The capital
Most long haul trips start in Mexico City, one of the great cities of the world. Give it at least three full days: the Museo Nacional de Antropología, the historic centre around the Zócalo, the leafy streets of Roma and Condesa, Frida Kahlo's house in Coyoacán and a morning at the pyramids of Teotihuacán. It is also the best place in the country to eat, from street tacos to some of the most talked about restaurants anywhere.
The south
Oaxaca is a short flight or a long bus ride south of the capital. The city is compact and colonial, its markets and kitchens are the heart of Mexican food, and the valleys around it are full of Zapotec ruins, weaving villages and mezcal distilleries. Many visitors say it is their favourite place in Mexico.
The Yucatán and the Caribbean
The Yucatán Peninsula juts into the Gulf and the Caribbean in the far southeast. Mérida and the Yucatán is the cultural side: a calm, warm colonial city, Maya ruins such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, old haciendas and hundreds of cenotes to swim in. On the eastern coast, the Riviera Maya runs from Cancún through Playa del Carmen to Tulum, with Caribbean beaches, islands, reef snorkelling and cliff top ruins. The two pair naturally in one trip of a week to ten days.
The colonial heartland
North of the capital, San Miguel de Allende is a beautifully kept colonial town of cobbled streets, art, food and festivals, with the university city of Guanajuato an hour away. It is calmer and cooler than the coast and a gentle introduction to Mexico for first-timers.
How to combine them
Distances are large, and domestic flights are often the best value in time. A classic two week first trip is Mexico City, then Oaxaca, then a flight to Mérida and on to the Caribbean coast. With one week, choose one pair: Mexico City and Oaxaca, Mexico City and San Miguel, or Mérida and the Riviera Maya. Avoid long road journeys at night, and leave time to rest: the food alone deserves it.
For cafés, markets and stays in each area, see our places to visit, or shape your route with the free trip planner.