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As the winter cold covers much of the U.S., why not plan a sunny escape south of the border?
While a majority of travelers have beaches in mind, you would be doing yourself a disservice to overlook some of Mexico’s most cultural cities.
Right now, Mexico has some of the best weather in easy-to-reach destinations packed with historical sites and experiences.
Consistently in the 70s and 80s through the winter months, there are three cities that stand out among the rest for a perfect weekend getaway.
Guadalajara
Somehow, one of Mexico’s cultural icons remains overlooked by Americans. Even with direct flight options from many major U.S. cities, Guadalajara never comes close to Mexico’s most popular getaways.
No, there is no beach anywhere near Jalisco’s capital, but you’ll forget all about that when you set your eyes on Lake Chapala just outside the city.
Guadalajara is not exactly a natural wonder itself, but you can jam-pack your weekend full of surprises ranging from charming small towns and endless agave fields to gorgeous lakes.
The city itself is exactly what you would expect of quintessential Mexico, with vibrant streets, immaculate cathedrals, and buzzing markets with nonstop action and street food.
Visiting at least one of the surrounding small towns, such as Tequila, is a must for obvious reasons.
Given the convenient flight options and ease of getting around, including Uber, you can undoubtedly build an itinerary for 48 to 72 hours.
Plus, isn’t it nice to be able to stay at high-end hotels while sticking to your budget? It is, after all, one of digital nomads’ favorite playgrounds for that very reason – Guadalajara is super affordable.
Guanajuato
Tucked away in a bowl between Leon and trendy San Miguel de Allende is perhaps the most timeless city in all of Mexico.
A weekend away in this real-life time machine with touchstones of Europe and Old Mexico is money well spent.
You can’t go wrong picking a place to stay in this picturesque city as the views are incredible from both the scenic outlooks and charming cobblestone streets below.
Not many places hold on to their magic, but Guanajuato is the exception to the rule. If you turn a blind eye to the Starbucks across from the famous Teatro Juarez, you’ll notice there are no name-brand hotels anywhere in sight.
Tourists have their choice between Airbnbs, exquisite boutique hotels, each with their own unique flair, and even a historic castle converted into one-of-a-kind stay.
Uber is an option, but exploring the city’s winding roads and tunnels is best explored on foot to take it all in.
When you need a break wandering the hills – and you will definitely need a break – the city’s wide variety of rooftop bars is the perfect stopping point to take a breather.
The streets can be crowded with narrow sidewalks, especially when the city comes to life at night on weekends with traditional Callejonedas performances.
Mexico City
With slightly cooler temps on average than Guadalajara and Guanajuato, Mexico City is still sunny this time of year nonetheless.
This gargantuan city is a year-round getaway and consistently one of the most popular to visit outside of Mexico’s beach getaways, even breaking tourism records.
Rather than hit the beach, why not spend sunny days exploring the vast concrete jungle of Mexico City and the nearby canals of Xochimilco?
Although one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City is still suited for shorter trips. Given the high volume of direct flights and ease of getting around by Uber, taxi, and the cheap metro, no time is wasted in the air or on the ground.
There is definitely no shortage of cultural sites and fun things to do for a weekend, whether it’s museums, ancient ruins, or a classic lucha libre match.
In fact, this cosmopolitan city is deemed safe for tourists, so you won’t feel the need to have a bedtime. Given the trendy bar scene, why would you?
It’s impossible to explore the largest city in North America in its entirety in a weekend, but don’t the best destinations always leave you wanting more?
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.