Many people seem to be interested in travel itineraries. This is especially attractive when your time is limited. With so much to do and see at a particular destination, it’s essential to prioritize your activities. That’s why I decided to include more posts of this kind in my blog. The first one was about Zacatecas City. If you still haven’t read it, you can do so here.

Today we will focus on another popular destination: Querétaro City. But what is there to do? What do we recommend? When is the best time to visit? Let’s answer these and other questions you may have. Would you like to find out what you can do in 3 days in Querétaro City? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Arrival
• Day 1: Querétaro City Historic Center
• Day 2: Bernal
• Day 3: Tequisquiapan
• Best Time to Visit
• How to Get There
• How to Move Around
• Where to Stay
• Where to Eat
• Suggested Budgets
• Tips for Saving Money
• How to Stay Safe
• Apps to Download
• Conclusion

Arrival

If you have been following me for some time, you know by now that I usually travel from Monterrey. For this trip, we decided to rent a car from a local agency and drive. We had to leave a day later than expected since there was a lot of fog on the toll road, and they closed it for several hours.

Anyway, such a trip usually takes around 8.5 hours, but we got lost at some point, and it took us 10 hours instead ?.

We hadn’t booked a hotel (something I don’t usually recommend), but it’s one of those spontaneous trips one makes in life. Besides, it was not a busy season, so it was only a matter of looking for something affordable.

I always like to stay in the downtown area since it’s close to everything. This was not the exception. We found a hotel and left our stuff in the room. We were tired and hungry, so we ventured out to find something to eat. Having satisfied our appetite, we headed back to our hotel to get some rest. It was almost 10 p.m., and the following day would be long.

Day 1: Querétaro City Historic Center

9 a.m. Our hotel offered a free continental breakfast. There were tables overlooking a beautiful garden, so it’s perfect to start off your day. We had some bread, fruit, coffee, and juice and headed out to explore the city.

10 a.m. Our first stop was Jardín Zenea. It’s a cute park with benches, a fountain, and a gazebo. As with most Mexican plazas, there was a church in the back, although unfortunately, it was under renovation due to a recent earthquake.

The park is a gathering place for locals. If you love people watching, this is the perfect place. You can watch elders chatting, kids playing around, couples eating a snack together, you get the picture.

We took some pictures and then just sat down and relaxed. The ambiance was so peaceful that we could spend hours there, but we had to continue. So off we went.

Address: Calle 16 de Septiembre 8-24, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

11 a.m. Since we hadn’t planned anything out, we asked at the hotel what there was to do in town, and they offered us several tours. The city tour was the one that caught our attention. It was just 300 MXN (around $15) per person and lasted for 3 hours or so. We killed some time at Jardín Zenea in the meantime.

11:15 a.m. Main square. This beautiful plaza is lined with trees, statues, small cafes, and colonial buildings. You can see the city hall, the Casa de la Corregidora, a handicraft shop, just to name a few places. As you can imagine, there are lots of photo ops here.

Address: Av. Prol. Luis Pasteur S/n, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

12 p.m. Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo. This beautiful temple boasts a Baroque style. The interior is decorated with gold, but the guide explained to us that unfortunately, much of it was stolen throughout the temple’s history.

The most notable feature of the temple is a pair of buttresses attached to the facade. It turns out the architects made a few mistakes in their original design, and this was the only way they found to support the weight of the sinking structure.

Address: José María Arteaga 89, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

12:45 p.m. Cerro de las Campanas (literally Hill of the Bells). Many people believe this hill was given this name because it resembled a bell. There is nothing further from the truth. It turns out the name derives from the rocks found in this area. They’re composed of an alloy of bronze, silver, copper, and antimony, and it’s precisely those properties that make them sound like a bell when hit.

This is another important place in Mexican history. After gaining its independence from Spain, an empire was established with the aid of France, although it was short-lived. It was here that Maximilian I, one of the only two emperors in Mexican history, was arrested and executed by the liberals.

Maximilian I’s remains were buried here, but they were later sent to France. The chapel still remains atop the hill.

There is an observation deck with a giant statue of Benito Juárez, one of the most popular Mexican presidents. You get a nice view of the city from this point, but get ready for climbing several steps before.

A must-stop when visiting Querétaro City.

Address: Cerro de las Campanas, Centro Universitario, 76010 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

1:45 p.m. Panteón de los Queretanos Ilustres. This was the first cemetery in the city. It has witnessed several battles throughout its history and currently hosts the remains of important figures in Mexican history.

Outside the cemetery, there is an observation deck where you get a superb view of the city along with its pink stone aqueduct. Yes, many cities in Mexico still keep those old structures, and they add an interesting mix to the city architecture.

Address: Ejército Republicano, La Santa Cruz, La Cruz, 76020 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

2:15 p.m. The last stop of the tour was Dulce Querétaro, a candy shop. There are all kinds of traditional sweets you can get, but something you have to try is the pedos de monja (literally nun’s farts). It turns out an Italian chef created these sweets in Barcelona and named them petto di monca (nun’s breasts, due to their shape). The Spanish pronounced pedo instead of petto and the mispronounced name remains until our days.

The pedos de monja are made from a mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and chocolate. They’re delicious!

Address: 76020, Calle Independencia 129, La Cruz, Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

3:15 p.m. We were starving by this time. We looked up a few places online and found out there was a market within walking distance. We walked up there, but we didn’t find any options to eat, so we had to go back. We were hungry and tired, so we took an Uber. The driver recommended a place to us, and we asked him to take us there.

4 p.m. La mariposa. It turns out this is a popular place in the city center. There was a short line to get a table. Once seated, we looked at the menu, and we ordered some enchiladas and a lemonade. They didn’t disappoint.

The menu includes tacos, tamales, tortas, fried chicken, pozole, salads, cake, and even shakes. It seems to be a popular place among local and foreign tourists alike.

Average check per person: 100-150 MXN ($5-7.50).

Address: Angela Peralta #7, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

5:30 p.m. We went back to our hotel to rest a little. It felt good to take our shoes off after all that walking under the sun.

7:30 p.m. We left our room to walk around the city center. It takes on a different look at night. If the city looks beautiful by day, it looks even better by night.

9 p.m. Gorditacos. While walking in the city center, we came across a small, old house with a sign that read Gorditacos. The smell was delicious, and even though we were not starving, we decided to enter and eat something. The menu was simple: tacos and gorditas. We tried the gorditas de migaja (some kind of fried pork belly) with cheese. Boy, were they delicious!

The gorditas are huge and reasonably priced. Each gordita costs between 22 MXN ($1) and 29 MXN ($1.50). A person can easily eat for less than 100 MXN ($5), but that will obviously depend on how much someone eats.

Address: Calle Benito Juárez Nte. 86, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

10 p.m. Back at our hotel. Time to sleep.

Day 2: Bernal

9 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will go on a day trip. Yay!

10:30 a.m. Finca VAI. This dairy farm is located along the “ruta del arte, queso y vino” (art, cheese, and wine route) about 30 minutes away from Querétaro City. They have a beautiful garden and a small farm where you can watch some animals like cows, goats, and chickens.

They explain the cheese-making process to you, and you can even participate in the demonstration. Best of all, there is a cheese tasting at the end. If you’re a cheese lover like me, you will love this!

You can visit Finca VAI on your own but be advised there are no English tours onsite. If you don’t speak Spanish, I recommend you visit with someone who does.

There are two types of tours: one that focuses on cheese and another one that includes a tour of a vineyard and a wine and beer tasting. We skipped the latter since we were going to visit another vineyard nearby.

Don’t forget to stop by the shop before leaving! There are lots of cheese and other dairy products to choose from.

Admission: cheese tour (75 MXN, approximately $3.75) and cheese/wine tour (195 MXN, approximately $9.75).

Address: Carr. Querétaro-Tequisquiapan, Km. 30, 76270 Colón, Qro., Mexico.

1 p.m. Cavas Freixenet. This is one of the largest vineyards/wineries in the region. Their wines are exported and renowned internationally.

They offer several tours. The classic tour allows you to visit the enormous cellar where you can learn the whole wine-making process and attend a wine tasting at the end. Another tour allows you to ride a streetcar to visit the vineyard in addition to the other activities. The third tour allows you to ride a horse through the vineyard, great for a romantic getaway.

All the tours include a wine tasting at the end, and you get to keep your glass as a souvenir. If you liked the wine, you can buy it at their well-stocked shop.

Unlike Finca VAI, Cavas Freixenet does offer English tours but only at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tour prices:

Classic tour: 150 MXN ($7.50) per person.

Streetcar tour: 275 MXN ($13.75) per person.

Horseback riding tour: 900 MXN ($45) per person.

Address: Carretera San Juan del Río – Cadereyta Km. 40.5 Los Perez, 76686 Ezequiel Montes, Qro., Mexico.

4 p.m.-7 p.m. Bernal. This is one of the many pueblos mágicos you can visit in Mexico. It’s one hour away from Querétaro City.

Peña de Bernal, or simply Bernal as it is known, is a small, charming town. Its main feature is its monolith, one of the tallest in the world.

Don’t be fooled, though. Even though it’s a small town, there are tons of activities you can do. For starters, you have to visit the monolith. You can walk up there or take a bike taxi. The view from the top is spectacular.

There are a few museums, wineries, a botanical garden, lots of beautiful buildings, a ranch, a planetary, a waterpark…You can even ride a hot air balloon!

The cobblestone streets and colorful buildings make you feel welcomed upon arrival. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time, so we did what we could.

We bought some gorditas, and they were delicious! The people in Querétaro know how to make their gorditas.

Bernal is also famous for its cheese bread. It’s filled with cream cheese and blackberries. It’s to die for!

They also have many varieties of corn. You can get them on the cob or in a cup.

Don’t leave the town before buying a local handicraft. There are so many items to choose from!

We found out there were legend tours and pre-Hispanic dances at night, but we had to go back to Querétaro City. I highly recommend you spend at least a night here if you can. You won’t regret it.

8 p.m. Back in Querétaro City, we took a stroll through the city center and what did we find? The locals gather at Jardín Zenea every night to dance. They danced to different rhythms like country, cumbias, and more. I participated in one of them. It was quite an experience!

9: 30 p.m. After walking and dancing, we were hungry again. While walking, we smelled burgers in the distance. They smelled so good. We had to try them. The place is called Hamburguesas al Karbon. Those grilled burgers were the bomb!

Average check per person: 150 MXN ($7.50).

Address: Av. 15 de mayo #114, Colonia Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro de Arteaga, Mexico.

10:30 p.m. Back at our hotel. Tomorrow we will go on another adventure!

Day 3: Tequisquiapan

9 a.m. Breakfast at our hotel.

10:30 a.m. We found out there is an archaeological site about 15 minutes away from the city, so we had to go. It’s called El Cerrito. Besides the pyramid and plazas, there is a small museum on site. If you’re into archaeology and history, I recommend you add this place to your list.

There is no parking inside, so you have to park on the street.

Admission: Free until further notice.

Address: Miguel Hidalgo s/n, El Pueblito, 76900 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

1 p.m. Tequisquiapan. We wanted to visit another pueblo mágico, and someone recommended we visit this one. It’s about one hour away from the capital.

We were starving, as usual, lol, therefore, our first task was finding a place to eat. There are several options in the city center, but based on some reviews we found online, we decided to go to Pozoleria Kauil. Their menu includes pozole, tostadas, pambazos, quesadillas, enchiladas, coffee, and aguas frescas.

Average check per person: 100-150 MXN ($5-$7.50).

Address: Guillermo Prieto 10, norte, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Qro., Mexico.

2 p.m. Historic Center. No visit is complete without visiting the historic center. There is a large plaza in the city center with benches, gardens, a gazebo, and beautiful buildings with portals around it. There’s also a beautiful pink church in the back where you can get lots of photos. This is a gathering place for locals and gets busy in the evening and on weekends.

I love visiting Mexican plazas because you can find things you don’t find somewhere else. There was a guy playing the marimba, a photographer that took pictures and then converted them into cool souvenirs with glass bottles, people selling handicrafts, and much more. Oh, there was also a guy with a little bird that tells you your fortune. I don’t believe in that, but they’re cute. The guy lets the bird out of the cage, and then the bird picks a paper and gives it to you. It’s an old Mexican tradition that’s unfortunately disappearing.

3:30 p.m. Time to freshen up. The sun was burning, so we wanted something cool. We stopped at a dessert place, and we found out they sold red wine sorbets! We bought one each, and we loved them! Don’t worry, if you don’t like red wine, they have other flavors.

3:45 p.m. Shopping time! To buy local handcrafts, I recommend visiting Mercado Artesanal Telésforo Trejo Uribe. You can find all kinds of handicrafts from magnets, to dolls, to clothes, and everything in between.

There’s another market a few steps away named Mercado Guadalupano. While you can find some handicrafts and other items, this market is better for finding food, both fresh and ready to eat.

Addresses:

Mercado Artesanal Telesforo Trejo Uribe: Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Querétaro, Mexico.

Mercado Guadalupano: Calle Ezequiel Montes SN-C LOCALES, Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Qro., Mexico.

5:45 p.m. Streetcar. We toured the city aboard a streetcar, and they explained the history of the city to us. There are a few tour operators to choose from. The city tours are not expensive.  They’re less than 100 MXN ($5) per person.

Some tours can take you to a cheese factory and a vineyard beside the city. We didn’t ask about those but know that they’re another option.

8 p.m. Back in Querétaro City. This was our last night in town, so we had to make the most out of it.

We went to Plaza de la Constitución and found out there was a legend tour that night. I love history and legends, so I couldn’t pass on this opportunity. The tour lasted 1.5 hours and cost 130 MXN ($6.50) per person.

They took us to different parts of the city and gave us some interesting facts. For instance, did you know that the aqueduct was a gift of love from a nobleman to a nun?

The tour was really interesting and fun. They dressed up as people from old times, so we felt like we were watching a play. Highly recommended.

9:30 p.m. We were hungry after too much walking. Fortunately, there was a night market by Jardín Zenea, and there were lots of food options. I got some tacos dorados. They were delicious. We spent some time afterward walking and looking around.

10:30 p.m. Time to go to bed. We had to leave early the following day.

Best Time to Visit

It’s always a good time to visit! The weather in Querétaro City is not extreme. The average temperature is 18°C (65°F) all year round. However, keep in mind that mornings are a little bit chilly, even in the summer. I recommend you bring a light sweater.

During the winter, the lowest temperature is around 6°C (43°F), but it rises quickly during the day up to the mid-’20s (around 75°F). Pack your clothes accordingly.

The rainiest months are June-September.

If you would like to visit the vineyards when they’re green, the best time to do so is around August. By the way, in mid-August, they host the traditional vendimia, a traditional event where they step on the grapes. There are also lots of food and music. You don’t want to miss out.

==>> Click here to book a tour! <<==

How to Get There

Querétaro City is located in the central part of the country. It’s served by the Querétaro Intercontinental Airport. There are direct flights to and from Houston, Dallas, and Chicago as well as major Mexican destinations. The major airlines serving Querétaro City are Aeroméxico, TAR Aerolíneas, United, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, and American Airlines.

The closest major cities are:

• León, 171 km (106 miles)
• Morelia, 189 km (117 miles)
• San Luis Potosí City, 208 km (129 miles)
• Mexico City, 218 km (135 miles)

Some bus companies that serve the city are La Línea Autovías, ETN, Primera Plus, Omnibus de México, and Transportes del Norte Diamante.

==>> Click here to book your flight! <<==

How to Move Around

Once at the airport, you can take a Coordinados bus to take you to the downtown bus station. The fare is 62 pesos ($3), and the ride takes around 45 minutes. The bus runs four times a day. Get your tickets here. A taxi will cost you between 250 and 300 pesos ($12.50-$15). There is Uber, but they cannot pick you up at the airport.

To move around the city, you can take buses. REDQ is the city’s public transportation system. The fare is 11 pesos ($0.55). You can use a prepaid card or the Qrobús Oficial app to pay. Check the different routes

Where to Stay

For our stay, we chose Quinta Lucca. It’s a nice hotel in the downtown area that offers cable TV, Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and free parking. The beds are comfortable, and the rooms are fresh during the day and warm at night. I guess it’s due to the materials they’re made from.

The staff members were very attentive and provided us with lots of recommendations to visit in town. You can also book tours directly with them, so it saves time.

The only thing I didn’t like was that they don’t have a parking lot in their facilities. They have an agreement with a public lot a block away from the hotel where you can leave your car for free as long as you’re a hotel guest. Other than that, I don’t have any complaints.

Room prices start at $33 per night. Highly recommended.

Address: Calle Benito Juárez Nte. 119-A, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.

There are lodging options for all budgets and preferences. I recommend using Booking to score a good deal.

Where to Eat

Here are some recommendations for your next visit:

• Queretaro Rico ($). They have comida corrida specials every day ranging from 50 to 60 pesos ($2.50-$3). Address:Calle Miguel Hidalgo # 136a Col. Centro, Queretaro City 76000 Mexico.
• Mercado La Cruz ($). Lots of breakfast and lunch options at affordable prices. Address: Mercado Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez “La Cruz” (sobre, Calle 15 de Mayo, Centro, 76000 Santiago de Querétaro, Qro., Mexico.
• Las gorditas del portal ($). Some of the best gorditas in town. Try the migaja gordita (filled with fried pork meat). Address: Av. Corregidora 15, Queretaro City Mexico.
• Tacos del 57 ($). Great tacos at excellent prices. Try the blue corn tortilla. They also have quesadillas, tamales,and other dishes. Address: Avenida Del 57 Y 21, Queretaro City 76000 Mexico.
• La Mariposa ($$). Great place for a traditional Mexican breakfast. Try the enchiladas queretanas, empanadas, and coffee. Address: Calle Angela Peralta 7 Centro Historico, Queretaro City 76000 Mexico.

Don’t forget to use Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Foursquare for more recommendations!

Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking, you’re looking at around 1,100 pesos ($55) per day. This includes accommodation at a hostel/cheap hotel, a combination of street food and home-cooked food, local transportation, and a few attractions per day (museums, parks, etc).

A mid-range budget is around 1,950 pesos ($97.50) per day. This includes accommodation at a 2-star hotel/Airbnb, cheap restaurants, a few more attractions than the backpacker budget, and a taxi if need be.

Finally, if you don’t want to limit yourself, then a luxury budget will cost you at least 4,700 pesos ($235) per day. This includes staying at a 4-star hotel, eating at nice restaurants, taking taxis/Uber everywhere, and taking tours/guided trips.

Keep in mind these figures are just estimates. Some days you will spend less, while others you will spend more. This will give you a foundation to plan your budget and adjust it as necessary.

For your convenience, I created a table comparing the budgets we mentioned above. The prices are in Mexican pesos ($1 = 20 pesos).

	Lodging	Meals	Transportation	Attractions	Average Cost Per Day
Backpacker	350	250	100	400	1,100
Mid-range	700	450	200	600	1,950
Luxury	1,600	1,500	400	1,200	4,700

Tips for Saving Money

If you’d like to save money when visiting Querétaro City, I recommend following these tips:

• Stay at a hostel or use Couchsurfing (an app that connects travelers looking for free lodging). Airbnb might be worth taking a look, too.
• Eat street food. Food stands are easy to find and are an affordable option. Other excellent options are visiting the city markets or mall food courts.
• Walk or use public transportation as much as possible.
• Although Uber is generally cheaper than taxis, fares can increase considerably due to surge pricing. This usually happens on weekends and weekdays before/after work hours. In that case, a regular taxi might be a better option.
• Look for free walking tours online. You just have to tip your guide at the end of the tour.
• Several museums are free. They include the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Museo de la Restauración de la República, Museo de la Ciudad, and Museo de los Conspiradores.

How to Stay Safe

Overall, Querétaro City is one of the safest cities to visit in Mexico. The crime rate is low making it an attractive destination to visit and live in.

The best area to stay, both for safety and convenience reasons, is downtown. Just use common sense, and you will be fine.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Buy bottled water or use a filter instead.

If you ever find yourself in an emergency, you can dial 911.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! You never know what can go wrong. Better safe than sorry.

Apps to Download

To make the most out of your visit, I recommend downloading the following apps:

• IQT Transporte Público Querétaro. Find directions between two points as well as which bus to take.
• Parkimovil. Pay for your Qrobus fare by scanning a QR code.
• Asomarte. The official travel guide of Querétaro. Discover destinations and events near you.
• Moovit. Get the ins and out of public transportation. Just enter your origin and destination and find out which bus to take.
• Uber. The most important rideshare service in Mexico.
• Google Maps. Find driving directions and download maps for offline use.
• Google Translate. If you don’t speak fluent Spanish, then make sure you have this app.
• TravelSAFE. Connect to an emergency hotline by just pressing the SOS button.
• MyCurrency. Find the latest exchange rate to know how much something is costing you.
• Tripadvisor. Learn about other travelers’ experiences and recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and other places in town.
• Busbud. Find bus schedules (when traveling to other cities) and book cheaper tickets online.
• Travello. Find other travelers on the road and make new friends.

Conclusion

Querétaro City is a great option for history buffs, foodies, expert/amateur travelers, couples, families, and everyone in between! You will get to admire the beautiful Colonial architecture, meet the locals, taste the delicious cheeses and wines locally produced, and much more!

The city is beautiful and has tons of activities for everyone. You can’t go wrong with it.

Querétaro City and its surroundings are some of the most authentic, traditional places in Mexico you can visit. I highly recommend you visit and discover it yourself.

Have you been there? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on a lot. I hope you visit soon. Let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll be more than glad to answer them. Bon voyage!