Experience Puebla

Discover Puebla

Spain’s colonial influence remains remarkably notable in Puebla: from the moment you approach the city center, you see the dome-shaped roofs of churches and buildings, suggesting Spanish and Moor influences which arrived centuries ago and have remained here in Puebla ever since.

The city is known for one of Mexico’s most notable historic battles, which took place on May 5th 1862, against the French. Today Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May) is a holiday in the state of Puebla.

Puebla is famous for its cuisine, as some of Mexico’s most popular national dishes, including Mole and Chile Poblano were created in Puebla.

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.

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

The state of Puebla is home 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 1970s you could see it from Mexico City, but today, air pollution blocks the view on most days. The best views of the volcano can be seen early in the morning; late mornings and afternoons bring heat that causes mist and obscures the view.

A short drive from Puebla is the colonial town of Cholula; famous for its churches and views of Popocatepetl and Iztaccíhuatl; see Key Attractions, below, for more details and related links.

Puebla is well connected by road with Mexico City, and also has an airport, so it’s very accessible. While you can see Puebla on a long day trip from the capital, we recommend staying longer to enjoy a better experience and gain a deeper appreciation of this beautiful and important colonial city.

Key Attractions

Colonial Center

The look, feel and atmosphere in Puebla’s colonial center is distinctly Spanish/Moor. The colonial center is well preserved, the streets are cobbled or laid with old-style paving stones. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the surroundings are colorful; the ambiance here is distinctly colonial.

Start your experience in the main plaza, the zocalo. The principal tree-lined square is surrounded by a selection of shops and restaurants; many people start their day by enjoying breakfast at one of the restaurants surrounding he square.

Puebla’s Magnificent Cathedral

On the south side of the city’s zocalo (main square) is the Puebla’s breath-taking cathedral.

The cathedral’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 spectacular; and includes the largest church organ in Mexico.

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

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 house that staged the first battle of the 1910 revolution.

Museo del Ferrocarril – S (Locomotive Museum) hosts a couple of handful’s 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.

Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air – You can fly to Puebla from the US and and other points in Mexico including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Leon and Tijuana. Connect to the Mexperience guide about Air Travel in Mexico for more details.

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. Connect to the Mexperience guide about Bus Travel in Mexico for more details.

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 the detailed Mexperience guide to Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads for full details.

Getting Around

From the Airport – The airport is about 10 miles west of Puebla and ground transportation is available into town; buy your tickets from the terminal building inside the airport.

Taxis – Puebla’s street taxis are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!

Rent a Car – If you plan to explore the region independently, renting a car would be a smart option as it will give you the freedom and flexibility to see more of the area and its surrounding attractions. Learn more about Renting in a Car in Mexico on our detailed guide. You can rent a car from Mexico City or the airport at Puebla: see the Travel Reservations Center for Car Rental in Mexico

Puebla Essentials

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full 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. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience’s Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover 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 can be easily found in towns and cities across Mexico and WiFi is increasingly commonplace–from cafes, shops, hotels, and some cities even offer free WiFi in some defined public spaces.

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.

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. While you are here, be sure to savor Mole Poblano, a rich, dark savory sauce made with chocolate, bananas and spices. It’s traditionally served over chicken accompanied with Arroz a la Mexicana–delicious.

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 wool pullover for cooler mornings and evenings, especially in the winter months.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico