Roavina

Country guide

Mexico

A photograph of Mexico
Photograph · Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mexico took 42.2 million international arrivals in 2022, sixth most of any country in the world, and a large share of them never left the Caribbean coast. That coast is a reasonable holiday and a very small fraction of 1,972,550 km2, thirteenth-largest on Earth, holding 32 states and more than 134 million people. Mexico City sits high in a valley in the middle of it, with colonial silver towns a few hours north and the Maya sites of the Yucatan two hours east by air. No country in the Americas has more World Heritage Sites.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Spanish; recognised Indigenous languages are also spoken
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+52
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Mexican peso (MXN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 127 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

52 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 21 Museums 0 Places of worship 1 Nature sites 20 Viewpoints 1 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 7 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 2 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 52 1 to 2 hours 47 Half a day or more 1

Interests

History 4 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 1 Sea and beach 1 Viewpoints 0
  1. Playa Norte Playa Norte
    01 1 hour

    Playa Norte

    Playa Norte is the principal north-shore beach of Isla Mujeres, an island reached separately from Cancún rather than a beach inside Cancún's Hotel Zone.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  2. Laguna Nichupté Laguna Nichupté
    02 1 hour

    Laguna Nichupté

    Nichupte Lagoon, known locally as Laguna Nichupté, is a large lagoon system on the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It sits adjacent to the city of Cancun and the Caribbean Sea.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  3. Isla Contoy National Park Isla Contoy National Park
    03 1 hour

    Isla Contoy National Park

    Parque Nacional Isla Contoy

    Isla Contoy National Park is a protected natural area in the Mexican Caribbean, designated as a national park and managed by CONANP, Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  4. Punta Nizuc Punta Nizuc
    04 1 hour

    Punta Nizuc

    Punta Nizuc is a beach area at the southern end of Cancun's Hotel Zone, positioned near the Nizuc Bridge that connects to the mainland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  5. Angel of Independence Angel of Independence
    05 45 min

    Angel of Independence

    Monumento a la Independencia

    The Angel of Independence is a victory column monument on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. It was built to commemorate Mexico's independence from Spain.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  6. Estadio Azteca Estadio Azteca
    06 45 min

    Estadio Azteca

    Estadio Banorte

    Estadio Azteca is a major football stadium in southern Mexico City and the home ground of Club América and the Mexico national football team. It is one of the city’s most recognisable sporting landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  7. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
    07 45 min

    Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

    Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México

    Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is the principal colonial cathedral of the city’s historic centre. It faces the Zócalo, the capital’s main public square, and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  8. Monument to the Revolution Monument to the Revolution
    08 45 min

    Monument to the Revolution

    Monumento a la Revolución

    Monument to the Revolution is one of Mexico City’s most recognizable landmarks, rising above Plaza de la República in the Tabacalera area. Its great dome began as part of an unfinished federal legislative palace during the Porfiriato.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  9. National Palace National Palace
    09 45 min

    National Palace

    Palacio Nacional

    The National Palace stands on the eastern side of Mexico City's Zócalo, the capital's main public square. It serves as the federal seat of government and houses the offices of the President of Mexico.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  10. Templo Mayor Templo Mayor
    10 45 min

    Templo Mayor

    Templo Mayor is the excavated sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. Located in the historic centre of Mexico City, it represents the essential Aztec archaeological site in the area.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  11. Palacio de Correos de Mexico Palacio de Correos de Mexico
    11 45 min

    Palacio de Correos de Mexico

    Palacio Postal

    Palacio Postal, locally Palacio de Correos de México, is an ornate working central post office in Mexico City's historic centre. The building ranks among the most distinctive interiors in the area.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  12. Zócalo Zócalo
    12 45 min

    Zócalo

    Plaza de la Constitución

    The Zócalo, officially Plaza de la Constitución, is the main public square in the historic centre of Mexico City. It ranks among the largest city squares in the world.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  13. Torre Latinoamericana Torre Latinoamericana
    13 45 min

    Torre Latinoamericana

    Torre Latinoamericana is a landmark skyscraper in Mexico City's Centro Histórico, completed in 1956. Its steel structure and seismic engineering made it an important achievement in high-rise construction, especially in an earthquake-prone city.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  14. Alameda Central Park Alameda Central Park
    14 1 hour

    Alameda Central Park

    Alameda Central

    Alameda Central is a historic public park in the historic centre of Mexico City. Established in the sixteenth century, it is one of the oldest public parks in the Americas.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Mexico City
  15. Ajusco Ajusco
    15 20 min

    Ajusco

    Ajusco is a volcanic peak situated in the southern reaches of Mexico City, forming part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Mexico City
  16. Polanco Polanco
    16 45 min

    Polanco

    Polanco Chapultepec

    Polanco is an upscale residential and commercial district in Mexico City, located west of Chapultepec Park in the Miguel Hidalgo borough.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  17. Cancun Underwater Museum Cancun Underwater Museum
    17 45 min

    Cancun Underwater Museum

    Museo Subacuático de Arte

    The Museo Subacuático de Arte is an underwater museum located in the waters near Cancún, Mexico. It features submerged sculptures designed to serve as artificial reef structures.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  18. plaza Garibaldi plaza Garibaldi
    18 45 min

    plaza Garibaldi

    Plaza Garibaldi

    Plaza Garibaldi is a public square in the historic centre of Mexico City, internationally recognised as the capital of mariachi music. Since the 1920s, mariachi musicians have gathered here to perform, forming a distinctive cultural tradition.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  19. Arena México Arena México
    19 45 min

    Arena México

    Arena México is the principal arena for lucha libre professional wrestling in Mexico City. Opened in the 1950s, it serves as the main venue for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, the oldest professional wrestling promotion in the world.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  20. Viveros de Coyoacán Viveros de Coyoacán
    20 1 hour

    Viveros de Coyoacán

    Vivero Coyoacán

    Viveros de Coyoacán is a historic tree nursery and public green space in southern Mexico City.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Mexico City
  21. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
    21 30 min

    Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe

    The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a major Catholic shrine complex in northern Mexico City, centred on devotion to the Virgin Mary as she reportedly appeared to Juan Diego in 1531.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Mexico City
  22. Monumento a La Raza Monumento a La Raza
    22 45 min

    Monumento a La Raza

    Monumento a la Raza

    Monument to the Race, known locally as Monumento a la Raza, is a striking landmark in northern Mexico City. Its tall Art Deco form is combined with indigenous-inspired symbolism, giving the structure a distinctive visual identity.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  23. Auditorio Nacional Auditorio Nacional
    23 1 hour

    Auditorio Nacional

    Auditorio Nacional is Mexico City’s principal national auditorium and one of Latin America’s best-known performance venues. It stands at the entrance to Chapultepec Park and hosts major concerts, theatre, dance and cultural events.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Mexico City
  24. Teatro de la Ciudad Teatro de la Ciudad
    24 1 hour

    Teatro de la Ciudad

    Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris

    Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris is a historic performance venue in Mexico City's central historic centre.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Mexico City
  25. Zona Arqueológica San Miguelito Zona Arqueológica San Miguelito
    25 45 min

    Zona Arqueológica San Miguelito

    San Miguelito Archaeological Site is a Maya archaeological zone located in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The site represents a pre-Hispanic settlement that existed in the region before modern tourism development transformed the area.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  26. Parque Lincoln Parque Lincoln
    26 1 hour

    Parque Lincoln

    Lincoln Park, also known as Parque Lincoln, is a formal neighborhood park in Polanco, Mexico City.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Mexico City
  27. Cárcamo de Dolores Cárcamo de Dolores
    27 45 min

    Cárcamo de Dolores

    Cárcamo de Dolores is a hydraulic monument and art installation in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City. Architect Ricardo Rivas designed the structure as part of the capital’s water infrastructure, including facilities connected with the Lerma River supply network.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  28. La Mexicana Park La Mexicana Park
    28 1 hour

    La Mexicana Park

    Parque La Mexicana

    Parque La Mexicana is a large contemporary urban park located in the Santa Fe district of western Mexico City.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Mexico City
  29. La Merced Market La Merced Market
    29 45 min

    La Merced Market

    Mercado La Merced

    Mercado de La Merced is one of Mexico City's largest traditional markets, serving as a major destination for food and everyday goods.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Mexico City
  30. Playa Tortugas Playa Tortugas
    30 1 hour

    Playa Tortugas

    Playa Tortugas is a public beach located in the Cancún Hotel Zone, known locally as the Zona Hotelera. It sits along the narrow strip of land between the Nichupté Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  31. Mercado de Sonora Mercado de Sonora
    31 45 min

    Mercado de Sonora

    Mercado de Sonora, known in English as Sonora Market, is a specialised public market in Mexico City. It has established recognition for its concentration of herbal products, ritual and spiritual goods, handcrafted items, and expressions of Mexican popular culture.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Mexico City
  32. Ballenas Beach Ballenas Beach
    32 1 hour

    Ballenas Beach

    Playa Ballenas

    Ballenas Beach, or Playa Ballenas, is a Caribbean beach in Cancún’s Hotel Zone.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  33. Caracol Beach Caracol Beach
    33 1 hour

    Caracol Beach

    Playa Caracol

    Caracol Beach, also known as Playa Caracol, is a beach within Cancún’s Hotel Zone on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The beach sits along Boulevard Kukulcán, the main road through the developed tourism corridor on the barrier island.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  34. Chac Mool Beach Chac Mool Beach
    34 1 hour

    Chac Mool Beach

    Playa Chac Mool

    Playa Chac Mool is a public beach in Cancún's Hotel Zone, known for its relatively calmer waters compared to eastern-facing beaches along the same strip.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  35. Coral Negro Market Coral Negro Market
    35 45 min

    Coral Negro Market

    Mercado Coral Negro

    Mercado Coral Negro, or Coral Negro Market, is a visitor-oriented retail destination in Cancún, Quintana Roo. It belongs to the commercial side of the Mexican Caribbean experience, offering travellers a place to browse goods within Cancún’s tourism economy.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Cancún
  36. Dolphin Beach Dolphin Beach
    36 1 hour

    Dolphin Beach

    Playa Delfines

    Playa Delfines, known in English as Dolphin Beach, is a public beach located in the Cancún hotel zone along the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  37. El Meco El Meco
    37 45 min

    El Meco

    El Meco Archaeological Zone is a Maya archaeological site located north of Cancun's hotel zone in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The site contains structures dating to the Postclassic period and served as a port and ceremonial center.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  38. El Nino Beach El Nino Beach
    38 1 hour

    El Nino Beach

    Playa El Niño

    Playa El Niño, also known as El Niño Beach, is a coastal destination in the Cancún area on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The beach belongs to the Mexican Caribbean landscape associated with Cancún, Isla Mujeres and the region’s broad shoreline.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  39. El Rey Archaeological Zone El Rey Archaeological Zone
    39 45 min

    El Rey Archaeological Zone

    Zona Arqueológica El Rey

    Zona Arqueológica El Rey is a Maya archaeological site located in the Cancún Hotel Zone. The site contains structures dating to the Postclassic period of Maya civilization.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  40. Gaviota Azul Beach Gaviota Azul Beach
    40 1 hour

    Gaviota Azul Beach

    Playa Gaviota Azul

    Playa Gaviota Azul, known in English as Gaviota Azul Beach, is a distinct visitor place within the documented Cancún scope. It is recognized among the beaches of the Cancún area as a destination for visitors seeking coastal experiences.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  41. Historic center of Mexico City Historic center of Mexico City
    41 45 min

    Historic center of Mexico City

    Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México

    The Historic Center of Mexico City is the UNESCO-listed historic core of the Mexican capital, recognized for its concentration of civic, religious, and colonial monuments spanning centuries of layered history.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Mexico City
  42. La Isla Mall La Isla Mall
    42 45 min

    La Isla Mall

    La Isla Shopping Village is an open-air retail and entertainment complex in Cancún's Hotel Zone. The destination features a Venetian-inspired canal design with bridges, walkways, and waterfront positioning along the Nichupté Lagoon.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Cancún
  43. Langosta Beach Langosta Beach
    43 1 hour

    Langosta Beach

    Playa Langosta

    Playa Langosta is a beach area in Cancún, Mexican Caribbean. It sits along the Hotel Zone's northern coastline, facing the calmer waters of Bahía de Mujeres rather than the open Caribbean Sea.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  44. Las Palapas Las Palapas
    44 1 hour

    Las Palapas

    Las Palapas Park, known locally as Parque de las Palapas, is a public square in downtown Cancún, Mexico. It serves as a central gathering space for residents and visitors seeking an alternative to the Hotel Zone's beachfront resorts.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  45. Las Perlas Beach Las Perlas Beach
    45 1 hour

    Las Perlas Beach

    Playa Las Perlas

    Las Perlas Beach, also called Playa Las Perlas, is a public beach on Cancún’s Caribbean coastline in the Hotel Zone. It offers a straightforward seaside setting where white sand meets turquoise water.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  46. Market 23 Market 23
    46 45 min

    Market 23

    Mercado 23

    Mercado 23 is a traditional public market in Cancún, Mexico, serving as a commercial hub where local vendors gather to sell goods.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Cancún
  47. Market 28 Market 28
    47 45 min

    Market 28

    Mercado 28

    Mercado 28 is a traditional Mexican market in Cancún, serving as a prominent visitor destination within the city's documented scope. The market operates as a commercial hub where vendors gather to sell goods to both residents and tourists.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Cancún
  48. Marlin Beach Marlin Beach
    48 1 hour

    Marlin Beach

    Playa Marlín

    Playa Marlín, known in English as Marlin Beach, is a public beach situated in the Cancún Hotel Zone along Mexico's Caribbean coast. It represents one of the distinct visitor destinations within the documented Cancún scope.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Cancún
  49. Mercado de San Juan Mercado de San Juan
    49 45 min

    Mercado de San Juan

    Mercado de San Juan is a historic-centre food market known for specialist and unusual ingredients. It serves chefs, adventurous cooks and curious travellers who want to see a more distinctive side of Mexico City’s food culture.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Mexico City
  50. Punta Cancun Lighthouse Punta Cancun Lighthouse
    50 45 min

    Punta Cancun Lighthouse

    Punta Cancun lighthouse

    Punta Cancun Lighthouse, known locally as Faro de Punta Cancún, stands as a navigational landmark at the northeastern tip of Cancún's Hotel Zone. This coastal beacon marks a prominent point where the Caribbean Sea meets the lagoon system.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  51. Scenic Tower Cancun Scenic Tower Cancun
    51 45 min

    Scenic Tower Cancun

    Torre Escénica de Cancún

    The Scenic Tower Cancun, known locally as Torre Escénica de Cancún, is an observation tower offering panoramic views of the Cancún area. Operated by Grupo Xcaret, the tower provides visitors with elevated sightseeing opportunities over the coastal landscape.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Cancún
  52. Xochimilco Xochimilco
    52 1 hour

    Xochimilco

    Xochimilco is a district in southern Mexico City renowned for its extensive canal system and artificial agricultural islands called chinampas.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Mexico City

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Mexico be?

Ten to fourteen days should focus on one Mexican region, such as the central highlands, Yucatán or a Pacific corridor. Domestic distances are too large for a first trip that treats Mexico City, Cancún and several coasts as nearby stops.

What entry documents are needed for Mexico?

Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Migración provides the official entry process and forms. Admission conditions depend on passport, purpose and route, so use its current service rather than an airline summary or an old exemption list.

What is the best way to travel around Mexico?

Mexico City and Cancún are major international gateways, with domestic flights and intercity buses linking regional centres. Urban transport is city-specific, and road legs should be planned against current official route guidance.

When is a practical time to visit Mexico?

November to April is a useful broad window for many central and coastal routes. Hurricane exposure, altitude and regional rainy seasons differ sharply, so the selected coast or highland region should control timing.

What money and payment basics apply in Mexico?

The Mexican peso (MXN) is the recorded currency. ATM fees, card acceptance and conversion terms are Not recorded in this guide; read the amount in pesos before approving a transaction.

What practical safety details should I save for Mexico?

Mexico uses 911 for emergencies and Type A or B plugs at 127 V. Tap-water guidance is Not recorded nationally in the cited source and should be checked at the destination.