Discover 20 Awesome Things to Do in Puebla, Mexico

Thanks to its proximity to Mexico City, many people visit Puebla on a day trip from the capital. Visiting Puebla City on a day trip will give you enough time to experience its highlights but this underrated city (and state) in central Mexico deserves more than a day to really do it justice.

We lived in Puebla for a time and had gotten to know the city quite well. If you’re planning a trip to central Mexico, then here are twenty of the most fun things you can do in Puebla.

TOP THINGS TO DO IN PUEBLA, MEXICO

20. Spend the Day at Zona Historica de los Fuertes

Zona Historica de los Fuertes is a sprawling park district located on top of Acueyametepec hill, about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north of the zocalo (main square). It’s a lovely area that’s home to centuries-old forts and several museums.

Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe (Loreto and Guadalupe Forts) are the two most well-known historical attractions and museums at the park. Both are former churches that were converted into military forts to help defend the city against the French during the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe are the most popular but Zona Historica is known for other museums and attractions as well. You can also visit Museo de la Evolucion (Museum of Evolution), Museo Interactivo de la Batalla del 5 de Mayo (Interactive Museum of the Battle of May 5), and the Regional Museum of Puebla. You can learn more about these museums and others in our guide to the best museums in Puebla.

Zona Historica is also home to Planetario Puebla (planetarium), several miradors (viewpoints), a large expo center, and Teleférico Puebla – a cable car ride that gives you terrific bird’s eye views of Puebla City and the surrounding Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl volcanoes.

The gondola ride takes you about 200 feet (60 meters) off the ground and stretches for a little under half a mile (700 meters). It costs MXN 35 each way and MXN 53 roundtrip.

19. Explore Mercado Municipal La Acocota

Visiting a traditional Mexican market is one of the best ways to get a glimpse of local life in Mexico. There are a handful you can visit in Puebla City but my favorite one is Mercado Municipal La Acocota.

Located about a 20-minute walk east of the zocalo, La Acocota is our go-to market for fresh fruits and vegetables in Puebla. If you’re looking for cheap traditional poblano food, then be sure to visit the fondas (family-owned Mexican eateries) at the western end of the market.

If you’d rather visit a market closer to Puebla’s Historic Center, then you can go to Mercado 5 de Mayo. It’s bigger than La Acocota but it’s also more chaotic and not as pleasant.

18. Watch the Cinco de Mayo Parade

If you’re in Puebla City in early May, then attending the Cinco de Mayo parade is a no-brainer. Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to commemorate the Battle of Puebla. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, a vastly outnumbered Mexican army successfully defended the city in 1862 against a larger and better-equipped French army.

Contrary to popular belief – or more accurately, misconception – Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with Mexico’s Independence Day which is celebrated on September 16.

Cinco de Mayo in Puebla is celebrated with a morning parade along Blvd Heroes del 5 de Mayo and a month-long fair at Zona Historica de los Fuertes.

The Feria de Puebla is a month-long festival that happens every year around Cinco de Mayo. A fairground is set up with rides and carnival games while the expo center plays host to live music shows and a bazaar with traditional poblano food and handicrafts.

17. Take a Day Trip to Val’quirico

Val’Quirico is a tourist development in neighboring Tlaxcala state, about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Puebla. Val’Quirico is characterized by cobblestone streets and stone houses that are designed to look like a medieval village in Tuscany, Italy.

Val’Quirico is home to a good number of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and hotels, making it a worthwhile day trip or overnight destination from Puebla.

There doesn’t seem to be an easy way of getting to Val’Quirico using public transportation so it’s best to go in your own car. Alternatively, you can book this private tour on Get Your Guide. It takes you to Val’Quirico, Chautla’s Castle, and the lavender fields at Rancho San Martin.

16. Visit Parque Ecologico and ArboTerra

After Zona Historica de los Fuertes, Parque Ecologico is the biggest and most interesting park in Puebla City. Located about a 30-35 minute walk east of the city center, it’s a 58-hectare city park with a lagoon, botanical garden, cycling trails, playgrounds, and sporting facilities. It’s also home to one of the best hidden places to visit in Puebla – ArboTerra.

ArboTerra is a domed attraction and aviary featuring different species of birds and reptiles. Surrounded by a small lake, at the center of the aviary is this large treehouse with several themed rooms you can explore.

If you’re visiting Puebla with kids, then ArboTerra and Parque Ecologico is a great place to spend the day. Entrance is MXN 145 for adults and MXN 130 for kids.

15. Buy Dulces Tipicos at Calle de los Dulces

Dulces tipicos literally means “typical sweets” and refers to the many traditional confections produced in Puebla. Originally created by convent nuns, they’ve now become one of the most popular souvenirs you can buy in Puebla.

There are said to be over 300 different types of dulces tipicos in Puebla. You can buy them at souvenir shops throughout the city but you’ll find a particularly large concentration of dulcerias (sweets shops) along Avenida 6 Oriente. There are so many sweets shops along this street that it’s commonly referred to as “Calle de los Dulces”.

14. Take a Day Trip to Atlixco

Pueblo magico (literally “magic town”) is a designation given by the Secretary of Tourism to smaller towns in rural areas of Mexico. It’s a designation that’s meant to promote tourism to towns known for their cultural richness, beauty, historical relevance, interesting cuisine, and hospitality.

As of this writing, there are over 170 pueblos magicos in Mexico, 12 of which are in Puebla state, tied with Jalisco and Estado de Mexico for the most in Mexico. Most are off the beaten path but three – Cholula, Atlixco, and Huejotzingo – are easily accessible and within an hour of Puebla City.

Located at the foot of Popocatépetl Volcano, Atlixco is known for its stunning natural scenery and pleasant climate that makes it ideal for growing a wide variety of flowers.

Atlixco is about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Puebla City. It’s best to stay the night but if you don’t have enough time, then you can easily visit on a day trip by ORO bus, car, or guided tour (Option 1 | Option 2). Check out our detailed Atlixco travel guide for more information.

13. Try Tacos Arabes

If you’re a fan of tacos, then you need to try tacos arabes. Originally from Puebla, it refers to the taco dish that descended from Lebanese shawarma and led to the creation of Mexico’s beloved taco al pastor.

Unlike tacos al pastor which are made with heavily marinated pork and corn tortillas, tacos arabes are more simply seasoned and wrapped in fluffier pan arabe (pita bread). It’s a delicious type of taco and the most common you’ll find in Puebla.

You can refer to our tacos arabes guide for a list of our favorite tacos arabes restaurants in Puebla.

12. Buy Talavera Pottery

There are many souvenirs you can buy in Puebla. But if you want something that’s truly emblematic of the city and state, then one of the best things you can buy is Talavera pottery.

Talavera refers to a style of pottery that originated in Talavera de la Reina in Spain. It was brought to Mexico during the early colonial period and took root in Puebla state thanks to the region’s abundance of high-quality natural clay.

Fashioned into plates, cups, saucers, and bowls, you can buy Talavera pottery from the many souvenir shops in Puebla City but the best pieces bear the potter’s signature and the logo of the workshop where they were made. Sold at a more premium price, they also come with a hologram certifying their authenticity.

11. Visit Biblioteca Palafoxiana

If you have a fondness for books and libraries, then you’ll definitely want to visit Biblioteca Palafoxiana. Established in 1646 by the former Bishop of Puebla Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, it’s recognized by UNESCO as the oldest public library in the Americas.

Biblioteca Palafoxiana is a small library located on the second floor of Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center). Admission is MXN 42 but you can get in for free on Tuesdays and Sundays. If you’d like to visit with a guide, then perhaps you’d be interested in booking this walking tour through Get Your Guide.

Click on the link to learn more about Biblioteca Palafoxiana.

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10. Explore Callejón de los Sapos

Callejón de los Sapos literally means “alley of the frogs” and refers to Calle 6 Sur, a picturesque two-block alleyway with colorful houses and interesting antique shops. It’s one of the most visually appealing streets in Puebla City and a great place to peruse antiques and take photos for your Instagram feed.

Frogs are a recurring theme in Puebla. I’ll need to confirm this with a local but I believe they’re in homage to the Pueblan pool frog (Lithobates pueblae), a species of frog endemic to the Necaxa River near Huauchinango.

If you happen to be in Puebla City over the weekend, then be sure to visit one of the outdoor artisanal markets that set up in different parts of the city.

This smaller one sets up on one end of Callejon de los Sapos but a larger one can be found at Parque Analco, on the other side of Blvd Heroes del 5 de Mayo.

9. Take a Shot of Pasita and Rompope

Puebla is famous for regional dishes like mole poblano and chiles en nogada but it’s also known as the birthplace of two types of liqueur – pasita and rompope.

Pasita refers to a raisin-flavored liqueur invented by a cantina (bar) of the same name – La Pasita. It’s served in a slender shot glass called a “caballito” with a toothpick-skewered raisin and a cube of goat cheese.

The yellowish liqueur dusted with cinnamon is rompope. Rompope refers to a type of Mexican eggnog enriched with rum or brandy. It’s popular throughout Latin America but like dulces tipicos, it’s believed to have been invented by convent nuns in Puebla City.

You can enjoy shots of pasita and rompope at La Pasita. Open since 1916, La Pasita is a poblano institution with two locations in Puebla – the more popular spot just off Callejón de los Sapos and another on the other side of the zocalo.

If you like to drink, then you need to enjoy shots of pasita and rompope at La Pasita. I like to think of them as welcome drinks to Puebla.

8. Eat a Cemita Poblana

Like anyone, I enjoy a good sandwich but the cemita poblana may be one of my favorite sandwiches in the world. It refers to a delicious poblano sandwich made with a cemita bread roll stuffed with chicken or pork milanesa, quesillo (Oaxaca cheese), avocados, onions, papalo, and chili peppers (either chipotle or poblano).

I like cemitas poblanas so much that I probably enjoy them around three or four times a week. Like tacos to Mexico City, they’re one of the most popular snacks or comfort foods you’ll find in Puebla.

Check out our article on cemitas for a list of our favorite cemitas shops in Puebla.

7. Visit Museo Internacional del Barroco (International Museum of the Baroque)

There are many interesting museums in Puebla City but the International Museum of the Baroque is one of the biggest and most impressive. Located around 6 miles (10 km) south of the Historic Center, it features a fantastic collection of Baroque art, architecture, and music.

The museum’s well-curated exhibits will keep you entertained for hours but the building itself is just as noteworthy. Opened in 2016, the building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito.

Museo Internacional del Barroco is located at Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl, a lush green space with plenty of walking trails. Admission is MXN 85 (free on Sundays) and you can there using public transportation or Uber.

6. Take a Day Trip to Cholula

Thanks to its proximity, Cholula is the most frequently visited pueblo magico from Puebla City. This magic town is located just 9 miles (15 km) west of downtown Puebla and can easily be reached by public bus, car, or even Uber. You can also go on a guided tour (Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3). Check out our Cholula travel guide for more information.

Cholula’s most emblematic attraction is Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, a 16th-century Roman Catholic church that sits on top of the largest pre-Hispanic pyramid in Mesoamerica.

Like Atlixco, Cholula is worthy of a longer stay but its accessibility makes it the easiest day trip destination from Puebla. You may have heard of a tourist train that shuttled people between Puebla and Cholula but it’s no longer operational.

Instead, you can catch a public bus from the station at 6 Poniente between 11 and 13 Norte (behind Mercado de Sabores). The fare is just MXN 10 each way.

5. Visit Capilla del Rosario and Templo de Santo Domingo

There are many impressive churches in Puebla, but none are more visually striking than Capilla del Rosario (Rosary Chapel) inside Templo de Santo Domingo. This masterpiece of the Mexican Baroque style has been described as the “eighth wonder of the world” and dubbed “America’s shrine” by Pope John Paul II.

Also known as “The Golden House”, Capilla del Rosario is covered in 24k gold stucco and features countless details in Talavera and onyx. It also features six large oil paintings by artist José Rodríguez Carnero depicting key moments in the life of the Virgin Mary. To say that the Rosary Chapel is breathtaking would be an understatement.

Like any church in Puebla, entrance to the Church of Santo Domingo is free but you’ll need to pay MXN 20 to enter the Rosary Chapel.

4. Eat Chiles en Nogada

The regional food in Puebla is one of the most renowned in Mexico. In fact, the two dishes that are widely considered to be Mexico’s national dishes are from Puebla. Mole poblano is one, chiles en nogada is the other.

Chiles en nogada is a seasonal dish consisting of a large chile poblano pepper stuffed with a picadillo mixture. Typically prepared around August till mid-September when pomegranates are in season, the stuffed chili pepper is covered in a creamy walnut sauce and topped with fresh pomegranate seeds and parsley.

This interesting and delicious dish is traditionally prepared to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. As nationalistic as it is beautiful, the main ingredients in chiles en nogada mimic the colors of the Mexican flag – poblano chili pepper for green, walnut sauce for white, and pomegranate seeds for red.

Some touristy restaurants in Puebla City serve chiles en nogada year-round but it’s best to try it when pomegranates are in season. Otherwise, the pomegranate seeds taste fairly bland.

If you’d like to make this beautiful dish yourself, then be sure to check out our chiles en nogada recipe. It was developed by a renowned local chef who runs a popular cooking class in Puebla.

3. Visit Museo Amparo (Amparo Museum)

As great as the International Museum of the Baroque is, Museo Amparo is still the best museum in Puebla. Occupying two colonial buildings in the heart of the Historic Center, it’s a large art and archaeology museum housing an impressive collection of contemporary art, installation pieces, religious paintings, artifacts, and pre-Hispanic art.

I’ve probably been to over fifty museums in Mexico and Amparo Museum, together with Soumaya Museum in Mexico City, is the best museum I’ve visited thus far. It’s a Puebla must-see with its excellent mix of art and Mexican history put together in a modern, comfortable, and well-curated space.

After Amparo Museum, I suggest visiting Casa de los Muñecos as well if you have the time. Located just five minutes away, it’s another fascinating museum in the Puebla downtown area.

2. Make Three Wishes at Catedral de Puebla (Puebla Cathedral)

Capilla del Rosario may have the more visually striking interior but in my opinion, Catedral de Puebla is still the most impressive church in Puebla. Its sheer size will take your breath away.

Located on the south side of the zocalo, opposite city hall, Catedral de Puebla is a massive colonial-era church featuring two towers housing a total of ten bells, the largest weighing in at over 8 tons. The Cathedral is visible from miles away and is easily the focal point of the Historic Center.

In some Catholic countries, there’s a belief that entering a new church for the first time entitles you to three wishes. Don’t forget to make them when you visit Puebla Cathedral.

1. Eat Mole Poblano

Puebla is known for its food and mole poblano is the most celebrated dish in poblano regional cuisine. I prefer cemitas poblanas as an everyday dish but if you had time to eat just one thing in Puebla, then it should definitely be mole poblano.

Mole poblano refers to a thick and dark sauce made with over twenty different ingredients like cocoa, several types of chili peppers, and warm spices like allspice, cloves, and coriander seeds. A common misconception is that chocolate is the primary ingredient in mole poblano but the sauce actually gets much of its flavor and color from dried mulato peppers.

There are hundreds of known mole recipes in Mexico but mole poblano is arguably the most important. In fact, when someone says “mole”, they’re typically referring to mole poblano.

There are many mole restaurants in Puebla but I suggest trying it at Restaurante Casareyna, a more upscale restaurant inside a boutique hotel of the same name. They offer a mole degustation platter with four different types of mole. Alternatively, you can try it on a food tour (Option 1 | Option 2).

If you’d like to make this iconic Mexican dish at home, then you need to check out our mole poblano recipe. It was created by a renowned local chef who runs a popular cooking class in Puebla.

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FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN PUEBLA, MEXICO

While researching Puebla attractions, you may have come across articles recommending Estrella de Puebla. Meaning “Star of Puebla”, Estrella de Puebla is a 260-ft (80 meters) ferris wheel located about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the Historic Center. It holds a Guinness record for being the world’s largest portable observation wheel.

Estrella de Puebla has been closed for over two years but people fond of lofty views may want to visit when it reopens. I’ll be sure to update this guide on the top Puebla sights if and when it does.

As described at the top of this article, many people relegate Puebla to a day trip from Mexico City but I hope this guide convinces you to stay longer than that. At the very least, I hope it gets you even more excited to visit this fascinating and vastly underrated destination in central Mexico.

Anyone who’s spent time in this Mexican city can tell you – Puebla is the real Mexico.

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