La Crème de la Crème

Add Puebla to your trip to central Mexico to take in its striking architecture. It's home to over 70 churches in the historic centre, and that’s before you’ve got to the colonial-era buildings that make up the core of the city. Puebla is also known for Calle de los Dulces, a full street market selling sweets and other treats. In the surrounding area, you can discover the world's largest known pyramid and the active volcano, Popocatépetl.

Get closer to the city's history in a boutique Puebla hostel with wrought-iron bunk beds or one in a well-preserved 19th-century building. For photo-worthy sights, you can stay in a hostel with a rooftop terrace that looks out over the cathedral. Wake up to a mug of fresh coffee at a hostel with a café or save some pesos at a place that serves a free breakfast. Puebla hostels with free Wi-Fi mean you can catch up with friends back home or have a movie night in. 

In downtown Puebla, there are plenty of beautiful colonial churches as well as the busy main square Zócalo, where street vendors and performers will keep you entertained. Head into the Xanenetla neighbourhood for a younger crowd and art scene; check out the murals and street art all around you. Just outside of town you’ll find the city of Cholula. Known as the Rome of Anáhuac, Cholula is home to a 3,500 year-old pyramid, which is thought to be the largest in the world.

A visit to Puebla isn’t complete without seeing the city’s cathedral, which towers over the main square. Hungry for a local speciality? The city is famous for its flavour-packed mole poblano sauce. For art, go to the Museo Amparo for pre-Hispanic and modern Mexican pieces. If you’re looking for trinkets, explore the Alley of Frogs, a street filled with antique and handicraft shops. Just outside of the city, you'll find Iztaccíhuatl, one of the twin volcanoes surrounding Puebla. You can hike up it on the intermediate or advanced trails for spectacular views. 

Puebla International Airport is 40 minutes outside of the city by taxi. ADO and Estrella Roja buses from Mexico City and beyond run regularly to and from the CAPU (Centro de Autobuses Puebla). Within the city, you can travel like a local in a colectivo, shared minivan services without fixed stops that can be hailed on corners (look out for the route painted in the windscreen).