Real del Monte, Hidalgo, Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Mexico
Mexico, made simple: great cities, ancient ruins and the best food on the continent, without the worry
Mexico is huge, generous and endlessly varied. Mexico City rivals any capital on earth for museums and food, Oaxaca is the soul of the country's cooking and craft, the Yucatán hides Maya pyramids and swimming holes in the jungle, and the Caribbean coast is as blue as the brochures promise. This guide takes the guesswork out of entry, money, safety, transport and costs, so you can plan with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, money, health and seasons, answered
- LandingMexico City or Cancún airport and your first hours, explained
- Your days in MexicoCities, ruins, cenotes and beaches, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Mexico should feel like a welcome, not a worry. We answer the questions before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
First trip south of the border, or coming home to see family in Jalisco, Michoacán, Puebla or anywhere in between? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your MexicoThe capital's museums and taco stands, Oaxaca's markets, the Maya Yucatán, the Caribbean coast or the colonial highlands: start with the destinations.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, money, insurance and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for taquerías, mezcal bars, cenotes, markets and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to balance city days, ruin days and beach days, with realistic travel times between them.
Everything your Mexico trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Mexico City, Oaxaca, Mérida and the Yucatán, the Riviera Maya and San Miguel de Allende, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred taquerías, cafés, cenotes, markets, museums and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Mexico City, Cancún and beyond, and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Mexico trip
City, culture, then the coast
Most first trips pair a few days in Mexico City with one cultural region and one stretch of sea. Eat and wander your way through Roma and Coyoacán, fly to Oaxaca for markets and mezcal or to Mérida for haciendas and Maya ruins, then finish with cenotes and Caribbean beaches between Cancún and Tulum.
- The Museo Nacional de Antropología and Teotihuacán
- Mole, tlayudas and mezcal in Oaxaca
- Chichén Itzá and a swim in a cenote
- Turquoise water on the Riviera Maya
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the south and the Yucatán fit together.
Mexico destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Mexico is far bigger than it looks on a map, and the right flights save whole days on the road. Our free planner helps you build a realistic route, so you spend your time eating, swimming and exploring rather than in transit.
- Realistic transfer times
- The right season for your plans
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Mexico
From the capital to the Caribbean, the places most travellers build their trip around.
Central Mexico
Mexico City
A vast, cultured capital of world class museums, leafy neighbourhoods, Aztec ruins and the best food in Mexico.
Read the guidePhoto: Jeses, CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons
Oaxaca, southern Mexico
Oaxaca
A compact colonial city at the heart of Mexican food and craft, surrounded by Zapotec ruins and mezcal country.
Read the guidePhoto: Dacuauhtli, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Yucatán Peninsula, southeast Mexico
Mérida and the Yucatán
A warm, calm colonial capital surrounded by Maya ruins, cenotes, haciendas and colourful towns.
Read the guidePhoto: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Quintana Roo, Caribbean coast
Riviera Maya
Mexico's Caribbean coast, with white sand, turquoise sea, islands, cenotes and Maya ruins above the beach.
Read the guidePhoto: José Espanca, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Guanajuato, central Mexico
San Miguel de Allende
A beautifully preserved colonial town of art, festivals and rooftop dining, with Guanajuato close by.
Read the guidePhoto: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Mexico safe for tourists?
Millions of visitors travel to Mexico every year without trouble, and the main tourist areas are well used to visitors. Safety varies a lot by state, though, so read your government's advice for each state you plan to visit, use registered taxis or ride apps, and avoid travelling between cities at night.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
Many passport holders, including those from the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, can visit without a visa for tourism, but rules vary by passport and the number of days you are given is decided at the border. Check the official Instituto Nacional de Migración and your nearest Mexican consulate before you book.
What is the best time to visit Mexico?
November to April is dry and comfortable across most of the country. Late summer and early autumn bring rain inland and hurricane risk on both coasts, while late October and early November bring Día de Muertos.
How many days do I need in Mexico?
Ten days to two weeks lets you see Mexico City plus one region and a beach. A week works if you choose one area, such as the capital and Oaxaca, or the Yucatán and the Riviera Maya.
Can I drink the tap water in Mexico?
No. Drink bottled or purified water, which is everywhere and often provided by hotels in large refill jugs. Ice in restaurants and bars is usually made from purified water.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Not in the main tourist areas, where many people speak some English. A few words of Spanish go a long way in markets, taxis and smaller towns, and people are warm when you try.
Ready to find your Bliss in Mexico?
Tell us your dates and interests, and use the free trip planner to shape a trip that fits.