The 9 Most Essential Things To Do In Puebla Mexico
While not as famous as other Mexico travel destinations, Puebla Mexico definitely deserves a spot on your travel radar. Puebla is the 4th largest city in Mexico with around 3.5 million residents. However, it’s the city’s 16th-century colonial center that tops the reasons to visit Puebla. This Historic Center of Puebla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its lively and colorful streets.
We spent one week visiting Puebla and discovered lots to do, to see, and to eat. However, since you may not have that much time in your Puebla itinerary, here’s what I consider the 9 most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico. The sights and experiences you simply do not want to miss.
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Explore The Historic Center
And I’ll start my list with that famed Historic Center. Exploring its lively plazas, colorful streets, and historic buildings unquestionably belongs atop the list of things to do in Puebla Mexico.
Puebla was founded by the Spanish in 1531 as a key commercial hub, linking Mexico City (to the west) and the Atlantic port city of Veracruz (to the east). Consequently, plenty of Spanish influence can be seen throughout this historic center.
The two centerpieces of the historic center are the Basilica Cathedral of Puebla and the adjacent Zocalo (Puebla’s main public square).
Construction on the Cathedral started in 1575, making it one of the oldest Cathedrals in the Americas. It’s definitely worth entering this grand building and checking out the interiors (admission is free). Plus as you look up at the bell towers, keep in mind that these are the tallest in all of Mexico.
The adjacent Zocalo is the heart of historic Puebla. Just simply hanging out in the Zocalo was one of my very favorite things to do in Puebla Mexico. I spent time at the Zocalo every day. It’s a great place to people watch. Plus you’ll commonly find street vendors and street performers. And I would always stumble across interesting snippets of local life – like this youth marching band rehearsing.
As you wander the streets of historic Puebla, you can’t help but notice how colorful all the buildings are. And you’ll also spot one big church after another, such as the peach-colored church in the photo below. In fact, there are over 70 churches in Puebla’s historic center!
One of the most beautiful streets in all of Puebla is called the Alley of the Frogs (Callejon de los Sapos). Our Airbnb (which I very much recommend) happened to be directly across the street from this alley. And so I was lucky enough to walk past its brightly colored buildings many times daily.
And nighttime is when this colorful street is at its most spectacular….
As you explore the historic center, you’ll also inevitably notice that many of the building are adorned with decorated tiles. These are called Talavera tiles. Talavera is a style of ceramic unique to Puebla and nearby Tlaxcala, and is a combination of Spanish and local indigenous techniques. In fact, Talavera is part of Puebla’s UNESCO recognition. You will also find plenty of shops selling Talavera pottery and ceramics throughout Puebla as well.
Eat Mole Poblano
Another of Puebla’s claims to fame is as the birthplace of Mole (along with the city of Oaxaca). And so yes, eating mole is absolutely one of the most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico. As I’ve pointed out elswhere on this blog, I love mole! And the mole in Puebla is unquestionably the best I’ve ever eaten.
One of the most famous of all Mexican moles is Mole Poblano. In fact, it is often called the national dish of Mexico. Poblano is a word that designates things as “originating from Puebla”. So rest assured, you will find Mole Poblano everywhere in Puebla.
Moles are complex sauces made with 20-30+ ingredients. These include various types of dried chilis, nuts, fruits, and spices. Chocolate is also a common ingredient in some of the more popular moles, including Mole Poblano. The flavors of any mole are complex and incredibly delicious. The photo above shows my first dish of Mole Poblano in Puebla (served with chicken) at a restaurant well-known for its version of the famous dish – a restaurant called Casareyna.
But Mole Poblano isn’t the only type of mole that you’ll find in Puebla. I ate mole almost once daily during our week in town, and tried many different types. The version below is a Burnt Chipotle Mole served with a Beef Filet at a restaurant called Augurio. (Augurio also served my very favorite version of Mole Poblano – I highly recommend that you eat there.)
Another famous Poblano food that you should try when in Puebla is the Cemita. As you wander around the city, you will see lots of places specifically selling Cemitas. And you will find them on most restaurant menus too.
So what is a Cemita? It’s a type of sandwich served on a very specific type of bun with a crispy crust and sesame seeds. The most classic version contains a breaded cutlet (chicken, pork, or beef), piled high with stringy Oaxaca cheese, and topped with avocado, an herb called Pรกpalo, and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
In addition to Mole Poblano and Cemitas, Puebla is known for other types of unique cuisine too. I ultimately will be writing an entire blog post dedicated to the Food of Puebla. I think that eating is undeniably one of the very best things to do in Puebla Mexico.
And if you like reading about Mexican food, then be sure to check out my post on the Traditional Food of Mexico City.
See The World’s Most Beautiful Kitchen
So the story goes that Mole Poblano was invented by a nun working inside a Puebla convent during the 16th century. She created the dish for the unexpected visit of an archbishop. She threw together lots of on-hand ingredients from the convent’s kitchen, and the resultant sauce was a hit with the visiting dignitary. Hence, Mole Poblano was born.
You can actually visit that famous kitchen today. I think it’s one of the most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico. In fact, as we entered the room, our tour guide declared it “the most beautiful kitchen in the world”. And it’s hard to disagree. You don’t want to miss it!
You can enter this beautiful and historic kitchen inside the Ex Convent de Santa Rosa (located in the northern part of the historic center). The kitchen is huge and as you can see in the photo above, every surface is covered with colorful Talavera tile. The former Convent is now a museum and entry into this famous kitchen is the final stopping place on the Convent tour.
You will pay an admission fee to enter the Convent, but it’s only a few USD and the tour is guided (we were assigned an English-speaking guide). The tour offers lots of insight into the monastic life of the Dominican nuns that lived inside (somewhat reminiscent of our Dominican Monastery tour in Toulouse France).
But then interestingly, the Convent also serves as Puebla’s Folk Art Museum (called Museo De Arte Popular Poblano). So on your tour you’ll also be shown a wide variety of Mexican Folk Art, interspersed with the Dominican nun history. It’s a unique tour to say the least. But certainly one of the best things to do in Puebla Mexico.
(Note that as of this writing, Google Maps shows the Museo De Arte Popular Poblano across the street from the Ex-Convent. This is not accurate. It is located inside the Ex-Convent as a combined museum.)
Visit A Jaw-Dropping Golden Chapel
One of the many churches in Peubla is called the Templo de Santo Domingo. And in a city with so many churches, its exterior doesn’t really stand out much.
However, on the inside you’ll find a jaw-dropping golden chapel called the Chapel of the Rosario (Capilla del Rosario). Many have called this chapel the 8th Wonder of the World. Such a designation certainly puts it on any list of essential things to do in Puebla Mexico.
This chapel is considered one of the very best examples of Mexican Baroque. This highly ornate style of architecture was popular in 17th century Mexico and was heavily influenced by the European Baroque movement of the same time. But like Talavera ceramics, it mixes the original European style with indigenous influences (including lots of nature-based motifs). Mexican Baroque is much more over-the-top than any example of European Baroque that I’ve ever seen.
And the Chapel of the Rosario turns it up to 11 by covering most of the ornate decorations with real gold leaf. You don’t want to miss this!
Admission to the church is free and the chapel can be found just off the main alter. You may have noticed in the one of the photos above that a religious service was in session during our first visit. I did need to return a second time to enter the chapel.
Enter The Oldest Library in The Americas
In 1646, the Bishop of Puebla donated his large personal collection of books to a local college with the stipulation that they be made available to the general public. And with that, the first public library in the Americas was founded. Visiting this library – called Biblioteca Palafoxiana – is certainly one of the best things to do in Puebla Mexico. It’s located across the street from the Cathedral.
The current library room was constructed in 1773, on the second floor of the college (now the city’s Cultural Center). Over the centuries, volumes were added to the bishop’s original collection, and the library now boasts over 45,000 books and manuscripts. The library isn’t large and it won’t take you long to peruse its shelves. But the centuries-old books are undeniably cool to look at.
Learn The True History Behind Cinco De Mayo
Most US residents mistakenly believe that Cinco De Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. But, it isn’t. September 16th is Mexican Independence Day. In Mexico, May 5th commemorates The Battle of Puebla – when a small Mexican army defeated a much larger invading French force in 1862. Cinco de Mayo is not typically celebrated throughout Mexico, though it is a big deal in Puebla. And over time, it’s evolved into a day to celebrate Mexican-American heritage in the US.
One of the Forts used during the Battle of Puebla – called Fort Loreto – sits atop a hill just north of the historic center. And I do think that visiting this Fort is one of the essential things to do in Puebla Mexico.
The main building inside Fort Loreto has been converted into a museum. It costs around 9 USD to enter, and you’ll learn all about the famous battle, along with lots of other information regarding Mexico’s convoluted road to independence.
Plus, directly across from the Fort you’ll find a hilltop park which offers some of the very best views out across all of Puebla. My Uber driver proudly pointed out that this view was featured in the Denzel Washington film Man on Fire. And this is where you can also fully appreciate modern Puebla’s distant skyline. The park is fittingly named Cinco de Mayo Park.
Don’t Miss The Museo Amparo
Museo Amparo is considered to be one of the most important archeological museums in all of Mexico with a vast collection of artifacts from throughout the country’s history. And somehow I missed it!
I know – I’m The Thorough Tripper. How did that happen? Obviously I wasn’t quite Thorough enough in my Puebla tripping. I discovered Museo Amparo as I was doing research for this post (reminiscent of the time I realized we missed half of Chichen Itza when doing research for my Chichen Itza post…that wasn’t my fault though).
The museum is housed in a former 17th century hospital and was just a couple blocks from our Airbnb. The only photo I have of Museo Amparo is accidental. One of its entrances is across the street from that peach-colored church I highlighted before. In retrospect, we walked past it every time we went to eat mole at Augurio. Clearly food, rather than archeology, was on my mind during those outings.
Anyway…don’t make the same mistake! From my post-trip research, visiting Museo Amparo is one of the most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico.
Drink Pasita At Puebla’s Oldest Bar
The oldest bar in Puebla is called La Pasita. It was founded in 1916, and it happened to be directly across the street from our Airbnb (on the corner of Frog Alley.) While we don’t visit lots of bars when we travel, we couldn’t pass this one up. A stop here is certainly one of the essential things to do in Puebla Mexico.
La Pasita offers a fairly limited selection of drinks. You’ll choose between 11 different types of liqueurs which are all served in a tequila glass. Each glass of liqueur only costs 50 pesos (around 3 USD).
But the star of the show is a raisin liqueur called Pasita. It was invented by the bar’s founder and is still produced by his family today. Each glass is served with a chunk of goat’s cheese and a raisin.
The bar staff instructs first-timers to take their time sipping this sweet drink, while also taking bites of the cheese. And the combination is remarkable and perfectly balanced. I didn’t think I was going to like Pasita very much, since I generally don’t like sweet wines that taste like raisins. But I loved it! (The Rompope was really good too.)
The family that runs La Pasita is incredibly friendly and the small place really has a fun vibe, with a mix of both tourists and locals. It does close early though….6pm. Which I thought was odd for a bar. So be sure to get there before the afternoon is over. (They do have a second location closer to the Cathedral that stays open until 8pm on some nights)
Climb The World’s Largest Pyramid
The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the largest pyramid in the world. And it only takes about 30 minutes to get to the Pyramid from Puebla’s historic center (via Uber). Clearly then, this is unquestionably one of the very most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico.
Construction on this Pyramid began around 300 BC, and it was built in various stages over the next 1300 years by a succession of Mesoamerican peoples. They constructed larger pyramids on top of older pyramids repetitively, until it reached its final monstrous size (as shown in a museum display above.)
When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the pyramid had been abandoned for hundreds of years. Much of its original materials had turned to dirt and the Pyramid was covered by vegetation. In fact, the Spanish built a church on top of what they likely thought was a natural hill.
Most of this Great Pyramid is still covered by nature, though parts have been excavated. The Spanish church still sits on top of the hill. And you can explore all of this when you visit the site.
And while visiting the Great Pyramid of Cholula wasn’t as spectacular as our visit to the ancient city of Teotihuacan and its Pyramids, it really is one of the most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico. I can’t imagine missing it.
Plus visiting here is much more than just the Great Pyramid. For us, it was only part of a DIY day trip from Puebla. We also spent time visiting the nearby Spanish colonial town of San Pedro Cholula. And we also visited two famous Mexican Baroque churches in the vicinity. I do have a future blog post coming up on the entirety of our day trip to Cholula.
Getting To Puebla
So that completes my list of the 9 most essential things to do in Puebla Mexico. But let’s finish this post with a few important logistical points about visiting Puebla.
First of all, how do you get there?
Puebla is located about 70 miles east of Mexico City. While Puebla does have its own international airport, most visitors travel by bus from Mexico City. Mexico’s ADO Bus Company provides first class bus travel between the two cities. It generally takes two hours. We used the ADO bus to get from Mexico City to Puebla, and it was a great experience. In fact, my next blog post will be all about our ADO bus experience from Mexico City to Puebla.
Getting Around Puebla
You’ll find that the historic center of Puebla is very walkable. And you can see most of these things to do in Puebla Mexico on foot – if you are staying in the historic center (which I certainly recommend).
When you do need to travel further, Uber is available in Puebla. And it’s very inexpensive. We used Uber to take us to the bus station, to take us to the grocery store, to visit the Fort, and for our day trip to Cholula. Using Uber is always safer than hailing a taxi off the street in Puebla (which is not recommended throughout Mexico).
And my experience using Uber is Puebla was very similar to my experience using Uber in Mexico City (you can click to read my blog post all about it.)
Is Puebla Safe?
I never felt unsafe in the historic center of Puebla. This includes the times I walked by myself in the evenings. The center is always busy, people are friendly, and there is a very visible police presence. As always, use common sense. But there is no need to avoid Puebla due to safety concerns.
Final Thoughts
Puebla is clearly one of the great cities in Mexico. And I can whole-heartedly recommend that you visit. You’ll find so many impressive things to do in Puebla Mexico, lots of delicious food to eat, and friendly people too! I would love nothing more than to be sitting in front of a plate of Mole Poblano right now. Enjoy one for me!
If you would like more advice on traveling in Mexico, then be sure to check out these posts: