Best Place to Visit Querétaro
When it comes to epic landscapes and scenic getaways, Querétaro, Mexico truly has it all. The Querétaro landscapes here are pretty special too and range from stunning beaches, majestic mountains, endless forests, and gorgeous towns to some truly spectacular national parks. Here are the 10 most and best beautiful destinations Querétaro has to offer:
Jardin Zenea
The plazas and gardens where the locals come to hangout. This one had the most and largest Dia de Muertos decorations. This garden is actually a parque where people are coming to dance, relax, listen to music or perform different activities. This is a wonderful place to be.
What a treat to sip fresh juice and cinnamon coffee while watching a church processional or the children playing. This garden used to be part of the nearby massive Templo San Francisco that used to cover many city blocks.
When it opened in 1874, it was named after the governor of the day, Benito Santos Zenea. It has changed shape, style, and name over time and some older locals may still call it by one of its earlier names.
Super clean garden with the perennial kiosk, this one from the Porfirian era with delicate French style. It is especially beautiful when the purple jacaranda trees are in full bloom, the whole city covered with its magnificent color.
Queretaro doesn’t allow single-use plastic bags and it shows in that the city and its many parks are spotless.
Museum of Arts of Queretaro
The museum is free to wander into. Many of the signs telling about the architecture are in both Spanish and English. There are large high-ceiling rooms with a few stunning permanent works in each room and then other smaller galleries with revolving shows chocked full of pieces if the featured artist is prolific.
Spend as long as you want or just wander in for a quick look. The architecture, particularly the interior courtyard is amazing. Building was originally a monastery built between 1731 and 1748. Museum displays mostly earlier paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries as well as modern works.
The collection includes both classic pieces as well as contemporary. The courtyard itself is worth the price of admission, which is free by the way. The special exhibits are thought-provoking and original, fun and disturbing.
The museum of the arts is an architectural gem, the art on display varies and as always with art beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
No doubt you will find pieces that appeal and others that you wonder how they found their way into a museum. There is no set fee, but donations are requested and very much worthwhile.
Plaza de Toros Provincia Juriqulla
Family atmosphere, safe, great shows, the best bullfighters. They have done a great job, it is worth the visit, it is rented for events. The runs are phenomenal. It is a great place for events of all kinds. Large place for holding events, either inside the square or in the external garden, good location too.
More than a bullring, it should be considered as a center for shows, with beautiful architecture and a lot of space. The facilities are very good and when there are shows you can eat something in the same place. It is very clean and well organized. They take care of every detail.
A family atmosphere, in the green gardens, enjoying tasting the best meat options in the company of the family, and visiting the stands of handmade crafts. Listening to music for all tastes.
If there’s a bullfight, it’s worth going. The square is beautiful in architecture, comfort, especially the events, the posters, nothing to do with other squares in the province.
Viñedos Puerta del Lobo
This is a hacienda house that has 5 guestrooms. It is amazing. The staff are amazing and look after you in every way. Walk through the vineyards and there is a nice hike up to a lookout. It is great to come back from a hike and jump into the pool.
This is exactly what we needed to rest and recharge. It has a pool table, bar and comfortable sofa. At the top of the hill, there is a gorgeous view of the valley. The staff are very kind. They have delicious food.The view at the restaurant is breathtaking.
Overall it is a good experience. Very small luxury hotel surrounded by young vineyards is a fantastic place to go when you are around Querétaro. The restaurant offers a very outstanding kitchen and the whole atmosphere is great.
Parque Bicentenario
This is a place for the whole family to visit at any time of year although the best is in spring because the pools are cold water and you can only enter this season. The mechanical games are very fun for the whole family.
There is also a very funny scare house that if you go you will leave scared. It is recommended to take your own food because inside the place it is very expensive. Not many rides are free including the haunted house, go karts, boating, most of the rides in the front. Kids under a meter can’t go in the pools, no matter if you’re a good swimmer or not.
The pool slides are quite good. Also note that only 2 slides are actually running, the others are shut for now. Including pools of all sizes, picnic áreas, zoo, farm, birds sanctuary, mechanic games, train, Lake, Wild/wet, river, calm river, simply the best day that you can imagine.
Reserva Sierra Gorda
The drive out is not necessarily beautiful but unique. The falls are beautiful and a short easy hike. The water is crystal clear but freezing. The food stand right outside is delicious. Visit to Río Escanela y el puente de Dios. This is incredible.
The hike is a little longer but not difficult. Cross multiple wooden bridges with many great spots for beautiful pictures and scenery. The puente itself is amazing with really cold water. Hike past this and there are great views past it as well.
Be aware that this is a lot of walking on wet and slippery ground and river crossings sometimes over little wood-slatted bridges and sometimes through thigh-high water and rapids on foot. You need water shoes and ideally a change of clothes.
Highly recommend this place to people who want to see some of Mexico’s natural beauty and rural lifestyle.
Museo Regional
Don’t miss visiting this beautiful colonial building. The museum itself is interesting, of course. Some of the exhibits are temporary but the building itself is worth the visit. The central patio is so romantic with the beautiful fountain in the center. It’s a place begging to be photographed.
The entrance ticket is valid for the entire day. No food or drinks allowed inside. They will keep it behind the desk for you while you visit. Don’t forget it on the way. Small souvenir shop at the entrance. Its courtyard with a central fountain surrounded by arches on two levels is simple yet beautiful.
Learn about: agriculture, art, daily life, the Jesuits, evangelization, various mission, Pre-Hispanic Queretaro, Indian Villages of Queretaro, The Franciscan Convent of Santiago, the Vice Regal of Queretaro, Queretaro within the context of Mexican history, and much more.
The collections are made up of archaeological, ethnographic, colonial and contemporary pieces of ceramics, lithics, sculptures, paintings, furniture, clothing, weapons, photographs, and documents.
Well worth a visit before touring the city center as it gives you a good overview that helps you understand things much better once traipsing through the various plazas and important buildings of the city.
El Acueducto De Queretaro
Keep an eye out for delicious restaurants when passing by. Eat at a rooftop restaurant around sunset for some wonderful photos. It is free though it’s even more impressive when you get the backstory. It’s huge and maybe the only chance to see a Roman-style aqueduct in North America.
If you’re on a short vacation and the goal is a lot of sightseeing, Queretaro might not be a worthwhile place to spend a night. The aqueduct is large and it’s there, but that’s about it. It’s not like you can walk on top of it or anything.
This is an architectural marvel. Walk there from the center and enjoy the look-out, but recommend that you walk the block down to stand beside it. It is far more impressive from the ground.
The system that transfers water to the city from the mountains is really nice architecture. Walk along the historic blvd past the mausoleum, you will be rewarded with great views of the Acueducto.
Plaza de Armas
This area is stunning and dives into the local culture with many one of a kind, local shops and restaurants. There’s a variety for all in addition to the beauty and culture of Queretaro! Highly recommend it! It’s a great area to support local businesses.
The people gather here just to hang out, it’s not too big but you can have a piece of history, a nice place to have photoshoots. This is a big pedestrian main square with colonial architecture.
There is always something happening on this plaza: concerts, dance demonstrations and local dances. Nice fountain in the middle and the trees are so beautiful around the plaza. This Plaza has the feel of a relaxing, calming place after walking the surrounding streets full of traffic and vendors.
During the afternoon it is a great place to set and enjoy greenery and tranquility. In the evening it offers many restaurants, music and even some special events or attractions at times.
La Pena de Bernal
Amazing views as the sun sets, well worth the photo op while en route to Cave of Swallows. It’s picturesque, but somewhat touristy. There isn’t a lot to do here if you aren’t up for climbing the mountain. Pan de queso comes in many flavors and is like a cheese danish.
Pay a few pesos and take a motorcycle cab up to the terrace or trailhead for the mountain. That is much nicer than walking up the hill. Walk down and find an easy walk back.
The height of the whole rock or the height of the rock above the surface of the ground. If you want to hike the rock to the highest available spot, get there before 4pm otherwise they won’t let you up.
If you want to scale the rock, you have to be a rock climber with the proper equipment. It takes about an hour to climb and another hour to come down. It’s an amazing place where you can enjoy with the family. A really fun and active day.
