Mexico City, Puebla and Hidalgo

Mexico City's classics, including Teotihuacán, an overnight in Puebla, and a day trip to the Real del Monte basalt columns.

A week based in the city: three days for the old town, the Museum of Anthropology and Teotihuacán, then Cholula and Puebla for one night, which avoids a 4–5 hour round trip in a single day. After returning to the city, take a day trip to the basalt columns and mining town in Hidalgo, and finish with a half day in Coyoacán. Stay in Polanco, close to the museums and with easy highway access. Ideal for first-timers with plenty of time.

Real del Monte sits at about 2,700 m and is often cold and foggy year-round, so bring a jacket.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrival and Paseo de la Reforma

Mexico City（Paseo de la Reforma & Angel of Independence）

Take a taxi about 40 minutes from the airport to Polanco. In the afternoon, walk along Paseo de la Reforma to the Angel of Independence, then return to Polanco for dinner.

You'll be at 2,240 m on your first day, so keep physical activity light.

Stay: Polanco

Day 2 · Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle

Mexico City（National Museum of Anthropology、Chapultepec Park、Chapultepec Castle）

Walk about 20 minutes from Polanco to the National Museum of Anthropology, then climb through Chapultepec Park to the castle in the afternoon.

Both museums close on Mondays.

Stay: Polanco

Day 3 · Full Day in the Historic Center

Mexico City（Zócalo / Metropolitan Cathedral、Templo Mayor、National Palace、Palacio de Bellas Artes）

Take the metro or a taxi about 25 minutes to the Zócalo. Walk through the old town, see the Palace of Fine Arts in the evening, then take a taxi back.

Stay: Polanco

Day 4 · Teotihuacán and Guadalupe

Mexico City（Teotihuacan、Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe）

Take a bus of about 1 hour from the North Bus Terminal to the ruins and spend about 4 hours there. On the way back, stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, then take a taxi to Polanco.

Arrive right at opening time. The site has little shade.

Stay: Polanco

Day 5 · Cholula Pyramid to Puebla

Puebla（Church of Santa María Tonantzintla、Great Pyramid of Cholula、Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies、Zócalo of Puebla）

Take a bus of about 2 hours from the East Bus Terminal to Puebla. Take a 30-minute taxi to Tonantzintla and Cholula, then return to the Puebla historic center in the evening to check in.

Photography is not allowed inside the Tonantzintla church.

Stay: Centro Histórico

Day 6 · Puebla Old Town and Return

Puebla（Puebla Cathedral、Biblioteca Palafoxiana、Rosary Chapel, Templo de Santo Domingo）

Walk in the morning to the cathedral, the Palafoxiana Library and the Capilla del Rosario, then take a 2-hour bus back to Mexico City in the afternoon.

Have mole for lunch in Puebla.

Stay: Polanco

Day 7 · Basalt Columns and the Mining Town

Pachuca & Real del Monte（Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla、Real del Monte (Mineral del Monte)）

Join a tour or hire a car. It's about 2 hours to the basalt columns at Santa María Regla, then on to Real del Monte for pasties. Return to the city in the evening and head straight to the airport.

You'll need an overnight flight. If you're not taking one, swap this day with Day 6.

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