Puebla
Discover Puebla
Puebla is a city in Mexico. It is in the Puebla Valley, surrounded by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, slightly over 110 km (68 miles) south-east of Mexico City. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its architecture. Puebla is also considered to be the "cradle of Mexican Baroque" in architecture and in the decorative arts, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. The city of Puebla is the fourth largest city in Mexico with 1.7 million inhabitants (2020), with 3.2 million in the metro area. It is the capital of the State of Puebla. It was founded on April 16, 1531 as "La Puebla de los Ángeles". It was the first city in central Mexico founded by the Spanish conquistadors that was not built upon the ruins of a conquered Amerindian settlement. Its strategic location, halfway between the port of Veracruz and Mexico City, made it the second most important city during the colonial period. During the 17th century, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz lived in the city until her confrontation with the Bishop of Puebla.
What to Experience in Puebla
Taste of Puebla...
Eat the street food. Travel books will almost always tell you not to, but generally speaking, it is entirely safe and can be one of the best cultural experiences of your trip. All street food generally includes anything with mole poblano, tacos Arabes (made with lamb or pork, originated from the large Arab population in the city), chiles en nogada, pozole, pambazos, pipian, adobo and chanclas. Local drinks include pulque, agua miel (honey water), tequila, agua de limon (lemon water), agua de tamarindo, agua de jamaica, horchata, chocolate Mexicano, atole (cornmeal drink), cafe de olla (coffee with cinnamon), pasitas (in los sapos), and tortas de chalupa (mini telerra roll with mashed potatoes, beans and 2 fried tortillas covered with green or red salsa). For the night you don't really need air conditioning. In winter the temperatures go down to 5°C, in the warm season to 13°C. Drink bottled water and be careful with valuables in public. Because of the altitude tours can be quite exhausting. This can cause problems for travelers. The mild climate may also lead you to underestimate the strength of the sun. Sunburn and sunstroke are a threat, so it is vital to wear sunscreen/sunblock and drink plenty of bottled water. At mealtimes, exercise extreme caution with salads and fruit, or avoid them altogether. If you must eat fruit, peel the skin, as washing is not enough.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsA ride between Mexico City and Puebla is around M$120 (Nov 2021) with Blablacar. Traveling to Puebla from Mexico City is fairly straightforward and can be accomplished via bus. There are continual bus services between Mexico City and Puebla throughout the day and night both from the TAPO terminal (also known as Terminal Oriente, located beside the San Lázaro Metro station) and from Benito Juarez International Airport. A one-way ticket on Estrella Roja (ER) or ADO from the TAPO usually runs about M$190 (Jan 2019) for regular non-stop service; a first class ticket ("Pullman Primera Clase" service) on Estrella Roja costs M$212 (Jan 2019). (The extra M$22 or so are worth it: the first class seat fewer people, thus less crowded, more space, more comfortable.) Buses leave for Puebla approximately every half hour from both locations....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
For finding city bus connections, Moovit is somewhat better than Google Maps as of Nov 2021. Moovit shows you the number of the bus line. In the app you can filter for only showing you direct connections. The general fare is M$8.50 (Nov 2021), paid in cash. There is no public transport card. (Safety note about buses: they are generally safe, but they tend to carry pickpockets, especially when crowded. Always have a hand over any bags or backpacks that you have.) The buses generally run from about 07:00 to 22:00. Taxis are almost always safe. They tend to run between M$60-120 (Sept 2021) for a ride. Negotiating a fare before entering a taxi is normal as the taxis do not carry meters in Puebla. If the driver does not offer you a fare that you like, you can wave them off and wait for the next taxi. ATMs are available throughout the city. There is an ATM of Caja Popular Mexicana in the CAPU intercity bus station. ATMs of Banca Inbursa and BanCoppel are for example in the historic center.
Where to Stay
For the night you don't really need air conditioning. In winter the temperatures go down to 5°C, in the warm season to 13°C. Drink bottled water and be careful with valuables in public. Because of the altitude tours can be quite exhausting. This can cause problems for travelers. The mild climate may also lead you to underestimate the strength of the sun. Sunburn and sunstroke are a threat, so it is vital to wear sunscreen/sunblock and drink plenty of bottled water. At mealtimes, exercise extreme caution with salads and fruit, or avoid them altogether. If you must eat fruit, peel the skin, as washing is not enough. Salads may be tempting, but enjoyment may be short-lived! For all cases of diarrhea take appropriate drugs and seek medical advice. You will rarely see locals wearing shorts, doing so will identify you as a tourist. Jeans are generally acceptable, except perhaps in some of the nicer restaurants.
Money & Budget
ATMs are available throughout the city. There is an ATM of Caja Popular Mexicana in the CAPU intercity bus station. ATMs of Banca Inbursa and BanCoppel are for example in the historic center. Eat the street food. Travel books will almost always tell you not to, but generally speaking, it is entirely safe and can be one of the best cultural experiences of your trip. All street food generally includes anything with mole poblano, tacos Arabes (made with lamb or pork, originated from the large Arab population in the city), chiles en nogada, pozole, pambazos, pipian, adobo and chanclas.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Drink bottled water and be careful with valuables in public. Because of the altitude tours can be quite exhausting. This can cause problems for travelers. The mild climate may also lead you to underestimate the strength of the sun. Sunburn and sunstroke are a threat, so it is vital to wear sunscreen/sunblock and drink plenty of bottled water. At mealtimes, exercise extreme caution with salads and fruit, or avoid them altogether. If you must eat fruit, peel the skin, as washing is not enough. Salads may be tempting, but enjoyment may be short-lived! For all cases of diarrhea take appropriate drugs and seek medical advice. You will rarely see locals wearing shorts, doing so will identify you as a tourist. Jeans are generally acceptable, except perhaps in some of the nicer restaurants.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Puebla
Church at the mountain’s foot
Puebla with Volcan Popocatépetl, Mexico
people walking on street near building during daytime
Mexico.
Puebla City
a large building on a hill
The International Museum of the Baroque in Puebla, Mexico.
Beautiful red sunset behind the Popocatepetl, a mexican famous volcano located near the city of Puebla. The buildings make a perfect blend between nature and urban style.
brown and black concrete building
a row of parked cars on a city street
Church at the mountain’s foot
Puebla with Volcan Popocatépetl, Mexico
people walking on street near building during daytime