The Top 10 Things To See And Do In Puebla Mexico

Beautiful Puebla, so much to see and do! The state of Puebla has it all: nature, food, culture, and urban escapes. Here are the top things you need to see and do when you’re in the area.

Take a cooking class

Puebla is known for its cuisine – whether we’re talking mole, traditional candies or street food – so learning more about all the local delicacies is a must when visiting. Several hotels will arrange cooking classes with local chefs for you, including Sacristía de la Compañia, which has an actual cooking school you can attend!

Visit the Great Pyramid of Cholula

The world’s largest pyramid is buried under dirt and grass and topped with one of Cholula‘s famous churches. The view from the top is incredible and, while you might not be able to see the pyramid in detail, there is an entire archeological site to explore, a cobblestone street to be huffed up to the pyramid’s peak, and an underground tunnel. This ancient Aztec temple is definitely worth the visit.

See Talavera artists at work

Talavera pottery is one of Puebla’s most famous exports and locals have perfected the art of making, decorating and selling it. Several workshops have Designation of Origin (PDO) status, meaning they have been certified by the government to follow traditional techniques and have the highest standards. Visit a local workshop and get to see artists delicately painting this exquisite ceramic.

Shop for antiques

Puebla’s capital, also called Puebla, has a weekend antique bazaar that not only spans decades of memorabilia and trinkets, it’s also set among the leafy trees of the Los Sapos plaza. All around the plaza are antique shops where you can get your fill of memories and dust, and many of them also have tiny cafés, ideal for taking a mid-shopping break.

Los Sapos, México 6, México 83, Centro, Puebla, Mexico

Hike Izta-Popo

The country’s most famous volcanoes, known as Izta-Popo, are in Northern Puebla. Though most often seen from a distance, both deserve to be experienced and explored up close and personal. The national park that houses them is a rather simple affair, but there is a handful of hiking trails, a visitors centre, and photo opts that will take your breath away.

Iztaccíhuatl – Popocatépetl National Park, Calle Plaza de La Constitución 10-B Planta Alta, Centro, Amecameca de Juárez, Mexico

Visit a local market

What better way to get to know any state in Mexico than by going to one of its markets? There are lots in Puebla City to choose from, but take time to wander out into some of the state’s smaller and more isolated towns for market day. You will find endemic fruits and vegetables, local textiles, and a taste of rural Puebla you won’t soon forget.

Admire some churches

Puebla is the home of churches. They say there is one for every day of the year. Puebla City and its sister city Cholula are where you will find them in the highest concentration. Start out with Puebla Cathedral and don’t miss Santo Domingo or Rosario. If you take the time to wander through some lesser-transited neighbourhoods, you’ll find some of the city’s oldest and quaintest churches yet.

Drink in Container City

Designed by Gabriel Esper Caram, this urban hangout spot in Cholula is a recycle fan’s dream and a break from the norm. Created using old shipping containers, you will come across galleries, shops, restaurants and bars in what has become one of Cholula’s most famous modern landscapes.

Container City, Av 12 Oriente Casi Esquina 2 Norte, San Juan Aquiahuac, Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla, Mexico, +52 222 225 0402

Eat, eat, eat

Don’t leave Puebla without trying cemitas, mole, candies, chiles en nogadas, pelonas… we could go on. Suffice to say it’s a foodie heaven. Take a food tour or wander on your own to some of the region’s great markets. Puebla City also has some of the area’s most traditional and delicious restaurants, so reserve at least one night for dinner at Mural de los Poblanos or Meson Sacristía de la Compañia.

Browse the Biblioteca Palafoxiana

The first public library in Mexico, founded in 1646, the Biblioteca Palafoxiana is now a museum and meditation stop on the Puebla whirlwind tour. Take a guided tour from one of the docents there – you won’t regret it, all you have to do is tip! It has more than 45,000 books and manuscripts, and a gift shop so you can take a souvenir back home with you.

Biblioteca Palafoxiana, 5 Oriente 5, Centro Histórico, Centro, Puebla, Mexico, +52 222 232 1227

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.