Monterrey
Discover Monterrey
Monterrey is the third largest city in Mexico and the capital of the state of Nuevo León. It is the commercial, industrial, educational, and transportation hub of northern Mexico, also third in economic importance after Mexico City and Mexico State. Although it is historically an industrial and commercial city (in fact most foreign visitors come for business purposes), tourists will be surprised at the wealth of cultural and entertainment attractions that the city has to offer. Monterrey is one of the 16 North American cities that will host soccer matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Games scheduled for Monterrey will be played in Estadio BBVA in the suburb of Guadalupe. Here are a few tips for football fansː
What to Experience in Monterrey
Taste of Monterrey...
Monterrey is a paradise for spicy food lovers and anyone who loves the smoky flavor of fresh meats grilled over smoldering wood embers will be right at home in any restaurant serving authentic Northern Mexican cuisine. Worthwhile local delicacies are: Some good restaurants for authentic Northern Mexican food include El Regio and El Rey del Cabrito, or, if just looking for a quick sampling, the cafe chain Dona Tota for some gorditas. For eating recommendations including street food in the popular Centro district, have a look into the dedicated article. Monterrey is a famous brewing city and is the home for popular brands like Dos Equis and Bohemia. You can stop by the beer garden in front of the brewery anytime during the day for a free glass of beer under the towering oak trees. If you like craft beers, the buzzword to ask for in bars and restaurants is cerveza artesanal. You'll find several craft beer bars in the Barrio Antiguo. In other parts of Monterrey, stop by the Sierra Madre Brewing Company (several locations throughout the city, each featuring fresh beer and brick-oven pizzas). The clubbing scene in Monterrey is very hot. Nightclubs range from the typical "dive bar" to the very expensive, valet-please-park-my-Lamborghini places. Because Monterrey is home to the top colleges in Mexico, thousands of young people from all over Mexico party as early as Wednesday. You will surely find a club that suits your taste.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Monterrey.
Monterrey is one of the 16 North American cities that will host soccer matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Games scheduled for Monterrey will be played in Estadio BBVA. And there are ATM with low fees around the bus station: In the Zona Rosa, Barrio Antiguo and around the bus station are Oxxo, 7-eleven and minimarkets (tiendas) around. A bigger variety has Waldo's and 25.676297-100.3171341 Merco Aramberri. Large supermarkets are near the central bus station: 25.686176-100.3191442 Soriana Express and 25.68722-100.3243983 Soriana Hiper. The shopping scene in Monterrey is excellent. You'll find many international labels and designer houses in the upper-end malls. The downtown area is full of small shops selling everything you never knew you needed. Several shopping malls are located throughout the city, but especially in San Pedro Garza Garcia. These malls are like malls elsewhere in the world, and they're usually anchored by Mexican chains (like Liverpool or Palacio del Hierro) and U.S.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMonterrey is a large city with a wide variety of transportation options. Bus, plane, or personal car are the most practical ways to get to Monterrey. Monterrey has two airports. All commercial flights use Monterrey International (MTY) -- the city's main airport. Private and cargo carriers use Del Norte Airport. 25.778333-100.1063891 General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY Monterrey International Airport), ☏ +52 81 83-45-44-34. Daily international flights to Detroit, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Havana. Aeromexico flies direct to Madrid and Incheon (Seoul, Korea). Iberia flies to and from Madrid. The airport has several flights a day to all major Mexican destinations, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Toluca, Cancún, Mérida, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Tijuana. Several low cost airlines fly from Monterrey to different parts of the country, including Volaris and Viva Aerobus. MTY is a hub for Viva Aerobus....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
E-hailing and walking are the best choices. Buses are common. The subway is good, but has limited coverage. Taxis come in two color schemes: older ones are lime green and white, while the newer ones are yellow and white. The difference is just cosmetic as they are both affordable and plentiful. Taxis use meters in Monterrey, and to avoid overcharges, insist that the driver use the meter. For finding a connection, Moovit and Google Maps cover the city. As of February 2025 bus timetables and routing information on Google maps are incorrect. Moovit seems to have correct routes at least. When possible, take the metro instead of buses. Monterrey is in the process of discontinuing cash payment on public transportation. The fare can be paid either with a 'Me Muevo' card, which is available in metro stations, or with the Urbani app. Both can be recharged in OXXO stores. The app also has a credit card option, but does not seem to support foreign credit cards.
Where to Stay
From basic lodging to modern class hotel towers that almost look like they could compete with something out of Dubai, Monterrey offers a full spectrum of lodging choices, including hostels and camping options. The most popular neighborhoods for staying are Zona Rosa and Barrio Antiguo. The newest and most upscale hotels are found in the municipality of San Pedro Garza Garcia. There are several decent low-priced hotels clustered within a few blocks of the bus station. The guest rating on Google Maps gives you a hint of the quality. The hotels near the bus station along the street Miguel Nieto can only be booked for 4 or 12 hours. 4 hours for 2 persons are M$280 (March 2022). To see the sleeping suggestions of the popular Centro district, have a look into the dedicated article. High-speed broadband internet is widely available and most hotels provide wi-fi hotspots. Cyber cafes provide short-term internet access for about US$1 per hour.
Money & Budget
And there are ATM with low fees around the bus station: In the Zona Rosa, Barrio Antiguo and around the bus station are Oxxo, 7-eleven and minimarkets (tiendas) around. A bigger variety has Waldo's and 25.676297-100.3171341 Merco Aramberri. Large supermarkets are near the central bus station: 25.686176-100.3191442 Soriana Express and 25.68722-100.3243983 Soriana Hiper. The shopping scene in Monterrey is excellent. You'll find many international labels and designer houses in the upper-end malls. The downtown area is full of small shops selling everything you never knew you needed. Several shopping malls are located throughout the city, but especially in San Pedro Garza Garcia.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The city is mostly safe and is well patrolled by several municipal police departments and the Nuevo Leon state police. Police generally patrol with their red and blue emergency lights on. Municipal police vehicles are light yellow and white within the city of Monterrey, and black and white in the municipalities of Guadalupe, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, San Nicolas and Apodaca. State police usually drive black pickup trucks. Tourists sometimes run into trouble by straying into neighborhoods that have no notable sights, no hotels, and no upscale restaurants. Well-trafficked neighborhoods are very safe. Tourists are unlikely to ever have safety issues in San Pedro Garza Garcia or in most areas of el Centro (including Parque Fundidora, Barrio Antiguo, and the Macroplaza). There are non-tourist friendly areas in some of the more working class neighborhoods in Guadalupe, San Nicolas, and Santa Catarina.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Monterrey
green trees near mountain under white clouds during daytime
aerial view of buildings during golden hour
Cerro de La Silla on a warm day
a view of a city with mountains in the background
Monterrey, Mexico
Monterrey Ciudad
Parque la Huasteca
people in boat on water near mountain during daytime
Sierra Madre Oriental
silhouette of city buildings during sunset
green trees near mountain under white clouds during daytime
aerial view of buildings during golden hour
Cerro de La Silla on a warm day