Mexico City is a fabulous city to live in, but sometimes you just have to escape the chaos. Explore these destinations, all easily reachable from Mexico on a day trip.
Yes, there is no need to organise a tour to any of these places. Just take a bus!
1. Ex Convento Desierto de los Leones
We visited the Ex Convento Desierto de Los Leones on the day that it reopened, having been shut for 1 year due to the COVID pandemic. This was back in March ’21.
It makes for a great day out from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City.
2. Teotihuacán
Teotihuacán is the most famous archaeological site in the whole of Mexico and is the most popular day trip that you can make from Mexico City
I have been here three times. The first time was in December of 2020, shortly after arriving in Mexico, before I had even met Miss CDMX.
We went back again in 2021, and I returned alone in 2024. I don’t have a full post about Teotihuacan, but I have one detailing how to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City.
3. Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán makes a great day trip from Mexico City. It’s only 1 hr 30 minutes by bus. In 2021, we hiked up Tepozteco Mountain. But in 2026, we were content just to explore the town for what it is: one of nearly 200 Pueblos Mágicos in Mexico.
Make sure to check out the ‘Itacates’ at the Municipal Market.
4. Centro Ceremonial Otomi
The Centro Ceremonial Otomi was built in the ’80s for the indigenous people of the highlands of Central Mexico.
You may have seen it in the James Bond film Licence to Kill, starring Timothy Dalton.
5. Puebla – The City of Angels
Puebla, the City of Angels, is definitely one place that should not be missed if you are in Mexico. Top sights in Puebla include the Catedral de Puebla, the tallest of the old cathedrals in Mexico, the Museo Nacional de Los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos and the Secret Tunnels.
6. City of Taxco
With the Church of Santa Prisca, overlooking the Zocalo, and the El Cristo Monumental de Taxco, high on the hill above town, Taxco should not be missed.
7. Zona Arqueológica de Tula
Despite being overshadowed by nearby Teotihuacán, the Tula Archaeological Site is very much worth the effort. It is just 90 kilometres north of Mexico City.
Tula was one of the most important cities of Ancient Mexico.
We visited just after it reopened. Awesomeness without the crowds.
8. Toluca
Toluca is just an hour or so out of Mexico City. The proximity of which makes it an easy day trip. I definitely need to go back and make the post more complete, which is even more convenient now that the train from Mexico City to Toluca is finally running.
9. Cuernavaca
I had wanted to visit Cuernavaca for quite a while. It’s an easy trip as the capital of the State of Morelos is only 70 km from CDMX, so it takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on the traffic.
