Guide To Puebla

About Puebla

Puebla is probably Mexico's most charismatic colonial city. Nowhere in Mexico is Spain's influence more prominent: from the moment you drive into the city, you see the dome shaped roofs of churches and buildings, suggesting Spanish and Moor influences which arrived centuries ago and which have remained here in Puebla ever since.

Puebla is famous for one of Mexico's most notable battles, which took place on May 5th 1862, against the French. Napoleon III sent 6,000 well armed French troops to occupy Mexico City; they had to take Puebla first and were defeated by 2,000 rag-tag and poorly armed Mexicans. Although the French returned to occupy the city a year later, the event is a centerpiece in Mexican history and a symbol of its struggle and persistent determination against its foreign invaders. Today "Cinco de Mayo" (fifth of May) is a national holiday, celebrating the victory of the Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla).

Besides the famous Battle, Puebla is famous for its cuisine—some of Mexico's most popular national dishes, including Mole and Chile Poblano,were created in Puebla.

When the Spanish arrived, they brought with them a very strong and hard-wearing ceramic called Talavera (itself a Moor craft), which was colorfully decorated and used primarily for wall and floor tiles. Today, Talavera is still manufactured here. Talavera is not an inexpensive good anywhere you buy it in Mexico, although you'll find some of the lowest prices for it here in Puebla.

Puebla is Mexico's fourth largest city, although most of its three million inhabitants live outside of the colonial center. The most notable industry here today is car manufacture: VW employs over 7,000 people to manufacture cars in Puebla, including the VW Beetle; the only place in the world where Beetles are made. When you see a VW Beetle, think of Puebla - it began its life here!

The colonial center is a colorful, vibrant and charming reflection of what Mexico's colonial days looked and felt like. The main plaza is the central focus of the colonial city and weekends see the center packed with locals and visitors enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, street performers and live bands.

The state of Puebla also hosts Mexico's most famous (and non-dormant) volcano: Popocatepetl. If you drive or take the bus to Puebla, you'll see this magnificent tower of natural energy from the south side; it is sometimes capped with snow. In the 1970's you could see it from Mexico City, but today, air pollution blocks the view. If you want to see the volcano, travel EARLY in the morning— late mornings and afternoons bring heat that causes mist so a clear view is obscured from the road to Puebla. There are no less than three other volcanoes in the area: Iztaccihuatl, Malinche and Citlaltepetl.

A short drive from Puebla is the colonial town of Cholula— famous for its church, which is flanked by the volcano Popocatepetl. See Key Attractions, below, for more details.

Puebla is a very religious city and serves as host to over 70 churches, as well as its magnificent Cathedral, which you'll see as part your colonial city exploration.

Puebla is well connected by road with Mexico City and also has an airport, so it's very accessible. It's do-able on a day-trip, but staying longer to explore the nooks and crannies is even better and will provide you with a much better experience of this beautiful and important colonial city.

It can also serve as a good base to explore more of Mexico's southern provinces, providing a good springboard for places such as Taxco, Veracruz and Cuernavaca. You can discover all of these places with Mexperience.

[Menu]

Key Attractions

Colonial Center

The look, feel and atmosphere in Puebla's colonial center is distinctly Spanish. The colonial center is well preserved, the streets are cobbled or laid with old-style paving stones. The atmosphere is a relaxed one and the surroundings are colorful with lots of historical character.

Start your experience in the main plaza (Zocalo). The main tree lined square is surrounded by a selection of shops and restaurants; many people breakfast here.

Puebla's Breath-Taking Cathedral

On the south side of the city's Zocalo (main square) is Puebla's breath-taking cathedral. This cathedral is featured on the reverse side of all $500 peso bank notes—and for good reason: the cathedral is a beautiful work of colonial architecture.

The cathdral's bell towers are 69 meters high (over 207 feet), making them the tallest bell towers of any cathedral in Mexico. The tone of the bells is truly exceptional, and the interior of the cathedral is awe-inspiring; you'll also see the largest church organ in Mexico.

Adjacent to the cathedral, you'll find Casa de La Cultura which takes up a whole block and hosts, among other things, the oldest library in the Americas: Bilioteca Palafoxiana.

A lot of the architecture here features Talavera tiles—look out for them as you explore the various streets and plazas around this picturesque colonial city.

There are a couple of temples you shouldn't miss: Templo de San Francisco and Templo de Santo Domingo; both have excellent examples of 16th and 17th century (respectively) architecture.

Learn Spanish in Puebla

There's no better way to learn Spanish than by becoming immersed in it at a language school in Mexico. Puebla is one of Mexico's finest colonial cities and is also well-known as a cultural and language center; there are number of fine language schools here. Read our guide to Learning Spanish in Mexico for more details and to find a language school in Puebla.

Cerro de Guadalupe

Away from the colonial center, up on the hill, you'll discover one of Puebla's main parks: Cerro de Guadalupe. Take a trip here if you're looking for some nice views and some green surroundings. There is also a a couple of historical forts here and a museum as well.

Cholula

Just a fifteeen minute cab ride from the center of Puebla is the town of Cholula. Although the most famous attraction of Cholula is its famous archaeology park, the town itself provides an excellent base to explore nearby villages and procure some fine art and Talavera ceramic ware. Also, if you want to see the volcanoes clearly, Cholula is the perfect place to stay overnight so that you can see the volcanoes clearly early in the morning. For more details, read our complete Travel Guide to Cholula and see the Photo Gallery.

Museums and Art in Puebla

Puebla has a good number of museums to visit. The main ones include:

Museo Amparo - which is one of the best archaeological museums in Mexico.

Museo Bello - situated in a colonial house in the historic center, the museum hosts fine art, furniture and antiques from around the world.

Museo de Artes Populares - (Popular Art Museum) offers a selection of Mexican Arts and Crafts, as well as a traditional kitchen displaying native Mexican cuisine.

Museo de la Revolucion - (Revolution Museum) is the house that staged the first battle of the 1910 revolution.

Museo del Ferrocarril - (Locomotive Museum) features a fascinating display of vintage locomotives.

Golf in Puebla

The climate in Puebla is ideal for golf all year-round, and due to the influence of the high number of multi-national companies based here, there are several good golf courses where you can play.

Local Tours

Mexperience offers access to local tours and activities in and around Mexico's colonial cities. Tours and activities are organized and run by well-established, professional and fully-insured operators. You can search for tours by location or category and make reservations online or by telephone. Buying tours in advance is more convenient and secure, and your spaces on the tour are guranteed. Connect to the Mexperience Travel center to browse and reserve Local Tours in Mexico

[Menu]

Getting There & Around

By Air - You can fly to Puebla from the US and and other points in Mexico including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Leon and Tijuana. The airport is about 10 miles west of Puebla and ground transportation is available into town; buy your taxi tickets from the terminal building inside the airport. Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Mexico Flights.

Airport Shuttles: If you're arriving in Mexico by airplane, you can book your airport transfer in advance. Shuttle services are available from all of Mexico's key airports and offer the choice of either a Standard or VIP service level. Standard shuttles will transport up to ten people and their baggage in a modern and comfortable suburban van to/from local hotels; the VIP service provides transportation exclusively for your party, taking you and your belongings directly to/from your local hotel. Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details and to reserve your Airport Shuttle in Mexico.

By Bus - You can travel to Puebla on a luxury bus from Mexico City - the trip takes around 2 hours. Buses travel from the Southern Bus Terminal and also directly from the Airport. Also see the Mexperience guide to Traveling by Bus in Mexico

By Car - Driving to Puebla is very fast and efficient on the high-speed road that connects the Capital to Puebla. Take Highway 150D South, or from Veracruz 150D, West. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Car Rental - To explore Mexico's colonial towns and cities, consider renting a car for your visit. Having your own car will give you more flexibility than using public transport options and, in some cases, offer you access to places which are otherwise difficult to visit without the use of a car. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico to learn what you need to know about car rental in Mexico and connect to the Mexperience Travel Center to reserve your Rental Car.

Taxis - Taxis in most of Mexico's colonial towns and cities are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Taxi travel is very affordable in Mexico, in comparison to the USA, Canada and Europe, and so provides a viable means of public transportation in Mexico. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby; taxi hotel rates are usually higher than cabs you hail off the street. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a price with the driver. For detailed information, read the Mexperience guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico.

[Menu]

Local Events Calendar

Feria de Puebla. This month-long festival celebrates the economic and cultural achievements of the city, most notably Cince de Mayo, which commemorates the defeat of invading French troops in 1862. A parade, fireworks and a re-enactment of the infamous battle takes place on the 5th of May. The month-long festival comprises concerts, lectures and other cultural actvities. Starts in late April.

Festival de Mole Poblano. A culinary festival honoring the proud invention of mole poblano in Puebla. Amateur and professional chefs participate in judged mole cook-offs and best table-settings. Attendees will have the chance to sample delicious variations of mole poblano. Held on three consecutive Sundays in June.

[Menu]

Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the guide about Communications in Mexico on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines are found throughout the downtown area of Puebla, especially in the areas around the main plaza (Zocalo). During business hours, they and the local Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. For detailed information about exchanging and managing your money, read the Mexperience guide to Money in Mexico.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico; new ones open and old ones close all the time, but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Active Volcano Alert: Popocatepetl is currently semi-active, although recent volcanic activity has settled down again. However the State of Puebla and in particular the immediate areas surrounding the volcano are on yellow alert. The city of Puebla, and Mexico City itself are not under immediate threat and it is quite safe to travel to both places. Constant monitoring of volcanic activity takes place, and if the situation changes, notice will be given.

[Menu]

Hotels in Puebla

Find Hotels in Puebla, browse detailed reviews and make secure reservations online or by telephone.

• Find Hotels in Puebla

Restaurants

La Princesa. For a good deal on a square meal, this place can't be beat. Serves a daily special which includes a main course, soup or rice dish and dessert for a set low price. Casual dining, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Zocalo (main plaza), Portal Juarez 101. Tel: (222) 232 1195.

Bola Roja. A delightful off-the-beaten track place where your palette can explore the regional specialities such as mole poblano and mixiotes. Casual dining, serving lunch and dinner daily. 5 Poniente 2522-A, Col. La Paz. Tel: (222) 230 1687.

El Mural. Spanish and Mexican regional cuisine in a fine dining setting. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 16 de Septiembre 506, Col. Centro. Tel: (222) 242 6696.

[Menu]

When Night Falls

Puebla is quite a lively place at night, with authentic Mexican Mariachis wondering the streets and restaurants, in search of people to hire their musical services. A real treat!

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other local hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Traditional Mexican theme night parties are popular with the locals, and there's a chance you could join a really special night out - the real Mexican way, and certainly on the eve of September 16th - Mexico's Independence Day. Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live music (usually authentic Mexican Mariachis) plus all drinks for a fixed fee and are always excellent value for money! Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

Night Bars / Restaurants - There's a good variety of late night entertainment in Puebla to keep you happy and entertained into the early hours. Check the Mexperience Travel Center for details.

[Menu]

What to Buy in Puebla

Puebla is the home of Talavera ceramic-ware, and you can buy a selection of items including colorful tiles, crockery and dinnerware made from this hard-wearing (and "unbreakable") ceramic craft. The ceramic ware is not inexpensive anywhere, but Puebla is the best place to buy it as it is among the least expensive of the places in Mexico that sells it.

[Menu]

Local Climate

Puebla enjoys year-round, spring-like weather. The climate is ideal for taking part in a variety of outdoor sports and activities and for taking in the local culture, architecture and scenery. Rains are seldom a feature here; when they do come they tend to be during the months of April thru November, but as with most monsoon areas, the rains tend to be fierce and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled off. You may need a warm pullover for cooler mornings and evenings, especially in the winter months.

Live Weather Report:

[Menu]