The 10 Best Things to Do in Pachuca, Hidalgo

Gavin standing in front of the Pachuca sign in the historic center. A definite thing to see when visiting Pachuca.

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Looking for the best things to do in Pachuca? Well, you’re in the right place!

Often overlooked by travelers, Pachuca, Mexico is a lively city filled with culture, historic plazas, colorful streets, and great local food — with plenty to keep visitors busy.

We stayed in Pachuca for two weeks while exploring the Pueblo Mágicos of the Hidalgo region, and it quickly proved to be an ideal base for Central Mexico.

If you’re wondering whether Pachuca is worth visiting, these are the 10 best things to do in Pachuca, Mexico to help you decide.

Let’s dive in!

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10 Best Things to Do in Pachuca

The stacked houses perched atop the surrounding mountains. Pachuca is a scenic city with many things to do.

After driving around Mexico for 6 months, Pachuca and the gorgeous region of Hidalgo remains one of our favorite places.

Not only does the colorful city of Pachuca have so much to offer, but it also fits right in with our travel style.

Let’s jump into the 10 best things to see and do in Pachuca!

1. Admire Pachuca’s Colorful Murals

Gavin and our dog Leonardo standing in front of a colorful blue wall.

Robyn and our dog Leonardo standing and pointing upwards to the street called Pachuca.

The most impressive sight to see when visiting Pachuca is, without a doubt, the Macromural de Palmitas.

This expansive mural is the largest in all of Mexico and holds the Guinness World Record for most walls covered by a mural.

A full view of the giant colorful mural of Macromural de Palmitas/ It is one of the best things to do in Pachuca.

Completed in 2015 by a street art group named German Crew and its residents, it began as a social initiative to revitalize the neighborhood. It has drawn tourists to this unsuspecting city ever since!

Nearly every side of the 209 buildings is painted in waves of bright colors, to mimic and compliment Pachuca’s nickname, The Windy Beauty.

This intricate design of waves continues from building to building, creating incredible cohesive artwork. Honestly, this was definitely a highlight of our visit to Pachuca!

One of the best things to do in Pachuca is visiting the Macromural de Palmitas, the giant colorful mural in town.

One house painted on all sides using turquoise, pink and purple in the Macromural de Palmitas.

The best place to view this massive mural is from the pedestrian bridge over Rio de las Avenidas. We parked in the lot of Sam’s Club and climbed up to the walkway for amazing pictures.

We also drove through the neighborhood for a different view and some awesome close-up shots!

MACROMURAL DE PALMITAS
📍Location: Google Map
💲Cost: Free

2. Wander Plaza Independencia

The brick façade of Hotel Independence in the historic center. It is one of the best things to do in Pachuca.

Colorful yellow, green, orange and blue buildings in the center of town. A must-see on any visit to Pachuca.

Although Pachuca’s historic center is quaint, colorful, and worth a visit.

The Plaza de la Independencia is a large space surrounded by colorful buildings of hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Of course, like every city in Mexico, there are colorful letters of Pachuca there for a great photo op!

Situated in the center of the plaza, is the iconic Monument Clock. At 40 meters tall, commemorates Mexico’s Centennial of independence.

The four female faces, sculpted from Italian marble, symbolize Reform, Liberty, Independence, and Constitution.

Independence Plaza is a popular place for cultural events in Pachuca. While we visited, dancers were preparing for Mexican Independence Day.

The iconic Monument Clock in the center of Independence Plaza. Definitely one of the things to see in Pachuca.

Traditional dancers posing in the center of Independence Plaza in Pachuca.

One of the things I loved most about Pachuca was that most streets were flat and easily walkable. This is important to me since I live and travel with chronic pain and fatigue.

We were lucky enough to snap a few awesome pics. Right place, right time!

INDEPENDENCE PLAZA
📍Location: Google Map
⌚Hours: All day
💲Cost: Free

3. Explore Pachuca’s Historic Center & Markets

Gavin standing with Leonardo on the corner of a cute historic street in front of a aqua and brick building.

Gavin standing in front of one of the oldest churches in Pachuca.

Once you’ve explored Independence Plaza, we recommend wandering through the historic center.

You will come across the simple, but beautiful Parroquia de la Asuncion de Maria. It was built in 1553 and is the oldest church in Pachuca.

The Iglesia Metodista de México is also worth a visit, with gorgeous stonework making up the building’s exterior. We loved the architecture in this area and the freedom to explore.

✅Helpful Tip: There are plenty of free parking spaces located near the historic center. Check out all our tips about driving in Mexico here!

The busy entrance to the May 1st Mercado in the historic center.

Visiting the markets is one of the best things to do in Pachuca, like the Mercado Miguel Hidalgo.

Afterward, dazzle all your senses with a visit to the markets!

El Mercado de Barreteros, Mercado Miguel Hidalgo, and Mercado 1^st de Mayo are all within walking distance. These local markets will not disappoint!

They are full of local vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables to traditional food and clothing.

Buying local food and cooking for yourself in a vacation rental are excellent ways to spend less money while traveling.

PACHUCA MARKETS
📍El Mercado de Barreteros: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Sunday 8 am – 6 pm

📍Mercado Miguel Hidalgo: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 8:30 pm

📍Mercado 1^st de Mayo: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Sunday 8 am – 7 pm

4. Visit Pachuca’s Delicious Bakeries

One of our favorite things to do in Pachuca was to sample the desserts and pastries, like this delicious chocolate cake.

Robyn smiling from ear to ear, holding two delicious cakes from the nearby bakery. We had some of the best pastries in all of Mexico while in Pachuca.

When we researched Pachuca, we didn’t find any mention of their bakeries. This needs correcting. The bakeries in Pachuca are unbelievable!

And you won’t need to look far… it seems like there is a bakery down every street. Honestly, this alone makes Pachuca worth visiting!

The amount of delicious baked goods you can sample in Pachuca is endless. Everything is fresh and homemade.

During our stay, we indulged in so many pastries… everything from croissants, cookies, fresh doughnuts, tarts, pastries, cakes, and fresh bread.

Sampling as many desserts as possible should be on your list of things to do when visiting Pachuca!

The Chapis Bakery was our favorite place to go for tasty desserts, fresh bread and pastries.

A close up of vanilla and chocolate breads and pastries in the Chapis Bakery. It was our favorite bakery in Pachuca.

The host of our apartment provided a guidebook of nearby restaurants and bakeries. Thankfully, the Chapis bakery was just down the street. It became a daily ritual to try a different pastry every day!

We must have tried everything in the store during our 2-week stay and loved them all. Trust us, your stomach will thank you!

CHAPIS BAKERY
📍Location: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Friday 8 am – 10 pm
⌚Hours: Weekends 9 am – 9:30 pm

5. Stroll Along Revolución Street

Visiting the trendy cafes on Revolution Street is one of the best things to do. Gavin and Leonardo are outside the entrance.

Pachuca is ideal for slow travelers like us. There are numerous colorful streets to explore.

One of our favorite things to do in Pachuca is to wander Revolution Street, a long walking street in central Pachuca. This is definitely worth a visit.

The palm tree-lined street is full of boutique shops, stylish cafes, salons, little bars, and restaurants.

It is a great place to relax with a coffee, listen to a local band, and sample some new food.

The exterior of the Passion Cafe, one of the spots we recommend for breakfast in Pachuca.

A close up of a chocolate waffle drizzled in icing sugar, bananas and strawberries.

The Passion Café is one of the few restaurants to have an outside terrace. Everything is locally produced and homemade.

We recommend the smoothies and waffles for brunch, they are delicious!

6. Hike to the Statue of Christ (Cristo Rey)

A panoramic view of Pachuca seen from above. The colorful houses are stacked on top of one another, creating a colorful mosaic.

The Cristo Rey statue towers above the city and is another fantastic thing to see in Pachuca. Located on the Mineral del Monte highway, the statue is 33 meters high and is visible from almost everywhere in the city.

As with all pieces of art, there is an interesting story about this sculpture too.

Local miners were riding the elevator to the top of the Paricutin mine when suddenly it stopped.

As they dangled hundreds of feet above the ground, they prayed to God. They promised that if He saved them, they would build a statue in His name.

Hiking up to the Statue of Christ on a clear day.

This panoramic view of the city from on top of a hill, one of the best things to do in Pachuca.

Miraculous, the elevator started moving and safely lifted them up the mining shaft. In 1992, they followed through and built the Cristo Rey statue.

There are amazing views of the city to admire too!

CRISTO REY STATUE
📍Location: Google Map
💲Cost: Free!

7. Sample Traditional Hidalgo Pastes

Two delicious pastes on a plate. Sampling these traditional snacks is one of the best things to do when visiting Pachuca.

Pachuca, Hidalgo is known for its English-style pastes, a nod to the Cornish migrants who came to work the mines. It is one of Pachuca Hidalgo’s most iconic dishes.

Like an empanada, the paste dough is thick, yet flakey, and they come in a variety of flavors.

Several local shops sell pastes, as well as a few notable chain restaurants, like Pasteko.

The store Pasteko is one of the best places to sample a paste, and one of the highlights on any trip to Pachuca.

Two pastes sitting side by side on a plate.

Pasteko’s savory pastes include Chorizo and bean, beef and potato, and chicken with tomato.

Our favorites were the Pizza-Waiano, Champirrajas, and Mole Verde (chicken and green sauce) which surprisingly tasted a bit like Indian Curry.

We also liked the sweet, flavored pastes of Guayaba, Zarzamora, and Queso. Of course, we sampled as many as possible… and recommend you do the same. They are delicious, filling, and cheap!

Indulge in pastes while you can. We spent 6 months driving in Mexico and struggled to find them outside the Hidalgo state.

PASTEKO
📍Location: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Sunday 7 am – 9 pm
💲Cost: Free!

8. Visit Nearby Pueblo Mágicos

The center of Real del Monte, one of the nearby Pueblo Magicos you can visit while staying in Pachuca.

There are over 10 Pueblo Magicos and archeological sites to visit near Pachuca. They are all within easy driving distance from the city, making for excellent day trips.

Initiated by the Mexican Tourism Board, Pueblo Magicos are small towns that have been recognized for the unique or magical experience they offer visitors.

Towns become “magical” because they possess natural beauty, cultural richness, traditions, or historical significance to the area.

Robyn standing in the middle of Huasca de Ocampo, a small town near Pachuca.

Gavin and Leonardo posing in front of a fountain in Real del Monte, with colorful buildings behind them. Pachuca is a great base for exploring the region.

One of the best things to do in Pachuca, Hidalgo is to explore the nearby Pueblo Magicos. This includes the delightful town of Hua sca de Ocampo and the adorable Mineral del Monte.

Both towns are within an hour of Pachuca. Each has its own style of architecture, is colorful, and is easily walkable for those traveling with chronic pain like me.

Or you could join this small group tour that explores Pachuca, Real del Monte & the Basaltic Prisms.

👉Two hours outside of Pachuca: Pueblo Magicos of Huichapan, Tepotzotlán, Zacatlán, Pahuatlán, Cholula, and Xicotepec de Juárez.

PUEBLO MAGICOS
📍Huasca de Ocampo Location: Google Map
📍Mineral del Monte Location: Google Map

9. Enjoy the Views at El Mirador de Pachuca

Leonardo enjoying a park with tall green trees and white iron benches.

Leonardo posing in front of a clock made of grass and rocks.

Pachuca has an abundance of parks throughout the city. Many of them are spacious with huge trees offering shade among the many benches.

The surrounding parks are another reason why Pachuca makes a great base, and why we stayed for 2 whole weeks!

However, one place you should not miss while visiting is the El Mirador de Pachuca. The views from this lookout point are unbelievable!

Make sure to check out El Mirador in Pachuca, with a panoramic view of the city.

We loved how you could see all the colorful buildings, historic center, and surrounding mountains of this awesome city!

EL MIRADOR DE PACHUCA
📍Location: Google Map
💲Cost: Free!

10. Visit Museums & Archaeological Sites

One of the many murals in the town of Pachuca. There are so many throughout this artsy town.

One of the best things to do in Pachuca is admiring all the street art, like this interesting statue in the center of town.

If you are interested in history or are looking for another wonderful way to see Pachuca, then consider visiting a museum.

Museums Worth Visiting:
👉 Cuartel de Arte
👉Football Hall of Fame Museum
👉Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería

The mining industry is at the heart of Pachuca, and its surrounding towns. They have an interesting exhibit with numerous displays and artifacts that date back to 1556.

Plus, there is art sprinkled throughout the city! It won’t take long to discover the sculptures, photography exhibits, and street art beautifying little Pachuca!

A view of one section of archeological ruins at Teotihuacan. Pachuca is an excellent base for exploring the region of Hidalgo.

Robyn and Gavin posing in front of one of the pyramids at Teotihuacan, a nearby archeological site.

Lastly, Pachuca is an excellent base for exploring the nearby archeological sites of Tula, Xihuingo, Huapalcalco, and Teotihuacan. All these ancient ruins are worth a visit.

We were able to visit the massive complex of Teotihuacan, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and were not disappointed!

TEOTIHUACAN
📍Location: Google Map
⌚Hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
💲Cost: 80 pesos

How to Get to Pachuca

The giant toll booth on the highway into the city of Pachuca. We recommend driving as there is so much to see and do.

Here we outline the best and easiest ways to get to Pachuca, Hidalgo from Mexico City.

✈️Airplane

The closest international airport to Pachuca is Mexico City.

We use Skyscanner to search for the best flight deals. You can search by specific dates, compare different airlines and set up price alerts to track when fares drop.

The platform is easy to use, and allows you to filter by airlines, layovers, flight duration and more to customize your search.

Once you decide on a flight, Skyscanner takes you to the actual provider’s website, so you can view and read the necessary fine print, and make an informed decision on your travel plans.

👉Find the Best Flights with Skyscanner
✔️compare airlines
✔️find the best price
✔️flexible search options
✔️easy to navigate platform

➡️Book your flights with Skyscanner now!

🚌Bus

There are direct buses to Pachuca from the international airport and the main bus station in Mexico City.

Busbud is a fantastic site that compares different companies at the same time to find you the best price for your selected date of travel.

The 70-minute direct bus from Mexico City costs about 70 Pesos or $5 CAD.

🚌Find the best bus route & fare:
➡️Book Now with Busbud

🚗Rental Car

We love road trips and would recommend renting a car from the Mexico City airport. The 80-minute drive to Pachuca is easy and beautiful.

Renting a car allows you to venture off the beaten path, discover the colorful Pueblo Magico towns, and explore the mountainous region of Hidalgo at your leisure.

If you travel with chronic pain or limited mobility, as I do, renting a car makes your journey easier and more relaxed. It doesn’t add to my pain and gives us the freedom to travel at our own pace.

We like that Discover Cars offers the best selection for price, comfort, and customer service.

🚗Check availability & prices now:
➡️Book your rental car from Mexico City here

How to Get Around Pachuca

Collectivos lined up outside the mercados in Pachuca.

An old VW Bug parked on the side of the road.

The local transportation in Pachuca is colectivos or taxis. Colectivos are small public buses that run throughout the city.

It will stop in various places around the city but is less formal than bus routes in the USA or Canada.

Buses and taxis are very affordable in Pachuca. Your hotel will be able to provide more information on local bus routes.

As mentioned, if you prefer to travel at your own pace, enjoy added flexibility or plan to visit the surrounding towns renting a car is ideal.

We never paid for parking in Pachuca or any of the surrounding Pueblo Magicos.

So driving in this area of Mexico is very convenient and affordable.

Related Post: We spent 6 months driving in Mexico and wrote a post sharing our 25 Tips for A Mexican Road Trip.

Where to Stay in Pachuca

Our white SUV parked in front of the townhouse we rented while staying in Pachuca.

The Pachuca sign in the center of town, a must-see when visiting the city.

During our 6-month road trip through Mexico, Pachuca was the cheapest destination we visited.

The city offers a range of hotels and apartments for every taste and budget. We stayed ay the Privada 400 Casa & Suites and highly recommend it!

🏨Privada 400 Casa & Suites
✔️spacious kitchen & living
✔️comfortable beds
✔️quiet neighborhood
✔️mobility-friendly suites
We enjoyed our stay in this townhouse apartment.
It is close to shops, has 24/7 security, and free parking.

➡️Book your stay at Privada 400 Casa & Suites here!

🏨Hotel Emily
✔️amazing views of the city
✔️comfortable rooms
✔️old world charm
✔️mobility-friendly suites
Located in the historic center, there is a restaurant and spa on-site,
free parking and breakfast are included in most room rates.

➡️Book your stay at Hotel Emily here!

Travel Insurance

Our dog Leonardo smushed in the back seat of our SUV with all our belongings.

Robyn and Leonardo standing under an umbrella on an empty street. Make sure to always travel with insurance.

Purchasing travel insurance is always a must! Trust me, I have needed a hospital on several trips… Italy, Costa Rica, Hungary, China, Malaysia, and Greece!

We never go on a vacation without travel insurance.

InsureMyTrip is great for international coverage and long-term travel. The process is easy, plus they cover pre-existing conditions, which is very helpful!

➡️We recommend InsureMyTrip for Travel Insurance.
Check Rates & Book Insurance Now

Looking for Packing Tips?
Check out our post on how to pack where we share 18 tips on how to make packing for your next trip as pain-free as possible.

FAQs: What to Do in Pachuca Hidalgo

Is Pachuca, Mexico safe?

Pachuca felt safe, friendly, and easy to explore during our 2 week stay, especially in the city center. There is a visible police presence and efforts to ensure public safety. Just like any destination, it is recommended to stay informed about local conditions, avoid isolated areas at night, and use common sense when visiting.

What is Pachuca known for?

Pachuca is known for 3 distinct things: silver mining dating back to the colonial era, unique architectural style characterized by colorful houses with sloping roofs, and being home to one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in Mexico, Club de Fútbol Pachuca, as it is the birthplace of Mexican football (soccer).

What is the History of Pachuca?

Pachuca was originally inhabited by the indigenous Otomi people before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The city was shaped by its thriving silver mining industry during the colonial period, which brought wealth and settlers. Pachuca also played a role in various historical events, including the Mexican War of Independence and the Mexican Revolution.

What year was Pachuca founded?

Pachuca was founded in 1531 as a mining town due to the discovery of silver deposits.

Final Thoughts: Things to Do in Pachuca

From admiring museums and murals to strolling down Revolution Street sampling every bakery along the way… there are so many fantastic things to do in Pachuca Mexico!

Hopefully, our list of the 10 best things to do helped you plan your perfect visit to this artsy and overlooked town.

Let us know if you have any questions… otherwise, enjoy your journey!