This Gorgeous & Affordable Historic City Is One Of Mexico’s Trendiest Destinations This Year

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We all know and appreciate Mexico for its pristine white sands, turquoise seas, and luxurious five-star resorts lining the beachfront, but we love it for the authentic Mexican culture, soulful cuisine, and beautiful architecture.

Beyond the glitz and glam of Cancun, there’s an entire country of pueblos yet to be spoiled by gentrification, begging to be discovered.

If you’ve been hoping to get a taste of the real Mexico on your next visit, and an all-inclusive stay in the Caribbean won’t cut it, perhaps it’s time you explore an increasingly trendy Puebla:

Is Puebla The Next Major Cultural Hotspot?

One of the fastest-rising destinations this year, this colonial city in central Mexico has seen an 8% increase in visitors year-on-year between January and August.

This is a particularly-impressive feat, given the less-than-impressive figures seen in Tulum, where some airlines are already pulling away from, and Mexico’s overall drop in tourist numbers. If our southerly neighbor is losing its luster, it’s definitely not being felt in Puebla:

On average, tourists stay 1.5–2 nights, and they’re drawn not to luxurious experiences and paradisaical beaches—Puebla is hundreds of miles away from both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines—but a fascinating history, cultural value, and mouth-watering food.

Mexico’s Capital Of Baroque

It is home to one of the best-preserved, as well as most beautiful historic centers south of the border, peppered with monumental Baroque churches, colonial facades that have remained virtually unchanged since the Spanish were chased away, and picture-perfect calles.

Puebla Cathedral, rising above the colonial townscape, has a duo of impressive towers and an ornate interior that leaves nothing to be desired when compared to Europe’s grand basilicas.

Puebla boasts many more churches, from the iconic Rosary Chapel, located inside the 16th-century Templo de Santo Domingo, with over-the-top gold decorations everywhere, to the lesser-known Templo de San José, with a magnificently-tiled exterior.

Still, the most impressive colonial landmark is not a church, but a library:

The Oldest And Most Beautiful Library In The New World

Not somewhere in New England, Canada, or a Caribbean transit hub Christopher Columbus just happened to stumble upon: the first public library in the Americas was built right here in Puebla, and it leaves nothing to be desired compared to its European counterparts.

It is the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, stacked wall-to-wall with antique, leather-bound books dating back centuries. They are carefully-arranged in meticulously-carved cedar wood, and the cthedral-like, vaulted ceiling are nothing short of a manmade wonder.

Still can’t get enough of Puebla’s timeless charm? You can visit a traditional casa pueblana dating back to the second half of the 18th-century: Casa de los Muñecos still preserves its old furniture and colonial tilework.

Colonial Landmarks Galore

Now, if you’re flying all the way to Puebla to try some of their traditional mole poblano, the rich, cocoa-heavy sauce that seems to go with everything, you’ll want to book a seat at El Mural de los Poblanos:

Though definitely on the pricier end, they still serve local food at reasonable prices (expect to pay around $27), and the restaurant itself is located within a 17th-century palacete, with tables distributed around a postcard-ready arcaded courtyard.

For a more casual setting, of the kind frequented by locals and not just tourists with deep pockets, Comal is the perfect Old Town spot not only for moles, but also carnitas and chalupas—and the cathedral views are priceless.

On average, a three-course meal here will set you back $18–22.

For dinner, try something more modern at the Santóua Gastrobar, popular for its innovative takes on centuries-old poblana recipes, and delicious cocktails. It’s one of Puebla’s top-rated night-out spots, and you can budget around $18 for a meal and a drink here.

An Ancient Pyramid You’ve Never Heard About

If staying in Puebla for longer than 2 nights, make sure you take a day trip out to Cholula: yet another colonial-era town that’s equally-charming, a short 30-minute drive from downtown Puebla.

It is best known for its monumental pre-Columbian pyramid (whose base is the largest by volume in the world), topped by a yellow-washed Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.

The quaint town center, criss-crossed with cobble-surfaced alleys and filled with cozy cafés, street markets, more churches, and of course, plenty of photo ops, is not to be missed, either.

For a 3-night stay, including a day trip to Cholula, you should plan on spending roughly $75 per night on accommodation (prices for 3 and 4-star hotels on Booking.com range from $41 to $109).

This season, the best value for money is found at the NH Puebla Centro Histórico, an 8-minute walk to the cathedral. Splitting the costs of a double room as a couple will cost you only $36.50 each.

Read more about Puebla (and get inspired) here.

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Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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