Mexico · best-of list
40 Top Things to Do in Mexico
We narrowed 46 things to do from our curated routes in Mexico down to 40, spread across 12 destinations. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
40 things to do in Mexico, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Mexico City 6 picks
Museo Frida Kahlo
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Frida Kahlo's Blue House in Coyoacán, with her studio and personal objects.
Tip: Tickets must be bought online in advance.
Photo: Grzegorz Kunicki · Google
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Major museum of pre-Hispanic Mexico, home to the Aztec Sun Stone.
Tip: Closed Mondays; allow at least half a day.
Photo: Joe Nash · Google
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Art nouveau and deco palace with murals by Rivera, Siqueiros and Orozco.
Tip: Café on the upper floor of Sears across the street has the best view of the dome.
Photo: Xavier Quetzalcoatl Contreras Castillo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Templo Mayor
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Excavated Aztec temple beside the Zócalo, with a museum of finds from Tenochtitlan.
Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0
Teotihuacan
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Ancient city with the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon along the Avenue of the Dead, an hour north.
Tip: Arrive at opening; climbing of the Sun pyramid is restricted.
Photo: Hdlrosa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Xochimilco
Mexico City · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Canal network where you hire a painted trajinera boat with mariachis drifting by.
Photo: Originally uploaded by Madman2001; transferred to Commons by Kierano. · Public domain
Guadalajara 4 picks
Guachimontones
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Circular stepped pyramids of the Teuchitlán culture, unique in Mesoamerica.
Photo: Alvaro Antulio · Google
Guadalajara Cathedral
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Twin-spired cathedral at the heart of a ring of plazas in the historic centre.
Photo: Isacdaavid · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hospicio Cabañas
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
UNESCO-listed 19th-century orphanage holding José Clemente Orozco's fire-themed murals.
Tip: Borrow a mat and lie down to see the dome mural.
Photo: Museo Cabañas · Google
Teatro Degollado
Guadalajara · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Neoclassical theatre and home of the Jalisco Philharmonic, with a painted ceiling.
Tip: Sunday morning folkloric ballet shows are a good way in.
Photo: Alejandro Basan · Google
Puebla 4 picks
Biblioteca Palafoxiana
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Americas' first public library (1646), with carved cedar shelves.
Photo: Nathalia De la Mora · Google
Capilla del Rosario
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Baroque chapel inside Templo de Santo Domingo covered in gold leaf.
Photo: Capilla del Rosario, Templo de Santo Domingo · Google
Catedral de Puebla
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
16th–17th-century cathedral with Mexico's tallest bell towers on the zócalo.
Photo: Josue Moon 56 · Google
Gran Pirámide de Cholula
Puebla · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
World's largest pyramid by volume, topped by a church with views of Popocatépetl.
Tip: Walk the tunnels, then climb to the church for volcano views.
Photo: Yanjun Wang · Google
Todos Santos 4 picks
Historic Centre
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Pueblo Mágico of adobe buildings, galleries and the mission church around the plaza.
Photo: Guaycura Hotel Beach Club Spa · Google
Hotel California
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Mid-century hotel on Calle Juárez with a courtyard bar and boutique.
Photo: Hotel California Todos Santos · Google
Punta Lobos
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Fishermen launch pangas through the surf here; buy the catch when boats return.
Tip: Boats land around midday to early afternoon.
Photo: Anallely Delgado · Google
Sea Turtle Release at Playa Las Playitas
Todos Santos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Local conservation group releases hatchlings at sunset in season.
Tip: Hatchling season is roughly Dec to Apr.
Photo: Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C. · Google
Bacalar 3 picks
Bacalar Lagoon Sailboat Tour
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Sail the lagoon of seven colors to the Pirates' Channel and Bird Island.
Tip: Morning tours have calmest water.
Photo: Bacalar Lagoon Tours · Google
Chacchoben
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya ruins in the jungle with restored temples.
Tip: Go early; it's quieter then.
Photo: Joan Antoni Jimenez Garcia · Google
Fuerte de San Felipe
Bacalar · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
18th-century fort built against pirates, with a museum overlooking the lagoon.
Tip: Good views from the ramparts.
Photo: Carol Carol · Google
La Paz 3 picks
Malecón de La Paz
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Five-kilometre seafront promenade lined with sculptures, palms and sunset views.
Tip: Walk it at sunset when locals come out.
Photo: Dave Ross · Google
Museo de la Ballena
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Small whale and marine science museum near the malecón with skeletons and exhibits.
Photo: Museo de la Ballena y Ciencias del Mar · Google
Whale Shark Swims
La Paz · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Guided swims with whale sharks in La Paz Bay, regulated by the park authority.
Photo: Guillermo Rubio · Google
Los Cabos 3 picks
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Granite arch at Land's End where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, seen by water taxi or glass-bottom boat.
Tip: Pair it with a stop at Playa del Amor when seas are calm.
Photo: Microstar · CC BY-SA 4.0
San José del Cabo Art District
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Galleries around Plaza Mijares, with a Thursday evening Art Walk November to June.
Photo: Art Walk San Jose Del Cabo · Google
Whale Watching
Los Cabos · On our Los Cabos, Todos Santos & La Paz route
Boat tours to see humpbacks breaching off the cape between December and April.
Photo: Joseph Dandona Jr. · Google
Oaxaca 3 picks
Árbol del Tule
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Ancient cypress in Santa María del Tule with one of the widest trunks in the world.
Photo: Nsaum75 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mitla
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Zapotec site with intricate geometric stone mosaics.
Photo: Uploaded into English Wikipedia by en:User:Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 2.0
Monte Albán
Oaxaca · On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route
Zapotec capital on a flattened hilltop with plazas, ballcourt and valley views.
Photo: nsaum75 !Dígame¡ · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tequila 3 picks
Casa Herradura
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Hacienda distillery in Amatitán with old stone ovens and tours.
Photo: Salvador Morales · Google
Casa Sauza
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Sauza distillery tours with a visit to its agave fields and gardens.
Photo: EDS la glorieta · Google
José Cuervo Express
Tequila · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Weekend train from Guadalajara to Tequila or Amatitán with tastings on board.
Photo: Jose Cuervo Express Amanecer · Google
Tulum 3 picks
Cobá
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya city in the jungle with a big pyramid and bike paths.
Tip: Rent bikes or tricycle taxis; climbing the pyramid isn't allowed.
Photo: O.Mustafin · CC0
Community Tours Sian Ka'an
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Mayan community-run tours floating through ancient canals at Muyil.
Tip: Book ahead; bring biodegradable sunscreen.
Photo: Marianne Olier · Google
Tulum Archaeological Zone
Tulum · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Maya walled city on a cliff above the Caribbean.
Tip: Arrive at opening to beat heat and buses.
Photo: Marcel Müller-Janowski · Google
Playa del Carmen 2 picks
Ultramar Ferry to Cozumel
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
45-minute ferry to Cozumel for reef snorkeling and dive trips.
Tip: Take Dramamine if the sea is rough.
Photo: Ultramar Ferry Playa del Carmen · Google
Xcaret
Playa del Carmen · On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route
Eco-park with underground rivers, animals and an evening show of Mexican history.
Tip: Arrive at opening; plan a full day.
Photo: FeldBum · CC BY-SA 4.0
Puerto Vallarta 2 picks
Malecón
Puerto Vallarta · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Seafront promenade lined with bronze sculptures, ending near the crown-topped church.
Photo: G Whizz · Google
Yelapa
Puerto Vallarta · On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route
Car-free cove village reached by water taxi, with a waterfall walk and beach.
Photo: RichardMills65 · CC BY-SA 3.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. Our routes include 46 things to do here; to keep the list readable we show 40, keeping those featured on the most routes and those with an insider tip, and spreading the rest across destinations. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Mexico?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. Our routes through Mexico include 46 things to do; we show the 40 featured on the most routes, spread across destinations. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Mexico has the most things to do on this list?
Mexico City has the most (6 of 40), followed by Guadalajara (4) and Puebla (4).
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Punta Lobos, Malecón de La Paz, Sea Turtle Release at Playa Las Playitas, Historic Centre, Malecón, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Mexico
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Mexico City 6 on this list
- Guadalajara 4 on this list
- Puebla 4 on this list
- Todos Santos 4 on this list
- Bacalar 3 on this list
- La Paz 3 on this list
- Los Cabos 3 on this list
- Oaxaca 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.