10 Awesome Mexico City Day Trips
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If you are looking for a mini break from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City, why not take a day trip to somewhere less hectic? While there is plenty of wonderful things to do in Mexico City, it also serves as the perfect base for day trips. Why not explore beyond the Mexican capital’s boundaries and get closer into the heart of Mexico? In this post, I share 10 of the best Mexico City day trips!
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<3 Dominique
1) Teotihuacán – City of the Gods
Located 40 kms (25 miles) northeast of Mexico City is Teotihuacán – City of the Gods. Teotihuacán (pronounced ‘te-oh-TEE-wha-CAN’) is the most visited and largest archeological site in all of Mexico. It is the most popular of the Mexico City day trips. Teotihuacán was once the largest city in Mesoamerica but was abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs.
Not much is known about the founders of the city. In fact, “Teotihuacán” is not its original name but a name given to the site by the Aztecs. In Nahuatl (the Aztec language), Teotihuacán means “City of the Gods”. The abandoned city was such a sight to behold that the Aztecs recognized its significance during their time and designated it as a pilgrimage site of where the sun was created.
Boasting towering pyramids, stone temples with detailed statues, and intricate murals, Teotihuacán gained its UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1987.
Tips for your Teotihuacán day trip
- Allocate at least four hours for exploring the site. Teotihuacán is massive and you will want to make the travel time to get there well worth it.
- Wear trousers or shorts if you want to climb up the pyramid steps to avoid flashing everyone; the steps are quite steep.
- Wear comfortable footwear and prepare to get your step count in.
- Bring cash, adequate sun protection, and water.
- To make your visit even more memorable, check out this excursion that provides sunrise aerial views of Teotihuacán during sunrise, breakfast in at LA CUEVA, followed by a tour of the pyramids.
How to get to Teotihuacán
- By public transportation, take the metro to Autobuses del Norte station on Line 5 (yellow line). Across the street from the metro station, you will find the stop for the bus that goes to Teotihuacán. Depending on traffic, the ride should take about an hour. The last bus back to Mexico City from Teotihuacán comes by around 8pm.
- If you choose to go by Uber, it is not uncommon for the driver to ask you for cash to cover their trip back to Mexico City and/or the toll fee (the paid highway has less traffic than the free highway). By all accounts, it sounds like choosing this option costs about 1000 pesos (dependent on your negotiation skills).
- There are plenty of small group tours that offer hotel pickups and drop-offs in addition to bundling this must-do Mexico City day trip with other top attractions.
2) Toluca
Toluca is about an hour’s drive away from Mexico City. To be more precise, it is located 64 miles west of CDMX. Many people come there to hike to Nevado de Toluca (Toluca volcano). Nevado de Toluca is a dormant, stratovolcano. If you Google images of Toluca, you will see snow-capped peaks (the city has one of the highest elevations for a Mexican city) and picturesque lakes. I am a huge fan of hikes and this one looks absolutely amazing! Beware though. With an altitude of 4,200 m (13,780 ft) you may experience altitude sickness.
How to get to Toluca
- By public transportation, take the metro to Observatorio metro station on Line 1 (pink line). From there, you will find the Central Onservatorio bus station. There are buses that go directly to Toluca (check out the following bus lines: Caminante, Flecha Roja or ETN. They have buses departing every 10 minutes).
- Taking an Uber to Toluca is a comfortable option but I am not sure how easy it will be to get back to Mexico City.
- If you are interested in hiking up Nevado de Toluca, check out this excursion that includes pickup and drop off from your Mexico City accommodation.
Where to stay in Toluca
Should you decide to extend your visit to Toluca, below are some local, high-rated hotels.
- For budget travelers, check out Suites Aldama.
- If you have mid-ranged budget, check out Hotel San Francisco.
- For a more luxurious experience, check out Quinta del Rey Hotel.
3) Tula
Tula is an under the radar destination, making it one of the best Mexico City day trips for returning visitors. It is an archaeological site at the ancient Toltec city of Tula. Located about two hours north of Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo, Tula is the perfect alternative if you want to avoid the crowds at Teotihuacán.
How to get to Tula
- By public transportation, take the metro to Autobuses del Norte station on Line 5 (yellow line). Across the street from the metro station, you will find the stop for the bus that goes to Tula. Look for Sala 8, go to the last ticket counter and ask for “Tula directo”. The bus will take you from Mexico City to the Tula de Allende bus station. From the Tula bus station, take a taxi to the site.
- To avoid the hassle of planning the logistics of how to get to and from Tula, check out this tour that bundles a visit to Tula with a visit to Tepotzotlan. Tepotzotlan is a charming colonial town that is a designated “pueblo magico” by Mexico’s tourism board.
4) Cuernavaca
Located in the state of Morelos, Cuernavaca is a two-hour drive south of the Mexican capital. Historically, CDMX high society flocked to Cuernavaca for its year-round pleasant climate, sprawling haciendas and estates, and fresh air. Today, not much has changed as chilangos (Mexico City residents) flock to the town for the same reasons. Cuernavaca offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City.
5) Taxco
Surrounded by dramatic mountains with perfectly preserved colonial architecture, Taxco is another one of the best Mexico City day trips. Located in the state of Guerrero, Taxco is about a two and half hour drive from Mexico City. During the Spanish conquest, a wealth of subterranean silver was uncovered. Mining and jewellery trade boomed in the town. Today, Taxco is one of the best places in the world to buy silver.
Travel tip: there are plenty of small group tours departing from Mexico City that combine stops at Cuernavaca and Taxco. By joining these tours, you can essentially cover three Mexican states in one day.
6) Puebla
Puebla City is about a three-hour drive southeast of Mexico City. It is the capital of the state of Puebla. Although Puebla is the fourth largest city in Mexico, it offers a much more relaxed vibe in comparison to the Mexican capital. As the birthplace of mole poblano, Puebla is renowned for its cuisine. In addition, as it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, people come to Puebla for its history and culture.
How To Get There
There’s two options that I would recommend for getting to Puebla City:
- By public transportation, take the metro to San Lazaro metro station on Line 1 or Line B (pink line and gray line, respectively). Go to TAPO ADO bus terminal which is right next to the San Lazaro metro station. From there, you can catch an ADO bus that connects Mexico City and Puebla City.
- There are plenty of small group tours that offer hotel pickups and drop-offs in addition to bundling a stop to Puebla with other recommended Mexico City day trip stops.
Where To Stay in Puebla City
Should you get charmed into staying a night or two in Puebla City, below are some high rated hotels located in Centro Histórico.
- For budget travellers, check out Hotel Isabel.
- If you have mid-ranged budget, check out Casa Azulai Puebla Hotel Boutique.
- For a luxurious experience, check out L Hotel Perla Boutique.
7) Cholula
Located between Mexico City and Puebla City is the small town of Cholula. Cholula is home to the Great Pyramid – the largest pyramid in the world (by volume) and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to Cholula will give you the opportunity to experience authentic Poblano culture. It is also worth noting that the devastating Cholula Massacre occurred here and explains the presence of the 40+ churches in the town in its aftermath.
How to get there
To make the most of this Mexico City day trip, I suggest joining a small group tour that would bundle a visit to Cholula with stops to other nearby attractions.
8) Querétaro
During my last visit to Mexico City, many of the locals told me that I absolutely had to go see Querétaro. Querétaro is the capital of the state of the same name. The drive between Querétaro and Mexico City is about three and half hours long. With its booming aerospace and technologies sectors, Querétaro is one of the fastest growing cities in the northern hemisphere. So while you drive through the urban sprawl, you will be surprised once you get to Querétaro’s colonial center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit Querétaro for its stunning colonial architecture, a vibrant arts and culture scene, the nearby wineries, and natural wonders like the Peña de Bernal monolith and the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.
How to get there
- By public transportation, you can catch a Primera Plus bus from Mexico City’s airport from T1.
- For door-to-door service, book this small group tour.
Where to stay in Querétaro
Querétaro is high on my Mexico wish list for my next visit. By all accounts, it sounds like I may want to stay a night or two in this city. Below are some local, high-rated hotels should you also decide to extend your day trip.
- For budget travellers, check out Hotel Madero.
- If you have mid-ranged budget, check out Hotel Boutique Casa Loreta.
- For a luxurious experience, check out Casona de la Republica Hotel Boutique & SPA.
9) San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende often makes it on lists about the best towns in the world to visit and all for good reason. San Miguel de Allende is so vibrant and so photogenic and so… accessible from Mexico City via a day trip if you’re short on time. This town, located in the state of Guanajuato, is about a four-hour trip north of Mexico City. In San Miguel de Allende, you can wander the cobblestone streets between brightly coloured colonial buildings and discover art galleries, charming shops, and rooftop restaurants with dramatic views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How To Get There
- By public transportation, take the metro to Autobuses del Norte station on Line 5 (yellow line). Across the street from the metro station, you will find the stop for the bus that goes to San Miguel de Allende.
- If you’re short on time, I suggest joining a small group tour departing from Mexico City to enjoy San Miguel de Allende.
Where To Stay in San Miguel de Allende
In case the town absolutely captivates you and you decide to stay for longer than a day trip, below are some of the best rated hotels.
- For budget travellers, check out Nunõ.
- If you have mid-ranged budget, check out Casa Grande Luxury Boutique Hotel.
- For a luxurious experience, check out Casa 1910 Hotel Boutique.
10) Tolantongo
If you are looking for more of an adventure day trip, then consider visiting Tolantongo. This town is popular with chilangos for its hot springs or Las Grutas Tolantongo in Spanish. Tolantongo is a four and half hour drive from Mexico City. It is located in the state of Hidalgo.
At the grutas, you can expect a series of tiered natural mineral pools. The pools cascade down a hillside creating that iconic picture of Tolantongo. For the adventurous, you can visit the Tolantongo Cave and Tunnel where you can find a waterfall inside. The waterfall is the main water source for the springs.
Tips for your visit to Tolantongo
- Weekends get super busy at Tolantongo.
- Skip the cave and the tunnels if you are not a confident swimmer.
- Prepare to get your steps in if you’re planning on enjoying the site.
- Food and plastic water bottles are not permitted; though, reusable water bottles are permitted at the hot springs area.
- Bring water shoes. Flip flops are fine but the stairs get hot and going barefoot isn’t recommended.
- Bring cash as cards aren’t accepted everywhere. Bring small change (5 peso coins) and toilet paper for the bathroom stops along the way.
How to get there
- By public transportation, take the metro to Autobuses del Norte station on Line 5 (yellow line). From there, go to platform 7 or 8 OVNIBUS or FLECHA ROJA line, going to Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo City. From the Ixmiquilpan Bus Station take a collectivo heading to Ixmiquilpan city center. Get off when the collectivo arrives at “Morelos Market”. From there you need to find the microbuses station at the San Antonio parking lot. There, you will find microbuses heading to Grutas Tolantongo.
- For door-to-door service from Mexico City to Grutas Tolantongo, check out this small group tour.
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Did I miss any Mexico City day trips that you would recommend to friends? I would love to hear from you in the comments below…
