Puebla in Mexico is one of the most beautiful non-European cities I’ve ever seen. And that shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did: the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the foot of a famous volcano. Does it get cooler than that?
Vibrant, enormous, and full of colors and history. The city of Puebla attracts tourists from all over the world, offering them unforgettable experiences. Find out what the best Puebla attractions are in our guide to Puebla, including top activities and must-see places.
You can thank Puebla for mole poblano, an incredibly delicious food that’s even more delicious when you eat it in Puebla. Something about roots, maybe? It’s also known for Talavera pottery, a ceramic with designs so intricate it looks like it was painted with the world’s smallest paintbrush. I had to take some home as a souvenir, and trust me, you will too.
If that’s not enough, all this is a 2-hour drive from Mexico City. It couldn’t be easier to squeeze into a Mexico itinerary.
And you guessed it, that’s exactly what I did. I’m gonna walk you through how to plan it, what to do in Puebla once you’ve arrived, and the 10 best things to do in Puebla so you can have the same 2-day adventure I did. Ready to become a Puebla fanboy/girl?
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Puebla is like the golden retriever of Mexican cities. Everywhere I looked, there was another yellow painted house or rainbow decoration hanging from a clothesline. Take that super sunny vibe and place it at the foot of a volcano, and that’s Puebla for you. A happy little city with volcano views looming in the background. How’s that for a juxtaposition?
Even a tough, macho man like me admittedly enjoyed the cheery atmosphere. It’s hard not to be charmed by Colonial architecture. And you know what they say, the key to a man’s heart is in his stomach, which is to say, the food did not disappoint. Another shout-out to mole poblano.
I especially appreciated how chill it was compared to the intense, bustling Mexico City. Puebla has a coziness to it that I didn’t feel there, which made me feel more welcomed and relaxed. Or maybe that’s the Mezcal talking.
This is what a random Tuesday looks like in the Puebla region; no one seems to think this is anything special
Quick note: People often mix up Puebla city and Puebla state. It can create lovely misunderstandings. For example, if someone keeps persuading you that Puebla city is 34,306 square kilometers (13,246 square miles) large, don’t trust them.
What’s more confusing is that Puebla city is the capital of Puebla state. Try saying that 3 times fast.
Also, when you hear 'Battle of Puebla,' you know, the famous battle from 1862, they're also talking about the city.
The duration of your stay depends on how much time you want to spend tasting all the delicious food @ Pueblas Grill
One day in Puebla is enough to see the historic center, including the Zócalo, Cathedral, Rosario Chapel, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, and several beautiful churches. But if you can, I highly recommend spending an extra day because...
Two days in Puebla gives you enough time to visit museums like the Amparo Museum, hit up local markets, dig into Puebla's famous local cuisine (AKA mole poblano), and explore more of the city's neighborhoods.
Three days in Puebla gives you time to add a day trip to Cholula, known for its massive pyramid and volcano views. You can also get a guided tour from Mexico City.
My recommendation: Spend at least two days in Puebla. When I say that, I mean it. I rarely see a reason to spend more than a day or two in any one city, but Puebla is worth it. You’ll see once we go over what to do in Puebla.
Here’s what that might look like:
Here’s a quick look at the best things to do in Puebla, divided into categories
The Convent of San Gabriel in Cholula was built right next to the Great Pyramid, making it a nice additional stop
Streets in Puebla look completely unchanged from 50 years ago
Best Day Trips from Puebla
When it comes to what to do in Puebla, these 10 are the best:
Geyser Cuexcomate in Puebla city, Mexico
Cuexcomate in Puebla is considered to be the smallest volcano on the planet, so at first I had a good laugh when I saw it. But then I learned that that’s a misconception. Cuexcomate is not a volcano; it’s an inactive geyser. Sorry, Cuexcomate!
It’s still a must-see, though. It’s 13 meters (42 feet) tall, and a staircase leads down in its channel. If you follow it, instead of hot lava and flowing magma, you can stumble upon hot artists and flowing wine—cultural events are held in the geyser. I’d say that’s a pretty cool thing to do in Puebla, wouldn’t you?
Even if you don’t have time for more than just a peek at the outside, it’s worth stopping and seeing it just so you can say you did.
Address: Av. Don Juan de Palafox y. Mendoza, Centro, 72000 Puebla, Pue., Mexico
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed walking around Zócalo, the city center. It felt like a magical town. The streets were whimsically narrow, but even more whimsical? The colors of the houses. I bet you don’t live in a place this yellow. I don’t either, but now I kind of wish I did. I can't lie, I love colonial Spanish architecture.
The Zócalo de Puebla is the main square in what's known as the centro histórico, and there are a lot of fun things to do here. For example, I also got to explore cozy cafés, cobbled streets, the artist quarter, and numerous shops (where I bought the aforementioned pottery, of course). I loved that I could do all my sightseeing on foot; lots of iconic landmarks are within walking distance. Don’t forget to visit:
Be sure to leave at least an hour in your itinerary for wandering around.
Do you prefer a proper hike instead of a peaceful walk? Try my top 10 best hikes in Mexico.
Stands made of bricks in El Parián in Puebla
When I went looking for what to do in Puebla to experience Puebla’s local life, I found that El Parian was the best place. This is the local, traditional market with 112 stands made of brick. You can buy handcrafted items, high-quality, and cheap at the same time. I spent a solid half hour exploring the markets, but could easily have stayed for longer if I’d had the time.
Me in Biblioteca Palafoxiana, one of Puebla's attractions
Biblioteca Palafoxiana was one of the biggest surprises of my trip because I’m not normally into libraries. But it’s hard not to be impressed by the oldest public library in not just Latin America but all the Americas, founded in 1646 by Bishop Juan de Palafox. It's got gigantic wooden shelves and books probably older than your great-great-grandpa.
But who am I kidding, numbers describe Biblioteca Palafoxiana better than my words:
The library is open for a visit between 10 AM and 5 PM weekdays except Mondays, and it closes at 4 pm on weekends. The visit took me around 15 minutes; I'm not one to hang around and read while on vacation. Still, it’s absolutely worth it to stop by and feed your camera roll.
Note, it's on the second floor of the Casa de la Cultura, so don't get confused wandering around looking for it.
Catedral de Puebla
I was genuinely fascinated by the Catedral de Puebla, so obviously I had to include it in what to do in Puebla. This won’t take more than half an hour of your time, so there’s no excuse to skip it. It consists of 14 lateral chapels and the main altar. The interior is decked out with ornaments, statues, and paintings everywhere I looked.
Make a guess: How long do you think it takes to build such a cathedral?
The answer is: It took 74 years (with some breaks). The construction began in 1575 and was finally finished in 1649, and consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Today, it serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Way cooler than my office...
Warning: It’s not allowed to take pictures inside. I found that out the hard way, oops.
The Great Pyramid of Cholula with a Christian cathedral on top
I’m too much of a history buff to skip a trip to Cholula on my Puebla itinerary. It’s the oldest still-inhabited village in Mexico and hides true gems. For example, the world’s largest pyramid. Read the 12 facts about Mexico article to find out even more about Mexican history.
Before you start yippeeing and hooraying, let me disappoint you a bit: The pyramid is covered by soil and plants, and looks more like a hill. It was kind of a bummer if I’m being totally honest, I was picturing a big sandy triangle. But still. The Great Pyramid of Cholula (Tlachihualtepetl) is 450 meters (1,480 feet) wide in its base. For comparison, the Giza pyramid is 230 meters (750 feet) wide.
Why is there a Catholic cathedral on top of the world’s largest ancient pyramid? Well, when Spaniards came to Mexico, they apparently thought: Look, a pagan building! Let’s destroy it! What a great idea! And they covered the pyramid with soil and built a cathedral on top.
The archeological site in Cholula offers plenty of interesting activities: not only the pyramid and the cathedral, but also ruins, Cholula tunnels, a museum, several churches, and festivals… Deciding what to do depends on how much time you have. For your own sake, I hope you have a lot. If you’re interested in these kinds of monuments, you might also want to read about the 7 Best Aztec Ruins in Mexico.
All in all, I spent about 3 hours here. 3 hours well spent, if you ask me.
The ruins around the pyramid are easy to underestimate, so don't go in expecting a quick walk-through
San Francisco Acatepec has a very colorful facade
Look at those insane colors. I’ve never seen a church quite like this one. But apparently, it’s a typical Mexican church for the Baroque period. ‘Typical’ is not the word I’d use to describe it, even if it is a Puebla attraction, but those are the facts I was told by a local who knows much more than I do.
And if you think the outside is crazy, get ready for the inside. The second I walked in, I was immediately blinded by the sheer amount of gold. Gold walls, gold ceiling, gold chandeliers—I almost got dizzy from it all. In a good way, of course, it’s not every day you see a building like this.
I’d say this is easily one of the most interesting sights when it comes to what to do in Puebla, specifically in San Andrés Cholula. Be sure to stop here and spend at least 30 minutes after you check out the pyramid.
Orizaba was the perfect place to escape to once I felt totally sick of all the tourists around me in Puebla. It’s a city in the state of Veracruz, approximately 2 hours from Puebla by car. I’ve summarized the top 8 places to visit in Veracruz state for you in a separate article.
Here are my favorite things there:
Teleférico is a cableway that will take you up the hill above Orizaba. The visit is simple: go up, enjoy approximately 30 minutes of beautiful views, and get down again. It’s open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day.
Address: Centro, 94300 Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
I recommend a walk along the river in Orizaba (Río Orizaba) because locals run a free zoo there, so my walk was spiced up by animals all around me. It’s surrounded by cafés and restaurants, so I didn’t starve either.
Address: Sur 4, Centro, 94300 Orizaba, Ver., Mexico
500 Escalones as a day-trip
Fancy a stroll in the wild? 500 Escalones are 500 stair steps, creating a gorgeous hike with a dam at the end. In my opinion, the hike is more about the journey and the natural beauty of the surroundings than about the dam, so there’s no use in going entirely down if you’re out of time or tired.
Honestly, when I got to the dam I was like, ‘dam, that’s it?’ Pun absolutely intended.
Still, it’s worth it just for the volcano views—check out Pico de Orizaba there in the distance. And a break in nature is always something I recommend during any trip to a city. Puebla, you’re amazing, but you’re no exception.
Image source: official website of Orizaba
I enjoyed stopping and staring at Palacio de Hierro, Iron Palace in translation. Easy on the eyes, isn’t it? But I’d stay outside, because the cafe inside is just awful. The service is unpleasant, and the coffee undrinkable.
So just stick to the exterior, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel in the 19th century. It was made of 600 tons of steel for 100,000 pesos—equivalent to 21.3 million Mexican pesos (1.1 million US dollars) today.
All that money doesn’t buy a good cup of joe, though, apparently...
Whereas Puebla’s elevation is 2,135 meters (7,004 feet) above sea level, Orizaba lies much lower: at an altitude of 1,200 meters (4,000 feet). Which means you will go down the hill. A lot. And the highway is literally highway to hell.
The fact that the road goes down, together with the fact that it also leads to Veracruz, Mexico’s second-largest port, causes very heavy traffic. Get ready to honk at a truck or two. Or get up early and set off in the morning, when the road is empty. Read about other helpful Mexico travel tips.
Africam Safari
When I first stumbled upon Africam Safari on the internet, I was a bit skeptical: an African safari on a list of what to do in Puebla? But I gave it a chance, and I didn’t regret it. Turns out it really is a private zoo with more than 2,500 animals and over 300 species from Africa.
The tickets are quite expensive, but definitely worth it. I went to the zoo in your car, and slowly drove among the animals. I must pay a compliment to the safety—the lioness in the picture below jumped in front of our car and wanted to scratch it, but the moment she raised her paw, the zoo staff came and drove her away.
The whole thing, including the 40-minute drive from Puebla, can take 5-6 hours, so if you have the time, I recommend this as its own separate day trip.
Lioness in Africam Safari
The safari is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, weekends from 9 AM. Tickets cost MXN 458 (USD 26). You can also book a private guided tour.
Chapel of Rosario, full of golden ornaments
I’m not pious, and chapels don’t usually impress me… but the Chapel of the Rosario is on a completely different level than any other chapel I’ve seen.
The chapel is hidden in the Church of Santo Domingo in Puebla, and is described as the eighth world wonder by some. Every inch of it is covered in gold. Built in the architectural style called New Spanish Baroque, it shows the wealth of the Church and is full of symbolism.
To put it mildly, this is the most beautiful tourist attraction in Puebla, and it’s absolutely unmissable. I wouldn’t spend more than 30 minutes here unless it truly blows you away, but I was satisfied with my stop.
The opening hours are from 11 AM to 1:30 PM and then again from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM every day, except for Mondays.
Puebla is one of the most underrated cities in Mexico. I honestly couldn’t get enough of the colonial architecture, with cheerily colored streets and gorgeous tiled buildings on every corner.
What really makes it stand out, though, is the food. Every snack I grabbed, even from a small market booth, was totally delicious. If you love architecture and good food, this city is hard to beat.
But a lot of travelers visit as a day trip. Meaning, a lot of visitors miss a lot of what Puebla has to offer. Give Puebla at least two days of your time, and you’ll be rewarded with good meals, friendly people, and happy vibes all around.
Cozy rooms, great swimming pool, and fabulous breakfast! @ Banyan Tree Hotel
I recommend staying at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Puebla. It’s in a great location, close to all the architectural gems mentioned above
We stayed at Hilton MM Grand Hotel. It cost us around USD 65 per night, and the quality matches the price – overall, the hotel was very nice, and we enjoyed our stay there, even though the breakfast could’ve been better.
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Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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