2-Day Zacatecas Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The old centre is compact and steep, so a room within a short walk of the cathedral saves your legs.Details

Getting here: The airport lies outside the city, and long distance buses arrive at a station on its edge. A taxi or a booked ride takes you up to the old centre. Plan to arrive in daylight, and check current official travel advice before you book.
Thin air, strong sun: The city stands at about 2,400 metres, so the air is thin, the days are dry and the sun is strong even when it is cool. Walk slowly uphill, drink water often, and bring a hat, sun cream and a warm layer for the evening.
Hills and cobbles: The streets climb the sides of a valley, with steps, slopes and old paving. Wear shoes with grip. Taxis and local buses help with the steepest parts, and a cable car crosses the valley.
First evening: Day 1 starts at the Plaza de Armas, so settle in and take an easy walk to the square and the cathedral. Watch your breath on the slopes, and keep the first night light.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.4 to 1.5 kilometers a day, and 1.9 kilometers in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. The old centre and The mine, the cable car and the hill

3 stops · 1.5 km on foot

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Morning
Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas
The cathedral, built in pink stone over the 1700s in a baroque style. Its front is carved like an altarpiece, with saints and flowers in the stone, while the sides and inside are plainer. It is a working church, so stay quiet during services.
Go when Morning, when the sun picks out the carving on the front.
Local tip Stand on the square and look at the carved front before you go in, since the inside is plain. It is a working church, so cover your shoulders and stay quiet during services.
Photo: Elias Zamora, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 10 min walk0.8 km
2
Afternoon
Cerro de la Bufa
The rocky hill above the city, higher still than the town itself, with a small hilltop chapel, a statue of a mounted general of the revolution and a wide look over the valley, the roofs and the surrounding dry hills. Stay on the paths and take water and a hat.
Go when Afternoon into evening (about 6:25 PM), as the colours change over the valley.
Local tip The hilltop is higher than the city, so go slowly, drink water and wear a hat. Stay on the paths, keep back from the edges and leave time to come down before dark.
Photo: Primordial45, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
A light lunch of soup and tortillas
A bowl of soup with warm tortillas, or a plate of quesadillas, in a small place near the cable car station.
Local tip Eat lightly before going up high, and keep a layer ready for the wind.
About 9 min walk0.7 km
3
Afternoon
Rafael Coronel Museum
A museum of masks, puppets and folk art set among the ruins of an old convent of San Francisco, with the roofless arches and cloisters now a garden. Walk through the open ruins slowly, and look at the thousands of masks from all over Mexico.
Go when Afternoon, in the soft light.
Local tip The ruins are open to the sky, so take a hat in the sun and a light coat in the shade. Look at the masks up close, and check ahead on the opening.

If it rains. Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas and Rafael Coronel Museum are covered, so keep them. Move Cerro de la Bufa to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. The mine, the cable car and the hill and The old centre

3 stops · 0.4 km on foot

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Morning
Eden Mine
A former silver mine on the Grillo hill, worked since colonial days, that visitors can enter by a short underground ride and a walk through lit tunnels. The tunnels are damp, with steps and some low parts, so it is not a place for anyone who dislikes tight spaces. Check ahead on how visits work.
Go when Morning, before the cable car.
Local tip The tunnels are cool, damp and low in places, so wear shoes with grip and bring a light layer. Check ahead on how visits work, and skip it if tight spaces bother you.
About 2 min walk0.2 km
2
Midday
Teleférico
The cable car that crosses the valley from the Grillo hill to the hill of La Bufa, carrying you high over the roofs, domes and streets of the old town. Check ahead that it is running, since strong wind or storms can stop it.
Go when Midday, or late afternoon (about 6:25 PM) for the light on the roofs.
Local tip Check ahead that it is running, since wind and storms can stop it. Take a seat by a window, keep your hands inside and look back at the cathedral towers as you rise.
About 3 min walk0.2 km
3
MiddayIndoor
Museo Pedro Coronel
A museum of art and antiquities from many countries and times, collected by a painter of Zacatecas, in a former Jesuit college on a quiet square. Look at the rooms of masks and ancient objects, and check ahead on the opening.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip It is a wide collection, so pick a few rooms rather than all. Look for the masks and the ancient objects, and check ahead on the opening.
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Gorditas and a hot drink
Thick, stuffed corn cakes, fried or griddled and filled with stews, beans or cheese, with a hot drink on the side, from a small place on a side street off Calle Hidalgo.
Local tip Pick a stall with a short wait, a sign that the food moves quickly.

If it rains. Museo Pedro Coronel is covered, so keep it. Move Eden Mine and Teleférico to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Leave time for the winding road down out of the old centre.Details

Leaving town: Book the taxi or the bus the day before. The old streets are narrow and one way, so a car cannot always reach your door, and you may need to walk a short way with your bags.
Silver and sweets: Small silver pieces, sweets made of prickly pear and local mezcal are all easy to carry. Ask the seller to wrap what is fragile, and check the rules on bottles before you fly.
If you have a few hours: Take one more slow walk from the Plaza de Armas along the old street of arcades, or sit in a cafe with a hot drink and look up at the cathedral towers.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Zacatecas?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to June and October to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Zacatecas. This plan is built for october, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Zacatecas, planned for october. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.4 to 1.5 kilometers a day, and 1.9 kilometers in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.