Love Mexico City? Here are 6 destinations we think you’ll like, too.

Mexico City has quickly become one of the world’s top travel destinations, with its mouthwatering food, great shopping, lush green streets, and rich cultural attractions attracting millions of visitors each year.

And while this attention is well deserved, Mexico City is far from the only worthwhile Mexican destination to visit. In fact, it’s just one of the hundreds of cities and charming towns that can offer travelers an intimate look at what makes this country so special.

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Puebla

A two-hour drive from Mexico City, Puebla is known for its ornate churches; you could visit a new church every day of the year here and still have more to see.

The ornate Capilla del Rosario is covered entirely in gold leaf and sits unnervingly below the massive (and active) Popocatépetl volcano. Catch a glimpse of this giant on a clear day from Our Lady of Remedies, and while you’re there, walk through the Great Pyramid of Cholula.

If you have the time, shop for Talavera—Puebla’s iconic blue and white hand-painted pottery—in the historic center or at an artisan market like Parián. Then dive into the city’s delicious food at Mural de los Poblanos. Puebla is home to dozens of local specialties like chiles en nogada and mole poblano, a rich sauce made from a mixture of chiles and spices. Try both at Mural de los Poblanos, or stroll to a food stall to sample dishes like tacos arabes and chalupas.

Oaxaca de Juárez

Oaxaca de Juárez’s population is a fraction of Mexico City, but it has no shortage of experiences. It’s the birthplace of mezcal, a smoky Mexican spirit made from the agave plant distilled in rustic palenques about an hour's drive from the city. Oaxaca de Juárez is also known for its artisan community driven by its diverse indigenous groups, rich textiles, and arguably the best culinary scene in Mexico.

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Take a cooking class to get a hands-on experience making mole negro, mole verde, or memelas. Or sit back and indulge in a Michelin-starred meal at Los Danzantes or Levadura de Olla. However, a visit to Oaxaca is not complete until you eat at the Mercado La Merced or have lunch at 20 de Noviembre's iconic, smoky hallway of meats.

You could easily spend a day (or two) shopping and walking around the historic center. Peak into the Museum of Cultures, located inside Oaxaca’s most famous church. Don't miss perusing through some of the incredible artisan-made goods at places like Mercado de Benito Juárez, TERRITUAL, or Cooperativa 1050º.

San Miguel de Allende

If you love charming, colorful city centers, historical cobblestone streets, dining at rooftop restaurants overlooking 300-year-old churches, and sipping wine at local wineries, then you will love San Miguel de Allende.

San Miguel de Allende is about a four-hour drive from Mexico City and a popular destination for both locals and visitors. Start your trip relaxing at the Mayan Baths, a natural spa and hot spring, or spend a day wine tasting on Querétaro’s Ruta del Vino y Queso.

Rooftop dining is popular here, so book a table at Casa Nostra or Luna Rooftop for a glimpse of San Miguel’s famous pink church, Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel.

Guanajuato

Not far from San Miguel de Allende is Guanajuato. Known for its colorful buildings sprinkled across the hillside, Guanajuato’s roots date back to the 16th-century silver-mining boom following the Spanish conquest.

Admire the architectural details around the Jardin de La Union, or if you’re a music lover, catch a symphony at the Teatro Juárez. One spot you can’t miss, though, is Mercado de Hidalgo, a great spot for souvenir shopping and tasty food.

The city is built around a series of cobblestone tunnels that date back well over 200 years, and they make driving here quite the experience. If you visit in October, you can join the celebration of art, music, and culture at the Cerventino Festival, an ode to the city’s ties to Miguel de Cervantes, the famed author of Don Quixote.

San Cristóbal de las Casas

San Cristóbal de las Casas is the capital of Chiapas, a mostly undeveloped state known for its natural beauty just north of the Guatemalan border. It’s one of those rare places that seems to have it all—perfect year-round weather, stunning landscapes, a rich history, and some of the best artisan markets in the country.

Start on its most famous street, Real de Guadalupe, which ends at Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Its the highest church in the region and offers breathtaking views of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Chiapas’ mountainous terrain and cooler climate makes it the perfect place to grow coffee. There are dozens of artisan coffee shops, like Cafeologia, that showcase the best of this region's beans. If you’re feeling up to it, try a carajillo at La Espirituosa, which blends coffee with pox, an ancient Mayan spirit made from corn.

Browse through Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías Ámbar, home to hundreds of vendors selling handmade goods and local sweets.

Guadalajara

If there was one destination that rivals Mexico City’s fast-paced energy, chaotic streets, and lively food, bar, and art scene, it would be Guadalajara. It’s the second-largest city in Mexico and the birthplace of Mexican classics like mariachi and beloved birria, slow-roasted goat served with a consommé of its own juices.

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While here, watch a Lucha Libre match at the Arena Coliseo, enjoy lush green parks and beautiful gardens at Bosque el Colomos, or go shopping at the nearby “magic town” of Tlaquepaque.

Have a drink at the lively bar El Gallo Altenero, a home-cooked meal at family-run restaurants like Fonda Doña Gabina Escolástica, or an exceptional fine dining experience at the Michelin-starred restaurant Alcalde. Don't miss trying the red sauce-drenched torta ahogada (meaning a drowned sandwich) as you walk through the historic center.