM Card / eSIM
- Car Rental
- Mexico Bus Tickets
PUEBLA TRAVEL GUIDE
Check out our comprehensive guide to Puebla City for more recommendations and tips.
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WHY SHOULD YOU BOOK A TOUR IN PUEBLA?
It’s easy enough to visit Puebla’s attractions on your own but no one knows this city better than a local. Whether you’re interested in colonial history, Talavera pottery, churches, or Poblano food, touring Puebla with an extremely knowledgeable guide is the best way to experience this city. They can give you tidbits of information that you can’t always find on the internet.
Another great reason to book a tour in Puebla is the convenience. Attractions within downtown Puebla are easy to get to but places like Val’Quirico and Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park are not. Tour operators will provide roundtrip transportation, often in a private vehicle, so all you have to do is show up.
As described, people often have limited time in Puebla so it’s important to maximize that time. You need to plan your trip well so you don’t miss anything. Booking an amazing tour is one of the best and easiest ways you can do that.
15 AMAZING PUEBLA TOURS
I’ve compiled fifteen of the best tours in Puebla below. For your convenience, I’ve grouped them by category – day trips from Mexico City, food tours, bus tours, etc. – so you can click on the links below to jump to any section of the guide.
I’ve also included a table with a quick summary of the tours. You can click on the links for more information and to book the tours. Whether you’re into food, culture, or sightseeing, there’s a tour in Puebla to suit everyone’s interests.
| Name of Tour | Price (USD) | Length of Tour |
| 1. Puebla and Cholula Day Tour from Mexico City with Lunch | $58 | 10 hrs |
| 2. Full-Day Puebla City Sightseeing Tour with Visit to Cholula | $122 | 8 hrs |
| 3. Puebla´s Best Kept Secrets Tour | $76 | 4 hrs |
| 4. Three-Hour Private Walking Tour of Puebla City with Liquor and Candy Tasting | $73 | 3 hrs |
| 5. Puebla Sightseeing Tour by Double-Decker Tram | $10 | 10-day validity |
| 6. Taste of Puebla: A Trip Through One of Mexico’s Gastronomic Capitals | $75 | 3 hrs |
| 7. Culinary Experience in Puebla (Cooking Class) | $86 | 3.5 hrs |
| 8. Historic Bars and Canteens Night Tour | $119 | 4 hrs |
| 9. VIP Mexican Wrestling Experience | $192 | 4 hrs |
| 10. Cholula Pyramid and Churches Half-Day Tour | $109 | 5 hrs |
| 11. Cholula and Atlixco Private Tour with Food Tastings | $155 | 7 hrs |
| 12. Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Volcanoes Hike | $168 | 8 hrs |
| 13. Chautla’s Castle, Lavender Farm, and Valquirico Private Tour | $165 | 6 hrs |
| 14. Tlaxcala and Cacaxtla Private Guided Tour | $177 | 6 hrs |
| 15. Zacatlán and Chignahuapan Full-Day Private Tour | $185 | 11 hrs |
DAY TRIPS FROM MEXICO CITY
NOTE: I’ve listed just one day tour to Puebla from Mexico City because it’s the only one with stellar reviews. You can click on the link for more options.
1. Puebla and Cholula Day Tour from Mexico City with Lunch
If you’d like to visit Puebla on a day trip from Mexico City, then this is the tour for you. Not only will it take you to Puebla City, but it’ll also make stops in Huejotzingo and Cholula.
Situated between Mexico City and Puebla, Huejotzingo is a small pre-Hispanic city famous for its production of alcoholic apple cider and fruit preserves. Cholula is the most visited among Puebla’s ten pueblos magicos (magical towns). Its most famous attraction is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, a 16th-century Catholic church built on top of the Tlachihualtepetl pyramid.
The tour then takes you to Puebla City and its top attractions like Puebla Cathedral, the Rosary Chapel, the Convent of Santa Monica, and the zocalo (main square).
IN THE PHOTO: Puebla Cathedral, Puebla City
Puebla and Cholula Day Tour from Mexico City with Lunch
Cost: USD 58 per person
Duration: 10 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
PUEBLA CITY SIGHTSEEING TOURS
2. Full-Day Puebla City Sightseeing Tour with Visit to Cholula
If you’re staying in Puebla, then this is one of the best tours you can join.
This private tour starts with a trip to Cholula before taking you back to Puebla’s Historic Center where you’ll visit its top tourist attractions like Puebla Cathedral, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the zocalo, Calle de los Dulces, the Artist Quarter, and more.
It’ll also take you to Fuerte de Guadalupe and Fuerte de Loreto, two historical forts that played a critical role in the Battle of Puebla. Both are now two of the most visited museums in Puebla.
IN THE PHOTO: Biblioteca Palafoxiana, Puebla City
Full-Day Puebla City Sightseeing Tour with Visit to Cholula
Cost: USD 121.53 per person
Duration: 8 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
3. Puebla´s Best Kept Secrets Tour
If you’d like to focus on Puebla City, then this tour will take you to the top tourist attractions within and around the Historic Center like Puebla Cathedral, Capilla del Rosario, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, Calle de los Dulces, Barrrio del Artistsa, and more. It’s a good way to see everything in one day.
This tour will also take you to the colorful El Parian market, one of the best places to buy souvenirs in Puebla.
IN THE PHOTO: Mercado El Parian, Puebla City
Puebla’s Best Kept Secrets Tour
Cost: USD 75.78 per person
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: English
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
4. Three-Hour Private Walking Tour of Puebla City with Liquor and Candy Tasting
This is another Puebla tour that takes you to many of the top attractions within the Historic Center like Puebla Cathedral, the Rosary Chapel, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, and Callejon de los Sapos. It’ll also make a stop at Calle de los Dulces for tastings of locally produced traditional candies and liqueur.
IN THE PHOTO: Capilla del Rosario, Templo de Santo Domingo, Puebla City
3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Puebla City with Liquor and Candy Tasting
Cost: USD 72.55 per person
Duration: 3 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
5. Puebla Sightseeing Tour by Double-Decker Tram
If you have limited time in a city and prefer not to walk, then going on these bus tours is one of the best and cheapest ways to see a city’s top tourist attractions.
The double-decker tram departs from the zocalo at 10AM daily and takes you on a 55-minute journey through Puebla’s most famous sights like Puebla Cathedral, City Hall, Calle de los Dulces, Fuerte de Loreto, Fuerte de Guadalupe, and more.
There’s a recorded audio guide that gives you a description of each attraction but unfortunately, it’s only in Spanish.
IN THE PHOTO: Fuerte de Loreto, Puebla City
Puebla Sightseeing Tour by Double-Decker Tram
Cost: USD 10 per person
Validity: 10 days
Languages: Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
RELATED ARTICLE: Discover Cantona Ruins, the Most Well-Preserved Archaeological Site in Mexico
FOOD / CULTURAL TOURS
6. Taste of Puebla: A Trip Through The Delicacies of One of Mexico’s Gastronomic Capitals
Food is one of the best reasons to visit Puebla. It’s home to important regional dishes like mole poblano, chiles en nogada, chalupas, and cemitas. So highly regarded is poblano regional cuisine that mole poblano and chiles en nogada are regarded as the national dishes of Mexico.
On this walking tour, you’ll visit Puebla’s oldest market and get to try tasty dishes like tacos arabes, pelonas, dulces tipicos (traditional sweets), and more.
IN THE PHOTO: Mercado Municipal La Acocota, Puebla City
Taste of Puebla: A Trip Through The Delicacies of One of Mexico’s Gastronomic Capitals
Cost: USD 75 per person
Duration: 3 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 48 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
7. Culinary Experience in Puebla (Cooking Class)
You won’t have any trouble finding terrific restaurants in Puebla serving delicious dishes like mole poblano, chiles en nogada, pipian, chalupas, and cemitas. But if you’d like to dig deeper and learn more about Poblano cuisine, then there’s no better way to do that than to take a cooking class.
This culinary experience led by a renowned local chef will have you making Poblano dishes like a pro. It’s the same chef who developed the recipes for mole poblano and chiles en nogada shared on this website.
IN THE PHOTO: Mole poblano
Culinary Experience in Puebla
Cost: USD 86.15 per person
Duration: 3.5 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: No
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
8. Historic Bars and Canteens Night Tour
If happy hour is your favorite hour, then you’ll definitely want to book this bar and cantina hopping tour in Puebla. A cantina is a type of Mexican bar that serves botanas (appetizers).
This tour will take you to several bars in the Historic Center to try a variety of Mexican drinks and cocktails like sangria, menyul, and pasita.
IN THE PHOTO: Shots of pasita at La Pasita
Historic Bars and Canteens Night Tour
Cost: USD 119.45 per person
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
9. VIP Mexican Wrestling Experience
Watching a lucha libre match is one of the most fun cultural experiences you can have in Mexico. I’m not a fan of American wrestling but I had so much fun watching lucha libre in Mexico City.
Before going to the wrestling arena in Puebla, your tour guide will first take you to El Parian market to try street food and dulces tipicos. You’ll then visit a bar to try pulque, a pre-Hispanic alcoholic drink made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant.
Once you’re feeling nice and loose, you’ll be taken to the arena where you’ll be given a luchador mask to wear during the event. You’ll be taught various cuss phrases in Spanish to hurl at the wrestlers from the comfort of your VIP seats. ¡Culerooooooo!
IN THE PHOTO: Lucha libre match at Arena Mexico in Mexico City
VIP Mexican Wrestling Experience
Cost: USD 191.93 per person
Duration: 4 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
DAY TRIPS FROM PUEBLA
10. Cholula Pyramid and Churches Half-Day Tour
As of this writing, Puebla is home to ten pueblos magicos, the most of any state in Mexico. Thanks to its proximity to Puebla City (about 30 mins west) and the striking Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, Cholula is by far the most visited pueblo magico in Puebla.
This private tour takes you on a 5-hour day trip to Cholula to visit its archaeological site and other key attractions like the Churches of Santa Maria Tonantzintla and San Francisco Acatepec. You’ll also be taken to a pottery studio where you’ll try rompope and other locally made liqueurs.
IN THE PHOTO: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, Cholula
Cholula Pyramid and Churches Half-Day Tour
Cost: USD 109.12 per person
Duration: 5 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
11. Cholula and Atlixco Private Tour with Food Tastings
If Cholula is the most visited pueblo magico in Puebla, then Atlixco is perhaps the second most visited. Like Cholula, its proximity (about 40 mins southwest) makes it a doable day trip destination from Puebla City. On this 7-hr private tour, you’ll get to visit both.
Your first stop will be the archaeological site and Great Pyramid of Cholula. From there, you’ll be taken to the top attractions in Atlixco like the Ex-Convent of San Francisco and the colorful murals inside Palacio Municipal.
After sampling local delicacies and handcrafted beer, you’ll be taken to a plant and flower nursery before going to a trout farm in nearby San Baltazar Altimeyaya.
IN THE PHOTO: Atlixco
Cholula and Atlixco Private Tour with Food Tastings
Cost: USD 154.53 per person
Duration: 7 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
12. Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Volcanoes Hike
If you enjoy hiking and the outdoors, then you may want to book this tour. It’ll take you to Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park, home to Mexico’s second- and third-highest peaks – Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl Volcanoes.
Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl Volcanoes measure 17,802 ft (5,426 m) and 17,160 ft (5,230 m) respectively. This hike will take you to a height of 14,842 ft (4,524 m) and some of the best views you’re going to get anywhere in Puebla. Bring lots of water and a camera.
IN THE PHOTO: Popocatepetl Volcano
Jakub Hejtmánek at Czech Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom
Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Volcanoes Hike
Cost: USD 167.84 per person
Duration: 8 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
13. Chautla’s Castle, Lavender Farm, and Valquirico Private Tour
If you’ve been to the top attractions in Puebla and want to explore beyond the city, then this tour may be for you. It’s a private tour that takes you to three destinations outside Puebla City – Ex-Hacienda de Chautla, Rancho San Martin, and Val’Quirico.
Ex-Hacienda de Chautla is an 18th-century farming estate that features a castle in the middle of a lake. Rancho San Martin is famous for its lavender fields and distillery while Var’Quirico is a charming tourist development that was designed to look like a medieval Tuscan town.
IN THE PHOTO: Ex-Hacienda de Chautla
AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom
Chautla’s Castle, Lavender Farm, and Valquirico Private Tour
Cost: USD 164.53 per person
Duration: 6 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
14. Tlaxcala and Cacaxtla Private Guided Tour
Bordered by Puebla state to its north, east, and south, Tlaxcala is the smallest state in Mexico, accounting for just 0.2% of the country’s land. Its main tourist draw is Cacaxtla, an archaeological site that once served as the capital of the Olmeca-Xicalanca people.
This private tour will take you to the Cacaxtla Archaeological Site before continuing on to Tlaxcala City. Your tour guide will show you some of the city’s top attractions like the Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlan, the Chapel of Pocito, and the colorful murals inside the Government Palace.
IN THE PHOTO: Parroquia de San Jose, Tlaxcala
“Tlaxcala” by Russ Bowling, used under CC BY 2.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom
Tlaxcala and Cacaxtla Private Guided Tour
Cost: USD 177.20 per person
Duration: 6 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
15. Zacatlán and Chignahuapan Full-Day Private Tour
If you’ve already visited Cholula and Atlixco, then Zacatlan de las Manzanas and Chignahuapan should probably be the next pueblos magicos on your list. Located in the northern part of Puebla state, they’re about two hours north of Puebla City.
In Zacatlan, you’ll visit Relojes Centenario, the first manufacturer of monumental clocks in Latin America. You’ll also be taken to a bar in the zocalo where you can taste some of the city’s famous ciders and wines. Zacatlan is known for its apple production, hence the name Zacatlan de las Manzanas or “Zacatlan of the apples”.
Located about 30 minutes south of Zacatlan, you’ll then visit Chignahuapan and some of its top tourist attractions like El Salto de Quetzalapan waterfall and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. You’ll also go to one of its many factories that produce Christmas ornaments.
IN THE PHOTO: Relojes Centenario, Zacatlan de las Manzanas
Zacatlán and Chignahuapan Full-Day Private Tour
Cost: USD 185.40 per person
Duration: 11 hours
Languages: English, Spanish
Hotel Pick-Up: Yes
Free Cancellation: Up to 24 hrs before the tour for a full refund
Book This Tour: CLICK HERE for more information and to book this food tour.
RELATED ARTICLE: Everything You Need to Know About Tipping in Mexico
FINAL THOUGHTS ON PUEBLA TOURS
Because of the pandemic, some people may still be apprehensive about booking a group tour in Puebla. If you click through and go through the tour descriptions, then you’ll find that taking safety measures seriously is a given with the best tour operators. If you’re still worried, then I suggest reaching out to the tour providers to ask what safety measures they take to minimize risk.
The downtown area of Puebla City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the main reason why people visit Puebla but as you’ve seen from these tours, there’s so much more to this city and state than its historical center.
I understand why Puebla is a popular day trip destination from Mexico City, but if you can, then I strongly recommend staying longer. It’ll give you the time you need to properly explore Puebla City and the areas around it.
Disclosure
Some of the links in this guide to the best Puebla tours are affiliate links. What that means is that we’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Authenticity is important to us so we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves. We really appreciate your support as it helps us keep this free Puebla travel website going. Thank you!