Everyone knows Mexico is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a sunny break in a gloomy winter, with world-class leisure hotspots like Cancun, Tulum, and Puerto Vallarta to its name, where it’s always balmy out, and resort staff treat you like royalty.
Well-established as it may be, we still feel Mexico is criminally underrated for culture.
If you’re looking for somewhere a little more laid-back than Mexico City, and you feel San Miguel has already become far too popular for your liking, this hidden colonial gem boasting a UNESCO-listed center and affordable prices might just do the trick.
And the best part is, you can fly there nonstop!
No long layovers in CDMX or Cancun International:
Is Querétaro One Of The Prettiest Cities In Mexico?
Tucked away in the central Mexican hinterlands, Santiago de Querétaro (commonly shortened to just Querétaro) serves as the capital of its eponymous state, and it’s easily one of Mexico’s most overlooked destinations based on its architectural wealth alone:
Established as early as 1531, during the first wave of European migration to the Americas, it has accumulated an enviable array of monuments that have stood the test of time, ranging from religious to civic structures.
In other words, its cityscape feels timeless, unlike other resort-packed areas of Mexico that have been engulfed by the 21st-century development boom.
Perhaps the city’s most easily recognized attraction, the striking orange-colored Church of St. Francis of Assisi houses beautiful sacral art, while the domed Church of St. Rose of Viterbo has a distinctive Baroque exterior and a gold-clad interior.
If you know your History, you’ll be glad to learn the trial of Maximilian I, a former emperor of Mexico, was held at the nearby Teatro de la República, and up the Hill of the Bells, you can visit a small chapel built on the site where he was executed in 1867.
With its ornate inner patios and art exhibits, the ex Ex-monastery of St. Augustine is also not to be missed, not to mention the numerous plazas, 18th-century colonial homes, and charming restaurants dotting the aqueduct-fringed Centro Histórico.
You Can Explore The Old Town In A Vintage Car For Less Than $10 Bucks!
As you might have guessed, there is plenty in Querétaro to keep you busy, so a guided tour of the historic center is easily the best way to optimize time and see as much as possible.
You can choose between a walking tour of the western half of the UNESCO-protected zone, which is arguably our favorite, as exploring on foot is your best bet to discover picture-perfect, secret spots, and it costs only $14.83 per person.
Alternatively, if you’d rather exert as little physical effort as possible and still take in the sights, you can hop on a 1908 Classic Ford T to drive around the colonial core of the city for a negligible $9.89––for less than the price of lunch in a mid-range downtown restaurant!
This tour is perfect for capturing the extent of Querétaro’s 18th-century aqueduct or even driving up the Hill of the Bells where the Maximillian chapel is––meanwhile, you get to quench your early-century nostalgia by riding a vintage automobile.
Querétaro Is One Of The Most Affordable Cultural Destinations In Mexico
Cultural value aside, part of Querétaro’s huge appeal to foreigners, in particular Americans, is how affordable it is compared to other tourist-dominated cities in Mexico.
Based on Numbeo estimates, you can eat for as cheap as $8.90 if it’s some street tacos and soda you’re craving, whereas sitting down for a more elaborate, three-course presentation in a restaurant patio will set you back by around $40.
You can even stay in the heart of the colonial center for as cheap as $51-a-night (El Serafin Hotel Boutique), or $72 for a superior double room with city views at the five-star Hotel Criol.
It’s not dirt cheap, and it’s comparable to other large cities in Mexico, but it won’t break the bank, either.
Looking for the best empanadas and guacamole in town? Try The Carter Bar: the wood memorabilia and Old World atmosphere are unmatched, and their drink menu leaves nothing to be desired.
Whatever you do, do not leave Querétaro without sampling Hacienda El Salitre‘s octopus (pulpo) ceviche, and unless you’re iffy about pork, Tacos Mario serves the best pig meat tacos you’ll have in your life––not even an overstatement.
Fly Nonstop To Querétaro From The U.S.
This year, the Querétaro International Airport (QRO) has broken its own yearly record by registering more than 2 million passengers transiting in 2024 for the first time, a 15.1% increase over 2023, proving demand for Querétaro city breaks are growing.
This season, you can fly nonstop to Querétaro (QRO) from the following U.S. departure points:
1 flight per day with Aeromexico
1 flight every Tuesday and Friday with Volaris
2-3 flights every day with American Airlines
1 flight every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with Aeromexico
4-5 flights per day with United Airlines or VivaAerobus
1 flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday with VivaAerobus
Additionally, starting in April 2025, nonstop flights will be offered from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) every Wednesday and Saturday with low-cost carrier VivaAerobus.
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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.