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Is Puebla Worth Visiting?
If you’re wondering “is Puebla Worth Visiting?” then you’ve come to the right place!
I lived in Mexico for over a year with my family, and we spent a bit of time in Puebla. We loved it so much that we’re also planning a return trip.
Puebla is statistically one of the safer places to visit in this diverse and exciting country. It’s also less polluted and with better traffic than its much larger neighbor, Mexico City. The capital city of Mexico is also known as CDMX.
This combination makes it great for families to use as a base for exploring. Plus, Puebla is one of the most historic cities in Mexico.
Every time we visit, we find new things to do there. That’s why we had to address whether Puebla is worth visiting!
Is Puebla Worth Visiting?
The short answer is yes, absolutely! It has city amenities like public transit and shopping variety as well as a diverse assortment of restaurants to explore.
Plus there are a ton of really cool things to do there, including cultural and historical experiences.
So let’s break down everything you need to know to make the most of your time so that you also agree that Puebla is worth visiting.
Getting to Puebla
Where is Puebla? It’s only a two-hour drive east from CDMX, although traffic can make it take a little longer sometimes. Because the capital city is so sprawling, some consider Puebla a far suburb. However, I definitely saw a noticeable distinction between the two cities when we drove between them.
The easiest way to get to Puebla and around the city is by car. If you don’t mind driving abroad, then I highly consider renting a car. We’ve found that it’s easier to schlep all the kid-stuff when you have your own vehicle.
👉 I highly recommend Renting a Car for visits to Puebla.
However, if you’re on a budget then the bus system is fairly easy to use. ADO Buses leave at least hourly and tickets only cost 105 pesos (~$5.25 USD).
If you’re traveling from outside Mexico or have a tight travel timeframe, then flying directly to Puebla may be the easiest option.
There are several budget airlines that fly within Mexico for a fairly low price if you’re traveling to Puebla from further away, like Cancun or Puerto Vallarta.
Where to Stay in Puebla
There are plenty of amazing places to stay in Puebla city, Mexico. The main factor you want to consider when choosing a hotel in Puebla is the location.
Many people prefer hotels in Puebla that are in a central location close to the historic center and main square. This is a great choice because it’s a walkable area, so it decreases the number of taxis or tours you’ll need to take.
Pro Tip: Once you’ve started creating your itinerary, you’ll have a better idea of your priorities to ensure you feel Puebla is worth visiting.
Our favorite place to stay is on the west side of the city, in the Angelopolis neighborhood. It’s near Parque del Arte and Parque de la Ninez. Both of these have walking paths and excellent playgrounds. If you’re like our family, you don’t follow a “constant go” type of pace.
In addition, the Puebla Ferris wheel is in Angelopolis. Plus, it has a lot of shopping and dining amenities nearby. The downside is that this area is outside the center so you’ll need your own car or to take Ubers everywhere you go.
Hint: Keep reading for more about the Ferris wheel!
Getting Around Puebla
Puebla is too big to really be walkable. And it isn’t big enough to have a subway system, like Mexico City. It does have a public bus system, called RUTA, but it only runs at limited times and in limited parts of the city.
In our experience, taxis are never your best bet in Mexico. We consistently get overcharged when we’ve tried to take them. Expats have told us this is the “gringo tax” so we try to avoid them whenever possible.
Don’t fret, though. Rideshare services are easily available. Puebla has Uber! And Didi!
Both rideshare services are safer and cheaper than taking taxis. You can take a rideshare car just about anywhere in Puebla city for less than 80 pesos (~$4 USD)!
👉 Even if you already have the Uber app on your phone, also download Didi as well. We prefer it for pricing and availability.
Once an Uber fare was surging to almost 200 pesos while the Didi fare was still only 70 pesos. During our trip to Merida, Didi had more drivers available as well.
Travel Tips for Parents
☑️ Leave your strollers at home.
The cobblestone streets in the historic center and the uneven sidewalks around the city are difficult to navigate. You’ll find Puebla much easier to navigate if you invest in a good baby carrier.
👉 I recommend the Tula Carrier for its durability and comfort. Plus it has different carriers that fit little ones from 7-60 pounds.
☑️ Don’t fit too many activities into your day.
Plan for downtime, either in the middle of the day or before dinner. Even though Little Man is beyond needing naps, we still tend to spend a little of every day on unstructured reading or playtime.
I’ve found that kids just seem to do better when traveling if they are able to do their own thing instead of sightseeing all day long.
☑️ Have sun protection handy.
Even in cooler weather, it’s important to have sunscreen. Because Puebla is at a higher altitude, you still need to shade yourself and your kiddos from the sun.
What is the Best Time to Visit Puebla?
Temperatures in Puebla are usually pretty pleasant as they are moderated by the altitude. Puebla is over 6,500 feet above sea level, so it rarely gets too hot there.
In addition, it can actually get a little chilly from evening through the early morning.
When we visited in January, it was cold enough for pants and heavier fall jackets. In March, we were only comfortable in shorts and t-shirts from late morning to early evening.
The dry season is from November to April. In the other half of the year, you’ll see rain more often, especially later in the afternoon.
Pro Tip: Be prepared for all weather by carrying both a light jacket and an umbrella.
10 Things to Do in Puebla with Kids
As the fourth largest city in Mexico, there are a lot of things to do with kids in Puebla. We’ve compiled the best activities for families, based on our exhaustive personal research over multiple visits.
We want you to agree that Puebla is worth visiting. So if we’ve missed a true gem, please contact us so we can add it!
1. Explore the Zocalo
The town square is called a zocalo in Mexico. Pronounced “Zoh-kah-lo,” it is the center of many activities in Mexican towns. Puebla is no different.
The zocalo main square offers a beautiful view of the Puebla Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Mexico!
You can also see one of the sets of rainbow Puebla letters, which are a great family photo opportunity, as well as some cool street art.
If you want to see all the best sights near the Zocalo, sign up for the free walking tour. This tour runs every day at 11 am and starts in the historic town square! The tour is free but is tip-based, so plan to give the guide a little something for their time.
👉 Another option to see all the main sights without walking everywhere is the hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
The bus tour is only $140 pesos (~$7USD) per person. For families with small children, this may be a better option so little legs don’t get too tired.
2. Go to Church
There are 365 churches in Puebla. One for every day of the year. Unless you move there, you’ll never get to see them all, especially with kids. My recommendation is to pick a couple to explore if you’re really into architecture.
Our top choice is the Capilla del Rosario (Chapel of the Rosary) because it is ALL gold! Little Man’s favorite color is gold, so stopping here was an easy sell for our family.
The opulent Capilla del Rosario (Chapel of the Rosary) is inside the Templo de Santo Domingo (Church of Saint Domingo) is a truly dazzling example of the New Spanish Baroque architectural style.
➡️ Location: 3 blocks from the Zócalo
➡️ Admission: Free
➡️ Note: Adults pay 20 pesos to enter the smaller side chapel with the most gold leaf work. Kids are free.
The church was built between 1571 and 1611. However, the chapel was added later, in 1690, to teach locals how to pray the rosary.
The chapel was once called the Eighth Wonder of the World because it is adorned with countless 24-carat gold leaves as well as stucco and onyx work.
3. Visit a Museum
There are several amazing museums in Puebla. However, kids (at least our kid) aren’t always excited about walking through endless rooms of artifacts enclosed in glass.
If you choose just one museum to see and ensure that you feel visiting Puebla is worth it, then the Museum of Mexican Railroads is really fun.
Officially called El Museo Nacional de Los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos, this super kid-friendly museum in Puebla is outdoors. It does not feel like a traditional museum at all. Kids can climb on and in the train cars to their hearts’ delight!
Pro Tip: During the dry season, go in the morning before it gets too hot.
Another interesting museum to consider is the Biblioteca Palafoxiana. This isn’t technically a museum, but it is the oldest library in Mexico.
It even has the original bookshelves from the 1700s. Little Man really enjoyed using my phone’s translate app to discover the titles of all the old books.
Note: If you want to feel Puebla is worth visiting, then avoid Museo Amparo.
We heard good things about Museo Amparo (or the Amparo Museum) from other travelers. It did have some cool stuff.
Unfortunately, we were treated really poorly by the security guards. And some of the art there has more mature themes that may not be appropriate for younger kids.
This was my least favorite museum we visited in all of Mexico, and I definitely don’t recommend it for families with kids under 13.
4. See Puebla City from Above
There are two “sky ride” options in Puebla: a Ferris wheel and a cable car. Both are fun but both offer a similar view.
In order to really feel like visiting Puebla is worth it, I only suggest visiting one of these spots because the views are very similar.
Unless you want to experience both for fun, you’d waste your time by standing in line for them if you just want to see a sky view of Puebla city.
➡️ Name: Estrella de Puebla (Star of Puebla)
➡️ Height: 263 feet tall
➡️ Ride Length: 20 minutes
➡️ Cost: 40 pesos (~$2 USD)
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it claims to be the largest portable observation wheel in the world.
Visitors ride in one of 54 gondolas and are treated to panoramic views of the city as well as both the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl volcanoes.
Pro Tip: Book a ride in one of the four luxury gondolas to enjoy glass floors and leather seats.
➡️ Name: Teleférico de Puebla (Cable Car of Puebla)
➡️ Height: 190 feet tall
➡️ Ride Distance: 2,250 feet long
➡️ Ride Length: 5 minutes one way
10 minutes round trip
➡️ Cost: 30 pesos one way (~$1.50 USD)
55 pesos round trip (~$3.75 USD)
The cable car has two boarding towers with elevators for a fast ascent. The ride takes approximately five minutes in one direction.
The cabins accommodate up to 22 passengers on each trip, but if you go early on a weekday you may get one to yourself. Like we did!
We took the Teleferico one way, as one entrance was near Fuerte Loreto and the other was near Fuerte Guadalupe.
Pro Tip: Purchasing photos is not mandatory at either attraction.
5. Learn About Cinco de Mayo
The forts of Guadalupe and Loreto (Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe) sit practically next to each other atop Acueyametepc hill in Puebla city. Contrary to what many Americans believe, most Mexicans don’t celebrate this date.
Fun Fact: May 5 is not Mexican Independence Day. That’s September 16. Cinco de Mayo is when the Mexican army defeated French forces in the battle of Puebla.
The Loreto and Guadalupe forts were originally built as chapels in the 16th century. However, both were fortified in the 1800s to protect the city during its independence movement.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy seeing the remains of the walls and cannons before wandering through the Museo de la No Intervención (Museum of Non-Intervention).
This museum showcases weapons, uniforms, documents, and oil paintings portraying the battle.
While you’re in the forts, consider visiting the Museum of the Evolution of Puebla, the Regional Museum of Puebla, and the Interactive Museum of the Battle of Cinco de Mayo!
The latter is the most interesting for younger kids since it’s interactive but older kids will likely enjoy all three. Plus, the western slope of the park offers an amazing view over the twin volcanoes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl, especially at sunset!
6. Attend a Talavera Workshop
Puebla is called the “City of Tiles,” after the unique pottery it produces. Talavera poblana (Talavera pottery) is hand-painted, tin-enameled earthenware.
It was first introduced to Puebla in the 16th century by colonizers from Talavera de la Reina, Spain. Today, Puebla city is one of the last few places on earth that produces authentic Talavera.
Seeing some of Puebla’s master artisans at work may encourage you and your kids to try your hand at designing a piece.
👉 Talavera Celia offers a kid-friendly workshop for 1,500 pesos per person, in which you can take home your custom-designed work after being taught by a certified Talavera artisan.
If a hands-on workshop isn’t in your budget, then check out Uriarte. They allow visitors to tour the workshop and watch the artisans at work.
It still gives you a good understanding of the expertise required to produce Talavera poblana, and it may inspire you to buy a piece to take home.
Certified Talavera pottery can be pricey. If you want to own the style but don’t care about certifications, you can find some amazing items for a quality price at the Parian Market.
7. Explore Los Sapos
Its official name is Callejon de los Sapos, and Los Sapos is known as the prettiest street in all of Puebla. In English, the name means “Alley of the Frogs.”
Several hundred years ago, there was a pond in this spot that was home to hundreds of frogs and toads.
Nowadays it’s highly popular with Instagrammers and is especially fun to explore on weekday mornings before the IG crowd shows up.
The area is filled with cute cafes, restaurants, high-end boutique hotels, and a lively nightlife scene.
We enjoyed having coffee and playing eye spy with Little Man before heading over to the Zocalo. Los Sapos gives uniquely European vibes mixed with a colorful Mexican flare.
Travel Tip: On Saturdays, there is a cute artisan and flea market set up all throughout the area!
8. Take Your Kid(s) to a Candy Store!
Also known as Sweet Street, Calle de Los Dulces is a place no one with kids should miss. It’s right in the city center on Avenida 6 Oriente and has a seemingly endless variety of stalls and sellers waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Each candy shop offers very similar choices. So don’t feel obligated to enter each store. We walked a bit until Little Man found a window that appealed to him, then wandered in for some fun!
Like Bertie’s Bots in Harry Potter, not all the candies will leave you with a smile on your face. Some are pretty strange tasting. We bought a gummy heart that said “Puebla” on top and tasted like roses.
However, the candies are all really affordable. Be adventurous and try a few!
Pro Tip: Ask the lady at the counter for her recommendations by saying, “Que recomiendas probar?“
9. Learn About Animals
The Aquario Michen Puebla opened its doors in December 2019. It provides great entertainment for young kids and families. The aquarium has over 20,000 animals including fish, turtles, snakes, stingrays, etc.
Tickets start at 199 pesos per person over 1 year old. The aquarium also offers bonus activities for an extra cost including trampolines, indoor zip-lining, and skating.
👉 This combination ticket for riding the hop-on, hop-off bus tour AND visiting the Puebla Aquarium.
Like the aquarium, Arboterra is a fantastic family attraction in Puebla that focuses on wildlife and forest conservation. It is located within the Parque Ecologico (which in itself is a fantastic park where to let kids run around and play).
Entry costs just 85 pesos for kids and 95 pesos for adults. The entrance fee includes a guided visit to this simulated tree where kids get to see and learn about birds and other aspects of nature.
10. Eat Mole Poblano
In addition to pottery, Puebla is known for its food. Mole is a Mexican sauce that originated in Puebla. It is usually brown or red. But there is also a green mole that’s pretty darn good as well!
Mole Poblano is a thick, rich sauce made with chilis, fruit, nuts, seeds, and Mexican chocolate. The dish definitely is savory rather than sweet.
If your kid is adventurous, they may want to try mole sauce during your visit. However, make sure you warn them that it won’t be a sweet dish.
We neglected to do that and Little Man was thoroughly disappointed that the chocolate salsa wasn’t sweet at all. Oops!
Amazing Day Trips from Puebla with Kids
Puebla is both a state and a city, which can get a bit confusing. There’s enough to do in Puebla city to enjoy in a long weekend.
However, if you’re staying longer or just want a bit more variety, there are several really great day trips to enjoy from Puebla city. The four trips listed here are all good choices for families to feel like Puebla is worth it.
Hiking Note: Unless you have older teens hiking a volcano isn’t a great option. Most hikes in the Puebla area are a better fit for seasoned hikers.
Cholula
Cholula is actually a suburb of Puebla city, so it’s a very easy day trip for families with younger kids. The great pyramid of Cholula is also known as Tlachihualtepetl and is the largest pyramid in the world.
Fun Fact: It’s so old that it’s mostly covered by grass and vegetation, so it looks more like a hill.
On the top of the pyramid is a church, Iglesia de la Virgen de Los Remedios. The walk from the bottom isn’t far but it is steep! It’s worth it to enjoy a great view of Cholula Centro and the Popocatepetl volcano.
After going to the top, don’t miss the tunnels at the bottom. It’s a great way to cool off while exploring tunnels that run throughout the pyramid’s interior.
Despite visiting many ruins before, we’ve never been able to walk around the tunnels inside of a temple. It’s a pretty unique experience!
The entrance fee to the tunnels is 75 pesos and this also includes your entrance to the outside ruin exhibit.
👉 If you take this tour, then you don’t even need to worry about navigating traffic between Puebla and Cholula!
Cholula’s Zocalo is within walking distance from the pyramid. It has a variety of places to eat, from Italian to typical Mexican. Wander around and enjoy this beautiful town before heading back to Puebla!
Val’Quirico
Would you believe that Mexico has a European-style countryside complete with trees, medieval architecture, and restaurants with international cuisine? Well, it’s true!
Val’Quirico is basically a representation of what a small Italian village may look like today. Imagine a clean town with two-story brick and stone houses as well as pedestrian-only cobbled streets and you’ll probably be spot on.
Val’Quirico can be toured on foot or by bike. We even saw a few golf carts but we couldn’t figure out where to rent them. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
Whether you want to eat in one of the restaurants or simply enjoy ice cream with the kiddos, it’s all possible there. If you eat at one of its restaurants, you can enjoy seafood, pasta, traditional Mexican food, and desserts.
In addition to wandering the cobblestone streets, there’s also a bird sanctuary, playground, Venetian carousel, and little pedal cars for kids. The carousel costs 80 pesos per person and the cars start at 200 pesos for 15 minutes to rent.
👉This Val’Quirico tour includes a lavender farm visit!
Pueblo Magicos
There are over 100 Pueblo Magicos (magical towns) in Mexico. These are small towns throughout the country that have unique features attractive to visitors.
Atlixco, Xicotepec, Cuetzalan, Zacatlan, and Chignahuapan are all popular Pueblo Magicos for day trips further afield from Puebla.
If you’re planning to visit a Pueblo Magico that’s further away, like Xicotepec or Chignahuapan, definitely consider booking a tour.
After driving in the country for several months straight, we can attest that driving in Mexico isn’t for the faint-hearted.
👉 This tour includes visits to both Cholula and Atlixco and is great for people who don’t want to travel too far afield from Puebla.
Seeing at least one Pueblo Magico will make you feel like visiting Puebla is worth it.
Full Disclosure: We haven’t personally had time to see all of them. Yet!
However, we made it a priority to visit Chignahuapan at Little Man’s request. We try to get him involved in travel planning whenever possible.
Chignahuapan is a magical town that is a two-hour drive from Puebla. It’s known for its sulfur hot springs. It also has the largest Christmas ornament factory in Mexico.
Fun Fact: Every day at 2 pm the factory offers a free tour!
While these are great reasons to go here and they make you feel that visiting Puebla is worth it, they aren’t why we visited. They are really fun, though!
Chignahuapan is also home to Casa del Axolte (House of the Axolotl). This sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and reproduction of axolotls. There are over 100 specimens there.
Any kid who plays Minecraft is likely obsessed with these cute little salamanders. Little Man sure is.
He was over the moon that they even let him feed some of the axolotls! We all enjoyed our visit to Chignahuapan for a variety of reasons. There’s so much to do there that we could easily have spent a couple of days exploring.
👉 This tour combines visits to Zacatlan and Chignahuapan. It’s perfect for families who want to see axolotls as Little Man did!
Ex-Hacienda de Chautla
This extensive former farming estate was built in the 1700s. Its 60 hectares of land has a lake, castle-like mansion, walking trails, and a forest area.
The grounds and buildings have been restored since 2014, and it is now a public park run by the government.
It only costs $40 pesos (~$2 USD) to enter per person, and it’s a great place to let your kiddos stretch their legs and explore outdoors for a while.
In recent years, the government has installed some fun nature activities for people to enjoy. These include zip lining, pedal boats, and canoeing.
Little Man’s favorites are the pedal boats because he doesn’t have to do as much work. Remembering my experiences on pedal boats as a kid, I can’t say that I blame him. They are pretty fun!
👉 This tour includes a visit to Val’Quirico as well as a tour of a nearby lavender farm, where you can try your hand at making soap.
It’s a great hands-on activity for kids. Plus, you can visit multiple cool, historic places in a single-day excursion! Considering that you don’t have to drive to any of these places on your own, the tour is definitely worthwhile.
Pro Tip: If you have some extra time after Puebla, check out Grutas Tolantongo or Oaxaca!
So Is Puebla Worth Visiting?
Yes! Our family has visited Puebla twice and enjoyed it both times. Even after spending a month in Mexico City, we still feel that visiting Puebla is worth it.
There are so many family-friendly activities there that it may take more than a week to get through all the things to do in Puebla.
But don’t worry! If you don’t get through everything on your list, that’s just a great reason to return and continue exploring more.
We haven’t even finished exploring this amazing town yet. Every time we’ve visited, the weather has been too cool to swim at Balneario Agua Azul.
Someday we’ll make it there for a pool day, though! At 85 pesos for adults and 65 pesos for kids, it’s a steal for everything they offer with the entry ticket!
