1) Mexico City (CDMX): the best all-around start

CDMX is one of the most exciting city breaks in the world—food, design, markets, museums, and neighborhoods that feel like mini-cities. If you’re trying to decide where to begin, Mexico City is usually the safest first pick.

Best for

• Food lovers and museum fans
• Neighborhood-hopping (Roma, Condesa, Centro Histórico)
• Day trips like Teotihuacán

2) Oaxaca City: food capital energy, artisan culture, mezcal nearby

Oaxaca is a place you taste before you fully understand it. Markets, mole, tlayudas, and mezcal culture sit alongside craft villages and day trips into the valleys. It’s one of the best places to go to in Mexico if you want culture without big-city sprawl.

Don’t skip

• Markets (go hungry)
• Mezcal tastings with a reputable producer
• Monte Albán for an easy “wow” ruins day

3) Mérida: the calmer base for Yucatán exploration

Mérida is warm, welcoming, and practical—perfect if you want to explore ruins and cenotes but prefer a more relaxed city base than the coast. It’s also a good hub for short trips across the Yucatán Peninsula.

Best for

• Day trips to cenotes and archaeological sites
• Architecture, plazas, and evening strolls
• Travelers who want a quieter pace

4) Cancún & Riviera Maya (Tulum, Playa del Carmen): beaches + day trips on easy mode

This region is popular because it’s straightforward: frequent flights, lots of hotels, beaches, and a long menu of day trips—cenotes, ruins, islands. It can feel busy and touristy, yes. It can also be a genuinely fun trip if you plan it intentionally.

Best for

• Beach time with convenient logistics
• Cenotes and ruins (mix in a few early mornings)
• Short trips where you don’t want complicated routing

5) Chichén Itzá (day trip or overnight): iconic ruins for a reason

One of the most famous sites in Mexico, and one of the most visited. The trick is timing. Go early, or consider staying nearby so you can arrive before peak crowds.

Chichén Itzá is best experienced early, before the heat and tour buses stack up.

6) Isla Holbox: low-key island atmosphere (no heavy schedule)

Holbox is for travelers who want the opposite of a packed itinerary. It’s sandy streets, sunset walks, and days that blur together in a good way. If you’re chasing “relaxed Mexico,” this is a strong candidate.

7) Puerto Vallarta: Pacific coast comfort with easy escapes

Puerto Vallarta is well-developed for tourism, but it still has charm—especially if you mix beach time with excursions and a few slower days. It’s also a friendly entry point for the Pacific coast.

8) Guadalajara: culture, food, and a big-city vibe that feels local

Guadalajara is one of the most important cultural cities in Mexico, and it often feels less “tourist-scripted” than some coastal destinations. Come for the food and music scene, and use it as a base for day trips.

9) San Miguel de Allende: colonial beauty and walkable streets

San Miguel de Allende is polished, picturesque, and built for strolling. It’s popular for a reason: it’s easy to enjoy, visually stunning, and full of small galleries, restaurants, and rooftop views.

10) Guanajuato: colorful streets and a festival feel

Guanajuato looks like it was painted with confidence—steep streets, tunnels, bright facades, and viewpoints that make you stop mid-walk. It’s one of the most memorable cities for photography and casual exploration.

Guanajuato is made for slow wandering and viewpoint stops.

11) Baja California Sur (La Paz + Cabo): desert coast, marine life, and road-trip freedom

Baja has a distinct feel—desert landscapes meeting blue water, wide skies, and the kind of roads that make you want to keep driving “just one more hour.” If you like a mix of beaches and outdoor time, it’s one of the best places to travel in Mexico.

Baja’s calm bays near La Paz are a different kind of beach day—less resort, more nature.

12) Puebla: architecture, food, and an easy add-on from Mexico City

Puebla is an excellent “bonus city” if you’re already in Mexico City. It’s known for colonial architecture and a serious food scene. It’s also one of those places that can be a day trip… but is better with an overnight.

Mexico itinerary ideas (simple, realistic)

7 days: one anchor + one side trip

• Option A: Mexico City + Teotihuacán day trip
• Option B: Oaxaca City + Monte Albán + mezcal day trip
• Option C: Riviera Maya base + cenotes + Chichén Itzá

10–12 days: city + culture + coast

• Mexico City (4–5 nights) for museums, food, neighborhoods
• Oaxaca (3–4 nights) for markets, day trips, mezcal
• Coast (3 nights) choose Caribbean or Pacific

14–16 days: add a second region without rushing

• Combine CDMX + Highlands (San Miguel / Guanajuato) then finish on Baja or Yucatán.

Planning tips that make Mexico travel smoother

Pick your “type” of Mexico first

• Food + culture: CDMX, Oaxaca, Puebla, Guadalajara
• Beaches + convenience: Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta
• Road trip + nature: Baja California Sur
• Colonial charm: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Timing matters more than people think

Mexico’s coasts are typically most comfortable in the dry season, while highland cities stay relatively pleasant year-round. If your trip mixes regions, plan beach time in drier months and keep cities flexible.

Be smart about transit days

Mexico is big. If you’re changing regions, flying is often the best way to protect your time. Keep one “buffer” afternoon for arrivals—your trip will feel more expensive in hours than in dollars if every day is a transfer day.

Resources

• VisitMexico.com (official tourism site)
• ZetSIM travel eSIM plans
• Download the ZetSIM app

If you’re building an itinerary, start with flight availability and seasonal comfort, then choose destinations. Mexico rewards planning—without overplanning.