Why choose Mexico for your holiday?
Mexico is a big, diverse country with two long coastlines, colonial cities, deserts, jungles and a food culture that is listed by UNESCO as part of humanity's intangible heritage. It is easy to combine a few days of culture with a week on the beach.
Most visitors start on the Yucatán Peninsula, where Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum line the Caribbean coast. Off the north coast lies the laid-back island of Isla Holbox, and in the heart of the country, the capital Mexico City is one of the world's great food cities.
Places
Where to go in Mexico
Best places to visit in Mexico
In short: for a first trip, combine the Yucatán Peninsula, with Tulum, Mérida and the cenotes, with a few days in Mexico City. For culture and food, add Oaxaca. For a quieter beach, take the ferry to Holbox.
1. Mexico City: museums, markets and tacos
One of the great food cities of the world, with leafy Roma and Condesa, the anthropology museum and the canals of Xochimilco. It lies at around 2,240 metres, so take the first day slowly. Read our Mexico City guide and where to find authentic tacos.
2. Oaxaca: food, mezcal and markets
A colonial city famous for its moles, mezcal and craft villages, and for the Guelaguetza dance festival in July. Monte Albán, a Zapotec ruin on a hilltop, is just outside town.
3. Mérida and the Yucatán: cenotes and Mayan ruins
A calm colonial city and the best base for Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and swimming in cenotes, the natural sinkholes of the region. Go to the ruins at opening time, before the heat and the tour buses.
4. Tulum and the Riviera Maya: ruins above the sea
Mayan ruins on a cliff over the Caribbean and a beach road lined with small hotels. Seaweed, known as sargassum, can wash up on this coast in spring and summer, so check the season. Read about Tulum and the Riviera Maya and the treehouse hotel Azulik.
5. Cancún: the easy option
Direct flights, big hotels and calm water on the lagoon side. It works well for a first, simple beach holiday or as the start of a road trip. Read our Cancún guide.
6. Isla Holbox: sandy streets and whale sharks
A car-free island where people get around by golf cart, with swimming with whale sharks from about June to September. Read our Holbox guide.
7. San Miguel de Allende: the colourful highland town
A UNESCO-listed colonial town of ochre and pink houses, galleries and rooftop bars, a few hours north of Mexico City.
8. Chiapas: San Cristóbal and Palenque
Highland markets in San Cristóbal de las Casas and the Mayan temples of Palenque in the jungle. Distances are long and roads are slow, so allow several days.
9. Puerto Vallarta and the Pacific coast
Mountains meet the sea on the Pacific side, with a relaxed old town, whale watching in winter and fewer international crowds than the Caribbean.
10. Baja California Sur: desert and sea
Los Cabos for resorts, La Paz and the Sea of Cortez for snorkelling and sea lions. The dry desert landscape is very different from the rest of Mexico.
Things to do in Mexico
On the Yucatán, swim in cenotes, the natural sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water, explore the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, Tulum and Cobá, and snorkel on the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
Inland, the colonial cities of Mérida, Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende are full of colour, markets and festivals. On the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta and the beaches of Oaxaca offer a different kind of beach holiday.
Beaches and islands: Cancún and Holbox
Cancún is easy, sunny and well connected, with all-inclusive resorts, nightlife and day trips to ruins and cenotes. Read why it is America's favourite holiday destination.
For something quieter, take the ferry to Holbox, Mexico's quiet island off the Yucatán, where you can swim with whale sharks in season and watch the sunset from a paddleboard.
Mexico City: one of the world's great food cities
Mexico City is a huge, lively metropolis with leafy neighbourhoods such as Roma and Condesa, world-class museums and street food on every corner. It is also home to some of the world's most celebrated restaurants.
Meet Elena Reygadas, named the world's best female chef, and discover more of the region in our guide to the Americas.
Best time to visit Mexico
The dry season, from roughly December to April, is the best time for the Caribbean coast and most of the country, with sunshine and low humidity. It is also the busiest and most expensive period.
The rainy season runs from about June to October, with hurricane risk on the coasts, especially from August to October. Mexico City is pleasant all year thanks to its altitude, although it rains most afternoons in summer.
Planning a honeymoon? Our Mexico honeymoon guide combines the cenotes and Maya ruins with a week on the Riviera Maya, with six hotels for couples.
Where to stay in Mexico
Our pick
Chablé Yucatán: an old hacienda in the Yucatán jungle
An old hacienda in the Yucatán jungle, with casitas, hammocks over the pool and a spa worth the trip on its own.
Mexico holidays: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to go in Mexico for a first trip?
The Yucatán Peninsula is the easiest choice for a first trip, combining beaches in Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum with Mayan ruins, cenotes and islands such as Holbox. Add a few days in Mexico City if you want culture and food.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
Many nationalities, including UK and EU passport holders, can usually visit Mexico for tourism without a visa. Entry rules can change, so always check the current entry requirements and your government's travel advice before you book.
Is Mexico safe for tourists?
Millions of tourists visit Mexico every year without problems, particularly in the main holiday areas. Safety varies by region, so check your government's latest travel advice, take normal precautions and follow local guidance.
How many days do you need in Mexico?
Ten days to two weeks allows you to combine the Caribbean coast with Mexico City or a colonial city such as Mérida or Oaxaca. A week is enough for a relaxing beach holiday with one or two day trips.
What is the most beautiful place in Mexico?
Many would name Tulum or Holbox for coast, and Oaxaca or San Miguel de Allende for towns.
When is the Day of the Dead in Mexico?
The main days are 1 and 2 November, celebrated most visibly in Oaxaca, Mexico City and Michoacán. Read more about the Day of the Dead.
Treehouses of wood and vines in Tulum
For somewhere truly out of the ordinary, Azulik in Tulum has villas of wood and vines above the Caribbean, lit by candlelight. Read more about Azulik Tulum.
