PLACES TO VISIT IN PUEBLA

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Day 4: Places to visit in Puebla from Mexico City

Today begins a little earlier than the previous days, in which we went to the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the first day of this trip to Mexico in 45 days, in which we enjoyed several of the things to do in the City from Mexico and today is a special day in which we have what to visit in Puebla some of its most impressive and important places in this well-known city.
As we want to leave soon, we decided to discard today the incredible breakfast of the Zócalo Central hotel, our accommodation in Mexico City and when it is 7 am we ask for an UBER, to take us to the TAPO Station, from where the ADO buses leave to Puebla

Dawn in the Zocalo

How to get from Mexico City to Puebla

- Although there are a variety of companies how to get from Mexico City to Puebla, we recommend ADO, one of the safest and most comfortable.
- The best station to catch the bus is the TAPO Station. To get there from the city center, the fastest way is to take an UBER, which for approximately 3 euros, will leave you there.
- You have to take into account that from the Central Station of Mexico City buses also leave for Puebla, but you will have to cross part of the city to face the road to Puebla, so your trip will last practically 45 minutes more depending on the traffic.
- Once at the station, you must follow the indications and once you access the terminal, turn right where you will find the ADO ticket offices.
- ADO has Mexico City to Puebla buses practically every 20-30 minutes so you will not have problems or need to book early. Although if your trip is going to be one day, we advise you to leave first thing in the morning, since the trip is about 2:30 hours.
- Although ADO has online sales service, they do not accept foreign cards. But they do have a ticket reservation system, with which you secure the place, although you must be at the ticket office two hours before to confirm them, if you do not lose them or days before going to any of the ADO ticket offices and confirm the ticket at the time of payment.
- Being the route from Mexico City to Puebla a journey with multiple schedules, we recommend you to take the tickets directly there, both in the outbound and in the back in Puebla.
- The price of the tickets varies according to the hour, although it is usually between 180 and 220 pesos per person and route.
- The exit of ADO buses to Puebla is through hall 1, at TAPO Station.
- The buses are first class, very comfortable and direct from Mexico City to Puebla.

Once with our tickets in hand to go to Puebla from Mexico City For 198 pesos per way and person, we approached a bakery of the TAPO Station to buy a couple of pastries and a couple of coffees for 70 pesos with which we replaced the hotel's breakfast today.
And so, on time when it is 7:30 in the morning, we pass the ADO security check, in which we review the documentation, the ticket and the backpacks, stop at 7:40 to leave from Mexico City to Puebla.
We use the two hours of the journey to review the itinerary of the places to visit in Puebla that we have for today, in addition to reviewing the itinerary of the trip to Mexico for free for the next few days, which although it has just begun, we are enjoying so much.

We arrive at Puebla CAPU station When it's 9:40 in the morning, perfect time to start discovering the city, going straight to the Safe Taxi area, where we ask for a taxi to the center of Puebla, to the Zocalo, for 74 pesos.

How to go from CAPU station to downtown Puebla

The bus from Mexico City to Puebla leaves you at the CAPU station in Puebla, just outside the city.
From here you have several options to go to the center of Puebla, although we recommend you safe taxis or UBER, the latter with some problems if you have to take them directly at the bus stations, since lately they have problems with taxi drivers.

- Safe taxis: In the same CAPU Station you only have to go to the ticket office, say the destination and after paying leave the station and deliver the ticket to the first taxi. We pay 77 pesos for the journey of about 15-20 minutes.
- Bus: If you cross to the opposite side of the station, you will find bus 44 of white and yellow color, which reaches the center of Puebla.
- Minivan: Leaving the station you can take a minivan that takes you 10 pesos to the center of Puebla.
- To return to the CAPU Station from the historic center of Puebla, you can call the phone number that appears on the safe taxi ticket and they will send you a taxi, although it has to coincide that at that time they have available in the area in the that you find

A few minutes past 10 in the morning, when we planted in the Zocalo, the nerve center of the city and from where we will start the itinerary of places to visit in Puebla We have prepared.
The first thing we do, before starting the visits, is to approach the Tourist Office, located on Portal Hidalgo 14, just behind the Cathedral, where we ask for information on places to visit in Puebla and that they are recommended in just one day, in addition to checking with them that the visit to the Pyramid of Cholula, if you go for free, combined with Puebla, is quite fair in time, so we prefer to focus only on the city and leave for The next time this visit to the largest pyramid in Mexico. A good option, if you want to make this combination, is to book this tour to Puebla and Cholula from Mexico City, which includes both places and that, being organized, allows you to see both places with much more tranquility.

More practical information to prepare your trip to Mexico City
- 10 essential places to see in Mexico City
- The 5 best tours and excursions in Mexico City
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Mexico
- Best travel insurance for Mexico
- Security in Mexico

In addition to this we ask several questions, including the topic of security in Puebla, since it is one of the cities on which we have been notified, so that we travel it with some care. Before our consultations, they tell us that the Historic Center area and the whole area around the Zocalo, in principle there is no problem to walk quietly on foot and even to take a camera. Although they do warn us to be careful on Avenida 5 de Mayo, where they no longer recommend us to go with a camera in sight or mobile in hand, although of course we do to walk and go to the Chapel of the Rosary, one of the places to visit in Puebla more essential
Going forward at the end of today, we can already tell you that we have felt totally safe in all the places we have visited in the city, including Avenida 5 de Mayo, where we have walked with total tranquility, since it is one of the arteries Main of Puebla. The truth is that this makes us doubt, again, of the real veracity of the opinions or comments made to us. Of course, as we know and as we will surely repeat in countless times on this trip, in Mexico things happen and many of them very unpleasant, but normally it is not something that we see tourists or actions that are done against travelers. That is why we believe that traveling with common sense, as you would do anywhere else, you should not have any problem.
A good option for a first day and to know the history of the city is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish or this free tour of Puebla Free !.

With our map in hand, all the recommendations they have given us and taking into account that we have had something quick breakfast and in a somewhat unpredictable way, we approach, before starting the itinerary of the places to visit in Puebla, to a cafeteria in the Zocalo where we take the opportunity to have a good coffee, which charges us with energy and also seizes the moment to start planning the route tomorrow in Mexico City that is very exciting, since two very friendly friends will accompany us Specials in the tour.

After this technical stop, we walk around the Zócalo square and go straight to visit the Cathedral, one of the most iconic and symbolic places in this incredible city.

What to visit in Puebla

Plinth

Converted into the main square of Puebla, the Zocalo is currently the place where countless inhabitants meet to spend some time of the day under the shade of the trees, surrounded by an environment in which sellers and animators are not lacking, that make this corner, one of the liveliest in the city, we could say, part of any route in Puebla.

Plinth. What to visit in Puebla

Cathedral

The beautiful Cathedral of Puebla is one of the most beautiful places in the city and also one of those that you cannot miss. Next to the Zocalo, this is the location that can currently be seen on the 500 peso bill.
With towers of almost 70 meters and the unique red color of the body of the Catdral, the visit includes a tour of some of the most beautiful chapels in the area. Although there are usually guides at the door, which help you to know the history, most points of interest have posters where you can read the history and curiosities.

Puebla Cathedral

After this visit we enter the streets of the historic center of Puebla, which we have to say, they begin to fall in love as soon as they arrive and it is that in them we can enjoy the color that we have so present when we think of Mexico and that makes us begin to value and Think about everything we have left to see on this trip to Mexico for free, which we can practically say that we have just begun.
The next stop on this route through the essential places to see in Puebla It is in the House of Culture, to visit its incredible Palafoxiana Library, which is on the top floor of the building.

House of Culture Palafoxiana Library

The schedule of the House of Culture is from 10 in the morning to 8 in the afternoon and is located in what used to be the bishop's house and that currently, in addition to the House of Culture, houses the Government's offices and the Tourist Office, in addition to the Palafoxiana Library at the top.

House of Culture

Palafoxiana Library

Considered by many as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Palafoxiana Library is one of the places to visit in Puebla that you can't miss In addition to its beauty, it is also known for being the first public library in the Americas, in addition to having among its more than 1000 copies, the Nuremberg Chronicles of 1493.
The schedule is from 10 to 5 in the afternoon and the entrance fee of 25 pesos per person.

Palafoxiana Library

Although by its dimensions we could say that it is quite small compared to others that we have known in our trips, after spending here practically 45 minutes, we could say that the Palafoxiana Library is included among the 10 most beautiful in the world. It is simply spectacular, in addition to preserving as none that characteristic smell of libraries that permeates the entire room, giving a really special atmosphere.

The next stop in Puebla takes us to the Temple of Santo Domingo, which houses the well-known Chapel of the Rosary and to which we have to go through the Acenida May 5, which is what we have been told in the Tourist Office, Let us be careful when touring it. With this idea in mind, the first thing we do when leaving the Palafoxiana Library is to keep the camera and as they say it is better to prevent than cure, and although so far the truth is that we have not felt any moment of insecurity, also We keep our cell phones to avoid any unpleasant surprises, which, as we mentioned earlier, we believe would not have been necessary, since it is a very busy and lively avenue.

Streets of Puebla

Santo Domingo Temple Chapel of the Rosary

This incredible church, located in the historic center of Puebla is famous for housing the Chapel of the Rosary, one of the most incredible and beautiful chapels in the world, which is also covered with gold.

Santo Domingo Temple

Admission to both the temple and the chapel is free. We recommend you to take the visit with tranquility, since the Chapel of the Rosary if you need something, it is time to be able to enjoy all the details that can be seen up close.

Chapel of the Rosary

Without a doubt, after the visit we can say that it is impressive. And we don't just say it, we also proclaim it a guide that we find inside, which even says that it is considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world.

Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish from Puebla by travelers:
- Excursion to Cholula
- Guided tour of Puebla
- Puebla Food Tour
- Tour through the Amparo Museum and the Palafoxiana Library
- Excursion to Zacatlán and Chignahuapan
- Many more excursions and tours in / from Puebla here

And here we want to make a small subsection, going back to what has been said before and that refers to the security warning that we have made in the Tourist Office. After having traveled the avenue May 5, we have to say that we have not felt that feeling of insecurity at all, if not quite the opposite.
Although we may be mistaken, we have found one of the arteries of the city, such as the Ramblas in Barcelona, of course saving the distances, in which there is the probability of a robbery, but not as to cross out the street of insecurity. Although that said, we also understand that they warn travelers so that we go with caution and warned about what can happen.

From here we continue the visit to the places to see in Puebla, traveling along Avenida 6 Oriente or Santa Clara Street, one of the best-known streets in Puebla, known for its patisseries, where we cannot resist buying a box of sweet potatoes and a drunkard, which although good, we have to confess, are too Sweets for our palates.

Puebla

Santa Clara Street. 6 East Avenue

This famous street of Puebla is the perfect place to buy the typical sweets of the city, among which are sweet potatoes and drunkards, which we bought for 50 pesos two boxes.
In addition to the countless patisseries and shops, this street is the ideal place to get an idea of the more traditional Puebla where a local atmosphere is mixed that makes it a delight to walk aimlessly, just letting yourself be carried away by the sweet smell of cakes and The color of the streets.

Santa Clara Street

Puebla sweets

From here we continue to reach the Church of San Francisco, to see ourselves only from the outside, to retrace our steps and approach the Main Theater, with an incredible color, in which we take the opportunity to make a technical stop on this morning's tour and so enjoy a rest time in one of the banks of the square.

San Francisco Temple

A few meters from the Parián Market, is this beautiful church, which highlights its towers and its beautiful facade of the tiles and bricks that in addition to striking, make it unique for its decoration.

San Francisco Temple

Main Theater

Even if it is only to see its exterior, it is very worthwhile to come here, since in addition to its spectacular yellow color, the Main Theater has a silhouette that will inevitably remind us of the Magic Town of Izamal.

Main Theater

In addition, in the front is a beautiful square, in which right next to a fountain, there are the characteristic colored letters that adorn most Mexican towns and cities.

Puebla

Being here we decided that the time has come to enter the well-known Mercado El Parián, where we get lost for almost an hour entering many shops and local craft stalls, some of less quality than others, among which we find the one that will be the first I remember this trip that will come with us.

El Parián handicraft market

Very close to the San Francisco Temple is the El Parián Handicraft Market, one of the places to visit in Puebla that you can not miss, whether you want to buy or not, and this is one of the best places to understand a little of the local crafts of this area of Mexico, in addition to wrapping yourself in pieces made with a palette of incredible colors.

El Parián handicraft market

Something to keep in mind is that the El Parián Handicraft Market is not a covered market, but is a market in which the stalls are located in different streets, all adjacent, through which you can move walking.

Seeing that we still have a little time to eat, we take advantage of the time and location to get closer to the Artists' Quarter, a beautiful oasis in the city where art is the main protagonist, as the name indicates.

Artists Quarter

This beautiful space that is located in the area of Plazuela del Torno or Factor, is the place where you can find the most artistic part of the city of Puebla, where you can see how artists work their work directly in their workshops , exposing it later inside the premises or outside.
In addition, today you can see many restaurants and cafes, which have given a very special air to the area, known at the moment for being the bohemian place from the city.

Artist's Neighborhood

Artist's Neighborhood Store

It is two in the afternoon when our stomach reminds us that the time has come to eat, so after reviewing, as we usually do on our Trip Advisor trips, we decided to approach Casareyna, considered the best restaurant in Puebla, where we asked how we could not be otherwise some poblano chalupas, a mole of the grandmother and a tuna of the king plus beer, agus and two coffees for 800 pesos with which we take, we could say, the best of poblano gastronomy. If you want to enjoy all the typical dishes of this area you can book this gastronomic tour.

Grandmother's mole. Casareyna

After lunch we go back into the Artist's Quarter, an oasis of art in the city, to travel it now with more tranquility, dedicating a few minutes to each showcase, which we have to say, are a temptation for those who like this type of local crafts

Artist's Neighborhood

And from here and when we see that the day begins to come to an end

Plazuela of the Toads

In this area of the Artist's Quarter, we find the Plazuela de los Sapos and the Callejón de los Sapos, two places where most of the antique dealers in Puebla are concentrated and where on Saturday and Sunday a market takes place from 11 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

Toad Alley

It is 4:30 in the afternoon when we call the CAPU safe taxi service to return to the station, but they tell us that they currently do not have any available, so we use the UBER application, which for 77 pesos It takes us directly to the CAPU station in Puebla, where we go directly to the ADO ticket offices and get 2 tickets to the TAPO station in Mexico City for 203 pesos per person.

This tour of the city of Puebla takes us to know some of its most tourist and important points such as the Zocalo, the Cathedral, the House of Culture and the Palafoxiana Library,
- Santo Domingo Temple, Santa Clara Street, San Francisco Temple, El Parián Handicraft Market, the Artist's Quarter and the Callejón de los Sapos.

And so, on time, when it is 5 p.m. we leave for Mexico City, after an incredible day in Puebla, a city that has left us with an incredible taste and to which we are sure, we will return when we return to Mexico.
We arrive in Mexico City when it is practically 8 pm and it is that at this time the traffic is quite impossible, so intuiting that the safe taxi of the TAPO Station, will be a faster option than not UBER, we go to the box office where for 120 pesos we go to the back of the station to wait in line and wait for our taxi.
1 hour later we arrive at the Zócalo Central hotel, where we take a shower before going up to the terrace, where in addition to having incredible and unique views of the Zócalo, another of the most recommended restaurants in Mexico City, the Balcón del Plinth.

Zócalo views from the Balcón del Zócalo restaurant

We ordered a guacamole at the table, some octopus toasts, a chubby duck confit plus water and beer for 895 pesos that give us, without a doubt, the best way to finish one of the most complete days since we arrived in Mexico and with which we retired to our room to rest and wait for tomorrow to come, which we know, will be one of the most special of this trip.