Magical Towns near Mexico City
40 Magical Towns are less than 150 km from Mexico City, close enough for a day trip. The closest is Tepotzotlán, Estado de México, about 33 km away. Distances are in a straight line; by road, expect roughly 20–40% more.
Day trips (under 150 km)
≈ 33 kmEstado de MéxicoTepotzotlán
A jewel of New Spain baroque on the UNESCO-listed Camino Real de Tierra Adentro: a former Jesuit college that now houses the National Museum of the Viceroyalty.
≈ 39 kmEstado de MéxicoTeotihuacán de Arista
Gateway to the City of the Gods: the UNESCO-listed Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, sunrise hot-air balloon flights, obsidian crafts and local food.
≈ 44 kmEstado de MéxicoSan Martín de las Pirámides
Shares with Teotihuacán de Arista the Teotihuacan archaeological zone, one of the largest cities of the ancient Americas and a World Heritage Site.
≈ 48 kmEstado de MéxicoVilla del Carbón
Leather jackets, wool sarapes, cobbled streets and reservoirs such as Presa del Llano and Taxhimay in the Sierra de Monte Alto, near Mexico City.
≈ 49 kmEstado de MéxicoOtumba
Colonial history near Teotihuacan: former convents, the Viceroys' House, pulque haciendas, a railway museum and the famous Donkey Fair.
≈ 50 kmMorelosTepoztlán
Sacred mountain and Tepozteco pyramid, the UNESCO-listed Natividad convent, a lively market, temazcal baths and Morelos cooking an hour from Mexico City.
≈ 53 kmEstado de MéxicoMetepec
The State of Mexico's pottery capital: Trees of Life, catrinas, potters' workshops, the crafts market and El Calvario hill, next to Toluca.
≈ 55 kmMorelosTlayacapan
Birthplace of the chinelo dancers in Morelos: the UNESCO-listed San Juan Bautista convent, neighborhood chapels, La Cerería, pottery and a lively carnival.
≈ 66 kmEstado de MéxicoMalinalco
An Aztec temple carved from a mountain rock face, an Augustinian convent with murals, mountains and living traditions in the south of the State of Mexico.
≈ 71 kmEstado de MéxicoJilotepec
Climbing crags, reservoirs and one of Mexico's oldest Franciscan parishes on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 100 km from Mexico City.
≈ 72 kmHidalgoZempoala
The UNESCO-listed Padre Tembleque Aqueduct, a masterpiece of colonial engineering, plus pulque haciendas and the Todos Santos convent.
≈ 73 kmMorelosXochitepec
Warm weather and colorful façades in Morelos: the Cerrito del Reloj clock-tower viewpoint, former sugar haciendas, water parks and weddings.
≈ 82 kmPueblaHuejotzingo
A 16th-century Franciscan convent, the famous Huejotzingo Carnival, cider and chiles en nogada, just outside the city of Puebla.
≈ 83 kmMorelosTlaltizapán
Zapata's legacy and natural springs in southern Morelos: Zapata's former headquarters, the mausoleum, water parks and catfish soup.
≈ 87 kmEstado de MéxicoIxtapan de la Sal
Hot springs, thermal parks and spas in a warm climate in the southern State of Mexico, near Tonatico and the Estrella Caves.
≈ 90 kmEstado de MéxicoTonatico
Thermal pools, the Estrella Caves, a waterfall and suspension bridge at Parque del Sol, right next to Ixtapan de la Sal.
≈ 92 kmHidalgoReal del Monte
A mining town with a British legacy in Hidalgo: mine tours, the English Cemetery, the Paste Museum and steep, colorful streets.
≈ 94 kmPueblaAtlixco
The city of flowers at the foot of Popocatépetl: plant nurseries, convents, the San Miguel hill viewpoint and year-round festivals.
≈ 96 kmPueblaSan Pedro Cholula
The San Gabriel convent and its 49-dome Royal Chapel, a main square with one of Mexico's longest arcades and the Great Pyramid a few blocks away.
≈ 97 kmHidalgoMineral del Chico
Forest, mines and adventure 30 km from Pachuca: a via ferrata, viewpoints like Peña del Cuervo, reservoirs, mist and cabins among fir trees.
≈ 97 kmPueblaSan Andrés Cholula
The Great Pyramid of Cholula topped by the Remedios sanctuary, one of the oldest living cities in the Americas, talavera pottery and student life.
≈ 104 kmHidalgoHuasca de Ocampo
Mexico's first Magical Town: the Basaltic Prisms, Santa María Regla mining haciendas, misty forests, fresh trout and legends of elves.
≈ 104 kmEstado de MéxicoAculco de Espinoza
White quarry stone, arcades and waterfalls such as La Concepción and Tixhiñú: a quiet getaway from Mexico City, Toluca or Querétaro, with local cheeses.
≈ 108 kmEstado de MéxicoValle de Bravo
Lake, forest and mountains about two hours from Mexico City: sailing and water sports, paragliding, Velo de Novia waterfall and monarch butterfly sanctuaries.
≈ 108 kmTlaxcalaTlaxco
A highland getaway in Tlaxcala: artisan cheeses, pulque, haciendas, Atlangatepec Lake and cool mountain weather.
≈ 109 kmGuerreroTaxco de Alarcón
Mexico's great silver town: steep alleys, the baroque church of Santa Prisca, sweeping viewpoints, the National Silver Fair and Holy Week processions.
≈ 112 kmEstado de MéxicoEl Oro
Mining heritage and Porfirian architecture: the Municipal Palace, Juárez Theater, Mining Museum, the San Juan mine tunnel and northern forests.
≈ 117 kmMichoacánTlalpujahua
The town of eternal Christmas: over 300 workshops of hand-blown glass ornaments, the Dos Estrellas mine, sanctuaries and Michoacán forests.
≈ 118 kmHidalgoHuichapan
Quarry stone, an aqueduct and Independence history in Hidalgo: El Chapitel, rock paintings, El Saucillo eco-park and hot-spring pools.
≈ 123 kmMichoacánAngangueo
A mountain mining town and the best base for the El Rosario and Sierra Chincua monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Michoacán.
≈ 124 kmPueblaChignahuapan
Christmas all year round in Puebla: over 200 glass-ornament workshops, a lagoon, Quetzalapan waterfall, hot springs and its basilica.
≈ 125 kmGuerreroIxcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
A marble town in the Guerrero mountains where, according to local tradition, the remains of Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor, rest.
≈ 126 kmHidalgoAcaxochitlán
Water and forest in Hidalgo: Tejocotal reservoir, the Chimalapa waterfalls, flower-inspired embroidery and acachul berry liqueur.
≈ 128 kmTlaxcalaHuamantla
Festive Tlaxcala: the sawdust carpets of “The Night Nobody Sleeps,” the National Puppet Museum, pulque haciendas and La Malinche volcano.
≈ 131 kmTlaxcalaIxtenco
Tlaxcala's last Otomí stronghold: colorful native corn, sour purple-corn atole, pepenado embroidery, language and traditional festivals.
≈ 133 kmHidalgoTecozautla
Hot springs and El Géiser in the Mezquital Valley: El Pañhú archaeological site, the Santiago Apóstol convent, an aqueduct and a vineyard.
≈ 135 kmPueblaZacatlán
Apples, cider and clocks in Puebla's Sierra Norte: the Floral Clock, a clockmaking museum, cheese bread, Piedras Encimadas and Tulimán waterfall.
≈ 135 kmQuerétaroAmealco
Home of the handmade Otomí doll: over 550 workshops, the Doll Museum, textiles, countryside and communities like Santiago Mexquititlán.
≈ 135 kmHidalgoMetztitlán
The Metztitlán Canyon biosphere reserve, full of cacti, its lagoon and an imposing Augustinian convent in Hidalgo.
≈ 139 kmPueblaPahuatlán
Amate bark paper from San Pablito, a suspension bridge, waterfalls and Otomí-Nahua culture in Puebla's Sierra Norte.