Planning a Mexico trip is not hard because there is nothing to see. It is hard because there is too much to see, and every region works differently.
This three-part guide to Mexico travel collects the most important local hacks from our 18-day Mexico itinerary: where to stay, how to best get around, what you must see, and which small details make the trip smoother.
From Mexico City and Puebla to Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Yucatán, here is what we’d want every traveler to know before starting the route.
Mexico City Essentials (Days 0-3)
We recommend arriving in Mexico City in the early evening so you can rest before beginning your explorations of this incredible city in the morning.
Getting from the airport is easy: unlike many major capitals, Mexico City airport is inside the city, so Uber or taxi to the center usually takes 30-40 minutes and costs less than $25.
Where to Stay in Mexico City
Choose the Paseo de la Reforma area. It offers the best balance of location, comfort, and safety. While the Historic Center is beautiful during the day, some streets feel much less comfortable at night.
What to See in Mexico City
- Reforma for the city’s modern heart
- Anthropology Museum to understand Mexico’s civilization layers
- Chapultepec Castle for views and imperial history
- Historic Center for the Cathedral, Zócalo, and Templo Mayor
- Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo Museum for colonial charm
- Polanco for luxury Mexico City
- Teotihuacán for ancient Mexico at its most impressive
Best Transport Hack in Mexico City
Use the Turibus. It works as both sightseeing and transportation, especially for Reforma and Polanco.
Best Local Experiences in Mexico City
- Salón Tenampa at Plaza Garibaldi for live mariachi
- Museo Soumaya open-air exhibition near Torre Latinoamericana, a stop many guides don’t know
Exclusive TravUp Hack
Don’t visit Teotihuacán only on foot. Start with a sunrise hot-air balloon ride, then explore the pyramids walking. Finish with lunch at La Gruta, a unique cave restaurant, former Aztec sacred place, near the archaeological zone.
Puebla Essentials (Day 3-4)
We strongly recommend visiting Puebla via rental car or private driver service. While the city center is walkable, the best highlights, especially Cholula and the volcano viewpoints, are much easier to access with a car.
Where to Stay in Puebla
Choose the Historic Center, ideally in one of Puebla’s beautiful colonial buildings. But watch one detail when booking: check the room windows carefully. Many boutique hotels in restored colonial mansions have rooms facing only an inner patio or corridor, and some have no exterior windows at all.
What to See in Puebla
- Historic Center & Zócalo for Puebla’s colonial heart
- Puebla Cathedral for one of Mexico’s most impressive religious landmarks
- Capilla del Rosario for its spectacular gold-covered baroque interior
- Local market to experience daily Puebla life
- Barrio de los Sapos for colorful streets, antiques, and artisan shops
- Forts of Loreto and Guadalupe for city views and Mexican history
And, don’t skip Cholula, Puebla’s most iconic day trip!
Here you’ll find the largest pyramid in the world hidden under what looks like a hill. Climb to the top for panoramic views of the legendary volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl.
Nearby, visit Santa María Tonantzintla, one of the most unusual churches in Mexico. Its interior is a masterpiece of indigenous baroque, where Catholic imagery blends with native symbolism in extraordinary detail.
Best Puebla Hack
Come hungry.
Puebla is one of Mexico’s culinary capitals, so this is not the place to diet.
Make sure to try mole, the city’s iconic rich sauce made with dozens of ingredients, including chocolate and spices. If visiting in season, don’t miss chiles en nogada, one of Mexico’s most famous and symbolic dishes.
Taxco Essentials (Day 5)
Taxco is best explored on foot.
This magical mountain town is all about getting lost in its narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses, hidden stairways, and unexpected viewpoints. Walking here is not just transportation, it’s the experience itself.
Exclusive TravUp Hack
Don’t try to drive a car through the historic center. Streets are extremely narrow, steep, and often chaotic.
What to See in Taxco
- Santa Prisca Church, the city’s iconic pink-stone baroque cathedral
- Local market for food and everyday local life
- Silver workshops and jewelry stores throughout the historic center
- Cristo Monumental for the best panoramic views over Taxco
Taxco is Mexico’s silver capital, so shopping here is almost mandatory.
The craftsmanship, unique design, and surprisingly accessible prices, make Taxco one of the best places in Mexico to buy gifts for yourself and friends. Take your time browsing silver boutiques, touching handcrafted pieces, trying on jewelry, and admiring intricate silver sculptures.
Taxco Shopping Tip
Prices often depend not only on design, but also on the weight and purity of the silver used (just like gold), so don’t hesitate to compare stores.
For adventurous food lovers, visit the local market and try salsa de jumil. Jumiles are aromatic edible insects used in traditional regional sauces. Definitely not for everyone, but very local and unforgettable.
Best Taxco Hack
Take a ride in one of the legendary white Volkswagen Beetle taxis up to Cristo Monumental.
They’re practically the only cars nimble enough for Taxco’s steep, narrow streets, and the ride itself feels like an attraction.
From the top, the view is unforgettable: white houses cascading down the mountainside, church towers rising from the valley, and Taxco looking like something between a fairy tale and a movie set.
Oaxaca Essentials (Day 6-9)
If Mexico has soul, a big part of it lives in Oaxaca.
Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s culinary capitals and the heartland of Zapotec culture. This makes it one of the richest regions in the country for food, craftsmanship, and ancient history.
To explore the region properly, we strongly recommend a rental car or private driver. Many of Oaxaca’s best experiences are outside the city and not easy to reach by public transport.
What to See in Oaxaca City
- Historic Center for Oaxaca’s colonial heart
- Santo Domingo Church, one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico
- Macedonio Alcalá, the city’s main pedestrian street
- Benito Juárez Market for local food and everyday life
- Fortín Hill viewpoint for panoramic city views
But Oaxaca is much more than the city itself.
Best Day Trips from Oaxaca
- Monte Albán, the first major city of Mesoamerica, with spectacular views over the valley
- Mitla, the sacred Zapotec city known as the gateway to the underworld
- Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca’s famous petrified waterfalls
- El Árbol del Tule, the world’s widest tree
- Mezcal distilleries to understand Mexico’s most misunderstood spirit
- Traditional carpet workshops, where artisans still use centuries-old weaving techniques and natural dyes
- Chocolate workshops, where you can make traditional Oaxacan chocolate by hand
Exclusive TravUp Hack
Be sure to explore beyond the main streets.
Some of Oaxaca’s best experiences are hidden behind doors. Step into courtyards, art galleries, craft workshops, and boutique stores tucked inside colonial buildings. This is where the city feels most magical.
Also don’t skip Xochimilco, Oaxaca’s oldest neighborhood. Its historic aqueduct, colorful murals, artisan studios, and relaxed atmosphere show a quieter, more authentic side of the city.
And most importantly: come hungry.
Oaxaca is a paradise for food lovers, so try as much local cuisine as possible. Especially the famous moles, Oaxaca’s complex signature sauces made from cacao with dozens of ingredients.
And if you try mezcal, enjoy it properly.
Sip it slowly, usually with an orange slice, sal de gusano (worm salt), and for the adventurous, chapulines — Oaxaca’s famous toasted grasshoppers.
Want the full route? Explore our complete 18-Day Mexico itinerary or experience it directly in the TravUp app.
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