The largest city in North America, Mexico City can be an overwhelmingly wonderful place to explore, and travellers can visit even more incredible spots on a day trip. Take a break from the frenetic energy and discover the charms outside the capital, from cultural and historic gems to natural beauty — you’re spoiled for choice. Ready for an adventure? These are the best day trips from Mexico City. Buen Viaje!

Puebla

If you’re looking for history, culture, and all the different colours of mole, a day trip to Puebla from Mexico City is just the ticket. Tucked in the shadows of two of Mexico’s most famous volcanoes, Puebla has a beautifully preserved centro historico (historic centre) and a web of underground tunnels, some of which you can explore at a museum called Secrets of Puebla.

Puebla is also the birthplace of some of Mexico’s most beloved recipes, such as mole poblano, made with more than 20 ingredients. Once a centre of staunch Catholicism (the city is rumoured to have a church for every single day of the year), today Puebla shows off its modern side with experimental cuisine at restaurants and an endless array of art galleries and local boutiques selling clothing from Mexican designers.

Cholula

If you’re taking a day trip to Puebla from Mexico City, stop in the small town of Cholula en route to get an understanding of Mexican history and colonisation. Cholula is known for its Great Pyramid, the largest in Mexico, and it has an accompanying archaeological park. This town is also one of the best places in Mexico to see the effects of the conquistadors, as directly on top of the pyramid is a canary-coloured church built by the Spanish as a symbol of power over the indigenous people.

Teotihuacan

Take a day trip to Teotihuacan from Mexico City to tick an item off your must-visit Mexico list. Just an hour from the beating heart of the country’s most cosmopolitan city, the ruins at Teotihuacan take you back roughly 2,000 years. This ancient Aztec city, dominated by the iconic Pyramid of the Sun, was once the largest in the Americas and is thought to be the first advanced city on the entire continent. The beautifully preserved pyramids and structures provide insights into life on this land before the arrival of the Spanish. Climb to the top of the temples for panoramic views.

San Miguel de Allende

A day trip from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende checks all the boxes: colours, culture, architecture, museums, and fantastic food. One of the most photogenic towns in Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is in the state of Guanajuato, about a three-hour drive from Mexico City. Wander the historic cobblestone streets flanked by brightly coloured Spanish-influenced buildings and marvel at the blush-coloured Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel over the central plaza. San Miguel de Allende’s streets are a hilly maze of fantastic designer boutiques, art galleries, and rooftop restaurants with dramatic sunset views.

Cuernavaca

Locals love to take a day trip to Cuernavaca from Mexico City. Its slogan is the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, thanks to its year-round balmy temperature and laid-back vibe. If you love history, beautiful views, and culture, Cuernavaca makes a wonderful Mexico City day trip. Take in views of the Tepozteco Mountains from the many hiking trails, or book a stay in one of the many haciendas (historic ranching estates) transformed into hotels. In Cuernavaca, Ex Hacienda Santa Cecilia is one of the best. Built for conqueror Hernán Cortés, the 16th-century Palacio de Cortes has been converted into a museum, and the 14th-century Cuernavaca Cathedral is a gorgeous example of historic architecture.

Taxco

Tucked in the mountains of Guerrero, Taxco is one of the most visually stunning small towns in Mexico and has a rich history. When the Spanish arrived, they uncovered a wealth of subterranean silver. As mining grew, so did the jewellery trade. Today, Taxco is one of the best places in the world to buy silver. Don’t miss the Parroquia de Guadalupe, the iconic hilltop church, whose perch offers some of the best views in town. Get an early start — without traffic, it’s a 2.5-hour drive one way for a day trip to Taxco from Mexico City.

Grutas Tolantongo

Take a unique day trip to Tolantongo from Mexico City if you’re looking for adventure. Located in the neighbouring state of Hidalgo, Tolantongo is famous for its hot springs, known as Las Grutas Tolantongo. A series of tiered natural mineral pools cascade down a hillside, creating a picturesque water park of natural hot tubs. You’ll also want to visit the Tolantongo Cave and Tunnel, a giant natural pool complete with a gushing waterfall inside, which is the main source of water for the springs.

Xochimilco

You don’t have to go far for a great day trip from Mexico City. Located on the southern side of the city, Xochimilco is about an hour from the centro historico. On a Xochimilco day trip, take a boat cruise aboard a trajinera, the colourful boats that sail the canals with live mariachi music and heaps of tacos and tamales for sale, plus flowing local beer and an indigenous fermented drink called pulque. While Xochimilco is technically part of Mexico City, it feels like another world.

Queretaro

One of the best day trips from Mexico City is a visit to the city of Queretaro, the capital of the state of the same name. This colourful, cultural, and charismatic city sits at an impressive 3,360m (11,020 feet) above sea level, wreathed by beautiful mountains and bursting with bright colours.

Queretaro’s downtown has gorgeous Spanish-influenced architecture that dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to museums, public squares, gardens, and beautiful fountains. Downtown has several pedestrian streets, which make walking and exploring a breeze.

The fantastic and free-to-visit Queretaro Art Museum is a must for culture vultures and was built out of the bones of an 18th-century monastery. Today, it has paintings and sculptures from the 1600s to the 1800s. In addition to the city, Queretaro state has so much to offer, including a wine region and the third-largest monolith in the world in the town of Bernal, all of which are within easy reach of Mexico City.