Querétaro

A UNESCO-listed colonial city with a pink-stone aqueduct, cradle of Mexican independence and birthplace of the 1917 Constitution, with the Peña de Bernal monolith and the Wine and Cheese Route nearby.

Querétaro (Santiago de Querétaro) is the capital of Querétaro state in central Mexico, about 220 km northwest of Mexico City on the Bajío plateau at roughly 1,800 m. Its historic monuments zone was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is known for pink-stone Baroque churches, neatly laid-out colonial streets and an 18th-century aqueduct. It was also where the 1810 independence movement was hatched, where Emperor Maximilian met his end in 1867, and where the 1917 Constitution was signed. The old town is ideal on foot: start at the aqueduct viewpoint and continue past the Convent of the Holy Cross, Plaza de Armas and the State Government Palace, Jardín Zenea and the Church of San Francisco, to Santa Clara, San Agustín (now the Art Museum) and Santa Rosa de Viterbo — half a day to a day is enough. Take a taxi to Cerro de las Campanas park to the west and the El Cerrito pyramid south of the city. The classic day trip is the Wine and Cheese Route: the town of Bernal beneath its giant monolith, wineries such as Freixenet, the Cadereyta cactus gardens and the spa town of Tequisquiapan, with Amealco, the town of Otomí dolls, farther south. Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende are covered as separate destinations. The climate is dry; the Oct–May dry season is best, Mar–May days are hot, and the Jun–Sep rainy season brings afternoon showers. Expect big temperature swings between day and night on the plateau. Getting there: Querétaro International Airport has US and domestic flights, and buses from Mexico City's Terminal Norte take about 3 hours; walk around the old town and hire a driver or join a day tour for the wine country. Allow 2–3 days.

Top sights

• Aqueduct of Querétaro – An 18th-century aqueduct of 74 arches built from pink stone, about 1.3 km long and up to 28 meters high. It is the emblem of Querétaro.
• Templo y Convento de la Santa Cruz – A Franciscan monastery built on the site where, according to legend, Spanish forces and the local Otomi people fought their decisive battle…
• Plaza de Armas & Casa de la Corregidora – The most elegant square in the old town, surrounded by Baroque mansions. The state government palace on the north side was the home of Jose…
• Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo – A late Baroque masterpiece in Mexico: flying buttresses decorated with curling scrolls on the exterior, and a gilded altarpiece and pulpit…
• Jardín Zenea & Templo de San Francisco – The central garden of the old town and the city's earliest Franciscan church; cafés and ice-cream shops line the pedestrian streets, making…
• Museo Regional de Querétaro – A state museum housed in the cloisters of the San Francisco convent, telling the history of Querétaro from prehistory and the colonial era…
• Museo de Arte de Querétaro – Housed in the former convent of San Agustín, whose cloister columns are carved with grotesque figures and expressive gestures, often hailed…
• Templo de Santa Clara & Fuente de Neptuno – A plain-looking convent church with a sumptuous interior, and a neoclassical sea-god fountain at its door that is a photo spot in the old t…
• Teatro de la República – Mexico's current constitution was signed here in 1917, and in 1867 Maximilian's death sentence was pronounced here; a witness to Mexico's m…
• Cerro de las Campanas – The hill where Emperor Maximilian was executed in 1867, now a city park with a giant Juárez statue, a memorial chapel and a museum.
• Cathedral of Querétaro (San Felipe Neri) – Originally the San Felipe Neri church, its red-stone façade shows the transition from Baroque to Neoclassicism; Father Hidalgo presided ove…
• El Cerrito Archaeological Zone – A pre-Hispanic pyramid in the El Cerrito area south of the city, about 30 m high, an important religious center of the Toltec-era Bajío reg…
• El Cimatario National Park – A volcanic-hill national park on the southeastern edge of the city, with hiking and mountain-biking trails throughout; the summit overlooks…
• Amealco de Bonfil – A highland town of the Otomi people with a magical atmosphere, the hometown of the colorful 'Lele' cloth dolls, with handmade dolls and emb…

Where to eat

• Los Compadres – An affordable local canteen two blocks north of Plaza de Armas, where Querétaro-style enchiladas are widely recommended…
• Cenaduría Blas – A traditional cenaduría (evening snack house) in the old town, operating for decades and famous for Querétaro-style enc…
• Mesón de Chucho el Roto – A terrace restaurant on Plaza de Armas facing the State Government Palace, serving traditional Mexican food since 1995.

Itineraries

• Colonial Mexico: Mexico City to Guadalajara – Connect Mexico City, Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, and Guadalajara by bus.
• Bajío Wine Country & Colonial Towns Road Trip – A self-drive route from Querétaro through wine country, San Miguel de Allende, and Dolores Hidalgo to Guanajuato.
• Querétaro to Guanajuato Colonial Highlands – Head north from Mexico City to explore the colonial historic cities of Querétaro, the wine country, San Miguel de Allen…