Veracruz

No reviews yetCity Veracruz, Mexico

San Juan de Ulúa guarded the port from pirates from the 16th century, Veracruz, Veracruz

Baluarte de Santiago is the last standing part of the old city wall, Veracruz, Veracruz

The Acuario de Veracruz is among the largest aquariums in Latin America, Veracruz

The Veracruz Reef System lies close offshore from the port, Veracruz

About Veracruz

Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the oldest cities founded by the Spanish in the Americas and was for centuries the country's main port. Its history includes pirate raids, foreign invasions and constant trade, which shaped a lively, outdoor culture blending Spanish, African and indigenous influences. Music, especially son jarocho and danzón, is central to local life.

The island fortress of San Juan de Ulúa guards the harbor and served as a prison and military stronghold over the centuries. In the center, the Zócalo and Los Portales are lined with cafés, where locals linger over coffee and live music. The Baluarte de Santiago is the last remaining bastion of the old city walls, while the Museo de la Ciudad and the Museo Naval explore local and maritime history. The Malecón runs along the waterfront past the Faro Venustiano Carranza. The Casa Museo de Agustín Lara honors the beloved songwriter, and the Centro Cultural Atarazanas occupies an old colonial armory. Families visit the large Acuario de Veracruz.

History, music and coastal food are the real reasons to come, rather than pristine beaches. The Veracruz Reef System National Park offers diving and snorkeling, and Playa Villa del Mar is the most accessible city beach. Carnival, before Lent, is the busiest time of year.

Best seasonNovember through April for drier weather; strong northern winds called nortes occur in winter.

Ideal stayTwo to three days covers the fortress, historic center and waterfront.

ArrivingGeneral Heriberto Jara International Airport serves the city, and buses connect it with Mexico City.

WiserMap travel guideVeracruz Mexico San Juan de Ulúa Malecón and Danzón NightsExplore Veracruz, Mexico: San Juan de Ulúa fortress, the Zócalo and Malecón, the aquarium, reef diving, danzón nights, seafood and coffee on the Gulf coast.Read the guide

12 Best Things to Do in Veracruz

History 2

San Juan de Ulúa

Built on a reef island facing the city, the fortress of San Juan de Ulua guarded the main Atlantic port of New Spain for centuries...

Baluarte de Santiago

This squat coral-stone bastion, built in the seventeenth century, is the only surviving piece of the walls that once enclosed colo...

Landmarks 3

Zócalo de Veracruz

The main square of Veracruz, officially the Plaza de la Constitucion, is the social heart of the city, framed by palm trees, the c...

Malecón de Veracruz

The harbor promenade of Veracruz runs along the port, where cruise ships, container vessels and tugboats move just a few meters aw...

Estación de Ferrocarril de Veracruz

The grand terminal railway station of Veracruz, built in the early twentieth century, recalls the era when the line between the po...

Temples and Shrines 1

Catedral de Veracruz

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption stands on the zocalo and was built in the eighteenth century as the main parish church...

Museums 1

Museo Histórico Naval

Housed in the handsome former Naval Military School building near the harbor, this museum tells the story of the Mexican Navy and...

Arts 1

Centro Cultural Atarazanas

The name Atarazanas recalls the eighteenth-century royal warehouses and shipyard of the port, and the long stone building, with it...

Family 1

Acuario de Veracruz

Opened in 1992 on the seafront boulevard, the Acuario de Veracruz is one of the largest aquariums in Latin America and focuses on...

Nature 1

Veracruz Reef System National Park

Offshore from Veracruz, Boca del Rio and Anton Lizardo lies a protected chain of coral reefs and small islands that forms one of t...

Beaches 1

Playa Villa del Mar

Just south of the historic center, Villa del Mar is one of the classic city beaches of Veracruz, a long stretch of sand lined by t...

Food and Drink 1

Gran Café de La Parroquia

Founded in 1808, La Parroquia is the most famous cafe in Veracruz and a living institution where generations of families, politici...

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