Zacatecas

) Zacatecas North America > Mexico > Bajío > Zacatecas (state) > Zacatecas Zacatecas , the capital of the state of the same name , is a city of 138,000 people (2020) in the Bajío region of Mexico . The town offers a rich travel experience with its historical downtown centro full of colonial architecture, 17th century churches, innovative restaurants and lively night clubs. Zacatecas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The best time to visit Zacatecas depends on the region's climate. Generally, the dry season (November to April) offers the most pleasant weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The rainy season (May to October) brings afternoon showers but also lush green landscapes. High-altitude areas can be cool year-round, while lowland and coastal areas are warmer. Major festivals and holidays (Semana Santa, Día de los Muertos, Christmas) are vibrant but busy.

Walking is probably the best way to get around the Centro Historico (Historic Downtown) which is relatively small. It will allow you to see the city at your own pace. The Centro is about 8000 feet (2400 meters) while surrounding portions of the city are much higher. Be sure that you are acclimated to the altitude. If you get tired, take a taxi cab. They are moderately priced and available all over the city. Just make sure you ask in advance to the taxi driver how much he will charge you ( Cuanto cuesta ir a 'Insert place'?). As most prices in Mexico, taxi fares are open to negotiation and asking in advance should give you a better negotiating position. The ride-hailing services Uber and Didi are also readily available. There is also the Maxibus, which will drive you around the city to show you the interesting sites. It costs M$100 ( pesos ) for adults and M$80 for minors (as of 2023), lasts about 45 minutes and leaves from the Plaza de Armas.

• Zacatecas — the state capital; a UNESCO World Heritage mining city of pink-stone baroque architecture and underground mine tours
• Fresnillo — Mexico's largest silver-producing city, with a colonial centre and the Plateros pilgrimage basilica
• Jerez de Garcia Salinas — a pueblo mágico with a splendid main square, mango orchards, and the annual Mora y Espino festival
• Guadalupe — home to the Museo Francisco Goitia and a magnificent 18th-century Franciscan convent complex
• Sombrerete — a pueblo mágico with a UNESCO-listed historic centre and access to the Sierra de Órganos desert landscapes
• Pinos — a quiet colonial town with a monumental parish church and traditional highland ranching culture
• Nochistlan — the birthplace of the city of Guadalajara and home to an impressive fortified colonial church
• Teul de Gonzalez Ortega — a small town with archaeological ruins and views over a dramatic canyon landscape
• Concepcion del Oro — a mining town high in the Sierra Madre, with a proud mining heritage and cool mountain air
• Jalpa — a semi-arid colonial town known for its leatherwork and traditional ranchero culture
• Rio Grande — an agricultural town in the lowlands with sugar-cane fields and regional fiestas

The cuisine of Zacatecas reflects its regional Mexican heritage and local ingredients. Each state in Mexico has its own culinary identity — look for regional specialties featuring local chiles, moles, tamales, and traditional cooking methods. Markets and fondas offer the most authentic and affordable dining experiences. Street food is a highlight throughout Mexico.

Zacatecas hosts a variety of cultural events and festivals throughout the year, celebrating its heritage, arts, and community spirit. From patron saint festivals (fiestas patronales) and regional fairs to music, dance, and culinary celebrations, there is often something happening. Major national holidays — Independence Day (September 16), Día de los Muertos (November 1–2), and Semana Santa — are celebrated with particular flair. Check local event calendars for timing.

Centro Historico Nearly all of the city center buildings are nineteenth century or older; the topography and irregular street pattern (most streets are too steep and narrow for vehicles; many have steps in them) almost make one think of a medieval city like Toledo, Spain . The city, built on the site where silver was discovered in the 1530s, is crammed into a narrow canyon, with houses and churches perched on its nearly vertical walls. The whole town is a museum; there are three seventeenth or eighteenth century ex-monasteries near the center, several other churches from the colonial era scattered here and there, and at least half a dozen other museums, nearly all worth visiting. Houses and streets, all of which built in colonial times are worth seeing on their own. 🌍 Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas ( Catedral Basílica de la Asunción de María de Zacatecas ), Av. Hidalgo 617 . M-Sa 06:30-20:00 Su 06:30-21:45 . One of the most beautiful examples of Churrigueresque arquitecture in Mexico. It is an elaborately carved red-stone (cantera) structure that was built between 1730 and 1760. It is flanked by two towers with an exuberant ornamentation and has a notable facade that was richly sculpted but its once decorated interior was looted during the civil wars of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its coupula was reconstructed in 1836 and imitates that one of the church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto in Mexico City. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Plaza de Armas . The square beside the Cathedral, interesting murals inside the government buildings, such as the Palacio de Gobierno . ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Church of Santo Domingo ( Parroquia de Santo Domingo ), Genaro Codina 722 ( take the Veyna alley northwest from the Cathedral/Plaza de Armas ). 09:00-17:00 daily . Built by the jesuits between 1746 and 1749, this church has a beautiful Baroque facade. Splendid gold wood-carved altarpieces, all of them churrigueresque, as well as 18th-century Francisco Antonio Vallejo paintings that represent scenes of The Passion, can be found inside. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Ex Templo de San Agustín ( Exconvento de San Augustín ), Plazuela Miguel Auza . Tu-Su 10:00-17:00 . A former monastery from the 17th century. The main church is now used for conferences and cultural events; the monastery still houses the bishop's offices. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Zacatecas Aqueduct ( Acueducto Del Cubo ). Constructed more than 250 years ago, the aqueduct runs through the heart of the city. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Antigua Plaza de Toros San Pedro ( Quinta Real Zacatecas ), Segunda de Palomares ( adjacent to the aqueduct ). This former bull ring has been converted into a luxury hotel. Enjoy a walk around the ring, and if you feel like splurging a bit enjoy lunch or dinner at the Hotel's restaurant, which has a commanding view of the ring. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 State Congress building ( Congreso del Estado ) ( beside the Ex Templo de San Agustín ). A church that now houses the Zacatecas state legislature. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Teatro Calderón , Av. Hidalgo 501 ( beside the Mercado González Ortega ). Impressive facade. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Jardín Juárez ( beside the University Museum ). Beautiful small park beside a lovely square. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Alameda Trinidad García de la Cadena . A garden walk in the central city. During the month of April musicians play live music beginning in the early morning. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Sierra de Alica Park ( Parque General Enrique Estrada ). Beautiful park beside the aqueduct and the Templo de Fátima. Contains a beautiful fountain, a band stand and a number of places to sit and relax or have an enjoyable stroll. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Templo de Fátima ( Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Fátima ), De Fátima 110 . Impressive neo-gothic temple located on a hill above the Sierra de Alica Park. ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Fuente de los Faroles ( Fountain of Lanterns ), Tacuba, Centro . The centerpiece of a traffic roundabout is a beautifully ornate fountain with wrought iron lamp fixtures. Cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops, restaurants, and colonial hotels attract tourists and locals alike. At night, the streets are softly lit, giving it the feeling of the late 19th century. ( updated Apr 2024 ) Museums 🌍 Museo Rafael Coronel ( Ex Convento de San Francisco ), S. Francisco S/N , ☏ +52 492 922 8116 . Set in a partially restored convent dating back to the 16th-17th centuries, this museum houses a large and diverse collection of masks drawn from several regions of Mexico and from other cultures around the world. Masks from different regions and eras are grouped together by themes and uses, including masks used in Carnival and in religious pageants, such as those commemorating the Reconquista. Particularly interesting is the alternate incorporation and subversion of pre-Hispanic symbols. The Diablo room is not to be missed. The museum is extensive and although most famous for its masks, it houses more than 16,000 other pieces of folk art (obviously not all on display). Portions of the convent grounds that could not be restored have been converted into a garden, with crumbling walls, standing arches and greenery. The museum was established by surrealist artist Rafael Coronel and does include some of the artist's works. M$30 . ( updated Feb 2024 ) 🌍 Museo Pedro Coronel . Located next to the "Santo Domingo" church, it houses a colonial-era library and a large eclectic collection of European, African, American, and Mexican art. ( updated Aug 2016 ) 🌍 Museum of Modern Art Manuel Felguerez ( Museo de Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguerez ), ☏ +52 492 924 3705 . W-M 10:00-17:00 . One of the best museums in Zacatecas. The large building, which once housed a Seminar and later a prison, now houses a large collection of Abstract paintings and Sculptures. The museum was restored in a minimalistic aesthetic, complementing the more than 100 works by Felguérez as well as works by more than 110 other artists from around the world. The room housing the murals that Felguérez made for the Mexican Pavilion at the Osaka World's Exhibition of 1970 is breathtaking and one of the highlights of the Museum's collection. ( updated Aug 2016 ) 🌍 Museo Francisco Goitia , Enrique Estrada 102 , ☏ +52 492 922 0211 . Tu-Su 10:00-16:45 . Showcases artworks of contemporary artists from the Zacatecas region. M$30 . ( updated Nov 2017 ) 🌍 Museo Zacatecano ( Casa de Moneda ), Dr. Hierro No. 301 , ☏ +52 492 922 6580 . W-M 10:00-17:00 . A museum located across the street from San Augustín with exhibitions all about Zacatecas, notable residents and its long history. Of note is a large section of exhibits, crafts, and other artifacts belonging to the Huichol culture, whose members still maintain a pre-Columbian lifestyle in the mountains between Zacatecas and Nayarit. M$30 . ( updated Jan 2024 ) La Bufa The Cerro de la Bufa , a mountain with a very distinctive shape, is in the center of the city and, along with the cathedral, is the city's most recognizable landmark. The best way to get to the top is using the Teleferico (Cable Car) which takes you from the Cerro del Grillo (Cricket’s Hill) to the top of La Bufa. Once at the top of la Bufa, you can enjoy some of the best views the city has to offer, and don’t forget to visit: 🌍 Museo de la Toma de Zacatecas , ☏ +52 492 922 8066 . Houses weapons, documents, photos, and other artifacts relating to this decisive battle of the Mexican Revolution . The Battle of Zacatecas took place on June 23, 1914 when the Division del Norte under the command of Pancho Villa won a decisive victory over the federal army led by General Luis Medina Barrón. The battle led to the resignation of President Huerta. Adults M$12, children free . ( updated Mar 2024 ) 🌍 Statues of Pancho Villa and his Lieutenants . ( updated Jan 2024 ) 🌍 Shrine of Our Lady of Patronage ( Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio ). M-Sa 09:00-17:00 Su [... truncated ...]