Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Zacatecas is a silver city built on steep slopes in north-central Mexico, and its centre of pink stone churches, narrow lanes and mining history is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Santo Domingo
Acueducto del Cubo
Teatro Calderón
Museo Rafael Coronel
+4 more places
This guide covers the best places to visit in Zacatecas, from baroque churches and museums to the cable car over the rooftops and a tour into an old mine.
The city is called the one with a face of pink stone and a heart of silver, and the nickname fits. Many of its landmarks are carved from rose-coloured cantera, and the old silver mines still lie beneath the hills.
Zacatecas also feels walkable and calm.
The cathedral is the city's defining building, built between 1730 and 1760 in carved red-pink stone.
The plaza beside the cathedral is the natural starting point, and the government buildings around it hold interesting murals.
The Santo Domingo church was built by the Jesuits in the mid-eighteenth century and has a lovely baroque facade. Inside, gilded wooden altarpieces and eighteenth-century paintings of the Passion reward a slow visit.
Jesuits built the Santo Domingo church between 1746 and 1749. Photo: Luisalvaz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The aqueduct was built more than 250 years ago and still runs through the heart of the city.
The aqueduct runs through the heart of the city and is more than 250 years old. Photo: grupo 4 ITESM(Pepe, Misa, Beto), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Teatro Calderón on Avenida Hidalgo has an impressive facade, and it sits beside the González Ortega market. Stop for a few minutes between the cathedral and the museums.
The Teatro Calderón stands on Avenida Hidalgo beside a market. Photo: Singari, Marce y Fer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
This ornate fountain with wrought iron lanterns anchors a pretty corner of cobbled streets, small shops and colonial hotels. It is especially atmospheric after dark.
The museum occupies a partly restored former convent of San Francisco, and its crumbling garden is as appealing as the collection.
The Rafael Coronel museum, in a former convent, is known for its large mask collection. Photo: JavierDo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
This museum is in a former seminary and prison and is one of the best in the city. It shows abstract paintings and sculptures, including the mural work Felguérez made for the Mexican Pavilion at the 1970 World Exhibition in Osaka.
The Museo Zacatecano is across from San Agustín and tells the history of the region and its notable people. It also includes a fine section on Huichol culture.
The cable car travels about 650 metres from Cerro del Grillo to the northern end of Cerro de la Bufa, passing high above the centre. The ride gives excellent views of the red rooftops and domes.
The cable car crosses the city from Cerro del Grillo to La Bufa. Photo: panza.rayada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
La Bufa is the city's most recognisable hill, with its distinctive shape and a large cross on top.
Cerro de la Bufa is the city's best-known hill and the site of a decisive 1914 battle. Photo: Sanchezmarco141, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The El Edén mine began operating in 1586 on the slopes of La Bufa and produced mainly gold and silver. Closed to mining in 1960, it reopened to visitors in 1975.
The El Edén mine began operating in 1586 and opened to visitors in 1975. Photo: JavierDo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
About eight kilometres away, Guadalupe has a former Franciscan monastery that now houses a museum of colonial religious art. The monastery sent missionaries to what is now the southwestern United States, and the cloisters are memorable.
The Guadalupe monastery trained missionaries who set out for Texas, New Mexico and California. Photo: Victorcolliere, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
La Quemada is an archaeological site about fifty-three kilometres south, with ruins of mysterious origin and an on-site museum. It suits travellers with a car and a spare half day.
Zacatecas cooking is hearty and built around chile, beans and corn. Colonche is a sweet, fizzy, red drink made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, and Zacatecas is one of the few states where it is made.
Mezcal is produced here too, as the state is among those allowed to use the mezcal designation, and tastings are easy to find in the centre.
For a market stop, walk to the Mercado González Ortega beside the Teatro Calderón, where you can sample local snacks, then relax over a meal on the Fuente de los Faroles streets.
Popular dishes to try in Zacatecas
Most visitors stay in the compact historic centre, but a couple of other bases work well.
Centro Histórico is best for first-timers. You can walk to the cathedral, museums and restaurants, and many colonial buildings have been converted into small hotels.
Guadalupe suits travellers who want a quieter base and plan to visit the monastery museum.
The streets around the Alameda are central but calmer than the main plazas, and they suit anyone who likes a garden walk before breakfast.
Where to stay in Zacatecas
Zacatecas has a semi-arid climate and sits high above sea level, so days can be warm and nights cool, with sunshine for much of the year.
Check local calendars for festivals before you plan. In June, the city marks the anniversary of the 1914 Battle of Zacatecas, and April brings morning music in the Alameda.
Zacatecas International Airport, also called General Leobardo C. Ruiz, receives flights from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and other cities, with some connections from the United States.
The Central de Autobuses has direct buses from most major cities, especially in northern Mexico, and southern travellers may need to change in Mexico City.
Inside the centre, walking is the best way to get around, though streets are steep and many have steps. Taxis, Uber and Didi are easy to find.
Walk the cathedral, Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo, stroll the aqueduct and finish at the Fuente de los Faroles.
Spend the morning at the Rafael Coronel and Felguérez museums, then ride the cable car to La Bufa for sunset and views.
Visit the El Edén mine, then take a half-day trip to Guadalupe or La Quemada.
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