Guanajuato
This attractive cafe-lined and shady square is Guanajuato's social hub and is packed full of locals, mariachis and tourists throughout the day.
Must-see attractions in Mexico
Unidad Cultural Profesor Jesús Castro Agúndez
La Paz
The Teatro de la Ciudad, part of this large cultural center, is the main performance venue in La Paz.
Zona Rosa & Reforma
An angular tower and mirror-ball ensemble housing the nation’s Bolsa (stock exchange) marks the southern edge of the Colonia Cuauhtémoc.
Galería Abierta de las Rejas de Chapultepec
Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec
An open-air art gallery (really one side of the avenue) that exhibits photography and prints of paintings by up-and-coming Mexican artists.
Centro Histórico
The main church in the Lagunilla neighborhood, dating from the 16th century. Celebrations to its patron saint occur here every November 25.
Puebla
Next door to the Iglesia de la Compañía is the 16th-century Edificio Carolino, now the main building of Universidad Autónoma de Puebla.
Oaxaca City
This commercial gallery presents a wide range of quality art, and includes a room devoted to surrealist painter Rodolfo Morales’ work.
Querétaro
A block west of Jardín Zenea is the Fuente de Neptuno, designed by noted Mexican neoclassical architect Eduardo Tresguerras in 1797.
Acapulco
This statue and roundabout marks the center of Acapulco's strip. Many hotels, restaurants and discos are within a few blocks of it.
Cancún
Cancún's main north–south thoroughfare is Avenida Tulum, a wide boulevard lined with banks, shopping centers and restaurants.
East of Mexico City
The Museo Regional de Tlaxcala has a large collection of religious paintings and a few pre-Hispanic sculptures and artifacts.
Guanajuato
This triangular plaza is lined by cafes, bars and restaurants and full of shade-giving trees in a neatly maintained garden.
Xalapa
This small gallery houses a modest collection of Rivera’s works, and also exhibits paintings by other Mexican artists.
Veracruz
Marvel at the giant twisted roots and branches of this ancient ceiba tree, to which Cortés allegedly moored his ships.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Roble
Monterrey
Visible from all over the city, the iconic clock tower of this impressive church is something of a symbol for the city.
Palenque
Overgrown and of little interest, Templo XI is the first structure you'll see entering the site from the main entrance.
Acapulco
One of Acapulco's busy beaches along the strip, this can smell a little fishy at its western end from the day's catch.
Northern Central Highlands
This gorgeous church, which dates from 1805, has an elaborate carved stone facade and an equally impressive interior.
Acapulco
The central and busy Playa Hornitos is backed by numerous bars and restaurants. The high-rise hotel zone begins here.
Catedral de la Virgen de la Asunción
Veracruz City
The 18th-century cathedral has doors opening out onto the zócalo and is fairly unremarkable on the inside.
Palenque
Palenque's central plaza is busy any time, but comes to life after the sun goes down. Sometimes hosts free concerts.
Palenque
A series of small falls tumble down to form natural bathing pools. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to bathe here.
Veracruz
This neoclassical church, begun in 1812, is gorgeously painted in blue and white and is the star of Plaza Zaragoza.
Acapulco
Playa Manzanillo, a small crescent of sand handy for the center, is popular with locals but not especially clean.
East of Mexico City
The 16th-century Palacio Municipal, a former grain storehouse, occupies the north side of the zócalo.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Founded by the Franciscans in 1577, this fairly plain little church contains baroque altarpieces and pulpit.
Chichén Itzá
The visitors center has a small museum with exhibits providing explanations in Spanish, English and French.
Manzanillo
Around a kilometer from the main plaza, this is the closest beach to the old town, but also the dirtiest.
Chiapas
Just north of the central plaza, Comitán's market is a good place to hunt for cheap eats and photo ops.
Palenque
The man who discovered Pakal’s tomb in 1952 was buried here, under the trees in front of Templo XIII.
Statue of the Spanish Emigrant
Veracruz City
The statue of the Spanish emigrant, celebrates Veracruz' role as a disembarkation point for immigrants
Guadalajara Region
Hourly tours of Mundo Cuervo's La Rojeña distillery, the oldest in the Americas, include tastings.
Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños
Oaxaca City
Changing exhibitions by artists from Oaxaca and elsewhere – often provocative contemporary work.
Chetumal
An art-deco monument built in in 1943 to honor Mexico's independence and Reform movement heroes.
Central Pacific Coast
Celebrates the life of the preeminent 19th-century Mexican poet Amado Nervo, born here in 1870.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
A church atop the Cerro de San Cristóbal from which there are good views across the town.
Centro de Convenciones Campeche XXI
Campeche
This unmistakably modern behemoth serves as a handy reference point along the beachfront.
Puerto Vallarta
The handiest beach to the Zona Centro is Playa Olas Altas, just south of the Río Cuale.
Museo de Cultura de la Huasteca Tamuantzán
La Huasteca Potosina
An excellent starting point to learn more about the Huasteca region and local cultures.
Museo Maya Santa Cruz Xbáalam Naj
Costa Maya & Southern Caribbean Coast
A small but interesting collection of Maya artifacts, clothing and cooking utensils.
