Most people visiting both Mexico City and Puebla spend about 8 to 11 days in Mexico, which usually includes some time in Oaxaca as well. For travelers wanting to visit Mexico City and Puebla exclusively, plan six to eight days for a well-paced trip. Even travelers with limited time can see the highlights in as few as five days. For the best itineraries, including Mexico City and Puebla, keep reading below.
This food-focused itinerary takes you to central Mexico for a week of vibrant flavors and rich culinary traditions. Start in the capital to snack on scorpions and street food in the Mercado de San Juan and marvel at Aztec farming techniques in the floating gardens of Xochimilco. After some sightseeing at the pyramids of Teotihuacan, it's on to Puebla, where you'll learn to make tortillas and mole poblano like a local.
Nine days is the perfect amount of time to experience the highlights of Mexico City, from its Spanish-colonial landmarks to its artistic enclaves to its neighborhoods filled with delectable street food. You'll also visit neighboring Puebla. Like Mexico City, it has a long and storied colonial history plus a rich indigenous culture that reveals itself in the food and artisanal crafts for which the region is deservedly famous.
This nine-day itinerary takes you off-the-beaten path to discover the local cuisine and indigenous heritage of three distinct Mexican regions. Start in Mexico City with a gastronomic tour of the Aztec capital and a boat ride through the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Transfer to the mountains of Hidalgo to try your hand at mushroom picking and traditional weaving alongside the locals, then head to Puebla to stroll its flavorful markets and master the art of handmade tortillas.
For most travelers, 8 to 11 days is the perfect amount of time for a Mexico trip, with stops in Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. If you don't mind a fast-paced journey, you can see the highlights of this route in less time—as few as five to seven days. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop or explore more of the country—some of our favorite itinerary extensions include Yucatán Peninsula, Latuvi, or Acaxochitlán. See more ideas for Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca itineraries below.
This food and culture-focused itinerary takes you to central Mexico for a week of rich culinary and cultural traditions. It all starts in Mexico City, where you'll savor mouthwatering street food and take a floating tour of the historic canals of Xochimilco. See the Valley of Teotihuacán's "City of the Gods" via bicycle, then continue to Puebla, exploring its neighborhoods and ancient architecture and learning to make tortillas and mole poblano like a local.
Kids of all ages will be fascinated by the sights, sounds, and flavors of central and southwestern Mexico. This 10-day family-friendly itinerary starts in Mexico City and travels down to Oaxaca City, passing many cultural and geological highlights along the way. Learn about Aztec culture at Teotihuacán, stargaze and find fossilized sea creatures in the desert, and take every opportunity to sample local cuisine, like quesillos and empanadas.
As any parent knows, kids tend to have big appetites. Satisfy perpetually empty bellies and curious tastebuds on a 10-day food-focused tour of Mexico. Starting in Mexico City and ending in Oaxaca, you'll enjoy a range of culinary activities along the way—as well as physical activity to earn that next meal. Visit a taco night market in Mexico City, cycle through an Aztec archeological site, try your hand at making Indigenous food in Oaxaca, hike through cactus-filled deserts and mountains, and more.
Revel in Mexico's hidden corners with this 10-day insider's tour. In Mexico City, hunt down the best murals, cruise down ancient canals, and learn to cook traditional food. Bike through the Teotihuacán pyramids on your way to colorful Puebla, where you'll walk its historic streets and visit nearby Cholula. Transfer to the remote Cuetzalan to explore the mountainous nature and surrounding coffee plantations, then return to the capital for the Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexican wrestling, and a mezcal tasting.
Experience 10 days of archaeological treasures and authentic cuisine in Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Especially appealing for history buffs and foodies, this itinerary blends the culinary and cultural highlights. See the bustling metropolis of Mexico City, Teotihuacán's majestic pyramids, Puebla's charming streets, and Oaxaca's rich landscapes as you savor mouthwatering tacos, indulge in mezcal under starlit skies, and uncover pre-Hispanic cultures in world-renowned museums.
This 10-day tour showcases Mexico's top cultural excursions, archaeological sites, and natural wonders. Start in Mexico City, where you'll stroll through picturesque neighborhoods, try regional cuisine, and visit the country's most important museums. Then, you're off to Puebla to learn the art of Talavera pottery and catch a glimpse of Mexico's highest mountain. You'll also swim in cenotes in Valladolid, visit the ancient city of Chichén Itzá, and end with beach time and snorkeling in Puerto Morelos.
Discover authentic Mexican cuisine, from exotic markets and fine restaurants to street food vendors and Indigenous farms. This culinary itinerary is designed for the traveler passionate about learning the history and culture of Mexcian gastronomy. You will try traditional dishes from different regions of Mexico and participate in cooking workshops, all the while exploring the cultural highlights of Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca.
Indulge your appetite on this two-week, food-focused tour of Mexico. Hop around the capital as you discover authentic cuisine at marketplaces, family-run restaurants, and street food stands. Then make your way to Oaxaca, stopping to enjoy a walking food tour in Puebla followed by traditional cooking classes and visits to Indigenous farms in the highlands. There's plenty of culture on this adventure, too, including boat rides in Xochimilco and a stop at the National Anthropology Museum, among other highlights.
Jam-packed with fun, fascinating excursions, this 12-day itinerary is the perfect introduction to Mexico for the whole family. Starting in the capital, you'll cheer on your favorite wrestlers at a live Lucha Libre show, then go for a kid-friendly food tour through the colorful city streets. After exploring the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco, it's time to make your way south toward Oaxaca—stopping en route to see the pyramids of Teotihuacan by hot air balloon and walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs at the Tehuacán Biosphere Reserve.
On this food-focused tour, you'll discover authentic Mexican cuisine at marketplaces, family-run restaurants, street food stands, and Indigenous farms. The itinerary isn't only about food, though: the schedule features visits to archaeological sites and other places of interest, including the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the colonial city of Puebla.
Southern Mexico's rich artisan culture comes alive on this immersive weeklong itinerary. See the talavera tiles and colonial architecture of Puebla, then take a road trip south to Oaxaca to master the art of mezcal making and discover pre-Hispanic history at Monte Albán. Along the way, get up close and personal with traditional Mexican craftsmanship as you visit handicraft workshops, meet local weavers, potters, and painters, and try your hand at wood carving and alebrije painting.
Mexico will seem like a magical land to imaginative kids; with ancient cities, active volcanoes, colorful crafts, and beautiful beaches, there's plenty to keep all ages interested. This two-week itinerary starts in Mexico City and has you traveling southeast through Puebla and Oaxaca to the paradise of Huatulco on the Pacific Coast—taking in a variety of cultural and natural wonders along the way. Both kids and parents will enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of this beautiful and fascinating part of Mexico.
Explore the best of Mexico's history, culture, and gastronomy on this 15-day tour. Start in Mexico City, where you'll stroll the Centro Histórico and cruise the canals of Xochimilco in traditional boats. Then, you're off to the colorful town of Guanajuato, home to the 17th-century Basilica of Guanajuato Cathedral. See the colonial architecture of San Miguel de Allende, learn to make mole in Puebla, and end with a mezcal tasting and guided biking excursion through the art-filled streets of Oaxaca.
On this fascinating nine-day trip to Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca, you will discover traditional dishes from different regions of the country, participate in cooking workshops, and tour numerous urban and rural attractions, from archaeological sites to the country's best museums—all while meeting friendly locals along the way.
Experience 18 days of cultural tours and outdoor adventures that help support local communities and conservation, focusing on heritage and food as you enjoy culinary tours of Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Chiapas while visiting historical sites and meeting locals. You'll also embark on cycling tours, try surfing, take boat trips, and visit ancient Maya archaeological sites like Palenque.
This exciting Mexican road trip covers a whopping number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites—perfect for culture enthusiasts. Starting in Mexico City, you'll visit historic colonial towns, architectural sites, nature parks, and gorgeous interiors while making your way to both coasts with free time each evening to explore markets, restaurants, and art galleries on your own. This two-week itinerary is best suited for those who like to be on the move (a private driver and transfers are included).
Get to the heart of historic Mexico on walking tours of the nation's capital, Cholula, and Oaxaca. In Mexico City, you'll visit the most artistic and colorful neighborhoods, like Coyoacán and Xochimilco, plus take a bike tour of the ruins at Teotihuacán. Then head south to Cholula and Oaxaca, two cities whose awe-inspiring Spanish-colonial landmarks are matched only by their rich indigenous heritage.
