Cidade Turismo
Mexico
Puebla and Cholula

Puebla · Mexico

Puebla and Cholula

The city of talavera tiles and mole poblano, the great pyramid of Cholula crowned by a church, the indigenous baroque churches and Atlixco, the city of flowers, at the foot of Popocatépetl.

Centro do México (arredores da capital)

In the photo: Great Pyramid of Cholula and Sanctuary of the Remedies

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Puebla lies in a high valley about 130 km east of Mexico City, between the volcanoes Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl and La Malinche. Founded in 1531 by the Spanish, it has one of the richest historic centers in the country, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, with the cathedral, the Chapel of the Rosary, the Palafoxiana Library and facades covered with talavera tiles.

Puebla cuisine is among Mexico’s best known: mole poblano, a dark sauce of chiles, spices and chocolate; chiles en nogada, served between August and September in the colors of the flag; and sweets from the old convents sold on the street of sweets.

About 10 km away, Cholula has the largest pyramid in the world by volume, today covered with earth and crowned by the Sanctuary of the Remedies, with tunnels running through its interior. In nearby villages, Tonantzintla and Acatepec, the churches show the baroque made by indigenous craftsmen.

Atlixco, closer to Popocatépetl, is a city of flower nurseries, with a hill crowned by a chapel. The volcano is active and cannot be climbed; it is seen from afar on clear days.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Puebla, San Pedro Cholula, Atlixco.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Puebla and Cholula is
AtlixcoPueblaSan Pedro Cholula

Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Puebla and Cholula

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán (PBC), in Huejotzingo · 22 km to Puebla

Confirm before buying. Puebla airport (PBC) is in Huejotzingo, about 22 km from the city; most visitors arrive via Mexico City, about two hours by bus, with departures from the capital’s airport.

Suggested arrival point: Puebla

The local experience

Things to do in Puebla and Cholula

Catedral de Puebla
Puebla · Puebla · Cathedral

Catedral de Puebla

Renaissance cathedral from 1649 with some of the tallest towers in Mexico, facing the zócalo of the historic center.

Cerro de San Miguel
Atlixco · Puebla · Viewpoint

Cerro de San Miguel

Hill in the center of Atlixco, with a staircase, the chapel of San Miguel at the top and a view of Popocatépetl.

Gran Pirámide de Cholula e Santuario de los Remedios
San Pedro Cholula · Puebla · Archaeological site and sanctuary

Gran Pirámide de Cholula e Santuario de los Remedios

The largest pyramid in the world by volume, covered with earth, with tunnels inside and a colonial church on top.

Capilla del Rosario
Puebla · Puebla · Chapel

Capilla del Rosario

Baroque chapel from 1690 inside the church of Santo Domingo, entirely covered with gold leaf, stucco and talavera.

See 6 more places in Puebla and Cholula
Convento de San Gabriel e Capilla Real
San Pedro Cholula · Puebla · Convent

Convento de San Gabriel e Capilla Real

16th-century Franciscan convent on Cholula's zócalo, with the Capilla Real of 49 domes, inspired by the Mosque of Córdoba.

Biblioteca Palafoxiana
Puebla · Puebla · Historic library

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

Public library founded in 1646, considered the first in the Americas, with three-tier cedar shelves and more than 40,000 old volumes.

Templo de Santa María Tonantzintla
San Pedro Cholula · Puebla · Church

Templo de Santa María Tonantzintla

Church of indigenous baroque, with the interior covered in figures of angels, fruits and flowers in gilded and polychrome stucco made by local craftsmen.

Callejón de los Sapos e Barrio del Artista
Puebla · Puebla · Neighborhood

Callejón de los Sapos e Barrio del Artista

Streets of colorful mansions with antique shops and a flea market on Sundays, and the neighborhood where artists paint and sell their works.

Museo Amparo
Puebla · Puebla · Museum

Museo Amparo

Art museum in a downtown mansion, with a collection of pre-Hispanic pieces, colonial and contemporary art, and a terrace with a view.

Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe
Puebla · Puebla · Fortresses and museum

Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe

The two forts on the hill where the Mexican army defeated the French on May 5, 1862, now museums in a park.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

October to May is the dry season, with sunny days and cold nights due to the roughly 2,100 meters of elevation; on clear winter days the volcanoes appear snow-capped. From June to September it rains in the afternoons. August and September are the season for chiles en nogada, and on May 5 the city celebrates the battle of 1862.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow two in Puebla and one in Cholula, including the churches of Tonantzintla and Acatepec. With four days you can add Atlixco.

Which city to stay in

In Puebla’s historic center, hotels in old houses put the cathedral, the library and the artists’ quarter within walking distance. Cholula has inns near the pyramid and the convent, quieter, about 20 minutes from Puebla.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Puebla and Cholula

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